Plaça de Sant Felip Neri is tucked away in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona. This place always draws me in; it’s a small, serene spot that feels like a step back in time, far from the busy and touristy city streets. The square is home to a baroque church, and its walls bear the scars of a tragic past. It ...
Since I live in Spain, I have visited Lisbon several times, and each time, I can’t help but be amazed by the Santa Justa Lift. This tall, iron structure is an unmissable Lisboan sight and a useful way to move between lower and higher parts of the city. When visiting Lisbon, you can’t miss its striking figure against the city ...
Cemeteries mirror living societies. They are a small version of the city they’re in and reflect the same social patterns, Barcelona’s Montjuïc Cemetery is no exception. This is especially true for the Cementerio de Montjuïc in Barcelona. In this cemetery, some of Catalonia’s wealthiest families have tried to outdo each other for ages. They built the most impressive buildings and, ...
I live in Madrid, and while it’s usually a sunny city, there are days when the sky is grey and rain taps on the windows. These days can be a surprise in a city known for its blue skies. Living here, I’ve learned that when rain falls, Madrid doesn’t stop; it just moves indoors. If we’re being technical, Madrid falls ...
Covering a vast area of central Istanbul, the Kapali Çarsi (kah-pah-look char-shoo), which translates as “Covered Market” but is known worldwide as the Istanbul Grand Bazaar, is one of the world’s most famous shopping places. Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar is often viewed as a tourist trap due to its high prices and aggressive sales tactics. Shopkeepers are known to harass aggressively ...
The afternoon was giving way as the train rolled into Thessaloniki. After a brief stay in Skopje, my time here was limited—a ticking clock I couldn’t ignore. With urgency, I gathered my essentials: most importantly, my phone charger and camera. Thessaloniki’s call was simple: come and see. So I did. My route was direct from the station to where the ...
During one of my recent visits to Transylvania, I stumbled upon the Saxon Cemetery in Sighisoara. This graveyard is high up a hill, next to the famous Biserica din Deal (aptly translated as “Church on the Hill”). Some believe this cemetery has a link to the famous story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, where children followed a magical piper ...
Living in Madrid, I have visited El Capricho Park numerous times. Although it is not as famous as El Retiro, it is just as beautiful. More importantly, its history is just baffling! The park spans an area of about 14 hectares and is located in the Alameda de Osuna neighborhood. While it was built in the 18th century, it was ...
During my most recent trip to Sofia, I made a surprising discovery: Bulgaria’s Museum of Socialist Art. This museum, which opened its doors in 2011, is located in a quiet area away from the bustle of the city center. The museum showcases art from the Socialist period of Bulgaria’s history, with pieces dating from 1944 to 1989. These artworks reflect ...
Bulgaria is a country with surprises up its sleeve. Mountains and beaches kiss under its skies while yogurt and roses parade proudly through its culture. Here, you’ll find ten fun facts and trivia about Bulgaria that you (probably) didn’t know. In this small but mighty country, life moves at its rhythm. Cyrillic script calls it home, being birthed here in ...