Our breakfast routine

Han: Apple cinnamon oatmeal with pecan nuts

For breakfast I need something filling so I don’t get hangry by 10 o’clock. I’ve always had a sweet tooth, so a dessertlike breakfast is totally my cup of tea.

Apple cinnamon oatmeal with pecan nuts is my absolute favorite way to start the day. The apples ensure the sweetness of the oatmeal without adding sugar. Add some cinnamon and pecan nuts and you get… perfection. This breakfast is ideal to eat while sitting by the crackling fire under a blanket on a cold wintery morning.

For extra vitamins I always start my day with some fresh fruits, here I chose a delicious pomelo! And last but not least, yes you guessed it right, tea!

Sandy: Vanilla yoghurt with muesli, blueberries and honey

Let’s skip the pleasantries. I don’t like mornings. I don’t like the sound of an alarm clock. I don’t like skipping through a dark and cold hallway in my PJ’s. And I sure as hell don’t like the freezing toilet seat waiting for me at 7 AM. But there is one thing that makes me smile every morning, and that’s breakfast.

First, I take a scoop of vanilla flavored yoghurt, which I cover with muesli. Next, I add a handful of blueberries, also known as superfruit! They contain loads of vitamins that will get you through the day. And to make it a little sweeter, I top it off with a teeny bit of honey ;)

What is your breakfast routine? We’d love to get some new ideas!

Have a great day,
Han and Sandy

Every wandering girl needs: Tea

When the temperature drops and fall/winter arrives, I need some hot drinks to keep me warm! I love a cup of coffee in the morning or as a yummy treat, but I drink tea all day, every day.

A cup of tea makes everything better.

Tea simply means ‘plant based hot flavoured water’. Doesn’t that sound perfect and healthy? Our body needs lots of water to keep our metabolism going, so if you can increase your daily water intake by drinking some delicious tea that also has other natural benefits to it, why not?

There’s tea available for everybody’s taste or for every occasion. But it might be something that you have to learn to appreciate. You can always add some sugar, honey or stevia to make your tea a little sweeter. The past few years I’ve grown to love all kinds of teas. Recently I became addicted to green tea. I absolutely love using loose leaf tea. If you’re living in Belgium I would recommend checking out “De theewinkel” in Leuven or “Simon Lévelt” in Mechelen, where you can find the best loose leaf tea and also very cute tea accessories.

Time for tea,

Han

Road trip part 4: Accommodation reviews

Because we got a lot of questions about our accommodations during the road trip, we decided to share our favorite locations!

Germany:

The first stop of our road trip was Hinterzarten, a small town in the Black Forest. We stayed at a beautiful apartment (Ferienhaus Tusculum) in the center of Hinterzarten. The location is perfect for hiking trips, cycling and skiing in the neighbourhood. You can find maps with the different hiking trails at the tourist information center, just a two minute walk from the apartment. The train station is also located nearby, which makes it easy to explore the region. The apartment has a fully equipped kitchen and bathroom, and has a cozy living room where you can relax after an active day! If you’re hungry and love German food, you should visit s’Pfännle where you can eat home-made specialties.

Italy:

At Lake Garda, we stayed at the lovely Villa Bissiniga. This Bed and Breakfast is located in the hills next to Salò, with an amazing view on the town and Lake Garda. Villa Bissiniga produces and sells their own wine and olive oil. The friendly staff and the incredible view from the rooftop terrace made our stay perfect. And the fresh Italian breakfast is definitely worth mentioning! In just a 15 minute walk, you reach the center of Salò which offers great dining options. And let’s not forget the delicious gelato ;)

Our next stop was Levanto, where we stayed at Bed and Breakfast Vignola. It’s the perfect location to visit the Cinque Terre. The villages of Cinque Terre are difficult to reach by car, so we would recommend to stay at a nearby village such as Levanto and take the train to the Cinque Terre. The city of Levanto is also worth visiting, with many great restaurants, a beautiful historic center and a nice beach to relax and watch the sunset. The family-run B&B has all the facilities you need, including a swimming pool.

France:

Our last stop was Bed and Breakfast La Lavoir in Peintre, a rural village close to Dole. We just loved the hospitality of this B&B! The host gave us some good tips about what to visit in the neighbourhood. The rooms are beautifully decorated and the breakfast is great, with cheese from the local farmer and home made apple juice. This location is ideal to visit the surrounding cities such as Dole and Dijon, or to enjoy the nature of the Jura region.

If you have any further questions, let us know :)!!

Han and Sandy

Road trip part 3: La douce France

We took the highway along the coast of Italy towards France, our next destination. The views on the highway were spectacular, but often interrupted by tunnels, many many tunnels! We lost count…

First stop: Castellane

When we left the highway, we thought we were finally there, but noooo! After almost two hours (!) and 70km of small, mountain roads later, we arrived at Castellane! This cute, little village is situated in the Natural Regional Park of Verdon. The highlight in this park is the French Grand Canyon, also known as the Gorges du Verdon. Of course we had to go for a hike along this beautiful canyon. The trail we followed is called the Sentier Martel trail, which is about 15km long and takes you about 6 hours to walk.

Note: If you do this trail, DON’T forget your flashlight!! There is a tunnel of 600 meters long without any lighting, so a flashlight is essential. Except if you’re a cat..

On our second day in Castellane, we chose to take it slow. So we went to the local bakery for some bread and pastries, and climbed up the mountain where we had a picnic with a view. After dessert, we put music on, busted some moves and had a dance off (which Han clearly won).

Second stop: Dole

On our way to Dole, we passed some beautiful landscapes. We just had to stop once in while to enjoy the view!

The last day of our road trip, we visited the town of Dole. This cozy town is filled with French historical buildings. We wandered around the streets and enjoyed a hot cappuccino, while kids in halloween costumes were scaring their friends.

This road trip was freaking awesome :)!!! We had the time of our lives and are already dreaming of a next trip..

See you soon!

Han and Sandy

Road trip part 2: Bella Italia!

After Germany, we were planning on visiting Austria, but the upcoming snow made us change our plans. We headed directly to a sunnier and warmer place…, Italy!

First stop: Lake Garda

Lake Garda is the perfect spot for relaxation. It’s warm, beautiful, and – this time of year – peaceful! We stayed at a cozy B&B on top of the mountain near Salò, with an amazing view over the lake. We took this time to read a book, stroll around the town and enjoy the Italian lifestyle.

Second Stop: Cinque Terre

After we recharged our batteries with a little relaxation, we were ready for some action! We read about a beautiful spot at the Italian coast, named Cinque Terre. The “Five Lands” contains five remote villages, which are UNESCO World Heritage sites. These five villages are connected by hiking trails which take you along the rugged coastline. We walked the trails between Monterosso, Vernazza and Corniglia. If you have the chance, you should definitely visit Cinque Terre! It’s great to have a combination of culture and nature.

See you at our next stop… France!!

Han and Sandy

Road trip part 1: Germany, ich liebe dich!

For years we’ve been talking about it, but now we finally decided to go for it. We planned a road trip!!

It was kind of an impulsive decision, but sometimes impulsive decisions are the best! We met at our favorite coffee house (more about that later) and planned our road trip around Europe.

First stop: Hinterzarten

The first place we visited was the Black Forest in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. We rented an apartment in the town of Hinterzarten, a typical German village. On our first day, we went for a 12km hike around the Titisee. Although it was rainy, foggy and cold, the scenery was beautiful.

On our second day, we went hiking on the Feldberg, the highest mountain of the Black Forest. It was a difficult and challenging trail, but the views were totally worth it.

Second stop: Füssen

Just above the border with Austria, you can find a cute little town named Füssen. It is located near the Forggensee and the Hopfensee, and lies in the shadow of the Tegelberg. We visited the town and ate some delicious German delicacies. The next day, we took the cable car to the Tegelberg, were we hiked to the top. The last part of the trail is not meant for people with fear of heights, such as Sandy ;)

Now we’re off to Italy!!! See you soon!!

Han and Sandy