europe
Whether embarking on a Eurotrip or a weekend jaunt to a foreign city, European travel requires some smart planning; you may know all the must-see landmarks, but we provide the hidden gems.
Interrailing in... Gent and Bruges
Our next stop on our Interrailing journey across Europe would be perhaps the least touristy of our destinations. This was down mainly to the fact we would be spending a lot of time with our Belgian friends who were familiar with Gent.
By Patrick Hollis8 years ago in Wander
Interrailing In... Berlin
My sixth-month placement in Stuttgart may have ended, but I wasn’t about to head directly back to England. Instead, I set off on a two-week trip Interrailing around Europe with my girlfriend. Starting from Stuttgart and travelling north, it was a fairly elongated way home but something which I couldn’t wait for.
By Patrick Hollis8 years ago in Wander
Majestic Rundales Palace
This is a beautiful and magnificent Baroque style palace located in Latvia in the Rundales district Pilsrundale. It was designed by a Russian architect of Italian descent Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli. It took from 1736 to 1768 to build this castle and it became the summer residence of the Kurzeme (this region was also known as Courland, so Biron was called the Duke of Courland) region, Duke Ernst Johann von Biron. Within Rundales Palace territory there are also many additional buildings and a large park. Since 1972 the Rundales Palace Museum can be visited and there have been many restorations done on this castle to make it look like it did in the 18th century.
By Rasma Raisters8 years ago in Wander
Hidden History and Hidden Gems
Hidden History Paris, France is one of the most beautiful places that you can visit. It is known as the “city of lights” and the “city of love.” There are however many things that most people know because some things have been buried in history. One thing is that Paris was founded in the 3rd century but the city was actually named Lutetia. At the time the residence would call themselves Parisii which gave Paris the name it has now. Paris was built by a Celtic tribe. The Romans conquered the Parisii in 52 AD where they built a small town along the River Seine. Then when the 3rd century was nearly over the region was turned to Christianity. The Roman Empire, however, was slowly losing in power. Soon the Franks took over Paris and the town quickly blossomed like a morning glory in the morning. Then in 845 Vikings tried to take control but the French king paid them 7,000 pounds of pure silver to leave. Soon in the middle ages Paris grew quickly and became one of the most known and largest towns in the entire area of Europe. Then to protect the city a wall was built by King Philippe-Auguste through 1180-1223). Paros was a great place for inland trades and soon the Paris University which was known to have some of the best scholars. The most known and well famous cathedral in Paris was built now known as the Cathedral de Notre Dame. In 1338 there was literally a war that lasted a 100 years. This terrible was known as the Black Death. When Paris recovered and 1528 King Francois quickly moved his court to town. In 1589 King Henry 3 was having his son take over but quickly people didn't accept it and the young son had to fight for his right to his own throne. King Henry the 4th built the Pont Neuf in 1607 but was quickly assassinated by a Catholic in 1610 but his wife did build the Palais de Luxembourg. The Palais Royal was built in 1629 by Cardinal Richelieu. The Revolution which broke out in 1789. On the 14th of July in 1789 the Parisians seized all the guns and any protection and the governor was forced to surrender.
By Krystal Ferweda8 years ago in Wander
'Three Devil’s Servants in the Devil’s Mill'
Well known Latvian actor and writer whose real name was Arvids Mihelsons was born near Riga, Latvia on October 23, 1886, died on October 14, 1961, and was buried in Riga in Meza Kapi or Forest Cemetery. During his illustrious career he took on the name of Rutku Tevs, or Radish Father if translated. The reason for this was that Rutku Tevs was the actor’s first role where the character he played in his army troop’s theater group had this name. In 1953, he wrote one of his most famous novels, Tris Vella Kalpi, or Three Devil’s Servants, which was made into a movie by the Riga Film Studio in 1970. The studio made a second film in 1972 calledTris Vella Kalpi Velna Dzirnavas, or Three Devil’s Servants in the Devil’s Mill.
By Rasma Raisters8 years ago in Wander
The Iceland Packing List
Maybe you're not that organized of a person and would rather just throw some junk in a suitcase than make a packing list and pack everything on it (*cough* me), but if you do that with Iceland, then you'll end up having to buy a few things while you're there (like gloves or deodorant, perchance?). Packing lists are just a smart idea, especially in cold places where you'll be for an extended period of time.
By Abbey Ryan8 years ago in Wander
The Beauty of Riga District
Riga, the capital of Latvia, has more to it than just city. Riga District surrounds this lovely city, which is divided into two by the Daugava. The Riga District can be considered as a suburban zone. Altogether there are 17 parishes and seven towns among which are three towns that have attached rural territories. Much of the Riga District lies on an ancient seabed. It was through the district that at one time flowed the Daugava, Gauja and Lielupe Rivers.
By Rasma Raisters8 years ago in Wander
