Archive for the ‘Europe’ Category

Krampus: Halloween or Scary Christmas?

Posted on: December 6th, 2013 by paul

Have you ever seen a Krampus? The half-man half animal beastly creature has the singular intention of frightening everything in its path. Usually accompanied by fire, whips, ominous music, cow bells, and firecrackers, these beasts are nothing to mess with. Boasting wood carved masks ornamented with real bone for teeth and horns, these creatures appear to be something out of a horror film.

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Northern Italy’s Most Famous Christmas Market

Posted on: December 5th, 2013 by paul

Christmas markets are a holiday gathering place for Europeans, especially those with German heritage. The two key ingredients for a good market are a large church and piazza. The normally empty piazza is where booths are set up to display ornaments, local delicacies, and most importantly ‘Vin Brule’ or ‘Gluwein’.  (more…)

How is Traveling in Europe Different Than in North America?

Posted on: November 26th, 2013 by paul

Are you planning a trip to Europe and wondering how different it is to travel within the European Union compared to traveling in North America? Surprisingly, a vacation across several European countries can be a quite similar to traveling in Canada or the United States if you take into consideration a few important differences. (more…)

World Languages: Switzerland

Posted on: November 6th, 2013 by paul

In a recent blog, we took a deeper look at the languages spoken on the island of Hispaniola (consisting of The Dominican Republic and Haiti). Today we will take a look at one of the world’s most diverse countries when it comes to languages: Switzerland.

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Oktoberfest: Where the World Goes to Play

Posted on: October 2nd, 2013 by paul

You may think that Oktoberfest is only a beer drinking festival that looks like something out of the movie ‘Beerfest’. While being in the tents definitely resembles the movie, the grounds outside the beer tents offer lots of fun and activities for the whole family. Aside from candy, doughnuts, pretzels, and whole chickens, there are loads of rides and games for everyone to enjoy. There are even roller coasters. But lets be serious, you are not going all the way to Munich to ride a roller coaster, you are there to sample the beer. (more…)

They Speak German in Italy?

Posted on: September 18th, 2013 by paul

When you picture Italy, you most like think of pizza, wine, the coliseum, and most of all, the Italian language. However, were you aware that there is a small part of Italy that speaks predominantly German? South Tyrol (or Alto Adige as it’s called in Italian) is an interesting mix of Italian and Austrian cultures, combining the best of both worlds. (more…)

Ritten Renon, Italy: Festival of St. Bartholomew

Posted on: September 6th, 2013 by paul

Have you ever been at the top of a mountain? Take it a step further, have you ever had a party at the top of the mountain? Well, how about a party celebrating the yearly occasion of walking the farm animals down the mountain to warmer temperatures and greener pastures? Well that’s exactly what happens in many regions of the Alps, specifically in South Tirol, Italy. (more…)

The City Of Ashes

Posted on: January 29th, 2013 by paul

Pompeii was once a thriving city full of wealthy individuals that overlooked the ocean. This city had a number of modern amenities common in Roman cities (more…)

Beautiful Barrea

Posted on: January 25th, 2013 by paul

While the historic town of Barrea may not be on your bucket list like Rome, but this location makes a great place for a quiet get away. This quaint town is built along the steep slope of a mountain that has acted as a defensive mechanism for this town. (more…)

A Bond Worthy Vacation

Posted on: January 16th, 2013 by paul

When you think of casinos and gambling your mind automatically goes to Las Vegas, but the area of Monte Carlo in Monaco is home to the famous Monte Carlo Casino. This casino has made appearances in two James Bond films (more…)