16 articles tagged with european cities
Five years ago, if you'd told me—a former corporate finance executive from California—that I'd be writing about navigating Budapest's public transit system while living as an intern in Madrid, I would have laughed. Yet here I am, 55 years young,...
The moment I stepped onto those rose-hued streets, I knew Toulouse had me under its spell. Not just for its blushing architecture that gives La Ville Rose its nickname, but for how it effortlessly balances cosmopolitan energy with provincial charm—all...
As someone who's spent decades analyzing how structures adapt to their environments, Copenhagen presents a fascinating study in sustainable urban design that doesn't require a developer's budget to appreciate. Last spring, I managed to experience this Scandinavian jewel during a...
I've ridden motorcycles through mountain passes that would make your knuckles white and filmed spiritual journeys across six continents. But there's something about Rome that keeps pulling me back like a spiritual magnet. Last fall, I challenged myself: could I...
Barcelona is a city of contrasts—a place where medieval alleyways give way to modernist masterpieces, where the Mediterranean laps against industrial reimaginings, and where the true heartbeat of Catalonia pulses far from the postcard panoramas. After countless visits to this...
You know, there's something magical about stepping into a city that hasn't yet been overrun by tourism's heavy footprint. Pecs (pronounced 'paych') feels like Hungary's best-kept secret – a cultural treasure chest tucked away in the southwest corner of the...
After exploring 47 countries on a shoestring budget, I've developed a sixth sense for value - and Porto might just be Europe's best-kept budget secret. This northern Portuguese city delivers everything I crave: authenticity, incredible food, stunning architecture, and vibrant...
Ah, the Mediterranean – where history whispers through ancient stones and the sea breeze carries the scent of olive groves and citrus. After competing in a gaming tournament in Madrid last spring, I couldn't resist extending my European adventure with...
Standing at the foot of the Witte Huis, Europe's first 'skyscraper' and one of Rotterdam's few pre-WWII survivors, I felt the weight of history pressing against the gleaming modern skyline. This city wasn't handed its heritage on a silver platter—it...
The first time I wandered through Bruges' cobblestone streets, I realized I was experiencing something photographers dream about—a perfectly preserved medieval city where every canal turn and market square feels like stepping into a living painting. As the autumn leaves...
The first time I stepped off the train at Budapest's Keleti Station, my marathon-trained legs were itching to explore every corner of this dual city. But even with my endurance background, I quickly realized that mastering Budapest's transportation system would...
Prague isn't just another European destination—it's a living mathematical masterpiece. The Golden Ratio appears everywhere from the Old Town Square's layout to the spiraling staircases of medieval towers. When I first visited with my college roommate (now my go-to travel...
The first time I stepped off the train at Brussels Central Station, I was armed with nothing but my court reporter's notepad and a vague plan to catch a performance at Théâtre Royal de Toone. Within hours, I'd gotten lost...
There's something about northern European waters that speaks to my soul in a language all its own. Perhaps it's the thirty years I spent studying the Great Lakes that makes me feel an immediate kinship with cities built around water....
Vienna's historic center is a living gallery where Habsburg grandeur meets coffee house culture in a symphony of visual delights. As someone who has spent decades chasing light across continents, I find Vienna's architectural poetry particularly moving in spring, when...
