The story of Jelgava, Latvia is heartbreaking. Founded in 1265 by the Livonians, the city grew prosperous and by the 16th century was the seat of the Duchy of Courland. The nobility built fine mansions and churches, and the city’s beauty was said to rival that of Riga. But in 1944 tragedy struck. Jelgava had the misfortune […]
Europe
Where to Eat in Paris – 20 Restaurants to Try Now
Paris is known as one of the world’s best food cities for good reason. It has over 400 restaurants listed in the Michelin Guide, and 20 of those have two or more stars. Of course, some require reservations six months in advance and you might have to sell a kidney to afford the bill. But […]
72 Hours in Brussels, Belgium
A winter trip to Brussels wasn’t in my original Europe travel plan. Having previously spent a few days in the Belgian capital in 2007, I wanted to focus on other new-to-me destinations, preferably farther south. But search as I might, flights to Barcelona just didn’t match up with my travel dates. So I took a […]
Discovering Kuldiga: The Cutest Town in Latvia
My latest effort to see as much of Latvia as possible took me to charming little Kuldiga, a perfectly preserved medieval town in the western part of the country. Kuldiga’s castle might be long gone, but the rest of the city is virtually unchanged, from its street layout to its centuries-old wooden buildings with red clay […]
The Best Cafes in Riga
One thing that continually impresses me about Riga is its exceptional café scene. First-time visitors to the city might be surprised to find craft coffee, delectable pastries, and free WIFI at nearly every turn. But with so many outstanding options, how can you choose? After sipping and eating my way across the city, these are […]