Vienna, Austria’s majestic capital, exudes grandeur in every aspect. Austria’s largest city and the fourth largest in Europe is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, boasting an abundance of lavish palaces, majestic churches, captivating museums, and serene parks. Not only is every corner of Vienna steeped in history and beauty, but beyond its architectural splendor lies a culinary scene that rivals its cultural heritage. On a recent visit, I took the opportunity to further explore Vienna’s gastronomic offerings with a meticulously curated food tour. This delicious journey not only tantalized my taste ..read more

Mexico City is absolutely captivating! High-altitude and high-octane, this bustling metropolis reigns supreme as the largest and most populous in the Western Hemisphere. Mexico City’s culinary scene is nothing short of extraordinary, boasting flavors that tantalize the taste buds. The cityscape is adorned with architectural wonders that narrate tales of history and culture, while its art galleries and museums offer a glimpse into the artistic soul of Mexico. However, amidst the exhilarating chaos of Mexico City’s 8.5 million inhabitants, one cannot overlook the potential for overwhelm within i ..read more

As the weather gets warmer and days grow longer, Europe blooms with vibrant celebrations signaling the arrival of Easter. One such celebration is Easter markets. Similar in spirit to the beloved Christmas markets, these festive bazaars offer a wonderful assortment of treats, crafts, and a jovial atmosphere. A Brief History of Easter Markets Easter markets have a rich history dating back centuries. Originating in medieval Europe, these markets initially served the practical purpose of providing a venue for locals to procure provisions for Easter celebrations. Over time, they evolved into bustli ..read more

The Netherlands comes into full bloom in the spring and there’s no better place to enjoy it than at Keukenhof.  This world-famous flower garden where 7 million bulbs are planted over its 79 acres, is full of hyacinths, daffodils, orchids, and the country’s signature flower, tulips. The garden is open from mid-March until early May and will welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors during that time. If you are among that number, here are a few tips for visiting Keukenhof, and the surrounding tulip fields. Please PIN and SHARE This page contains affiliate links. If you click on one and/or ..read more

Unveiling the best Christmas markets in Salzburg is a quest undertaken by every eager traveler preparing to visit the Austrian city for the holiday season.  Renowned as the birthplace of Mozart and the iconic backdrop for “The Sound of Music,” Salzburg boasts an exquisite Altstadt (Old Town), a marvel of baroque architecture, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, adorned with ornate wrought iron guild signs embellishing its facades. Though a year-round gem, Salzburg truly shines during the holiday season, with a number of magical Christmas markets and quintessential festive activities that ma ..read more

The Austrian city of Salzburg is best known as the birthplace of the composer, Mozart, and the setting for the movie “The Sound of Music”. Salzburg’s elegant Altstadt (Old Town), with its distinctive baroque architecture, is one of the best-preserved in Europe and named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One particular highlight of Altstadt is the ornamental wrought iron guild signs extending from the building facades. While Salzburg is delightful any time of the year, it’s especially enchanting during the holiday season. With the snow-capped Alps in the background adding to the already festive amb ..read more

Since the Germans are the masters of the Christmas markets universe, I decided to go to Germany again (I’ve been to Aachen, and Berlin in the past) for my annual Christmas market pilgrimage. This year I chose to explore the Christmas market in Cologne, a pretty city that sits on Germany’s Rhine River, and an easy drive (which I did on the way there) or bus or train ride (which I did on the way back) from my home in Holland. Please PIN and SHARE this post There are 7 different Christmas markets around Cologne, and I made it to 6. The first was the Weihnachtmarkt am Kölner Dom (Christmas m ..read more

When I told people that my annual Christmas market pilgrimage took me to Riga, I got lots of quizzical stares and queries asking where this place was. Mentioning that it was the capital of Latvia sometimes resulted in a slight head nod indicating they may have, possibly heard of it, but maybe not, while informing them that Latvia was the largest of the Baltic countries got me a couple of “Oh! Like in Monopoly!” replies. But Riga is so much more than that. The Latvian capital, which sits on the Baltic Sea mixes modern and medieval with its UNESCO World Heritage Site Old Town, gothic spires and ..read more

Mexico City is amazing! High-altitude and high-octane, the Western Hemisphere’s largest and most populous metropolis has an awesome culinary scene, fascinating architecture, and wonderful art galleries and museums. As amazing as Mexico City is, and while visitors should definitely experience all that CDMX has to offer, there’s no denying that large, high-octane, and populous (8.5 million people!) can quickly become overwhelming. Consider briefly escaping the whirl of Mexico City to explore other fascinating towns and sites within easy reach for an awesome day trip. Here some of the best day tr ..read more

Those who have followed me for a while have probably heard me joke that I’ve lived in The Netherlands for 100 years. Well, not quite 100, but certainly since last century. Yes, I’ve lived in The Netherlands since 1999. Baby One More Time (Britney Spears), Pretty Fly For a White Guy (The Offspring), Believe (Cher), Fly Away (Lenny Kravitz), and Enjoy Yourself (A+) were at the top of the charts when I arrived. It was supposed to be 2-3 years. When I first told one of my best friends about the move, she joked that I would be here for 25. This is a lesson in not allowing people to speak curses ..read more