Arriving in Brussels

I was able to sleep on the flight from Chicago to Brussels and woke up in time for breakfast.

My Flight Path from Chicago to Brussels

We were flying above the clouds, with no view below, but as we approached Brussels, I did catch sight of the Atomium, a modernist structure that was the centerpiece of the 1958 Brussels World's Fair.

A View of the Atomium through the Clouds

Due to the new European EES immigration system, I had expected a several-hour wait once we arrived at the Brussels airport, which is exactly what happened. What I found odd, however, was that this new system was not in use there, despite all the kiosks I saw. The agent simply stamped my passport and sent me on my way.

I had arranged for a driver to take me to my hotel, and we passed through the European Union headquarters section before reaching Hotel Amigo.

The Hotel Amigo was lovely and is in a perfect location. Luckily, my room was ready shortly after I arrived, and it is on the top floor with a small balcony. Very, very nice.

Hotel Amigo

After resting for a bit, I wandered over to the Grand Place, the city’s beautiful main square, and I was amazed by how crowded the city was. There were more groups of students, for example, than I’ve ever seen in other cities.

Grand Place

I also found Les Galleries Royales Saint-Hubert, the first monumental shopping arcade built in nineteenth-century Europe. Lots of Belgium’s well-known chocolatiers are located here, but I didn’t sample any goodies today.

Les Galleries Royales Saint-Hubert

Neuhaus Chocolates

Although I was scheduled to take a free walking tour in the afternoon, jetlag started to get to me after wandering around for an hour. So, I reluctantly decided to skip the tour and return to the hotel to rest. I know you’re supposed to resist napping on the first day, but I couldn't help it! I will be spending three nights in Brussels, so I will have time to explore the city.

On My Way to Brussels via Chicago

This morning, Tim dropped me off at the Landline shuttle stop at Northern Colorado Regional Airport for the hour-drive to Denver International Airport. There, I caught my flight to Brussels, where I will begin my two back-to-back river cruises from Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Yes, I used the singular “I.” I will be traveling solo since Tim made the decision some time ago to stay behind and take a class and attend a conference, among other things. Although I will miss him, I have no issues with traveling by myself.

I first flew from Denver to Chicago, where I had planned a several-hour layover to account for any possible delays. The plane was completely full, and I was so happy that I had been able to use airline miles to fly first class. It was much more peaceful there!

Welcome Aboard!

On our approach to Chicago, I caught a glimpse of the downtown skyline.  That’s one reason I typically prefer window seats.

I Really Need to Make a Trip to Chicago

My flight from Chicago to Brussels in United Polaris business class gave me access to the Polaris Lounge in Chicago. This was quite a step-up from the regular United lounges, and I enjoyed my time there.

I Really Enjoyed My Visit to the Polaris Lounge

Next up was the flight from Chicago to Brussels. I’ve become so spoiled by the lie-flat seats in Polaris class, and that feature makes a long flight bearable for me. The service is always great, but my priority is typically to lie down as soon as possible to try and sleep, which is exactly what I did.

Plans for 2026

Although Tim and I have been home for just over two weeks, I am already thinking about travel plans for this year. We have already booked four cruises with Viking, but flights, hotels, and other logistics remain to be worked out.

Cruising begins in April with two back-to-back river cruises from Amsterdam, The Netherlands. “Tulips and Windmills” is a ten-day voyage to discover Holland and Belgium, and since I adore tulips and have always wanted to visit Amsterdam, this cruise seemed a perfect choice. This is the description:

Admire the genius of the Dutch Masters at Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum. Explore Enkhuizen’s seafaring heritage, Dutch World War II history and Antwerp’s Renaissance splendor. See colorful tulips in bloom, and sample Belgian beers and chocolates. View well-preserved medieval buildings in Middelburg. Roam Keukenhof Gardens, the world’s largest floral park. The best time to see the Low Countries is spring, and the best way to see them is on our 10-day voyage.

Tulips and Windmills Cruise

“European Sojourn” immediately follows the “Tulips and Windmills” cruise and is a journey on three rivers and through eight countries between Amsterdam and Bucharest, Romania. Every destination on this cruise will be new to me, and I am looking forward to exploring parts of Eastern Europe. This is the description:

Sail Amsterdam’s canals. See castles on the Rhine. Behold the grandeur of Vienna. Celebrate folk traditions in Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania. These travel icons—and more—await you on a 23-day journey combining our “Grand European Tour” and “Passage to Eastern Europe” cruises. Discover eight countries in Western, Central and Eastern Europe while cruising the Rhine, Main and Danube. Enjoy a lifetime’s worth of experiences on a single voyage. 

European Sojourn Cruise

Tim and I enjoyed our just-completed Expedition cruise to Antarctica so much that we decided a cruise to the Arctic would be a perfect complement. While we were on board, we booked the “Canada and the Northwest Passage” cruise, a 27-day itinerary that will take us from Toronto, Canada to Nuuk, Greenland, and beyond this coming July. This is the description:

Witness the majesty of floating icebergs and rugged lands as you embark on a journey to the Canadian High Arctic and Greenland. View towering icebergs, expansive icefields and deep-blue fjords that are rich in marine life. Get a glimpse of life in the Arctic Circle, learn about Inuit communities and traditions that have sustained for generations. Bask in the endless rays of the midnight sun as you join us on a voyage of discovery to far-flung lands. 

Canada and the Northwest Passage Cruise

Our final cruise of the year will be a return to Europe in mid-November during the slower season. The “Adriatic and Mediterranean Sojourn” cruise will begin in Rome and end in Istanbul. Over a period of 22 days, we will explore so many iconic destinations with a new port almost every day. Although we have visited some of the Mediterranean cities, all the ones in the Adriatic are completely new to us. This is the description:

Witness a sweeping landscape of cultural riches and historic wonders on this fascinating cruise that combines “Italian Sojourn,” ”Venice, the Adriatic & Greece,” and ”Ancient Mediterranean Treasures.” Sail around Italy’s boot, discover breathtaking Croatia and medieval Montenegro, and walk among ancient ruins in Ephesus and Troy. Overnights in Venice, Athens and Istanbul afford you ample time to delve into the eastern Mediterranean’s famed and hidden treasures. 

Adriatic and Mediterranean Sojourn Cruise

Whew! That seems like a lot of days at sea, but I’m up for it! We did, however, decide to cancel our two back-to-back cruises for Spring 2027, “Magnificent Mekong” and “Far East and Alaska.” We’ll try to plan that itinerary for some other time.

My New Year’s Day Tradition

My blog posts for New Year’s Day always revolve around food. As I’ve written over the years, I always eat black-eyed peas and collard greens, a traditional Southern meal on this day that is said to bring good luck.

Although this year’s dinner couldn’t compare to last year’s dinner party in a private dining room on Viking Sky during the World Cruise, Tim and I continued the tradition with just the two of us. Last year was filled with lots of good luck, and I am confident that we will continue to experience good luck in the following months.

My Traditional Southern New Year's Day Dinner

Merry Christmas

Tim and I would like to wish our friends and relatives a very Merry Christmas!

We returned from our trip on Sunday, December 20, 2025, after an awesome, but exhausting, few weeks of travel on land. We had no energy to decorate for Christmas, but I had thought to purchase a tiny tree from the Dollar Tree before we left in October. That had to suffice this year.

Our Little Christmas Tree

I did pull out the few ornaments I purchased during the trip, as well as the two that our wonderful driver Felipe gave to us as he dropped us off at the airport in Lima. Although I had no tree on which to hang them, unwrapping them brought back fond memories.

Ornaments from South America

My plan is to finish the blog posts for the last two days on Viking Octantis and then the posts for our five nights in Patagonia and our two weeks in Peru. I’m not promising how long it will take me to recreate this incredible journey, but I will get it done!

Day 48 – Gateway to Patagonia – El Calafate

Today’s itinerary was a full-day excursion to Los Glaciares National Park and the Perito Moreno Glacier, one of Argentina's most famous natural landmarks. It was a gorgeous day for a visit to this iconic feature.

Unfortunately, I had been fighting a cold for the last few days, and I felt even worse this morning. I therefore reluctantly decided to stay at the hotel and take it easy. I sent Tim on his way with the group and returned to bed. 

I slept until 10:00 am, when I made my way to the breakfast room for coffee and a light meal. I then quickly returned to our room, where I slept for most of the day.

Tim returned in the afternoon and later shared some of his photos of the vast glacier, which he saw from a series of catwalks as well as from Lake Argentino on a scenic cruise. I’m glad he had a good time.

Perito Moreno Glacier (lower left) Is Very Accessible from El Calafate (upper right)

A Gorgeous Day for a Visit to the Glacier

Perito Moreno Glacier from One of the Viewpoints

Tim at Perito Moreno Glacier

The Upper Viewpoint Provided a Wonderful Perspective of the "River of Ice"

While Tim joined some of the other guests for dinner at the hotel, I ordered pizza and flan from room service. Although I was sad to miss seeing the glacier, it was the right move for me. I needed to take care of myself, and I felt much better by evening.

Day 47 – Gateway to Patagonia – El Calafate

One of my favorite things during this cruise was opening the blackout shades each morning and seeing what was outside our window. The view was often jaw-dropping, as I’ve previously shown on many occasions. Today’s view was another one of those moments. 

As we awoke at the crack of dawn and prepared to disembark in Ushuaia, we were greeted by the most gorgeous sky. Ushuaia is not supposed to look like this, we have been told. It’s supposed to be cloudy, gray, or rainy. Not today, however! What a send-off for us!

What a View of Ushuaia and the Beagle Channel from Our Window

A View of Ushuaia Under Bright Blue Skies

After a very early breakfast in the World Café, Tim and I said our final goodbyes and disembarked Viking Octantis at 7:20 am. We then joined about 30 other passengers for the next phase of our adventures in South America, a Viking post-cruise extension called “Gateway to Patagonia.” This extension, which includes five nights in Patagonia and Santiago, Chile, is described as follows:

Explore both the Chilean and Argentine sides of Patagonia, a region of singular beauty. Admire the rugged peaks of Torres del Paine National Park, the blue waters of Lake Argentino, the sweeping views from atop Calafate Balcony and one of the world’s only advancing glaciers, the vast Perito Moreno.

The bus dropped us off at the Ushuaia airport, which was surprisingly busy, and we boarded our Aerolíneas Argentinas flight to El Calafate, Argentina. Luckily, the flight was only one hour since my middle seat in Economy was so cramped. Tim and I have been so spoiled with Business class flights!

Getting Ready to Board Our Plane to El Calafate

I’m not sure what I was expecting when we arrived at the airport in El Calafate, but I was surprised by how warm it was. The landscape also surprised me. As we drove toward El Calafate, I only saw dry, windswept plains with very sparse vegetation. I soon learned that this huge desert landscape is characteristic of southern Patagonia. Every tree we saw as we neared the town had been planted. Our guide also pointed out the majestic, snowcapped Andes Mountains in the distance.

Southern Patagonia Landscape

Welcome to El Calafate

After arriving in El Calafate, we were taken to Estancia Huyliche for lunch and a tour. Estancias in Argentina are ranches on huge tracts of land, where sheep and cattle graze freely. Estancias date back to the early days of Spanish rule and are iconic symbols of Patagonian identity. Some, like this one, now welcome tourists, offering a glimpse into traditions that are being preserved for the future.

Estancia Huyliche is located at the foot of Huyliche Hill and offers expansive views of the Andes Mountains and Lake Argentino, Argentina’s largest freshwater lake. Horses roamed the ranch, and horseback riding is a popular activity. That was not on our agenda, but lunch was.

Estancia Huyliche 

We enjoyed a traditional lunch of empanadas and lentil stew, topped off by a fabulous dessert of pie topped with Calafate ice cream. This ice cream is made from the native Calafate berry, and it was delicious.

Our Tradition Lunch - Lentil Stew, Empanada, and Pie with Calafate Ice Cream

We then boarded a huge 6x4 vehicle for a ride up Huyliche Hill to the Balcony of El Calafate. We stopped at a natural viewpoint to take in the stunning panoramic views of the Andes Mountains, Lake Argentino, and the town of El Calafate. Our guide pointed out the fantastic rock formations and described the geological evolution of Southern Patagonia.

Climbing Huyliche Hill

Panoramic Views from atop the Balcony of El Calafate

We then returned to El Calafate where we checked into the Xelena Hotel. The curtains were drawn in our room, but once we figured out how to open them (I wasn't expecting a remote control), we were rewarded with a beautiful view of Lake Argentino.

Our Room at Xelena Hotel and the View from Our Window

Dinner was in the hotel dining room, and we were served a stew with guanaco, an animal related to the domesticated llama. The guanaco was lean and a little gamey, but the taste was fine. I forgot to get a photo of this dish, but I did remember to record the beautiful and delicious flan with dulce de leche we had for dessert. Tango dancers entertained us as we ended our meal.

Tango and Flan for Dessert