Two handfuls of volcanic rocks in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, far from basically everywhere: Although the Azores belong politically to Portugal, it takes more time and money to get there. This is one of the reasons why the Azores, despite their mesmerizing beauty, are still a rather hidden gem when it comes to tourism. However, for me, that was a perfect reason to check out for myself if you can rightly call the Azores the Hawaii of Europe. In this post, I’m telling you all about my formidable island hopping and if I found the famous Azores High.
Nomen est Omen: Terceira translates to third in Portuguese, and in fact, the second-largest island of the Azores was the third to be discovered in the early 15th century. Terceira belongs to the central group of the Azores and impresses with its breathtaking landscape, beautiful sandy beaches, and the mesmerizing town of Angra do Heroismo which UNESCO crowned as one of the World Heritage Sites. Hence, whether you’re an enthusiastic hiker, a lazy beach bum, or a history buff – Terceira unites all of the best things you don’t want to miss when visiting the Azore Islands.
The beautifully tiled Rua de Jesus is lined with colorful houses like something out of a Lego construction set.This Way to the Whole Story ->
…and of all of Portugal, for that matter. The island of Pico is not only one of the top destinations when it comes to the Azores. With Mount Pico, it also has the country’s highest peak.
On my railroad trip through Portugal, I experienced how travelling the country by train is easy-peasy, cheap, and fun.
Picturesque Portugal: The beauty of everyday life.
Hence, let me guide you from mesmerizing Porto all the way south to Lisbon – with some amazing whistle stops in between. Do you hear the whistle blow? Quick – jump on the train and let’s go!
I’m back in Lisbon. It’s been far too long – you know, with the pandemic and all. But now I’m back, and as I take a good look around, I realize how beautiful this city is and how much I’ve missed it: The steep cobblestone alleys, the past glory of the palaces alongside the boulevards, and the shabby charm of the houses in the backstreets. The majestic views from countless outlooks, and of course the lovely ring of the rickety trams. Come on, follow me down memory lane, and let’s re-discover the best of Lisbon!
The contra-selfie culture: Asian tourist painting Lisbon’s Church and Monastery of São Vicente de Fora.This Way to the Whole Story ->
Although Porto is certainly not a major hub, it’s still Portugal’s second largest airport with many connections all over Europe and also to remote Portuguese territories such as the Azores. Since Porto is such a mesmerizing city full of beauty and wonders, you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to get a taste of the city during a short visit – I’m sure you’ll come back soon for more. But now I’ll show you how you can have a perfect stay of up to 24 hours in Porto.
Somehow Portugal also seems to be one of the countries overpowered by centralism. Everyone is flocking to the capital Lisbon, which is groaning under the masses of tourists and has to be careful to remain livable for the locals. Hence, while others are stressed out, Porto pours herself a glass of amber-colored port wine and relaxes as she gazes down the Douro River. Instead of overwhelming her visitors with innumerable presumably must-see landmarks, Porto invites her guests to take a relaxed stroll down picturesque streets and alleys and offers them a creamy Galão in one of the many charming cafés. The city impresses with cool street art and delights the eye with gorgeous church façades covered in exquisite Azulejos and what is probably the most famous bookstore in the world. By now, you’ve probably noticed: Porto is one of my favorite cities in Europe and I’m excited to show you the best the city on the Atlantic coast has to offer – also if, just like me, you travel solo.
Let me guide you through Curacao, the Caribbean island that simply has it all: Idyllic coves and secluded beaches, a fascinating history, great contemporary art, amazing food, and a capital city that UNESCO put on the list of World Heritage.
Old Dutch houses and lots and lots of water – those two icons of the beautiful island of Curaçao.
But Curaçao has also some well-hidden gems that I’m introducing in this guide – and I promise that you will love all of them!
I was on the very early morning flight to Brussels which was actually my final destination. That’s why I was completely relaxed when they said we couldn’t take off because of fog. The only thing that annoyed me was the idea that I could have slept a good hour longer. Other than that, I didn’t care too much.
However, things looked completely different around me: passengers were nervously shifting back and forth in their seats, checking their phones, and pestering the stewardesses about what their connecting flights looked like.
The most beautiful architectural treasures surround the Grande Place, Brussels’ precious centerpiece.
This was how I discovered that I was pretty much the only one who didn’t have a connecting flight to Madrid or Nice, Kigali or Abuja. Hmm, Brussels seemed to be an important hub for international air traffic, interesting. Hence, I should definitely add it to my 24 hours in… series. No sooner said than done! Of course, I hope that your layover is planned and not because of air traffic disruptions. Whatever the reason for your extended layover might be, with this post, I have you covered.
Brussels is not only the amazingly vibrant capital of Belgium, it’s actually the historic, political, cultural, and gastronomic epicenter of Europe, for that matter. Breathtakingly beautiful historic architecture, fantastic museums, mighty street art, powerful international organizations, and last but not least beer, fries, and chocolate: This cosmopolitan city truly holds something for each and every one in store. Therefore, it was quite a challenge to put together a list of just the very best things to do on a visit to Brussels.
Different strokes for different folks: World’s most famous wee-er made of chocolate. Bon appetit.
If it hadn’t been for my daughter studying in Brussels, it probably wouldn’t have come to my mind to visit Belgium’s capital. Or Belgium at all, for that matter.
But Christmas came and families and loved ones were expected to get together. So I packed a couple of warm sweaters, threw in some fun presents, and hopped on the late flight to Brussels. Just to find out that this European capital with all its old architecture and new street art, its pralines and beers, surrealist art, and political reality is not only for me but for everyone.
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