ANNABELLE WHITE, FORMER FOOD EDITOR

This photo of me and my guide Miriam was taken in Venice, the trip where

I fell in love with European excursions! My first trip there was in 1986, when my former husband and I stayed at inexpensive Hotel Pacific near the Grand Place in Brussels. There was no internet or email then, so we researched travel books and found that everyone loved the owner/ manager, Paul Pauwels (inset). Any question was taken care of with a pull-down map and teacher’s stick. The hotel breakfast was amazing – carefully selected baguette (Paul knew the baker), slices of cheese and ham, butter, jam, coffee and omelette. It was so good, I ate and ate, and Paul always pointed to me and said “beaucoup de manger” (a polite way of saying big appetite!). Paul taught me the wonderful power of simple care through food and beverages in an authentic setting and my life has been blessed from knowing him. I miss him every time I travel.