Before we backpacked around Europe in 2000, I got my hands on a used copy of Rick Steves’ “Europe Through the Back Door.” (If you are inclined to do so, don’t hold it against me. I was young and impressionable; it was the only English language travel book available.)
Estonia’s capital city, Tallinn, was described as having “a frosted cake feel.” Sure, the old town is small, cute, medieval and full of cobblestones, but Tallinn is more than just a pretty dessert.
But maybe I’m biased. Continue Reading »
Filed Under: Estonia, Panorama by: Audrey Scott
9 Comments | 20 August 2010
We find ourselves in the midst of another holiday season. Before it slips away, we offer a hearty Happy Holidays to all our friends and readers.
Last year at this time we were in Beijing, China. Our holiday nostalgia took the form of a top ten favorite European Christmas markets list from our time living and traveling in Europe, including memories of the Andalucian Cabalgatas in Spain to the epic markets of Central Europe. For those of you who weren’t with us then, check out our Best European Christmas Markets article and the photo slideshow at the bottom of this post. Continue Reading »
Filed Under: Europe, Perspectives, United States by: Daniel Noll and Audrey Scott
7 Comments | 17 December 2008
Not for good but for the moment, we bid adieu to Europe on our blog. And we do so looking through a different lens. We sometimes like the way the world looks this way.
We hope you do too. Enjoy the slideshow below. Continue Reading »
Filed Under: Europe, Photography by: Daniel Noll and Audrey Scott
5 Comments | 11 December 2008
The Baltics. Reminiscent of a bargain property on the original Monopoly board; not to be confused with the powder keg Balkans; a region whose history features intermittent eras of independence and occupation; and a place whose emotional pendulum swings between the almost white nights of its brief summers and the steel wool grayness of its long winters.
Home to over seven million people and three distinct languages and cultures, the Baltic region comprises the countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Now, a virtual show of hands: who knows where the Baltics are? Continue Reading »
Filed Under: Estonia, Europe, Latvia, Lithuania, Travel by: Daniel Noll and Audrey Scott
9 Comments | 8 December 2008
Medieval castles, imperial palaces, blocky Soviet throwbacks and new glass and steel buildings lined our paths; poppy seed strudels, potato dumplings, and goose feasts filled our stomachs; light Austrian white wines, hearty Hungarian reds and freshly pulled Czech beers served as social lubrication; and Slavic, Germanic and Finno-Ugric (Hungarian) accents provided the soundtrack.
This is the cultural goulash of Central Europe.
Continue Reading »
Filed Under: Europe, Hungary, Photography, Travel by: Daniel Noll and Audrey Scott
9 Comments | 24 November 2008
Hungary stands distinct in Middle Europe: it doesn’t resemble its Slavic, Germanic or Romanian neighbors in language or features. Even more rare for this region, Hungarians like heat – in their food, in their baths, and even in their relationships (Hungarians are known to take public displays of affection to a whole new level).
Although we visited Budapest, Hungary’s grand capital, several times in 2000 as we transited from Western to Eastern Europe, our visit this year proved more rewarding.
From the fresh markets to the grand open baths, here’s why. Continue Reading »
Filed Under: Europe, Food, Hungary, Travel by: Daniel Noll and Audrey Scott
8 Comments | 10 November 2008
Ever wish those gadgets in Star Trek were real? As the U.S. Presidential election results streamed in on Tuesday night, we sure did. We were desperate for a transporter to beam us across Europe and the Atlantic Ocean to the United States.
We didn’t go to sleep here in Budapest, Hungary until 7 AM on Wednesday morning, after the election results were in and the concession and victory speeches were delivered. Continue Reading »
Filed Under: Europe, Hungary, Perspectives, United States by: Daniel Noll and Audrey Scott
3 Comments | 6 November 2008
Unless you just rose from the dead, you are probably aware that today – November 4, 2008 – is election day in the United States.
Sharing photos from Vilnius, Lithuania may seem irrelevant on such a momentous day, but it was from there where we voted for the next U.S. President (by absentee ballot) and sank into the quagmire of election news fixation. Continue Reading »
Filed Under: Europe, Lithuania, Photography, Travel by: Daniel Noll and Audrey Scott
4 Comments | 4 November 2008
Upon our second visit to Estonia since Audrey concluded her Peace Corps stint in 2000, we wondered what we would find. Continue Reading »
Filed Under: Estonia, Europe, Travel by: Daniel Noll and Audrey Scott
10 Comments | 24 October 2008
Just another reason to love autumn in Vilnius, Lithuania. Continue Reading »
Filed Under: Europe, Lithuania by: Daniel Noll and Audrey Scott
4 Comments | 9 October 2008
