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International Travel Group Meeting - February 2 @ 9:30 a.m. Pacific Time

The February International Travel Group meeting is coming up. Please join us. Each meeting we have two topics, a country, region or city in Europe and a more general topic. I’m always interested to hear any topics you would like to talk about. You can mention them here, during the meeting or send me a PM.

Topics for this month:

  • Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands,Luxembourg)
  • What guidebooks do you like besides Ricks?

You must respond each month to let me know you would like to attend. If you have attended before I already have your email address. If not, you need to send it to me in a PM. I will not have time to ask you for it if you neglect to do this. The emails with the zoom link will be emailed 1 - 2 hours before the meeting begins. I will post when I’ve sent them. If you didn’t get it check your junk/spam folder and if it’s not there contact me ASAP. Once the meeting begins I will be unable to do anything.

In the last 6 months or more I have gotten meeting requests every month from people with 1 post (the one requesting to join) or PM’s from people with 0 posts. We welcome everyone, but without a posting history I am asking you to private message me and tell me a little about yourself and provide your real name. I have been asking people to do that and 50% of the time they don’t respond. I wonder why.

Future meetings:

Sunday March 2

No meeting in April since I will be traveling

Sunday, May 4

Sunday, June 1

Posted by
4377 posts

Add me to your list please. Belgium is a place I’ve been thinking about.

Posted by
2066 posts

I'd love to be there. -37 wind-chill this morning, yikes. Please include me.

Posted by
4147 posts

We will set our alarm for 7:30AM (clock and rooster) to join you!

Posted by
8586 posts

Thanks, Andrea. I will be out of town, but still available to join in. Looking forward to it! And I think that's a good idea to verify some facts about newcomers.

Posted by
795 posts

Love Belgium and the Netherlands! I haven't been to Luxembourg yet and would like to here more about it. Please add me to the list.

Posted by
10781 posts

Laurie Beth, Yikes! That is very cold! Stay warm and I hope the weather gets better for you.

Mona & Mardee, I look forward to seeing you wherever you are. Mona, I hope you can send some of the warm weather you will be enjoying to Laurie Beth. I think she needs it. ;-)

Posted by
34480 posts

Green Books by Michelin, in all of BeNeLux (two birds and topics in one)
ANWB cycling maps - invaluable for finding back roads and bulb fields in North Holland and South Holland. Other Dutch provinces too but I only use there two.
Not a guidebook but the HRS app for finding German and Luxembourg hotels

Can I join please

I'll be attending! I look forward learning about Benelux and hearing what other guidebooks beside Rick Steves that people use.

Posted by
10781 posts

“In Bruges” is always a good idea.

Posted by
330 posts

I’d like to join the meeting, thank you Andrea!

Posted by
286 posts

I would like to attend. Last month my internet service did some weird outage for a day, but the month before I was able to attend. Thanks!
-Alison Bentley

Posted by
10781 posts

I’m looking forward to seeing everyone.

Posted by
944 posts

I’m planning a trip to The Netherlands, so I would also like to attend if you have room. I will pm you my email address.

Posted by
700 posts

I'd like to attend your ZOOM meeting. I'll pm you my email.

Posted by
2 posts

I would love to join your travel group, however, your meetings are on the first Sunday of each month, and I meet my son for family time on those dates. Is it possible to access your Zoom meetings after the fact?

Andrea, I am new to this, and do not see an option to send you a PM on this page.

Posted by
1447 posts

To send a PM, just click on the persons profile name and it will then give you the option to send a private message.

Posted by
34480 posts

the Zoom meetings have not been recorded. The meeting is live.

Posted by
10781 posts

Nigel is correct, our meetings are not recorded. It was discussed at one point if we should consider it, but the consensus was that people had privacy concerns and it wouldn’t be a good idea. I know some people have things to do that can conflict with our meeting time. There is no way to cater to everyone and I feel that being consistent with our day and time is important. Occasionally I will schedule the Sunday before or after the first Sunday if it means being able to have a meeting at all if I will be traveling. That will be occurring a couple of times this summer.

Posted by
144 posts

Looking forward to Sunday. Please add me to the group!

Posted by
328 posts

I will be visiting family so I won’t be able to attend after all. Hope to join the next meeting.

Posted by
10781 posts

Valerie, thanks for letting me know.

Posted by
10781 posts

Last call to let me know if you want to attend tomorrows meeting. All requests have to be made by Sunday at 7:00 am Pacific time. Thanks and I look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow.

Posted by
10781 posts

I just emailed your Zoom links. Please let me know ASAP and before 9:00 if you didn’t get it. Be sure to check your junk folder. I usually log into the meeting at 9:15 if anyone wants to join early to chit chat. See you soon!

Posted by
34480 posts

I am bereft of having been left out. No email, Andrea

Posted by
10781 posts

Sorry Nigel, I’ve just sent you the link. Please let me know if you got it.

Posted by
15082 posts

Hey!

I did not get the email link?

Posted by
34480 posts

dank u well -- link now in hand -- merci

Posted by
10781 posts

Yikes! I forgot to put your name on the list, Pam. Sorry about that. I just sent the link. Please let me know that you received it.

Posted by
15082 posts

Yepper, got it! thank you so much. See you soon!

And yes, dank u well!!

Posted by
34480 posts

tried to log in with the link you just sent and zoom says you have another meeting in progress and won't let me in.

did you send the right one?

Posted by
34480 posts

if anybody managed to get in can you send me the correct link or ask Andrea to sent it? thanx

Posted by
15082 posts

Thank you Andrea!

@Carol - Here is the link for the Augmented Reality program at Sint-Baaf's Cathedral for the Van Eyck Altarpiece. When I went in April 2022 it was selling out each day so look ahead of time to see how far out you'd want to book to get your specific day. I think I got mine a week ahead but keep track of it for a while. ALSO, it was very chilly down in the crypt and in the church. Dress a little warmer than you might for an "indoor" venue!

https://www.sintbaafskathedraal.be/en/buy-tickets/

Here is also a wonderful website on the restoration of the piece.

https://closertovaneyck.kikirpa.be/ghentaltarpiece/#home

Posted by
10781 posts

Thanks to all for a fun and informative meeting. Not for the first time our first topic (Benelux) took up the entire meeting. We will add the topic we didn’t get to on to another meeting.

Posted by
700 posts

Andrea: Thank YOU & Jim for hosting. It was my first Forum ZOOM so it was fun to see faces with Forum names. After the meeting, I started reading the Amsterdam book on this cold, snowy February afternoon. Good preparation for visiting the area in March!

@Pam: Thanks for the added info on the Ghent Altarpiece, I will check out the website on the restoration of the piece you included. The RS Belgium/Holland does include visit to the Altarpiece, so I wonder if the Augmented Reality program would be an option....or should I contact the RS Office?

Posted by
15082 posts

To enter the chapel where the altarpiece is located you have to go by the crypt where the augmented reality presentation is. I did that tour in 2019 before it was installed but I can’t imagine it not being part of the ticket. Still, I’d probably call the office.

Also, if you want to see the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, you’ll want to book that well ahead of time. It sells out and there are no tickets sold at the venue.

Posted by
550 posts

Luxembourg locations mentioned in meeting:

Diekirch - National Museum of Military History
Vianden - from Wikipedia: Vianden is a town on the Our River, in Luxembourg’s Ardennes region. It's known for the centuries-old hilltop Vianden Castle. Below it, the Gothic Trinitarian Church has a 13th-century cloister. The Victor Hugo Literary Museum is in a house that hosted the writer in 1871 during his political exile from France. A chairlift climbs above the Our Valley for panoramic views. Trails include the riverside Ourdall Promenade.

Posted by
34480 posts

and if I didn't mention it during the meeting - I didn't - I give top marks for both the museum (the best on the topic IMHO) and the town of Vianden.