Budapest, Hungary is a city of many personalities, as a result of the unification of the towns of Buda, Óbuda and Pest in 1873, with Buda and Óbuda on the west side of the Danube River linked to Pest on the east side by several bridges including the famed Chain Bridge. The Buda side is quieter, with the Buda... Continue Reading →
Bratislava is the one city that when I was telling people about my trip, was often met with "Where the heck is that?" The small capital of Slovakia is often overshadowed by the popularity of nearby Vienna, Prague, and Budapest. Bratislava became the capital of the Slovak Republic in 1993 following the Velvet Divorce that... Continue Reading →
If you're a fan of the macabre, there is a church in Czechia that is decorated in human bones known as the Sedlec Ossuary. It had been on my bucket list ever since I got into all things paranormal and morbid as a teenager, and with my recent trip to Prague I finally had a... Continue Reading →
I couldn't even be upset about the weather being misty and overcast while I was in Prague. It's one of those cities that's just as beautiful, if not more beautiful, in the rain as when the sun's shining. With its Gothic spires, cobblestoned streets, hilltop castle, and statue-lined Charles Bridge, Prague is moody and magical.... Continue Reading →
Belgium is the holy land for a beer lover. It's hard to even put into words how much impact this country has had in the beer economy. The influence of Belgian styles of beer can be found in modern breweries all over the world. Beer is such an iconic part of Belgian culture that it... Continue Reading →
The Netherlands is often overshadowed when it comes to beer, being bordered by Belgium and Germany, but in recent years it's seen a craft beer boom. From historic giants like Heineken and Grolsch, to the more up-and-coming independent microbreweries, there's no shortage of good beer in the Netherlands. Here are all of the brews I... Continue Reading →
Nestled between France, Belgium, and Germany is the country of Luxembourg. It might be one of the smallest countries in Europe, but is known for its strong economy and as a headquarters for many business and finance operations. It is also known for its rich culture and heritage, heavily influenced by its French and German... Continue Reading →
The quaint medieval town of Bruges came recommended to me by many as I was preparing for my trip to Belgium. Located an hour train ride outside of Brussels in the Flanders region of Belgium, Bruges was easy to make a day trip out of, and I also spent the morning in Ghent on the... Continue Reading →
Leading up to my trip to Belgium, everyone that I talked to told me that I needed to do a day trip to Bruges, so that was my original plan. I had heard a little bit about Ghent too but figured that I wouldn't have time to do both. After chatting with a bartender during... Continue Reading →
After an amazing few days in Amsterdam and exploring South Holland, I hopped on a train to Brussels. The train trip was a little under 3 hours, and took me into Brussels Central Station. Brussels would be my hub for the next leg of my trip, with day trips planned to Ghent, Bruges, and Luxembourg.... Continue Reading →
C to Shining C 