When I was looking for the best Christmas markets in Germany, Cologne jumped out at me. The city hosts a holiday extravaganza with a whopping seven markets! That’s right, there are SEVEN distinct holiday markets for you to enjoy. If this place doesn’t put you in a festive mood, nothing will. I visited all the […]
Winter Travel
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 […]
Celebrating Christmas in Taipei, Taiwan
I have a little secret to share: While I continue to report on locales across Latvia and Europe, for the past few months those dispatches have been sent from the tropical island of Taiwan. Technology is amazing, no? Although I missed Riga terribly at first, Taipei has charmed me with its fascinating mix of cultures […]
Tips for Spending Christmas in Lisbon, Portugal
When looking for the best Christmas markets in Europe, Lisbon probably doesn’t register. Most people head further northeast to France, Germany, and Austria to have their Christmas market needs met. But what if you want to avoid the crowds and the cold? The Lisbon Christmas Market is a fun alternative! Elegant strings of lights showoff […]
Trakai Castle: A Medieval Fairytale in Lithuania
Regular readers of this blog will know that I love a good castle. This fact traces to my childhood, when my favorite movie was Disney’s Robin Hood. I delighted in watching the cartoon animals sing and frolic around ye olde countryside and dreamed of being Maid Marion in a castle of my own. (Dramatic scenes were often […]