Not far from Ghent, is the town of Aalst which is practically unheard of beyond Belgium, but within, it is renowned for having a yearly three-day, 600 year old Carnaval. Recognized by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, this event deserves all the attention it can possibly muster as being a three day festival of debauchery! Plus, it might possibly be the best kept secret in Europe!
While the colorful city of Wroclaw has plenty of beautiful buildings, the most memorable and iconic attractions are not a cathedral or monument, but more a plethora of lovable gnomes. Being a lover of all things unique and adorable, when I first discovered that the city of Wroclaw has had a serious invasion of dwarfs, I knew I had to visit! What started out as a silent yet witty protest by an anti-communist group, has now turned into a kitschy tourist attraction for the city. And I’m not gonna lie, I was one of them who fell in love with the dwarfs! After all, how could I not?
We traded in Roman ruins, Venetian architecture, delicious pasta and gelato in Italy for a two week road trip through the Balkans visiting new, up & coming destinations as the mysterious veil over Eastern Europe is slowly disappearing. While we had wanted the romance of Tuscany and the Almafi coast, we decided that Italy is 1. Expensive. 2. Crowded 3. Typical for honeymooners. Don’t get me wrong, I have a serious love affair with Italy and I still want to go, but I found myself more intrigued by the lesser known.
If you’re looking for some of the best places to visit in Austria, look no further! Perched high on a hill overlooking the Wachau Valley, the winding Danube River and the small town of Melk is Austria’s prettiest and most impressive abbey, Melk Abbey. Impossible to miss when approaching either by boat or by car, it’s sunshine yellow facade is a welcoming sight and has been home to Benedictine monks for over 900 years!
For those wanting to explore more of Central / Eastern Europe, this itinerary will pack in a lot to do in four of the most fascinating capitals! First, begin your journey in Prague where you will be blown away with jaw-dropping architecture, colorful buildings and picturesque moments.
Perhaps you’ve never heard of Slovakia, or perhaps you’ve been told visiting some Eastern European countries are not worth your time and energy. Quite personally, I find that many Western European cities are becoming over crowded and too expensive and heading east seems to be the theme of our 2017 travels. Not only are cities […]
Poland might not be a country that is on everyone’s bucket list, but after a recent visit, I’d say it needs to be! Wroclaw was absolute love at first sight. It’s full of wonderful surprises that instantly made me fall in love! It boasts one of the loveliest squares in Europe, adorablized by a voluminous number of gnomes scattered throughout the city and has some of the most delicious food! Wroclaw is definitely one of the most family-friendly towns in Europe and one of the top destinations to visit in Eastern Europe!
If you’re looking to ring in the New Year with fireworks, concerts and a night of partying, then Salzburg, Austria is the place to be! The city turns into a complete party zone with concerts throughout the city and at the stroke of midnight, Salzburg becomes a festival of lights as fireworks blast throughout the […]
Nothing can get you into the holly jolly holiday spirit quite like a beautiful Christmas market, thousands upon thousands of twinkling lights and far too much Glühwein than is acceptable for one’s waistline. No other time of year is more magical than the holiday season anywhere than in Europe, but Vienna certainly knows how to do it best!
As one of the finest cities in northern Europe along the Baltic coast, Gdańsk is a charming city loaded with beautiful architecture and waterfront views along its ports. Having had the misfortune of being the location of the first shots fired during the Second World War, it would later lay in almost complete ruin by the end of the war. Almost eight decades later, the city has been gloriously rebuilt and has so much to offer, along with the neighboring towns of Gdynia and Sopot.