While Germany is most closely associated with beer, it seems a large percentage of top European beers are, in fact, not from Germany at all. Some are from the Czech Republic, and a lot are from here, Belgium. In fact, Belgian beer is so good that in 2016 it was declared a UNESCO cultural heritage…
Editor’s note: I visited Barcelona in March 2019. However, just a week in - with two weeks remaining in the city - COVID 19 captured the world, and I fled back to California. Sadly, Montserrat was one of the things left unfinished for me. So it is both wonderful and a little sad to read…
It can be said that the best time to be Brussels is now. Yes, the city has an incredible historic center, anchored around the stunningly beautiful Grand Place (click to read more about Grand Place and historic Brussels). Yes, the city dates back centuries. And yes, this is the capital of Belgium, with all the…
Normally, I am a planner when it comes to my travel. Whether I spend a month in a place, or a day, or just a few hours, I am fairly meticulous with my research. I have a list of things I might want to see - the list is always more than I’ll get to,…
When I write about a place I visit, it is helpful both from a personal perspective and a narrative one to have a single experience that defines a destination. It helps me to tie a place to a sight, smell, or just an emotional feeling. After all, sometimes cities - and even countries - blend…
A journey to Istanbul (or beyond in Turkey) is most known for its history, culture, or natural beauty. After all, this is where so many empires have held their seats. But the food here in Istanbul is also worth an exploration. Turkish cuisine may not be the broadest in the world, but over five days…
In 1453, Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II and his army conquered Constantinople, putting an end to the Byzantine Empire. (Read more about Constantinople and Byzantine Istanbul here.) The victorious Turks renamed the city Istanbul, moving their capital here, where it remained until the fall of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War One. While…
Istanbul was ConstantinopleNow it's Istanbul, not ConstantinopleBeen a long time gone, ConstantinopleNow it's Turkish delight on a moonlit night Istanbul (Not Constantinople) sung by The Four Lads Yes, the song gets it right. Istanbul was Constantinople. (Before that, it was Byzantium, but that doesn’t make it into the song.) The town of Byzantium was elevated…
The statue of The Little Mermaid in Copenhagen, Denmark is one of the most disappointing tourist destinations in all of Europe. It is small, merely four feet tall atop a rock perch. It is on one edge of Copenhagen’s center, requiring actual effort to reach, and not really near anything else besides the Kastellet fort.…
Standing at the stern of the Sea Stallion, I am in awe. At around 90 feet in length, this sleek warship once carried close to 80 men as it sailed the waters of the Baltic and North Seas. Of course, this one is a reconstruction, but done to the exact specifications and with the same…