You Don’t Have to Do It Alone: The Power of Friendship
A Barge Journey with MARK NEPO on the rivers and canals in BELGIUM
May 29 – June 4, 2025
SCHEDULE
This is a week full of adventures, sessions and intriguing excursions. Kindly note that all excursions are optional. If you ever wish to just simply relax and enjoy the scenery or take a little snooze rather than going on an excursion, you may do so at any time. Also note that this schedule may vary slightly to meet the needs of the participants as the days unfold.
Generally, when the barge is cruising along, Mark will be offering sessions.
Mornings will start with an optional Yoga session, followed by breakfast. Evenings after dinner? Let’s wait and see who has joined us and we’ll decide what works best for everyone during the evening times. More than likely the evenings will involve a combination of sessions, games, activities and free-time.
Day One – GHENT
For information on getting to the mooring point for the barge MS Raymonde, go to : Getting There Also, if you wish some suggestions for accommodations in this area, the Getting There section has a list of recommended hotels.
You are welcome to board the MS Raymonde barge at 6:00 p.m. on May 29, 2025. We’ll introduce the barge crew at a welcome cocktail before dinner on board. Franco and Kay will welcome the group and share some information, and Mark will introduce this week-long event.
Day Two – GHENT -OUDENAARDE
Mark’s Sessions
- Session 1: The Underlying Reality
- Session 2: Alone and Together
Excursion
This morning, join us for a guided tour of Bruges and a brewery. We’ll head to Bruges (about a 60- to 75-minute coach ride leaving Ghent). Its works of art, tranquil ambiance, romantic aura, and stunning architecture make it one of the top places to visit during any European vacation. The city has meticulously preserved the elegance and class it exuded during its golden age as a maritime trade center. We’ll then visit a brewery for a taste of ale. This brewery was founded in 1856. Six generations later, it is a dynamic brewery still attached to its origins and the authentic Brugse Zot. We’ll return to the ship in Ghent.
During our afternoon, we’ll glide along the Scheldt from Ghent to Oudenaarde, surrounded by the magnificent scenery of several natural parks. We’ll arrive in Oudenaarde in the early evening. We’ll remain in port overnight.
Day Three – OUDENAARDE – PERONNES LEZ ANTOING
Mark’s Sessions
- Session 3: Being A Friend
- Session 4: Seeking Truth Together and The Art of Netting
Excursion
This morning, join us for a guided tour of Oudenaarde and a distillery. Oudenaarde is a picturesque city full of historic monuments, with the most notable being the town hall and its two main churches. Other memorable sites include the lovely beguinage, the house where Margaret of Parma was born, the Boudewijnstoren, and the 18th-century meat market. Everything is testimony to a rich and lively past. The city has more than 100 historic monuments. Set off on an urban hike taking you to the loveliest areas and tourist sites. Enjoy some free time on your own to see what the city has to offer. We’ll then head over to a distillery. This will be the time to learn about how jenever, gin, and whiskey are distilled. Of course, we’ll have a taste!
After we return on board, our ship will continue cruising to Péronnes-lez-Antoing. Take advantage of some downtime to relax on the Sun Deck and watch the scenery roll by. We’ll cross through the city of Tournai before arriving in Péronnes-lez-Antoing in the early evening. If you’d like, you can work off dinner during an evening stroll. We’ll remain in port overnight.
Day Four – PERONNES LEZ ANTOING – MONS
Mark’s Sessions
- Session 5: The Work of Friendship
- Session 6: Meeting Our Teachers
Excursion
We’ll spend the morning cruising on the Nimy-Blaton-Péronnes Canal, a strategic waterway in the center of Belgium. We’ll arrive in Mons at the beginning of the afternoon. Set off on a visit to the Château de Beloeil and the Chant d’Éole vineyard. We’ll head over to the Château de Beloeil—nicknamed the Belgian Versailles—which contains a valuable collection of 15th- to 19th-century art, including a library with more than 20,000 books and precious manuscripts. The furniture is a sampling of some of the top work of French cabinet makers in the 17th and 18th centuries. The paintings depict the grand achievements of most of the castle’s family members. We’ll continue on to the Chant d’Éole estate. The vineyard came to be when a family of Belgian farmers joined forces with a family of eminent sparkling-wine makers. They use the best modern techniques to guarantee a sparkling wine that adheres to Belgian tradition. We’ll take a guided tour recounting the vineyard’s history. Our enthusiastic guides will explain the different stages of production—from planting to bottling, and everything in between. We’ll finish up the tour will a tasting of three signature spirits—the Brut Blanc de Blancs, the Rosé Brut, and the Elixir Saint-Georges. We’ll return to Mons. We’ll remain in port overnight
Day Five – MONS – STREPY THIEU
Mark’s Sessions
- Session 7: Moments That Hold the World Together
- Session 8: The Endless Vows
Excursion
Join us for a food tour in Mons this morning. Few cities can boast about their heritage like Mons can. This is a vibrant, modern city with a deep, historic past. The Grand-Place offers a myriad of places to lose yourself in. Our guide will take us to the center of Mons to learn about the city’s history and edible delights. This stroll is a combination of history, culture, and anecdotes accented by a tasting of four local specialties. Indulging in the local cuisine makes this tour an unforgettable experience.
We’ll return to the ship for lunch. This afternoon, we’ll cruise on Canal du Centre to Strépy-Thieu. We’ll remain in port overnight.
Day Six – STREPY THIEU – HALLE
Mark’s Sessions
- Session 9: One Candle Lighting Many
- Session 10: The Long Way Home
Excursion
Get ready for a once-in-a-lifetime experience as our barge takes a boat lift. Using two independent caissons, the lift allows a crossing in less than 35 minutes with a 240-foot height difference (75 m) and single-handedly replaced four former boat lifts and two locks. We’ll continue our trip on the Brussels-Charleroi Canal to Halles. The next adventure is the monumental Ronquières Inclined Plane, built between 1960 and 1968. Construction of the plane reduced delays caused by the 14 previous locks. We’ll continue cruising to Halle.
In the afternoon, we’ll take a coach to Brussels for a guided tour of the city and a Belgian chocolate maker’s workshop. We’ll set off for the Belgian capital. In the city center, we’ll see the Grand-Place with its glorious city hall and lavish guildhalls. With its richly decorated facade and impressive tower, the City Hall is one of the most beautiful buildings in the country. Further along, we’ll see the iconic Manneken Pis and the Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries. After, we’ll visit a Belgian chocolate maker in the heart of Brussels. Learn about our favorite indulgence—from its Mayan origins to the modern creations of master chocolate makers—while watching a demonstration of the meticulous and precise work through windows peering into the small factory. We’ll return on board the ship in Halle. Tonight is our festive gala evening.
Day Seven – HALLE
This is our last morning together as a group. Enjoy breakfast on board as we wrap up this amazing experience. Mark, Kay and Franco will share their insights and each participant may choose to share their final thoughts as we all move forward in our lives having experienced a unique and memorable event. Disembarking will be at 9:00 a.m.
