The Latvian capital of Riga is undoubtedly the country’s most famous UNESCO World Heritage Site. But I was keen to track down Latvia’s second, more obscure entry on the list: the Struve Geodetic Arc. In the mid-1800s, Danish astronomer Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Struve conducted a survey along the meridian running between Norway and the Black […]
Europe
Exploring Krakow, the Cultural Heart of Poland
Krakow is a special place. As one of the oldest cities in Poland, this former capital is a culture-lover’s delight. This is especially true since much of its medieval core survived WWII relatively unscathed. From a stately castle and ornate churches to a rich Jewish history and incredible food scene, there are tons of unique […]
Pretty Palaces of Warsaw, Poland
When I first started planning my trip to Warsaw, Poland, I figured my time would be spent marveling at the restored medieval center and delving into the city’s extremely troubled WWII history. Little did I know that the best attractions in Warsaw would be ornately decorated palaces! While Warsaw Royal Castle was rebuilt from the […]
Essential Poland: Warsaw, Krakow, and Auschwitz
Poland is a nation of incredible beauty and terrible tragedy. Rarely have I felt so many conflicting emotions in one destination. But to travel there and overlook the past is impossible. As a Polish friend told me, everyone she knows has been affected in some way by war and occupation, whether through the loss of […]
Why You Need to Visit Lisbon in Winter
Winter sun in Europe can be as elusive as a unicorn. Even destinations you might expect to stay warm, like the Amalfi Coast and Istanbul, can be blanketed in fog or even snow. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I traveled to Lisbon in December, but I needn’t have worried. Thanks to the city’s […]