South African Adventures of the Hughes Family: Egg Hunting in Style!

I always wanted to take the kids to the White House Easter Egg Roll, but we never managed to make it. However we recently got to visit Truman Hall, the home of the NATO Ambassador, for a fun egg hunt on a Saturday morning.

I didn't know much about the house other than it was supposed to have beautiful gardens...here is the history on it from the NATO website, I like it even more now that I know the story behind it!

(for Belgian Chocolate fans: you can still by Cote d'Or chocolate everywhere here, I find it in most grocery stores, so maybe its the equivalent of a Hershey bar-not the fanciest but still yummy!)

Truman Hall is a traditional Flemish country estate built in 1963 for Côte d’Or chocolatier Jean Michiels. The house is the residence of the Ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and is named in honor of President Harry S Truman, one of NATO’s founders. The design is the successful collaboration between Architect B.A. Jacquemotte and Landscape Architect René Pechère.

Pechère, one of the best-known contemporary landscape architects in Europe, transformed 27 acres of barren agricultural land into gentle hills and valleys, meadows, and formal gardens. A curvaceous cobbled drive, lined with roses, leads to the tree-lined approach to the residence. The home overlooks a sweeping lawn, towering cedars, English gardens and an herb garden. The lawn pavilion is planted with fragrant honeysuckles, roses, clematis, hydrangeas and wisteria. The original children’s playground, giant sequoia circle and maze are still effective landscape elements. Discrete paths wind through sequestered corners for quiet reflection. In 1984 on the anniversary celebrating Truman Hall becoming NATO’s official residence, a new garden was created with cobbled circles representing each NATO country.

The Truman Hall residence is constructed of painted brick, grey stone, and has slate roof dormers. Virginia creeper relieves the grey and white stucco, and in the Fall, turns a festive red orange. The plan is designed to capture sunlight – the kitchen/breakfast rooms face east, the dining room is illuminated at lunchtime; and the salons overlook sunsets. The interiors are humanly scaled with sensible arrangements and elegant proportions. The entry hall is paved in the famous “pierre bleu” Belgian black marble. The corridors are wide and inviting, and there is a library with fine 18th century wood paneling.

Truman Hall, graciously welcoming visitors from the 29 NATO nations and Alliance partner countries around the world, was sold to the U.S. Government at a reduced price by Mrs. Michiels, who said: “I want you to have it. Your country saved mine in World War II.”

Here was the view as we rode up to the house...

Charlie & Katie in front...

Kelly missed all the fun, she doing her own running at a track meet.

One view of a section of the gorgeous garden.

Beautiful area where we had brunch afterward.

With our Marine Andrew!

Charlie & his friend from school, he was delighted to have someone his age!

Before the big run through the gorgeous lawn!

We are so thrilled that the Ambassador shared her beautiful home with all of us for such a nice event!

Image result for animal band fountain tervuren

The Animal Band

Another highlight was on the way there, we got to pass by the coolest fountain around Brussels, it is out by Tervuren and the Africa Museum, it is called the Animal Band. It reminds us a bit of the cool spray park fountain at frog pond in Boston!

I guess we were on a quest to see beautiful places because the next day the girls and I got to go explore the Chateau de la Hulpe...a gorgeous old place where you could roam around its extensive grounds. Here are a few photos of what we found.

Where was Greg for all the fun? That is for you to figure out...here are some photos of where he spent his time...my only clue was his pictures were not taken anywhere in Europe!