{"id":308171,"date":"2025-08-01T03:02:15","date_gmt":"2025-08-01T03:02:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/308171\/"},"modified":"2025-08-01T03:02:15","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T03:02:15","slug":"globetrotting-european-familys-adventure-reaches-and-ends-in-alberta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/308171\/","title":{"rendered":"Globetrotting European family\u2019s adventure reaches \u2014 and ends \u2014 in Alberta"},"content":{"rendered":"

Three and a half years ago, Belgian husband and wife duo Nicolas and Ana\u00efse Peetermans decided to uproot their lives and travel the world.<\/p>\n

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The couple sold their home in Belgium, packed up their three small children and bought an R.V., affectionately named \u201cJeff.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOne day, we decided, oh, let\u2019s go travel, let\u2019s go travel with the kids so we can enjoy the time they are small and still care about us,\u201d said Nicolas with a laugh.<\/p>\n

He, like Ana\u00efse, was already an avid traveller, but this was still a big step that hit a big speedbump just one kilometre in.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe started with a mechanical problem, so we had to wait one year in Belgium to start it again when we already sold our house and everything,\u201d said Ana\u00efse.<\/p>\n

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However, the family of five finally began what they dubbed the \u2018Waffle World Tour,\u2019 travelling 60,000 km from Europe along the Silk Road to Asia, before ferrying the R.V. to Central America and driving up into Canada.<\/p>\n

While architecture and tourism was certainly a bonus during the extended adventure, Nicolas says the best part was the conversations.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI will say the greatest thing about travelling for us \u2014 aside from the food because I love to eat \u2014 is people. You tend to realize that people are awesome everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

He says it was eye-opening to chat with people in Iran, India, Mexico, and even here in Canada.<\/p>\n

While cultures and customs may be vastly different from nation to nation, he says the people remain the same, yet still different.<\/p>\n

The couple says this understanding was especially beneficial for their children, Esteban, Santiago and Livia. The oldest boys are 10-year-old twins, while their daughter is eight.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did like (travelling), but we had a few problems,\u201d said Esteban.<\/p>\n

He says while travelling around Asia, the world felt very different from the Europe he knew.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey (pinch your cheeks and ruffle your hair) and that is \u2018I love you,\u2019 but it\u2019s not very fun because it hurts,\u201d he said with a grin.<\/p>\n

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Still, the child said it was fun to learn about different people from around the world, all while taking in surfing, diving and other activities.<\/p>\n

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