The energy of Munich is absolutely transformed by the rich Bavarian tradition of Oktoberfest; with businesswomen commuting to work decked out in intricate dirndls, storefront windows showcasing lederhosen on every street, and thousands of heart-shaped Lebkuchen cookies that seem to hang from the sky. The world’s largest annual folk festival, Oktoberfest attracts over 8 million people from around the world. Inside these…
Category: Eastern Europe
Ljubljana: Clean Charm with a Side of Dragon
Countries within Communist Europe and the war-torn Balkan area all seemed to have climbed out of their respective despair with very distinct scars. But not Ljubljana…she is different. Seemingly unscathed by the cold side of history, the past is conveyed with grace—through a charming cobblestoned Old Town awash with seriously splendid architecture. Heritage abound, this…
Bled, Slovenia:
A Natural Fairy Tale
Let’s talk about fairy tales. Imagine a shimmering emerald lake absolutely surrounded by lush green trees. These trees continue on in all directions, healthily dotting magnificent mountains that cascade up into the bright blue sky and pierce fluffy, white clouds. Now, in the middle of that lake is a tiny island that holds a church…
Budapest’s Hidden Treasure Chest
The dazzling Danube River cuts right through the middle of Budapest, creating two distinct and equally essential parts of the city; Buda and Pest. The Buda side is calm–offering a majestic castle reminiscent of the Ottoman Empire, rolling green hills, and a classic, cobblestoned Old Town. Meanwhile, the Pest side is lively–packed with tree-lined avenues, architecture that crumbles with charm, and an…
Prague: $1 Beers in an Architectural Eden
At every turn, Prague is brimming with history — unearthed by simply looking up. One can gape at the gorgeous mix of architecture here for an entire day. Not a fan of building structure? How about royalty? From a distance and up close, Prague’s Castle District dates back a millennium and guarantees a stunningly opulent visit. Multi-tasking is…
Krakow: Polish Roots, Pierogies, & One Massive Square
Krakow easily earns the title of cultural capital in Poland. Throughout history, this historic city has won over most everyone who crossed (or took over) it’s path; Austrians, Prussians, etc. Affirming the idea that beauty doesn’t discriminate, rumor has it that Adolf Hitler found Krakow too visually stunning to demolish. This essentially saved it from…
Vilnius: KGB Scars, Baltic Pride, & Countless Courtyards
Lithuania’s past stories a tumultuous battle for independence. From Nazi Occupation to Stalinist Communism, enemies have desperately tried to dismantle their prized culture…but to no avail. Vilnius’ experience with oppression birthed a generation and culture of artists and intellectuals who are painting this compact city into a lively and creative urbana. This city is stocked with coffee shops and cocktail bars, set against a backdrop of historic antique ruins and graffitied KGB buildings.