Welcome to Latcho Drom: A Journey of Stories
Latcho = Good, beautiful
Drom = Journey
The name Latcho Drom isn’t just a catchy title; it’s a piece of my heritage. It comes from a Romani dialect often used in the circus world. As the granddaughter of a circus artist, these words always lingered in my family’s vocabulary.
To me, Latcho Drom represents the soul of traveling: the beauty of the road, the music of new languages, and the stories we collect along the way.
Who is Davina?
I’m a dreamer, a storyteller, and a bit of a romantic, born and half raised in the heart of Ghent, Belgium. With circus blood in my veins, “home” was always a moving target. We drifted from Ghent to the Belgian coast and back again, giving me a lifelong itch to see what’s around the next corner. Ghent will always be my first love, although I secretly also miss the sparkling sea.
favorite views of Ghent:
Graslei and river Leie.
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Seen from one of the most
beautiful hotel rooms of Ghent Marriott.
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Student life took me from Ghent to the streets of Brussels, but I always wanted to travel further and further. I even went to the furthest place I could imagine: Australia. I spent almost a year in the vast country, where I lost my heart (and occasionally my Dutch vocabulary) to the ‘slow travel’ lifestyle.
When I returned to Belgium, I followed my love to the city of the Golden Spurs, Kortrijk. It turned out to be an unexpectedly short, but beautiful stay. Because soon, I would follow that same love around the world.
From the Big Apple to loving Virginia
In 2016, we traded the cobblestones for the skyline of New York City, living just across the Hudson river in New Jersey. It was a whirlwind of skyscrapers and a buzzing fast pace.
In 2020 however, life took us 250 miles south to Leesburg, Virginia. We now live just a stone’s throw from another major city: Washington D.C.. Our move to Virginia marked a new chapter. It’s here that I became a mother to my son (born 2020) and my daughter (born 2023).
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve moved in my life. The location itself doesn’t really matter. Home is where your family is, where there’s love, where you make yourself at home… On the other hand, there’s also something in my blood that makes me unable to sit still, and I feel like I MUST see the world. While the world slowed down during the pandemic, my hunger to explore the American continent only grew.
Why I Blog
I’ve always felt the need to express myself. I’ve been keeping journals since I could hold a pen. Even while traveling, I noticed how eagerly family and friends listened to my stories. What began as a way to keep my family and friends in Belgium updated on my adventures, has grown into a true community.
Valley of Fire, Nevada
Even today, this blog is still dedicated to family and friends. Without them, this travel blog would be nothing.
Today, Latcho Drom is where I share the “Real United States.” Not the 10-day-fast-lane-road-trip version, but the step-by-step, deep-dive exploration of culture, nature, and family life. Whether I’m navigating a flight with a toddler and a preschooler, doing a getaway couples weekend with my husband, traveling solo or reminiscing about my hometown Ghent, I write with one goal: to inspire you to start your own journey.
What you’ll find here:
Fun fact
In 1993, a documentary called Latcho Drom was released. I still vividly remember seeing it on the big screen as a five-year-old. The beautiful colors, the landscape, the narrative music, the intriguing characters, and their journey will always stay with me.
Watch one of the most beautiful scenes from the movie below:
I’m so glad you’re here. Whether you’re a fellow expat, a parent planning your first big trip, or just a dreamer, I hope my stories help you find your own Latcho Drom.
