Category Archives: Europe

euro304
Feb 8 2012

WTF Wednesday: Tourists to be Banned from Coffee Shops

War on Drugs, but Tourist Drugs Only?

The Netherlands is apparently going through a 1920s-style prohibition phase with their coffee shops. While coffee shops in The States spur up imagery of over-sized cups, sugar drowned beverages, and caloric mini pastries, coffee shops in Holland are no more than a euphemistic effort to sell high quality narcotics. Let’s break down the various coffee lingo in the Netherlands:

1.) Coffee Shop – a licensed seller of cannabis products including – but not limited to – weed, hash, and space cakes

2.) Coffee House (koffiehuis) – establishment that sells coffee and light meals

3.) Café – casual restaurant and/or bar

Confused yet?

Continue reading →

IMG_5725
Jan 30 2012

Where the Google is Malta?

The fall of 2008 was my first exposure to the “budget airline”. The US has Southwest, Jet blue, and Virgin Airlines …but they have nothing on the budget airlines of the EU. Who knew you could fly from Venice to Dublin or from London to Geneva for 5 Euro flat, with NO taxes?
Yes, there are some catches if you’re traveling with a check-in, but that’s another post entirely.  We only needed our carry on backpacks for most of our trips!  I only had a few short months in Europe and wanted to make sure I booked all my flights early.  Ryanair’s name (among others) came up quickly. Despite the negativity I’ve read about the airline – including numerous canceled, delayed,and “haha-screw you” flights…- we went with the Dublin based airline and hoped for the best. I’m happy to report that I’ve never had an issue with Ryanair, yet.

Playing at the Park

Ryanair was offering their notorious, limited time, no tax flights, and one of the options was Malta.  After some Google-ing , I learn that Malta is one of the smallest countries in the world, and it is south of Italy. Yes, an actual country! Here’s an example of how my geography education has failed me.
The amazing offer was about to expire, so we booked the flight on a whim. We book for early winter and hope that Malta, being south of Italy, will still be supporting warm weather. I figured, 10 Euro roundtrip? If something comes up that weekend and we have to cancel, so be it…but we couldn’t miss out on the chance of a lifetime going to, uh Malta? I’m very glad we followed through with it. It was probably one of the best destinations we hit our entire trip.

Continue Reading…>

guiness
Jan 29 2012

Land of the Fighting Irish: Dublin

Last week I made a post reminiscing on past couchsurfing experiences.  I’d like to this start this gloomy Wednesday with an in-depth account of one those trips.

Our host - Loch - lives in an incredibly cute, story book, blue house.

Dublin, the head quarters of Ryan Air, was being offered as a 5 Euro (no taxes) trip from London back in the fall of 2008.  Karen – my traveling buddy – and I jumped on the chance to buy the tickets and decided even 2 nights in Dublin is better than nothing.  We hopped onto couchsurfing.com and sought out a couchsurfer host.  I don’t know how we got so incredibly lucky, but Loch – who is usually booked with couchsurfer guests – had some room for us!  He even offered to pick us up from the airport.

Despite being delayed, Loch waited patiently for us and was an amazing host for our entire trip!    We perused the list of many things to do, and the Guinness Storehouse is definitely a tourist favorite!  Unfortunately we had to pass on it due to our time constraints, but maybe we’ll head there on another trip.

We did, however, make some time for some delicious food and a tour of a prison. Yeah, a prison.  Kilmainham Gaol is Europe’s largest prison no longer in use. The leaders of the 1916 Rebellion were executed here.  I think this prison should be at the top of the list for must-sees due to it’s eerie vibe mixed with its history.  The tour is absolutely fascinating and, for 2 Euros for students, it is budget friendly as well.

Continue reading →

Delicious Mussels in Ghent w/ some fries of course
Jan 28 2012

A Few Gastrogasms from Belgium

Belgian cuisine can be summed up as French-inspired cuisine in large-German quantities.  We left Belgium with filled stomachs stuffed with chocolate, waffles, mussels, and fries.  Who knew the combination of potatoes and seafood could be so scrumptious?

Hot Chocolate for a Cold Night

Soup in Antwerp

The best fries in Beligum from a small cart in Ghent's square.

Continue Gastrogasms…>

euro220
Jan 23 2012

Monday Memories: In Bruges, w/o Colin Farrell

Mondays are always especially rough for me.  My 8th graders are a bit more indifferent on Mondays than on any other day, and mornings are usually hard after sleeping in Saturday and Sunday.

To get over a case of the Mondays, I’ve chosen to go down memory lane. It is still chilly outside, winter is in the air, and ice is stuck on my windows. As I defogged my windows this morning, I reminisced over our trip to Bruges.  Before Colin Farrell’s dark comedy, I could only name two cities in Belgium: Brussels and Antwerp (Antwerp from a lyric in a song from Cabaret).   Yes, I actually was a fan of the Colin Farrell, dark comedy movie, but we also wanted to visit because of the Snow & Ice Sculpture Festival.

Our base for the trip was Brussels.  I had an old couchsurfing friend, Dimitri (who I had stayed with in Paris while I studied abroad).  He was kind enough to let us crash after he moved to Brussels!  We woke up early and headed on an hour train ride to spend the day in Bruges.

- Continue Reading…>