Europe
Thanks mainly to the introduction of low-cost flights, destinations that were just pipe-dreams when I was younger are now commonplace for millions of people. Europe, being a relatively small continent, not only has an abundance of interesting places to visit, but easy access for many Europeans as well – and what’s more, without the need to break the bank to get there. Nowadays, I can be sipping a Dry Martini in Antibes, admiring Gaudi’s architecture in Barcelona, or rubbing shoulders with the Camorra in the back streets of Naples almost as quick as I can get to Birmingham.
As a lover of history, I’ve managed to get to places associated with past events such as Belfast, Berlin and Moscow, which admittedly, may not be to everyone’s taste. On the other hand, the wonderful scenery of the Swiss Alps, the magic of the Greek Islands, and even the geothermal landscape of Iceland won’t fail to lift anyone’s spirits. As far as I’m concerned, and I may be biased, but if the world’s our oyster, then I reckon that Europe is the pearl.
It’s worth remembering though, that with the opportunity to visit all these fabulous destinations, we also have a responsibility to respect the surroundings and the people who live there.
Top Stories
A Brief Encounter with Lithuania’s Capital City
With around 600,000 people, Vilnius demands more than a day of anybody’s time, but I’m afraid that’s all I had. The train journey from Kaunas can take anything between an hour and an hour and three quarters, and with that in mind I took an early fast train to Lithuania’s capital city. The journey passed […]
From Krakow to Auschwitz
With so many places still left to add to Easymalc’s Wanderings, people may wonder why I’ve chosen somewhere to write about that will hardly lift the spirits, and I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve been asking myself the same question – and as yet, with no answer. My trip to Krakow and Auschwitz […]
The Berlin Festival of Lights
This week I’ve been sifting through a load of old pictures which is a great exercise in procrastination if ever there was one. Most of them will never see the light of day outside of our own four walls because they were taken in pre-digital days in the form of prints or transparencies, but here […]
Grenoble – Capital of the Alps
Before coming to Grenoble I was somewhat surprised to learn that it’s often referred to as the ‘Capital of the Alps’: After all, the Alps run for 750 miles between France and Slovenia, and Grenoble is at the extreme western edge of the mountain range – and as far as I’m concerned, is not actually […]
Featured Pages
Tryvannshogda and Holmenkollen
Any reader of my blogs will know that they are a mixture of current and past destinations, and as Christmas will soon be here and gone and the New Year beckons, my mind wandered back to February 2006 when I paid a short visit to snowy Oslo. I’m not sure why us Brits keep banging […]
The Ninth Fort
Today was my last day in Lithuania, and thanks to a late flight home I was able to fulfil one last wish before leaving. The Ninth Fort might not be on everyone’s list of places to see, but one of my passions, if that’s the right word, is to try and understand what caused the […]
Christmastime in Vienna
Is there a better build-up to Christmas than visiting a European Christmas Market? If so, I’d like to know what it is. Maybe it’s all that Glühwein and Orange Punch that I can’t pass by that helps, but even as a devout atheist I can’t help but respect the Austrians for adhering to the meaning […]
Stephansplatz and the Stephansdom
Vienna is a city of around 1.9 million people, famous for its imperial palaces, museums and coffee houses, and although some of its attractions will require a metro or tram ride to one of the city’s other districts, the Inner Stadt has so many things to keep you occupied, that you may well think there’s […]
Potsdamer Platz
At a point where five roads converged at the old Potsdam Gate, Potsdamer Platz became the busiest and most recognized intersection in Germany – if not Europe. It became so busy that Europe’s first recognised traffic lights were installed in 1924 to help keep things moving. Its heyday was during the Roaring Twenties, when film […]
The Grote Markt
If someone was to ask me what Belgium is famous for, I would have to include Moules et Frites, beer, and maybe chocolate, but I would also have to add town squares to the list. It may sound a bit odd to lump a town square with food and drink, but they go together like […]