Category: Europe

Discover the world’s most beautiful libraries

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Discover the world’s most beautiful libraries

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” I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library” has once declared Jorge Luis Borges, the famous Argentinian writer.

Enclosing secrets as old as the world, mysterious and intriguing, these temples of knowledge offer much more than literary choices. They present marvellous architectures symbolising the developments and ideas of history and dazzle with such cachet.

From the oldest to the most futuristic, these spaces dedicated to reading were all built with the aim of being able to amaze, charm and above all inspire visitors. Well, mostly to charm and inspire me. And make me travel to unusual places.

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Visit Milan, the bustling metropolis of northern Italy

Europe Italy

Visit Milan, the bustling metropolis of northern Italy

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One of my favourite getaways just 3 hours from home, Milan is a city that I am particularly fond of and that has started to reveal itself to me over the last ten years or so. I have become so familiar with Milan because I often go to the Italian economic capital to support my favourite football team, thanks to my dad, who shared the red and black fever with me.

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Tribute to San Siro, the Scala del Calcio in Milan

Europe Italy Reflections

Tribute to San Siro, the Scala del Calcio in Milan

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In Milan, there are two teams – AC Milan and Inter Milan. The rivalry between these two teams and their fans is tremendous and can divide families, however close they are, or turn peaceful neighbourhoods into civil war zones. Or make me rethink my friendships/love affairs.

I’m not Italian, and it’s true that the culture of football is not very deep-rooted in Switzerland, where I come from, but I consider myself a true tifosa. The word tifoso, which means supporter, comes from the infectious disease typhus (Italian: tifo) which, if left untreated, causes a high fever, just as the tifoso, a football fan, “suffers from football fever”.

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Matka Canyon – A breath of fresh air outside Skopje

Europe North Macedonia

Matka Canyon – A breath of fresh air outside Skopje

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The Matka Canyon is certainly the main natural attraction in the vicinity of Skopje and one of the most beautiful places to visit during a stay in North Macedonia. If you want to make a short day trip from Skopje, this natural wonder will enchant you.

I went there during my stay in North Macedonia for my friend Viktoria’s birthday. We definitely did not have to worry about how to get there, as my friend booked a taxi for us. There are many activities in Matka, however, we just enjoyed the boat ride, having 2 hours to spare before heading back to Kumanovo for Viktoria’s birthday party.

A full guide, however, is provided below to help you appreciate the beauty of these green hills that descend steeply into a deep fjord-like gorge filled with sparkling turquoise water. Isn’t it enough to blow you away ?

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Skopje, the dashing kitsch capital of North Macedonia

Europe North Macedonia

Skopje, the dashing kitsch capital of North Macedonia

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I can’t thank my friend Viktoria enough for showing me a part of her country, North Macedonia, and its capital Skopje. It all started when she told us that to celebrate her thirtieth birthday, she would organize a party in her home country, Northern Macedonia.

Not going to lie, I took the opportunity to celebrate my friend, of course, but also to discover a country that was still totally unknown to me. Various twists and turns in the planning of this escapade made me couple this trip with the discovery of the capital of Kosovo – Priština (remember my wish to visit the European capitals before my 30th birthday).

This post tells the story of my discovery of Skopje, the capital of the country, with my friend Viktoria, one of her childhood friends living in the Macedonian capital, a Swiss friend of Viktoria’s family and (suspense) my dad. I was talking about twists and turns, and my dad was one of them. I was delighted to discover these two countries with him.  

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8 steps to discover the vibrant city of Porto

Europe Porto Portugal

8 steps to discover the vibrant city of Porto

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There is an old Portuguese adage that puts Porto into context: “While Lisbon is being beautiful, Coimbra is studying, Braga is praying and Porto is working”.

Although I had visited Porto on a previous family trip, I had no memory of the Portuguese city, which made it an ideal destination for a friend’s trip. However, I had a feeling I was going to enjoy Porto; a guaranteed crush with its good and positive vibes between its dazzling colours and its messy azulejos.

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Admont Abbey, Austria’s hidden treasure

Admont Austria Europe

Admont Abbey, Austria’s hidden treasure

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Admont, a quiet village

7:00 am the alarm clock rings, painfully early after a short night in the youth hostel in Graz. The 10:40 train ride of the day before is also felt, and I’m about to undertake a short 2-hour journey to the centre of Austria, to discover a timeless place.

A surprising place that was the main reason for my trip to Austria in the summer of 2021. I will take you to Admont, a small Austrian municipality located in Styria (whose capital is Graz).

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Innsbruck, the vibrant capital of the Alps

Austria Europe Innsbruck

Innsbruck, the vibrant capital of the Alps

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The city of Innsbruck is a small Austrian nugget that manages to mix nature, urbanism, gastronomy, culture and sport. What more could I ask for in a destination?

The possibilities of visits and activities are numerous and yet it breathes an Olympian calm between vintage historical heart and new modern architecture. Innsbruck is the “capital of the Alps” and of the Austrian Tyrol. Fifth Austrian city in terms of population (behind Vienna, Graz, Linz and Salzburg), it became my second favourite city in the country of the Schnitzel after the romantic Salzburg.

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From Fife to Aberdeen: Escapades in the northeast of Scotland

Aberdeenshire Europe Fife Scotland United Kingdom

From Fife to Aberdeen: Escapades in the northeast of Scotland

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The Scottish Highlands is the region not to be missed when visiting Scotland, yet another area whose landscapes and assets are to be valued is sometimes overlooked. During several trips from Edinburgh, I had the chance to discover picturesque and authentic places in the northeast of Scotland, such as Fife and Aberdeen districts. Places that deserve more exploration but which, without a car, are sometimes difficult to access.

So, instead, I set out to discover a few towns by means of a guided tour from Edinburgh and another day by train. A change of scenery from the beautiful capital.

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The One and Only Santorini

Europe Greece Santorini

The One and Only Santorini

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With its azure sea, Santorini, the Cycladic island, is an invitation to travel, so much so that the mere mention of it awakens my imagination.

Santorini was born during the Minoan eruption, which occurred around 1,600 BC and gave it its present horseshoe shape following the curve of the ancient crater. Combining typical Greek charm, history and fabulous landscapes, this little paradise has everything to attract visitors.

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