Europe

Why you need to skip Melk Abbey in favor of St. Florian Monastery

October 19, 2018 by Karen 1 Comment

Stift Sankt Florian (St. Florian Monastery) is a stunning monastery located in the town of Sankt Florian. This stunning monastery was first founded in the 9th century and it is the largest monastery in Upper Austria.

Although most people head to Melk Abbey for baroque architecture and frescos, St. Florian is a less crowded alternative with all of the same appeal and even more. In this guide to the St. Florian Monastery, I’ll provide an overview of what to expect for your visit, how to get to the monastery, and highlights of the visit for non-German speakers.

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How to view the beautiful Japanese garden in Den Haag in fall and spring

October 17, 2018 by Karen Leave a Comment

One of the small joys of living in a place year-round is that you get to experience your home city in each season. Although seasons in the Netherlands are far more mild than those of my home country, I still have a huge soft spot for fall and spring here in the Netherlands. One of the best places to ring in spring and fall is at the Japanese garden in Den Haag. I’ll be including advice for visiting the Japanese garden in both seasons, including getting to Clingendael.

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Catspotting: A crazy cat lover’s guide to cats in Amsterdam

October 17, 2018 by Karen 17 Comments

I love cats. This is a detailed guide to my beloved Amsterdam with the best places to meet cats in Amsterdam, officially and unofficially, with my favorite cats. If you’re a fan of Catspotting, you’re going to love this guide to Amsterdam. I’m a crazy cat lady and meeting cats when traveling is one of my favorite hobbies.

While living in Amsterdam, my husband and I hunted down the locations of cats in Amsterdam because we are that cat crazy. We found cats living at one of the cat cafes in Amsterdam, roaming the halls of a historic canal house/cat museum filled with cat art, cozying up to potential owners on de Poezenboot (the Catboat), sleeping in various shops, or even breaking into museum gardens.

This also includes coffeeshops with cats…. That said, I was not successful in petting them all. Keep reading for our favorite cat locations in Amsterdam with a map.

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What to do in Amsterdam Noord, Amsterdam’s coolest borough

October 15, 2018 by Karen Leave a Comment

For some reason that I’m not sure, a lot of people that I know are nervous about visiting Amsterdam Noord. This part of Amsterdam is just across the water from the historic city center, so if you think that you’ve seen Amsterdam, take a ferry across to explore Amsterdam Noord. This post will be covering cool things to do in Amsterdam Noord, so be sure to rent a bike and follow my lead.

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Your perfect Netherlands itinerary by a Dutch resident

October 14, 2018 by Karen 1 Comment

After over three years of living in the Netherlands, I’ve been asked a lot about how much time to spend in the Netherlands. A lot of people speed through the Netherlands only stopping for one day in Amsterdam, but I’d recommend enjoying at least 7 days in the Netherlands if you have the chance. I’ll be covering the highlights of the Netherlands and tips for getting around the Netherlands in this Dutch itinerary.

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Free Walking Tour of the Cologne Christmas Markets with Map

October 12, 2018 by Karen 13 Comments

In 2018, Cologne will have its annual Christmas market from
November 26th to December 23rd. If you’re lucky enough to visit Cologne in winter (just in time), be sure to spend at least a day (if not three days) browsing the famous Christmas markets in Cologne. Keep reading for tips for experiencing the German Christmas markets and things to do in Cologne in December!

Planning to visit Cologne Germany in winter to see the famous Cologne Christmas markets? Tips for visiting the Cologne Christmas markets, what to do in Cologne, and where the Cologne Christmas markets are!

I’ve set up this as a walking tour of five Christmas markets in Cologne with a downloadable map of the Christmas markets in Cologne. (Be prepared that this FREE walking tour of Cologne includes a lot of walking although it covers many major landmarks.) The map of the Cologne Christmas markets is at the bottom.

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What to expect from celebrating Christmas in Moscow

October 4, 2018 by Karen Leave a Comment

Last year was a magical Christmas. Jacob and I visited our dear friend Nikita in Moscow. Celebrating Christmas in Moscow was magical and one of my favorite parts of spending the holiday season in Russia meant that we got to visit some of the Christmas markets in Moscow, including the Red Square Christmas Market. Keep reading for tips for attending the Christmas markets in Moscow.

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What to know before attending Graspop Metal Meeting

October 4, 2018 by Jacob Leave a Comment

Once a year, thousands of metalheads descend on a sleepy Flemish hamlet to attend one of Europe’s largest and most famous metal festivals, the Graspop Metal Meeting. For four days, the whole area thunders as the countryside is given over to hundreds of tents serving beer, merchandise, and entertainment. Fans from all over the world come to see many of the largest acts across the metal spectrum. I hope that this guide gives you all that you need to know about attending the Graspop Metal Meeting in Belgium.

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Where to find authentic and cheap food in Amsterdam by a local

October 1, 2018 by Karen 17 Comments

Finding the best places to eat in Amsterdam where you’re on a tight budget can be tricky as eating in Amsterdam seems expensive. As a resident of 2+ years of Amsterdam, I wrote this guide to eating in Amsterdam on a budget for anyone looking for cheap restaurants in Amsterdam who want to also eat at non-chains that provide some healthy options!

It’s possible to stay on a budget while eating in Amsterdam, so keep reading for the best cheap eats in Amsterdam.

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The Miniaturist filming locations and must-see places for fans of the book

October 1, 2018 by Karen Leave a Comment

I burned through the Miniaturist. This charming book about the Dutch Golden Age will transport you to Amsterdam. When I heard that the book was being transformed into a miniseries, I was quite excited. This guide to locations inspired by and shown in the miniseries will allow you to step into Petronella Oortman’s world. Keep reading for the Miniaturist filming locations in the Netherlands!

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