BELGIUM: Bruges

Bruges was the center of the textile industry in the early 12th Century.  In 1134 a storm allowed Bruges to benefit from its proximity to the UK by opening waterways that allowed for ease of transport of both raw materials and finished goods.  While there are still lacemakers in Bruges, much of what you see in shops is imported.  In the 1500s, when silt filled in the canal and prevented vessels from making their way to the city, the industry collapsed and as a result, the town has remained largely unchanged, as there was no need for growth or expansion.

This town is gorgeous and would be my number one recommendation for a romantic getaway in Belgium.  And the chocolate... The small hand crafted goods are unique from shop to shop, providing an endless sense of wonder and gastronomic experiences.

We did get caught in a thunderstorm on our way in, but it cleared quickly and allowed us to take in some medieval charm.

Oldest home in Bruges - one of the last wooden houses. 

As homes burned they were replaced with brick

Town center.  This used to be a water port 

housing all the guilds that facilitated trade.

Michelangelo's Madonna

The Prinselijk Begijnhof Ten Wijngaerde

A UNESCO World Heritage Site and 

Safe Quarters for Women While the Men Were out at Sea

The small dark structure in the corner is 

where the relic of Christ's blood is held.

Want to see better, high resolution photos from Bruges?  Donate here and gain exclusive donor access to my best images!!!  All images (c) Margret Morris

Brussels: Frites, Gaufres, and the EU

As I make room in my suitcase for upcoming adventures, I thought I would use this blog to post some of my memories so that I can allow other students to read the book in which I scribbled my experiences in the margins.

My arrival in Brussels had been delayed due to complications by a concussion I sustained in December 2016.   Note to self: put Christmas decorations up AFTER finals and do not climb ladders alone.  Given this was my second head injury, my doctors were extra cautious to make sure that I had enough time to heal before embarking on what was to be a 7 month internship/social enterprise abroad.  Fortunately, most of the concerning symptoms were gone when I arrived at the beginning of April.  I only had a few relapses, which just helped me to know how to temper my activities so that I was getting enough rest.

I have been told that the weather in Brussels during my stay has not been typical.  That the mild but sunny days have been more frequent than usual.  The first few weeks, however, were quite rainy so I would venture outside to explore whenever the clouds parted.  Here are the fruits of those excursions:

Protecting the Heart of Europe

Three months ago, I landed in Brussels, Belgium to begin working onsite on an internship I began remotely more than a month before.

Through my years as a legal assistant in a prominent New York entertainment firm, one thing consistently stood out.  Copyright, while fiercely protected in the US and the U.K, has very little effective returns for artists abroad.  

In Fall 2016, the European Commission released a Draft of the Copyright Reform Directive.  As Europe is often looked to as a cultural hub, I knew that whatever happens in this directive would set the pace for the rest of the world.  I knew I needed to be in Brussels to work on it.  After over a hundred hours of consulting with my academic advisor and many industry professionals, I was put in touch with an organization that had room for me to do just that.  It has been an amazing experience.

Without going into specifics, particularly since the directive is still up for vote, I have had the opportunity to meet with members of the Commission, Parliament, Ambassadors to the EU, trade associations, coalitions, artists, authors, NATO, Fulbright Foundation, and many many others.

Here I am looking seriously on as MEP Julie Ward confirms my previous comments at the European Parliament.

My experience has been life changing and has reconfirmed that I am heading in the right direction with my life goals.

Due to Experiential Learning funding through BYU, I have been able to take advantage of the ease of travel by rail and air from Brussels.  I will try to keep it to highlights! 

Soon we will head to Barcelona and then Oxford, other areas of the U.K., and India before returning to the States.

Arches National Park - 1 Heel

Taking advantage of the Fee Free Days by venturing to Arches National Park in Moab, UT, we enjoyed some out-of-this-world views.  Taking the advice of the park rangers, I wore my New Balance running shoes, though I'm sure they would have favored hiking boots, but they really weren't necessary.

Much of the park can be seen close to the roadside, and for those areas one could get away with 5 heels.  However, if you want to enjoy the truly incredible views of Delicate Arch or Skyline Arch, stick with the Park's recommendations and wear sturdy shoes.

The climb up to Delicate Arch, is just that --- a climb.  Up hill the whole way... rather up rock --- one solid ginormous boulder to be exact, expect some upper thigh burn.  If you need to take a break, turn around and enjoy the incredible skyline.  The path winds and weaves, but just past the cliffside, the most spectacular view surprises you and then all of that uphill -bothways sort of effort is forgotten.

Shot captured with my iPhone and made incredible with CameraBag

The arch is well visited, and almost always has people beneath it, but if you wait long enough, you too can have your moment under that incredible natural sandstone sculpture. The enormity of it can only be experienced in person.  The photos just don't quite do it justice.

While we were there we took a few Subway toss shoots to submit to Jimmy Fallon's superbowl project.  A little fun to hopefully put UT front and center during the Superbowl festivities.

The trip is about 45-minutes - 1 hour.  Not terribly difficult, just tiring given that there is no break for your quads.  The trip down, however, is quite delightful.  The trailhead is very well marked and if you follow the rock cairns (though there is likely to be someone in front of you anyway) you will find your way.



Apparel: Tommy Hilfiger Jeans and white Avalanche Ski Jacket
Shoes:  White and Gray New Balance running shoes.

National Park Entrance Fee Free Days

Have no idea what to do this weekend?  Go visit a National Park!  


All national parks across the country are waiving entrance fees on 17 days in 2012 as a way to encourage people to get outdoors and enjoy the remarkable landscapes and historical and cultural sites national parks have to offer with their loved ones this year.

Other fee free dates for 2012 are:

•  April 21 to 29 (National Park Week)
•  June 9 (Get Outdoors Day)
•  September 29 (National Public Lands Day)
•  November 10 to 12 (Veterans Day weekend 



This weekend fees will be waived Saturday, January 14 through Monday, January 16.


With so many National Parks within UT, there is really no reason not to get out and see them.


Options include: 

• Arches National Park
• Bryce Canyon National Park
• Canyonlands National Park
• Capitol Reef National Park
• Zion National Park
• Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park

Utah is also the Gateway to:

• Grand Canyon National Park
  (Arizona)
• Mesa Verde National Park
  (Colorado)
• Great Basin National Park
  (Nevada)
• Yellowstone National Park
  (Idaho/Wyoming)
• Grand Teton National Park
  (Wyoming)

Night Skiing at Brighton - 3 Heels

It's been awhile since I posted. Let's face it, the mountains now have snow in them and wandering around aimlessly by my cellphone doesn't seem smart in frigid temperatures.

I do have some heel hiking adventures from October in Australia that I'll post soon, simply because I have nowhere else to talk about my single heel hiking adventure downunder.

Today's post however, is about a very serious matter --- they don't make ski boots in high heels. This is a situation I intend to remedy.

Having been a ballroom dance major in college (while taking my pre-med classes of course), I never took the chance to go skiing on "the greatest snow on earth," not willing to risk an injury. So last year I ventured with friends to try snowboarding. Which after one really rough first run, was a lot of fun. But that meant I still hadn't been skiing.

Tuesday, only hours after getting off a plane that was supposed to get in the night before, and working on only 3 hours of sleep acquired in a noisy Sheraton somewhere in Atlanta, I went skiing for the first time --- in the dark --- on fake snow.

I thought my first down snowboarding was rough. Skiing was so much worse. At least the first run. The main issue ... my feet were locked into these horrible flat boots, in a hyper-the-other-direction angle than my feet are used to. I'm sure these were good boots -- for someone else. The pain from stretching my Achilles in that direction was blinding and I nearly got sick all over the slope at the end.

After much pleading with Alan to just let me die, I scooted off to the side, sans the skis and with my feet freed from their bondage, while he went on a few solo runs.

The nausea subsided and I was ready to go at it again. This time, the pain was at half mast, and I was soon doing runs without falls --- and the biggest accomplishment of all ... getting off the lift without crashing.

The secret to skiing ... throw a little hip into it. I think I was so mesmerized by the grace of snow bunnies riding down the hill effortlessly, that I failed to recognize the mechanics of what it took to ski. Once I realized it was more of a salsa than a waltz, life was good, or, um, at least better.

The only thing missing from this tango --I know WAY too many ballroom references -- was a nice pair of heels. I'm convinced, however, that they would make a champion out of this beginner skier.

The 3 heel rating is in anticipation of what will be, as well as a shout out to my darling friend Kimmi who so fittingly called ski boots the "high heels of the slopes".

We chose Brighton because as far as we could see, it was either Wolf Mountain or Brighton for night skiing/boarding (4pm-9pm) and since my favorite equipment rental (Canyon Sports) is downtown, we chose Brighton. The resort is quite a drive from the canyon mouth - about 19 miles. And the lodge does lack a lot of the amenities found in places like Snowbird and Canyons. However, night skiing is great for no crowds and the staff is great, too. Now, does anyone know where I can find a great "Ski SL,UT" t-shirt?

The Unmarked Trail --- 3 Heels

“Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” ~Emerson

I wanted to have a 3 heel hike and I thought a hike to The Living Room would be that hike. And it would have been, if the path had led to The Living Room. However, since the trails above the Hospital aren't marked, I ended up traversing, in 2.5 inch heels, a trail that was more like a 1 heel hike.

The Living Room is a valley overlook point that sits up above the University of Utah and is so named because visitors have moved the sandstones atop the mountain into furniture so that weary travelers, or those looking to swap a television view for a spectacular sunset, can sit in comfort for a great show.

But that wonderful experience eluded me. Following directions found on the Internet, I parked at the trail head right next to the Huntsman Center. The name of the trail head: TRAIL HEAD. I then made my way through the foliage and found myself in a sea of trails going every which way. Some all fed into one location, others ducked down other chasms, into foliage, down service roads. I guessed, and guessed wrong.

Unable to even spot what peak I was aiming for, I ended up on the south side of the mountain. I was climbing higher and higher, taking in great views of This Is The Place Park, and getting some incredible views of the East to West grid. Soon I was coming up the mountain directly from the south heading north and then the path split. North was straight up and I most definitely did not have the equipment to scale the terrain. To the East the trail dropped sharply into a gully, to the West, a similar path, with a less severe grade. I chose to go West.

At first I thought the path would loop back to where I had started, and it would, but only after three intense hills. Climbing steep hills in heels, as I've said before, is much easier than coming down steep hills in heels. Easier if the terrain is fairly solid, but quite dangerous if the terrain has broken debris, especially when that debris are flat pieces of rock.

Fortunately, because of the position of the trail, a small "creek bed" had formed in the middle of the trail, which I was able to wedge my left heel into while I took a step forward with my right. I literally inched my way down each of those three hills. I seriously worried that my heels would break, that I would find an even more slick surface on the next ridge, and that ultimately, I would be unable to get back at all let alone before the sunset.

2 hours 15 minutes, I was back to the TRAIL HEAD. No scratches, heels in tact, but completely deflated and disappointed. However, now looking at some of the incredible shots, it was a great hike. And while it was 3 heel possible, walking into the unknown, unmarked trail, unprepared is not a great experience.

Apparel: Skinny Jeans, Navy Boatneck Top
Shoes: Camel Leather Guess 2.5 inch Stilettos

DIRECTIONS: Park at the Trail head just past the Huntsman Center above Research Campus. Wander.

I'm starting to think about investing in a camelback pack in order to be better prepared for some of the longer trails, or, um, the unmarked excursions.