Category: Destinations

Visiting Medieval Troyes, France, City with a Heart (& Champagne)

The cute city of Troyes (pronounced in French like “trois”) has been on my bucket list for a while. Since it looked small enough to explore in a few hours, I decided on taking a day trip there from Paris and it was a lovely small city. We had a lovely day and Troyes was, indeed, a good choice of location to spend a leisurely few hours.

A Brief History of Troyes

The history of Troyes goes back millennia and it was first a Roman city. Of course a glance at it today would easily tell you that it was … Continue reading

A Quick Visit to Eguisheim, a “Beauty and the Beast” Village

I went to Colmar many years ago and loved it, and for my second visit, added Eguisheim to my visit. It’s just a hop and a skip away from Colmar and it’s one of the many villages in Alsace that still preserves its magical atmosphere. It’s one of the villages said to inspire the setting for “Beauty and the Beast.”

It’s an absolutely charming village that I fell head over heels for.

A Short History of Eguisheim

A small place like Eguisheim has a small – but interesting – history. It is said that there was a Neanderthal skull found … Continue reading

A Visit to Winchester, England’s Forgotten Capital

When we went to England, a stop at Winchester was essential to see Jane Austen’s grave. Seeing that there was much more to this small city, we stayed a bit longer so we could see a bit more. I didn’t really have an expectation before I visited but Winchester was actually a very cute place that we enjoyed very much!

The History of Winchester, England

For a city that’s quite unknown (at least to foreigners), Winchester has quite an impressive history.

The city dates back over two thousands years. The Celtic Belgae tribe lived at this spot for hundreds of … Continue reading

A Visit to Giverny, the Dreamy Home of Monet, in July

I went to Giverny many years ago, when I was 14, on my first international trip. At 29, now armed with a better and more profound appreciation for art and history, I returned. It was absolutely lovely and an absolute must-visit for Monet fans.

Here’s what you can expect to see if you visit, and what the gardens may look like if you visit in July.

Claude Monet at Giverny

Claude Monet reportedly saw the town of Giverny from a train window and quickly rented a home there in 1883. Monet called his small home “House of the Cider-Press.” In … Continue reading

Visiting Jane Austen’s England: 66 Spots She Knew

Jane Austen is a popular author touching the hearts of millions over the past few centuries – mine included. It is a truth universally acknowledged that a woman in possession of a good desire to travel must be in want of a Jane Austen pilgrimage in England.

There is a ton of information and several guides available for places to see relating to Jane Austen, and I don’t want to be just another generic guide. I did a lot of research (though not as much as my sources, which are listed at the end) to find places that Jane would’ve … Continue reading

Charming Chawton, the Last Home of Jane Austen

Chawton is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me.

Just kidding! Chawton is a super cute little town in Hampshire and of course, its greatest appeal is that it was the last home of Jane Austen. So of course during our Jane Austen pilgrimage to England, it was somewhere we had we go. It made a beautiful day trip to the countryside and back to the early 19th century.

Jane Austen at Chawton

For some quick background: Jane’s brother, Edward, got adopted out by the Knight family, who had a huge fortune and no heir. Edward Knight, as he … Continue reading

Visiting Gudvangen Viking Village on the Norwegian Fjords

Since I’m into history, the Gudvangen Viking Village was a place I wanted to visit to learn more about the Vikings. I find that open-air museums like this one are great for experiencing what life was like in a different time, rather than simply reading about it or seeing artefacts. If you want to go to the Gudvangen Viking Village, here’s what to expect and what I thought of it.

Called “Viking Valley,” the Viking village is actually named Njardarheimr, meaning “the home dedicated to the Norse god Njord.” It opened in 2017 on the site of what was … Continue reading

Borgund Stave Church: a Beautiful Medieval Marvel

I didn’t want to visit Norway without seeing a stave church, and Borgund Stave Church is accessible from Bergen and also the best preserved. I’m so glad I got to see it because it is so beautiful and a remarkable emblem of Norway’s history.

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What is a “stave church”?

To understand Borgund Stave Church, it helps to know what a stave church actually is. In short, it’s the architectural style of church used in post-Viking Scandinavia.

At the end of the Viking age, in 12th-13th century Scandinavia, Christian churches were built from wood all around the area. I’m really … Continue reading

Bergen, Gateway to the Fjords: Things to Do & Travel Guide

Bergen is one of Norway’s most visited cities, and with its proximity to the fjords, it was a definite stop on my first trip to Norway. I did a lot more in the city than I feel a lot of other travellers do, so what did I think of it?

The History of Bergen

Bergen was founded just at the end of the Viking age in the 11th century, just like Norway’s other big city, Oslo. Due to its location, it very quickly grew to be a large trading port city which also hosted royal residences and coronations by the … Continue reading

Exploring Oslo, Norway’s Fabulous Capital: Things to Do & Travel Guide

Would any trip to Norway be complete without seeing Oslo? I admit, before going, some people said they didn’t like it much but I was keen on visiting its museums. I’ll explain more in detail, but even though I didn’t like it much the first day myself, I began to really like it after exploring the city more in depth. Here’s what I thought of it:

The History of Oslo

The city as we know it was actually established after the Viking age ended in the 11th century, but was shortly made capital in the late 13th or early 14th … Continue reading