Episode 009: Belgium with Meredith Bethune
It’s easy to get seduced by glamour shots of sunsets on beaches, luxury hotels, and basically EVERY other person on the planet having much more fun than you. And if you’re a travel writer, then you’ve hit the jackpot, right? Not so fast. Just like any job, there are perks and a few downsides. In this episode, American expat and travel writer Meredith Bethune shares what it’s like to create articles for some of the big names such as Conde Nast, New York Magazine, Travel and Leisure, National Geographic and many others. We get insight on her writing process, how she works with editors, fights writers block and procrastination, all while making her home base in Leuven, Belgium. And when she’s not writing? Satisfying her obsession with Belgian beer.
Learn more about Meredith Bethune at www.meredithbethune.com
Listen on iTunes OR Google Play OR Stitcher
SHOW NOTES
[2:44] What is life like for an expat living in Leuven, Belgium
[3:33] The world’s longest bar?
[4:13] Why do people in Brussels and Wallonia speak French while others speak Dutch?
[5:48] Fear of travel?– Does such a thing exist?
[7:25] What’s a day in the life of a travel writer?
[9:49] How to get past the blank screen as a writer?
[11:54] Book: Bridge on the Drina
[15:06] French fries vs. Flemish fries– What’s the difference?
[15:54] Belgian chocolate…but who consumes the most per capita?
[16:17] Abbeys, monks, and beer– What do they have in common?
[17:26] Does Belgium have their own version of Nascar?
Meredith’s Beer Recommendations
Dubbel
Triple Karmeliet
Additional Links
Embassy & Consulates of Belgium in the US
Cost of Living in Belgium
