Maybe it’s just me, but Italy’s  towns and cities seem to be based more around their  river systems than any country in Europe  (let’s be honest, it is a pretty common occurrence throughout the continent).  The beauty of these riversides is not just the rivers themselves but the way the astounding European architecture lines the water.

What I particularly loved about the Italian rivers was the way they wind out of sight as they pass through the town.  Furthermore, as they often pass quite close to the center of town, the rivers are very tightly surrounded by old Italian buildings of a coordinated color scheme.   Read the rest of this entry »

Yoho's bar is cozy and cheap

I checked into Yoho International Youth Hostel in Salzburg on November 1. You may be unaware, as I was on that fine, cold morning, that November 1 is All Soul’s Day, a national holiday in Austria (and many other places in Europe). Everything was closed. The streets were dead. I wondered what I’d gotten myself into and what I’d eat for dinner that night.

I ended up eating salami, cheese and bread, along with a big bottle of Stiegl beer, which I purchased in a nearby gas station. It actually wasn’t that bad. The hostel was extremely quiet and the Aussie at the front desk who checked me in told me the town would be bumping again by the next day. Indeed, it was.

My experience at Yoho International Youth Hostel was sort of mixed. The hostel itself is lovely and, at first, the staff seemed extremely helpful and cool. I even met a couple of other backpackers in my cheap, 8-bed dorm room with whom I went drinking in the hostel’s bar. Read the rest of this entry »

A plate full of olibollen around the holidays

Wondering what the origin of all those sweet smells drifting from the bakeries and food stands in Holland could possibly be?

Traditional Dutch holiday treats like oliebollen and poffertjes might be the culprit.  These yummy desserts might be bad for your waistline, but are great for your taste buds (and your wallet!).  Never heard of them?  Here’s what you can expect when you take a bite:

Oliebollen (translated literally: balls of oil) are round Dutch donuts typically eaten around Christmas and New Year’s, but are also a funfair staple.  They’re usually smothered in powdered sugar or whipped cream, and come plain or with pieces of apple or raisins inside.  Despite being fried, they’re rather light and fluffy – and hard to resist, especially at only €1 to €2 per oliebol. Read the rest of this entry »

Despite its clever lists, Lonely Planet's 1000 Ultimate Experiences isn't likely to have any real travel relevance.

Those looking for a little student travel inspiration, a stocking stuffer or simply a good-looking coffee table conversation piece may want to consider picking up a copy of Lonely Planet’s 1000 Ultimate Experiences.

Or they may not.

In a style similar to the once overwhelmingly popular 1,000 Places To See Before You Die, Lonely Planet – the now overwhelming popular guidebook producer – has compiled a list of what it believes to be the best excursions and adventures, menus and memorials, road trips and romances. Celebrate one of the Best Obscure Holidays, wine and dine at one of the World’s Most Bizarre Restaurants and Bars, or scout out one of the 10 Best Places to Steal a Kiss, all with the help of this 300-plus-page guidebook.

While it’s a clever idea, 1000 Ultimate Experiences is likely to fall into the aforementioned coffee table category as opposed to being a valuable travel companion. The lists are, as illustrated, arranged by obscure categories that offer little relevance to someone already in one place, unless that place you’re in happens to be one of the World’s Happiest Places or host one of the Best Beaches to Swing a Hammock. I suppose that – if you had a particular travel prerequisite (i.e. I must, must visit one of the World’s Strangest Festivals) –  this book may act as an adequate planning reference, but for all other purposes it seems a bit pointless – likely to be collecting coffee mug rings instead of joining you on your overseas adventure.

Spend time with classmates and roomies

So you’re doing a year abroad and that pesky winter schedule dictates that you stick around until after Christmas, meaning you don’t get to go home for the holidays. While the prospect of spending the jolliest time of the year alone in Europe might seem daunting at first, it really doesn’t have to be. I’ve spent several years away from my family, passing the holidays abroad, and what I’ve learned is that, if you put a little effort into your plans, it can be an extremely rewarding, not to mention fun, experience. Here are a few tips on how to make your Christmas/Hannukah/New Year/Whathaveyou great while you’re studying abroad. Read the rest of this entry »

Dancing Minnie

Those of you that have been to Rome are familiar with the infamous dancing Mickeys. Those who have yet to go to Rome, beware of the dancing Mickeys. Although they come in many forms: Disney characters (plenty of Minnies and Donalds to be had), bugs, The Simpsons, and even Picachus, the Mickey is the most common figure I’ve seen.

A toy that can be found near most popular attractions in Rome, these paper cartoons bounce magically to the tunes blaring from a boom box. An obvious scam, there is still something very alluring about these dancing mice, as hoards of people will stare at them for hours, trying to figure out the mystery behind how they work.

On a recent trip to Rome with 2 of my friends, we found those hypnotizing dancing toys greeting us immediately after a memorable tour of the Forum. Impossible to ignore, I’m not even sure that the Popemobile passing by could have thwarted our attention from those miraculous mice. Read the rest of this entry »

Whether it’s called “el crisis” in Spain, “die krise” in Germany, or “a válság” in Hungary, the global economic crisis has impacted Europe as much as it has the rest of the world.  Now, at least according the official line, the continent has emerged from the recession.  The Washington Post reported recently that the euro-zone economy – made up of 16 nations – showed slight growth in the last quarter – the technical benchmark for the end of a recession.  However, the gains are unevenly distributed.  Germany and France are leading the way, but Spain, Ireland, and Hungary are expected to remain in crisis for much longer.  In Spain, according to AFP, some desperate people have resorted to selling hair for money.  The crisis has sorely tested European unity and if some nations stay mired in a recession while others surge ahead, it could strain future attempts at cooperation among euro-zone countries.

The economic news can mean many things to young travelers in Europe.  Lagging economies may push prices down (especially in tourism-oriented places like Spain), but if the European recovery outpaces the American one (the real existence of which many still doubt, despite official statistics and bureaucratic proclamations), the dollar could be further devalued against the euro, raising the costs for, well, everything (at least for American students.)  And of course, in today’s perilously interlocking global economy, major economic changes in Europe can easily impact economic conditions in the U.S.  Our generation is facing some of the worst unemployment this age demographic has encountered in decades, and those who are trying to save money to travel are facing more obstacles.  The recent improvements might mean good news, but the outlook is still, above all, uncertain.

Learn from my mistakes, because I’ve certainly made enough of them.  Here are five random pieces of advice, learned mostly the hard way.

1)      Take anyone’s advice with a grain of salt: Including mine.  Suggestions from other people on where to go and what to see are a valuable source of information with a huge caveat.  For one, each person has a unique idea of what is worthwhile and what should be avoided.  For another, unanticipated, circumstantial events that happen during a trip – such as getting robbed or meeting someone especially cool (hopefully not in the same instance) – can completely alter a person’s perception of a place.  These incidents are often random and have little to do with the specific locale in which they take place.  They’re factors of chance – which is, after all, the source of most adventures, good and bad.

Don't let Lonely Planet tell you where to go! They just don't want to get sued.

2)      What matters is who you’re with, not where you are: My most memorable trips have been with wonderful people to mediocre places, and my most disastrous have taken place in incredible settings with individuals with whom my relationship ranged from indifferent to hostile.  The financial and chronological limitations of travel usually force you to pick and choose destinations, so if you’re ever facing a dilemma between going to one place and to another, I firmly believe the quality of travel buddies trumps the quality of a place.

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If you’re looking for cool souvenirs that capture the liberal spirit of Berlin, the place to go is ausberlin (check out www.ausberlin.de to browse, but ordering will be difficult unless you speak German). Located off Alexanderplatz in the heart of the city, ausberlin offers music, jewelry, clothes, and gift items all made by designers and artists from Berlin.

Everything in the store speaks to the irreverent, urban character of Germany’s capital. Check out the sweatshirts emblazoned with the silhouettes of construction cranes – one of Berlin’s permanent fixtures since the wall fell and reconstruction began. Or buy a sterling silver curry-wurst fork. You’ve seen the plastic disposable version all over the sidewalks – now you can celebrate Berlin’s indigenous cuisine with the elegance it deserves. If you’re feeling really rebellious, consider an ash tray that claims it’s from the Betty Ford clinic.
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How I miss Thanksgiving at home!

Preparing for Thanksgiving is, more often than not, an all day affair at least. Sifting through recipes, compiling ingredients, making sure you have enough pots, pans, and trays. There are a ton of the things that must be done on top of the actual cooking and baking. Now, move that whole process across the pond to Europe, and your tacking on a lot more time than you had probably anticipated.

All of your mom’s recipes you had planned on trying out for your friends in Europe? Those all need to be converted into metric cooking units. Luckily, though, this problem can be easily solved. A very helpful website, Convert-me.com, effortlessly converts all your measurements, and even lets you choose the substance that you want changed. Read the rest of this entry »