This country’s crown is crooked.

 

Favorite Place #1 – Budapest Hungary

 

I am so excited that we have finally reached my favorite destination.  But first, I want to say thank you to everyone who read my last three favorite destinations and has shared them on social media to all of their friends.  We have had an amazing response to each of them. 

 

Now this last destination is not going to be a country like the others.  Though I did enjoy the country side, there was so much to see and do in this city that I have to share my top five favorite places in…Budapest!  If you have been to Budapest, you know how amazing this city is with its’ various periods of architecture, delicious food, interesting culture, and endless entertainment and shopping.  Because there is so much that I loved about this city, it was hard for me to pick my top five favorite spots, but here they are.

 

Top 5 Favorite Places in Budapest

 

#5  Heroes’ Square  or in Hungarian, Hősök tere – The square is surrounded by the Museum of Fine Art and Palace of Art, but to me it wasn’t about what surrounded it, it was about what it stood for: Freedom.  In the front of the monument is a large stone dedicated to the memory of the heroes who gave their lives for the freedom of their people and their national independence for over a thousand years!  That is right, a monument dedicated to those who fought in wars and battles a thousand years ago.  A country that didn’t forget anyone and built a monument to remember everyone.  It really is something amazing to be standing in this semi-circle of statutes and monuments that was built over a 100 years ago.

 

#4 Matthias Church – If you didn’t know Budapest is actually split by the Danube river into two parts, one side of the river is the Buda side and the other side is the Pest side.  Matthias Church on the Buda side in the Buda Castle District.  When you come upon the church you are expected to be in awe by it’s massive steeple and architecture, but what catches my eye every time is the multi-colored roof.  This orange and yellow roofing stand out on top of the light gray, almost white façade.  This church was where coronations of Kings, and burials of royalty took place, and when you walk into the church you can see why it was the chosen venue.  Ceilings so high you think they touch the sky, and ornate stained glass windows, and a large amount of seating. 

 

 

 

 

#3 – Fisherman’s Bastion – Believe it or not, the Fisherman’ Bastion is actually a terrace on the Castle hill.  To me it appears to be an ornate wall protecting the Castle hill, or what we typically call the wall to a fort.  This wall does get its’ name from the guild of fishermen that were responsible for defending the stretch of land in the Middle Ages, and the seven towers represent the seven Magyar tribes who settled into the region in 896.  There are several stairways, and walking paths that boast the most beautiful views of the Danube river and the Pest side.  On a clear day you can get amazing pictures of the Hungarian Parliament building.  Since you will be doing a lot of climbing stairs and walking, just down the way is a mascarpone shop that showcases amazing edible art and demonstrations on how to make some of their pieces. 

 

#2 – Bridges of the Danube – The Bridges that connect the Buda and Pest sides are each different.  Some have enormous rock statues in front of them and other are more modern with large gateways as an entrance.  When we took our tour we were told that during World War II throughout Europe several bridges where destroyed, but Budapest was one of the few cities whose bridges were not destroyed. 

There are eight bridges in total, and my two favorite bridges are the Chain Bridge and the Liberty Bridge.  The Chain Bridge is very close to the parliament building and gives easy access into the main cultural center of Budapest.  This stone bridge was built in the early 1800’s and was the second bridge to be built over the Danube river.  Stone lions guard over the passengers who come and go, and at night they light the bridge up beautifully so that you can get really good pictures of the bridge in the foreground and Castle Hill in the background.  The Liberty Bridge acted as a toll bridge for some time and this can be seen by the houses that were built at both ends of the bridge.  There are four Turuls statutes, one on each pillar of the bridge.  If you don’t know what a Turul is that is ok, neither did I, they are falcon-like birds, prominent in ancient Hungarian mythology.

 

#1 Hungarian Parliament Building – I had seen pictures of the inside of this building prior to actually going into it, but seeing it in person was absolutely breath-taking.  You first walk up a grand staircase fit for a king into an area where all the walls are gold!  That is right, gold!  It is absolutely breath-taking and unfortunately, my pictures won’t do it justice.  Guided tours are the best way to get around this building as there are so many rooms, and some of them are very long with nothing in them.  They are called waiting rooms, but I could fit two of my house into this long, wide room.  I must say I was a bit surprised when we came upon the Holy Crown of Hungary.  A beautiful crown with a slightly crooked cross on top.  We had asked our guide if that was symbolic for something, and he told us no that someone has either dropped it or knocked slightly resulting in the cross tilting to one side.  It surprised me that no one wanted to fix it but after 300 years of it being this way, I guess it is now a tradition. 

 

 

 

 

I love ending my newsletter about the food of the country.  Hungary is known for its paprika and this bright red colored pepper is used in every dish. It may appear to an outsider that the Hungarians even worship this pepper as it is embroidered onto table clothes and proudly displayed in shops.  Make sure to buy some to bring back with you.  If you are used to the paprika here in the states then it can be a bit overwhelming at first, but it is sure to make your tastebuds dance!  I was pleasantly surprised how flavorful fresh paprika is and when properly used, can really make a dish pop in color, flavor, presentation.

 

 

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Favorite Place #3 – Great Britain

 

Many Americans prefer that their first visit to Europe be to Great Britain because the main language is English.  It is an easy transition and the most people feel comfort in knowing that if something were to go wrong, they know the language and can communicate easily.  One thing that we tend to feel a bit uncomfortable doing in Great Britain is driving, as they drive on the opposite side of the road and some of the lines on the roads are confusing (have you seen those squiggly lines?).  A great way to get around easily, and quickly is by train.  There are also several motorcoach tours with various activity levels and timeframes. 

 

John, did you know that Great Britain is actually made up of four countries?  Well, it is actually called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.  The island of Great Britain itself is comprised of England, Scotland, and Wales which is where I am going to pick my top 5 favorite places.

 

Top 5 Favorite Places in Great Britain

 

#5 York – York is about a four-hour drive north of London, but it is worth the drive!  When you think of England and a tour with Tudor style buildings, this is that town.  You can easily walk around to the various shops, enjoy a meat pie, or walk along the castle wall.  My favorite part of the town is the oldest street in all England called Shambles.  This street was even said to be mentioned in the 1086 book DomesDay, but to me it felt like I was walking down Diagon Alley, for all you Harry Potter fans.  Crooked buildings, tight streets, crowds of people, and tiny stores make up this street and it is really something to see.

 

#4 Highlands – The Highlands is not a city but a region of Scotland that contains a lot of hills, lochs, and mountains.  Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in Great Britain, and on a clear day you can really enjoy the beauty of the surrounding area.  We were there in October, typically the rainy season, but each day we had beautiful weather and clear skies, which gave us the most amazing pictures.  Seeing Loch Ness was really something that I always wanted to do so standing next the Loch getting our picture taken seemed so surreal and exciting.  Unfortunately Nessie decided not come out that day.  Taking a boat ride on Loch Lomond was another highlight as the surrounding area is so lush and beautiful.  When in Scotland, make sure not to miss out on seeing a Scottish Cow, pronounced Coo by the Scottish.  Also keep an eye out for jewelry made out of Heather.

 

 

 

 

#3 London – There is one thing that I clearly remember I loved about London: the public transportation.  It was very easy to get around whether we took the iconic red bus or the Underground, we were able to easily get to our destination.  We decided to do all things Royal so we visited the Tower of London to see the royal crown and jewels.  As much as I appreciated the jewels, I was more interested in the armor and weapons that they had cached 300 years ago!  Room after room, it felt like it was never ending.  We also opted to take a tour of Kensington Palace to see the Princess Diana collection.  So many beautiful dresses to see but the building itself was a bit outdated and plain inside.  While in London, you must take a walk in one of their many parks.  You never know what type of art or activity you may come across, but on a beautiful, warm day there are plenty of activities to do.  Grabbing a pint at a local pub is a must, and this was where I was introduced to Strongbow a “dry” cider produced in Great Britain.  Having this on draft was a smooth as a lager and not sweet like a hard cider you would get in the states.  Since we have been to London, you can now purchase Strongbow here in the states and it is now produced in several flavors.  I have not had it since London, as I am afraid the formulation has changed to suit the American taste buds. 

 

#2 Bath – Bath has been a bucket list item for me since I was a teenager.  The white townhouses all lined up in a half circle, the beautiful country side, and of course, the Roman Baths.  Seeing pictures of people in the early 1900’s in their bathing suits soaking in the baths hoping for some healing or enjoying the warmth of the water, is something that had me curious.  The Roman bath building is quite large containing the main bath area, but there are also several springs that are equally fascinating.  The water is so clear that it is hard to believe that it is unfiltered.  I will warn you that there is a sulfur concentration in the water so there can be an unpleasant smell while you are there, especially in warmer weather.  You can also taste the water from a special fountain found in the restaurant on site.  I did not as I was told it tasted really bad, and was a darker color than they had expected.  There are several archaeologists that have been digging and uncovering artifacts from hundreds of years ago.  You can also view and even touch some of these pieces. 

 

#1 Edinburgh – Edinburgh is my second favorite city in all the places that I have visited.  You sense the great things that happened in this town, and because the façade of the buildings has been virtually untouched, you get this feeling of going back in time.  It is very easy to get around Edinburgh but make sure to bring good walking shoes, as the Royal Mile is something to really see but hard on the feet.  I really enjoyed walking through “Closes” which are alleyways that sometimes underground.  Many people hang their clothes out to dry in these areas, and this is also where the saying “Heads Up” originated as they would throw their bed pan material out the window to the street below.  My favorite tour was of Mary King’s Close which is an underground city that has been untouched since medieval times.  Seeing how people lived at that time is sad but a good reminder of how much we have progressed in the world.  Edinburgh Castle is a must and if you are there when the Military Tattoo is being held, I highly recommend seeing this show.  Once you are done at the castle a stroll down the Royal Mile to get in some shopping and/or whiskey tasting is must.  Once at the end, make sure to visit Holyrood Palace, home of the Queen of Scots! 

 

I always like to end these segments with food of the region!  Fish and chips can be purchased everywhere throughout Great Britain, but the best Fish and Chip places that we found were those where the construction workers would eat.  Once place was just a Fish and Chip store with no seating, and it was the best Fish and Chips that I have ever had.  Another interesting food that is easy and quick is the meat pie!  You don’t have to get meat as there are cheese and vegetable options, but these great to get when you are hungry but want to still walk around to take in the sites.  Let’s end with some Haggis!  A food staple in the Scottish culture and one of the most flavorful dishes I have ever had.  If you don’t know what haggis is or how it is made, skip knowing, and try it.  Believe me, your taste buds will thank you!

Fill out the form below to get started planning your next European Vacation.  Looking for a motor coach tour, self-drive, or private tour, we can easily put together the perfect European vacation for you and your family’s needs. 

When you book your vacation with a member of the Life is Better Traveling Team, you are supporting local families and business.  Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the past 4 years, we have become an AMAZING travel agency due to your support!

Please understand we get several requests per day for European vacations. We provide experiences for our clients that provide a lot of value. If you are looking for a budget vacation, that is NOT us.

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Favorite Place #3 – Italy

 

Italy is a must when traveling to Europe.  Most people want to visit Italy for its culture, history, and of course, the wine and food!  I am no different than most people.  Some of the best food dishes that I have ever had were in Italy, and it is the one place where I will actually drink wine.  I have been lucky enough to have traveled to Italy on several occasions, even one time when I was in Switzerland we were so close to the border that it felt like we were in Italy.  It truly is an amazing country to visit and these are the places that I enjoyed the most.

 

 

Top 5 Favorite Places in Italy

 

#5   Pompeii – This ancient civilization, that is unearthed more and more each year, is absolutely breath-taking.  Going through people’s homes and seeing how they lived, the interlacing of the city streets, shops, and actual relics that have been unearthed gives one an understanding of how people lived at that time, and it is so well preserved.  Now each time I have visited, we have taken a 3 to 4 hour tour just of Pompeii.  If you really want to see all of Pompeii, you really have to give yourself a good 8 hours or more.  Most tours take you to the known sites, but Pompeii is quite large and you may want to find a tour that will take you to the lesser known areas. 

 

#4   Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo – When I heard that our cruise ship was stopping in Sicily, all I could think of was the Godfather movies and the opera house, which we did see and go inside.  But there was something else that I really wanted to see, Rosalia Lombardo.  Who is this person?  She is an extremely well-preserved two-year girl who died in 1920.  It is unknown why she is so well-preserved, but she is prominently displayed in her own section of the Capuchin Catacombs.  Catacombs aren’t for everyone as they are a reminder that life is short, but I had seen several shows on this particular one in Palermo, so I booked us a tour.  I was pleasantly surprised that most of the Catacomb was not underground and plenty of natural light was coming in.  The paths were clearly defined and the layout of the bones was very well-preserved.  Once we reached Rosalia and saw her in the small glass casket, it seemed surreal and one of the most mysterious things that I have ever seen. 

 

#3   Sorrento city center – Sorrento is usually a stop when traveling the Almafi coast.  It is a beautiful town on top of some cliffs that really give you some amazing views of the sea.  The town center is filled with small alleys leading you to amazing store fronts, and seems to be decorated with the most amazing flower displays.  There are three things that are a must when you go to Sorrento.  First you must consider purchasing some wood art.  This is where the artists use wood to make various scenes of Sorrento and is beautiful and quite unique.  Anything with lemons!  Limoncello is hugely popular in Sorrento and a good place to purchase some really amazing versions of it.  They also have various candies with lemon, which are amazing and not too sour.  Gelato!  When in Italy, gelato is a must!  This is one of the foods that I must try in every Italian city I visit, and Sorrento didn’t disappoint with their gelato.  There is one store right down from the main square that resides in a building right in the middle of two streets.  You can enter from either street and the walls are filled with famous people who have stopped into their store, and when we tried their gelato, I can see why! 

 

#2   The Forum – Rome is a city that has so many amazing historical sites that you won’t be able to see them all in one visit.  We decided to do a private 10-hour tour of Rome to see most of the well-known sites including the Forum.  All I really wanted to see was the Colessum but the first thing we did that day to beat the summer sun, was walk around the Forum.  Immediately I was impressed by the Arch of Titus which is the original arch that the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France is modeled after.  We walked around this ancient Roman civilization for 3 hours seeing mostly city buildings and some homes.  The most impressive part of the forum was when we reached Circus Maximus, where they used to race the chariots.  Looking at this massive site and picturing chariots racing around while people cheered on their favorites, was very impressive to me.  We did visit the Colessum, but I was unimpressed at the size after seeing Circus Maximus. 

 

#1 The Island of Venice –    My first European experience was Venice and from the moment I stepped onto the taxi boat, I fell in love.  As we circled the island you can see the beautiful colorful structures and you are amazed that a city can thrive right in the middle of the water.  Once on the island, there are alleyways following canals, more bridges than I have ever crossed in my life, and around each turn you have the opportunity to take an award winning picture.  As we love our private tours, we opted for one through Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Square and Basilica.  Our private tour of the palace allowed us to go into rooms that aren’t seen by the general public and in the old days were the private rooms of the Doge’s.  Crossing through the Bridge of Sighs was eerie and surreal but I have to say one of the most memorable moments of my life.  When on the island of Venice, one must purchase a masquerade mask.  They are pretty much sold in every store on the island, but the ones you are looking for are made of Paper Mache and not porcelain.  There are a select few artisans on the island who still make them out of paper mache so you will have to ask around where the closet on to your hotel is located.

 

I only briefly talked about the food in Italy, but if you have been there you already know that eating anywhere in Italy is a culinary experience.  Portions are large, and the wine seems to flow like water.  My husband and I always like to find out where the locals eat and eat with them at night.  Eating dinner in Italy means that you will be eating dinner at 10pm, but it is worth the wait.  Every dinner is as least a five course meal including an appetizer, salad, pasta, entrée, and dessert, usually in this order.  Yes, pasta is a course and not the main meal.  You have to also realize that dinner is enjoyed slowly over 2 to 3 hours so there is plenty of time to digest each course.  Like they say, when in Rome, eat like the Romans!

 

 

Fill out the form below to get started planning your next European Vacation.  Looking for a motor coach tour, self-drive, or private tour, we can easily put together the perfect European vacation for you and your family’s needs. 

When you book your vacation with a member of the Life is Better Traveling Team, you are supporting local families and business.  Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the past 4 years, we have become an AMAZING travel agency due to your support!

Please understand we get several requests per day for European vacations. We provide experiences for our clients that provide a lot of value. If you are looking for a budget vacation, that is NOT us.

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