Florence just resonates with me. It’s difficult to put my finger on it, but I love the atmosphere, the creative energy and the way the city makes me feel. It’s filled with art, centuries-old churches and towers, and delectable food. Here are my best tips for visiting the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. Insider tips […]
Italy is my favourite country in the world. It oozes rich history, incredible art, picturesque villages, breath-taking scenery, and the kind of food that has me drooling just thinking about it. The three big cities on everybody’s Italian bucket list, and rightfully so, are Venice, Florence, and Rome. Don’t get me wrong, see as much […]
If I’d ask you to picture Milan, the first image that’ll most likely pop into your mind is the Milan Cathedral or Duomo di Milano. Besides being an iconic building, the Milan Cathedral’s history and the artifacts it houses are completely fascinating. For example, one of the nails of Jesus’s crucifixion is housed inside the […]
Hedgehogs are one of the most recognizable animals in the world, the small spiny mammal that rolls itself into a tight ball when threatened. Thinking back to when I was a child, hedgehogs were amongst the first wild animals that I could identify (in Afrikaans we call them krimpvarkies’). Hedgehogs were one of my favourite […]
The five villages that make up the Cinque Terre (AKA the Italian Riviera) is one of the most beautiful places in the world. As cheesy as it may sound, it really is difficult to take a bad photo here. Even so, if you’re planning to travel to this slice of heaven this year, it pays […]
At the end of November, I spent one night at the Generator Hostel in Hamburg. Below I list the best and worst features of the hostel to help you make a decision whether or not to stay here. Okay, let’s do this… The good I’ll start with all the good stuff because first impressions are […]
Last year I visited the Christmas markets in Antwerp. I jumped on a bus and in two and a half hours I found myself in the diamond capital of the world. I spent a whole day exploring the city centre and walking around the Christmas markets. Here are my best photos to inspire your own […]
Düsseldorf is known for its Christmas markets, not only in Germany but also in Europe. Luckily for me, being based in Amsterdam means that Düsseldorf is only a couple of hours away. Here’s everything you need to know about visiting the Düsseldorf Christmas markets from Amsterdam. How to get there You can easily reach Düsseldorf […]
Having been to the Christmas markets in Brussels, Bruges, and Antwerp, I was curious to see the market in Ghent. So I hopped on a bus, and three hours later I found myself strolling among 150 beautifully decorated wooden huts. The market is located in the historical city centre, the heart of Ghent, from Sint-Baafsplein […]
Hamburg has no less than 12 Christmas markets spread throughout the city. I managed to visit seven of them in one evening. Below I share my favourite markets, the ones that you shouldn’t miss when you visit Hamburg during the festive season. Mönckebergbrunnen and Gerhart Hauptmann Platz These two markets are right next to each […]
Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve been fascinated with the fairy tale of the Brothers Grimm called ‘Town Musicians of Bremen’. The story is about four mistreated domestic animals (a donkey, dog, cat, and rooster) that decide to run away and become the town musicians of Bremen. My friends and I used to […]
A trip to Verona wouldn’t be complete without visiting the historical churches of the city. I’ve seen a lot of churches during my travels throughout Europe, but none of them can compare with the decadently decorated churches of Verona. The churches include Basilica di San Zeno, Verona Cathedral, Basilica di Santa Anastasia and San Fermo […]
Are you looking for an affordable place to stay in Verona? Apart from Airbnb, your options for budget lodging in the city are rather limited. That is, there’s only one hostel in Verona. But don’t despair, The Hostello is a terrific boutique hostel and a great base to explore Verona from. Location The Hostello is located […]