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Portugal welcomes you!
Your next great European destination Looking for fresh inspiration for your travel plans? Look no further: Portugal has 7 regions , all different despite the country's tidy size, that offer a wide variety of experiences. There are many reasons to put Portugal at the top of your travel list; here are some good ones to get you started: Lisbon and Porto If you have only a few days, Lisbon and Porto , the two Portuguese largest cities, are extremely attractive and interesting. Lisbon has a special …
The Netherlands’ endless attractions
A small country with a long must-see list Are you already planning your next trip? Then don’t miss out on what’s happening in the Netherlands year-round. There are so many interesting and unique stories to discover — get ready for the Netherlands to surprise you! Do you know that twelve UNESCO World Heritage sites exist in the Netherlands? They vary greatly in size, age, and beauty, yet each tells a remarkable story. These places shaped Dutch society and represent both the urge to innovate and …
Ideas for your trips to Greece
Greek travels for culture lovers There is exciting news for music lovers around the world, particularly for classical music fans. In 2023, a new museum dedicated to Maria Callas opened in the center of Athens at 44, Mitropoleos St., as the world of music celebrated its 100th anniversary of her birth. It’s the first museum to be inaugurated in honor of the world-renowned, Greek-born diva. The building is in the 19th-century neo-classical architectural style and will house some of the great …
Croatia's Pelješac Bridge
An amazing new tourist attraction For those planning a road trip to the south of Croatia, admiring the scattered islands on the beautiful azure sea on the way, you can now see even more, thanks to the Pelješac Bridge . The new Pelješac Bridge in Croatia was inaugurated on July 26 th , 2022 and is currently the largest and most important construction project in the country. The bridge stretches elegantly over the crystalline Adriatic Sea, connecting the southernmost part of Croatia with the rest …
Switzerland’s Bernese Fasnacht
Bern’s iconic Carnival is 40 years strong It’s a cold winter’s night, and you’re alone in a dark medieval alleyway in Bern’s Old City . Suddenly, you see the warm glow of torches in the distance — and a big hairy beast swinging its hips and clawed paws as it lurches across the cobblestones towards you. “It’s a bear!” You gasp. Not out of fright—but out of delight! The torchlight procession of Bern’s Carnival, Bärner Fasnacht , a hallmark of the Swabian-Alemannic festival, is coming your way. …
Flanders, cycling heaven
The spring classics: both top sport and folklore ‘A bicycle, a bicycle, my kingdom for a bicycle.” Shakespeare's masterpiece Richard III would sound different if it were set in Flanders . Here the two-wheeler dominates our lives. Especially when the spring classics are coming, a wonderful marriage of top sport and tradition. Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, Nokere Koerse and Gent-Wevelgem, the E3 Classic and Dwars door Vlaanderen. And then the icing on the cake: the Ronde van …
Carnivals in Europe
5 folkloric places to experience carnival, chosen by locals Did you know that carnival is an ancient tradition? Its roots stretch back to Europe’s pagan times, where an early version of the festival celebrated the god of the harvest. Over the centuries, it has evolved into a time of merriment before Lent. In fact, the word carnival itself is likely a nod to the Latin, carna vale, meaning farewell to meat. Today, it’s all about the festivities, the parades, the costumes, the joy of exploration …
Birdwatching in the Baltics
Your guide to a Baltic adventure I was jetlagged, so starting at four in the morning, I lay awake in my bed. The Latvian rain was falling in sheets, a constant drumbeat on the canopy of trees, mossy forest floor, and bushes that stood just beyond the window of my eco-lodge. Since it was spring, the first light of dawn broke at around seven, and with the appearance of the sun, the rain stopped, the clouds parted, and I heard the gorgeous sound that I’d come for: the twitter of birds. In the …
Your guide to Slavic Dance
My whirling exploration in Central Europe My earliest memories in Brooklyn are of large family gatherings. At Christmas, Babcia Helena (grandma), Dziadek Czesław (grandpa) and a trail of aunts, uncles and cousins would file into our Greenpoint apartment to sit around our dining table to eat the twelve Christmas dishes : borscht, carp, and nine other culinary delights. At the end of the meal, after everyone was sated and happy, Dziadek Czesław would usually settle in the armchair near the …
Inspirational Estonian Women
Follow their footsteps along the coast To celebrate Women’s Day on March 8th, tour Estonia’s coast, following in the footsteps of three inspirational Estonian women. Tallinn : Hometown of Kaja Kallas She was the first female prime minister of Estonia, a role she held from 2021 until 2024, when she resigned in advance of her appointment as High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Kallas comes from a prominent political family; her grandfather was one of …