Too Square to be Hip
A narcissist's guide to travel and culture
It is true that no two travelers are the same, just as no two people are the same… yet there are categories that people typically fall into based on the distinct characteristics they exhibit. Of course, for the purpose of this exercise I will be making crass caricature for effect, because it is funny, but …
A forlorn horn of a locomotive sounds in the distance during a frigid winters night. From the darkness it emerges, piercing the fog of the great empty, finally pulling in to a derelict train station. A building that has likely seen little activity over the last decades. Now that the hulking behemoth has stopped, you …
After a year if taking Slovak history classes at my local university I was ready for my adventure into the very heart of the county. Aim of my trip was to discover the very authentic medieval heart of the country, located in Central Slovakia, as my last visit focused on the western part of the …
One of Slovakia’s many, many, castle, Slovenska Ľupča holds a a special place in my esteem due to its beautiful pastel colours, shades of blue and red, that adorn its roof. Located just outside Banská Bystrica, the castle occupies one of the last promontories of the Low Tatras, a rocky ridge with commanding views of …
A city borne of style and beauty, Milan is nevertheless a bustling metropolis full of life and chaos, just as any city. One of the oldest urban centres in Northern Italy, Milan took full advantage of the industrial revolution to elevate itself to the post of the country’s second city, becoming synonymous with Italian culture …
Forced to stay here after a cancelled flight, I quickly grew to enjoy this tiny town with a rail connection into Milan. Sometime the best days are the ones you can least control, and in this case I came to accept my delay. Geography and Transportation This Lombard town in the Varese region is located …
Forming the industrial heartland of Central Europe, along with the Czech lands, Silesia has been split and fought over by all great powers including the Austrian Habsburgs, Prussians, Germans and Poles. Filled with resources such as coal, the railroads to move product and factories to produce, it is no wonder why it has been so …
Sitting in a lush green valley in the Austrian Alps, Berchtesgaden’s pristine appearance as the model alpine town can be deceiving. A Nazi stronghold, crowned by the famed Eagles Nest – a home owned by that damned political party – its beauty is complicated by this sordid tale of political adherence. Yet a visitor to …
Located inland from the St. Lawrence, following the Malbaie river is an incredible natural area, possibly the most scenic in the province of Québec. Here the hills give way to high peaks, rounded by erosion but still standing tall above the flowing waters and the beautiful maple valley stretching out below. Geography As previously mentioned …
An easy daytrip from Dresden, the Elbe Valley’s eastern extents approaching the Czech border is magnificent. Tall soaring rock formation intersect with historic villages, railways and towns all the while the ancient river flows by them, knowing that it will outlast them all. This is the touristic hear of the Saxon region and a must …
