This may come as a shock to you (not!) but Spain ranks highly in global popularity, being the world's second-most visited country for tourism and the fourth-best country to live in as an expat according to the 2024 Expat Insider survey. Additionally, it holds a strong position in various country rankings, such as being #4 in cultural influence…
Europe
Moldovan-run villages Based on an analysis of the socio-economic situation in Moldova, the phrase "Moldovan-run villages" can be interpreted as referring to the typical rural villages that make up the vast majority of the country's territory. These communities are the heart of Moldovan culture, but they also face significant challenges. On the plus side,…
So . . . .you've got to please yourself. Le Corbusier, like most artists, was simultaneously a prophet and a pariah of sorts of the architectural world, a figure whose influence was as immense as the controversy he inspired. He was admired for his revolutionary vision of a new, functionalist architecture and criticized for his…
George Harrison's home in the London area was Friar Park, a neo-Gothic mansion in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, which he purchased in 1970 and lived in until his death. While not in central London, Henley is in the wider London area. He also lived in his childhood home at 12 Arnold Grove in Liverpool and later owned Bhaktivedanta Manor in Hertfordshire, which…
This could be your foot in the door, or your escape out the window of sorts. Plus, it's a very civil place to be in this rather fraught day and age. Even better, when you inform your chums, the bragging rights will shoot through the roof. Longyearbyen is the northernmost city in…
We won't spend too much time complaining about the current state of world affairs, courtesy of a specific buffoon, but it's not getting any better and, in our opinion, he needs to GO and soon. We're from Europe and Europe has a lot at stake. So it only makes sense the the European…
“The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas.” In winding my way through the process of writing content for our site, it usually appears either in an almost dreamy, fully-formed shape, or it's something that I find myself scratching my head for hours just to try…
Is this typical European efficiency or someone's idea of a joke. Or both? The Netherlands and Belgium share a 450 km border, which is notable for its complexity, particularly in the town of Baarle. This border is part of the Schengen Area, meaning there are no regular passport checks. The border's intricacies stem from historical treaties and land swaps, resulting…
What makes Monaco such an exhilarating experience? Is it the wealth, or the history or even the views. It's all of that and more. But when you want to scale the height of heights and you can't quite find your way into the exalted gambling dens, lush restaurants and the sheer aroma of…
It's not enough that cats already think they own the world, and that includes you, human minion. How dare you think otherwise? So, probably the last thing that the cat world needs is a Cat Museum, but who can resist? So, of course, someone has come along and created just that. …
Strange how music can - in 180 degrees - completely reorient what you're doing at the time. The good thing, we guess, is that the music is - if you're lucky - something that transports you to another place entirely than the place where you are. Of course, other music does quite the…
The pull of the Danube River is indeed a powerful mix of romance and history, stemming from its unique role as a cultural artery that has shaped the heart of Central and Eastern Europe for millennia. Its appeal is rooted in a combination of its grand scale, its physical beauty, and its function as a…
Nope. Not a typo. This is not about flying buttresses, even though they are super-cool on their own. No, this is about an average British chap simply doing his job and then, all of a sudden, hey presto! He's a hero. The driver who 'jumped' his bus over the Tower Bridge…
We're back on our never-ending sojourn about why leaving the car behind is such a good idea. There are numerous statistics from government and research bodies that show why trains and buses are often a much better choice than driving a car, particularly in terms of safety, environmental impact, and cost. Here are a…
Who here doesn't love technology? Who doesn't love science fiction. Same. And who doesn't love London? If that's you, then you've come to the right post. Ever-inquisitive Japanese traveler, Kuga gets around. A lot We've featured him before. His videos are always a laugh and, even more, they're useful.…
We can't help it. If it's rail, we're there. Those of you who have stuck with us over the years know what we're talking about: rail travel. Do a search and you'll find dozens of posts here about this most intelligent mode of travel. A few years back, we featured…
A number of years back, a British company called Yotel turned the existing concept of holiday stays upside down, focusing mostly on the existing hotel concept and offering that has existed forever. They describe themselves as YOTEL offers guests a hotel experience that challenges the status quo, with a promise to deliver a different kind…
For as long as there has been a British Empire, there has been fish and chips. The country survived on it. It was only logical. The fish came from the sea that surrounds the British Isle. Similarly, potatoes are another staple that British people can't live without. Put fish and…
Tip-toe through the tulips. We're feeling a bit frisky for this post, hence the title. We suppose that it could remain the play on words in the title, and we're sure that most of you know what Encanta means, given that it is all over Disney products. But, we're not here to…
The world has its eyes on you! European cities intend to slap hefty fees on tourists — here’s what it’ll cost if you’re caught wearing flip flops. Enough is enough! Who do you think you are even? Popular tourist destinations in European cities are combatting mass tourism by slapping some ridiculous,…