Did you know that you can see from a tram in a day the entire Belgian coastline of the North Sea from the border with the Netherlands until reaching the dunes of sand near France? C’est posible!
Continue reading “The Belgian Coast & De Kusttram”
I started thinking at my life so far when I was in the Naturkunde Museum, during Berlin Science Week, while surrounded by children (and dinosaurs). Growing up, I did not had the opportunity to attend this type of events.
This November, Berlin Science Week was a 10 days international festival with innovative scientific organizations, a different type of travel experience, and most important, a reminder to stay curios and optimistic.
Continue reading “Berlin Science Week”
Briefing from the European capital – a promenade bruxelloise and Belgian days, years later, on memory lane, thinking in French. I could walk for hours in Bruxelles, among paths imprinted in my heart, in a city that felt like home from day one. Beautiful corners in places I’ve been with details I’ve never noticed, and moments I remember.
And a thought – no matter the choice, if we leave or return, we’ll always miss something.
Continue reading “Brussels briefing”
Voilà. I went last time to Strasbourg in a warm weekend in February that made me think Spring is on its way. I remember walking on a street called Rue de Printemps (Spring) near the European Parliament. There is something romantic walking in any French city street, but especially one with the name of a season.
Continue reading “Bonsoir Printemps, Strasbourg”
There is something about European train stations and time. The most beautiful train station I ever saw with magnificent details was in Antwerp. The classic central station was first used in 1905 (yes, really). The city, known as Anvers by French speakers, is one I feel connected by many memories, and must be the third most visited Belgian city in the years I lived in this country, after Brussels and Bruges.
Continue reading “Antwerpen Central Station”
Heading West today to Timișoara, the 3rd largest city of Romania. Still left to explore in this part of the country. Near the borders with Serbia and Hungary, Timisoara is beautiful and full of surprises. For generations, Romanians have lives here alongside Serbs, Germans, Croats or Hungarians. The city was chosen as the 2023 European Capital of culture and is truly a touristic destination.
Continue reading “Amazing Timișoara in 24 Hours”
Once upon a time, I acknowledged the beauty of the European continent. When in Estonia for a summer school, we took the ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki with “Viking line”, because is “only two hours away”. Yes! I learned a Finish untranslatable word – “sisu”, that might be the definition of happiness. And the Scandinavian habit “friluftsliv”, useful now, in pandemic times.
Continue reading “Helsinki ~ White Night”
In a rainy October weekend, I attended the Lithuanian Film festival in Berlin, while mixing it with memories from a trip in the heart of Vilnius years ago. I started thinking of special friendships and remembered the Constitution of the “Republic” of Užupis, that claims “everyone has the right to make mistakes”.
Continue reading “Vilnius goes Berlin”
In Warsaw I traveled only for work many times. And the memories are a puzzle, while the seasons are changing. Summer after work on the main street Novi Świat or an autumn night, accidentally attending a Chopin piano concert in a bookstore. A winter morning, in a taxi seeing the city covered with snow or in spring at food market Hala Koszyki. Warszawa reminded me of Bucharest, that made me a bit melancholic. Polish language is also very different, but some sounds are familiar. I felt as I traveled in time.
Continue reading “Chopin’s Warsaw”
In an early Friday morning I am at the Brussels Midi train station, about to board the Eurostar and go to London for an extended weekend. My first time traveling with the Eurostar train. And I am looking around, listening to people speak French or English with a superb accent, thinking how lucky I am and how cool is Europe!
Continue reading “Destination: London”
An event that started in Paris is now almost everywhere in the world. Every year, in spring, around the 18th of May is celebrated the International Museums day. Galleries and more other cultural places join every year the “Long Night of the Museums”.
Continue reading “International Museums Day”
This week of 4-10 November 2019 is a very special one in the German capital because it celebrated the 30th anniversary of the fall of Berlin Wall with “storytelling” events and art. This autumn, I am still processing this week and the 6 months since I live here.
Continue reading “A world without walls”
Two festivals are lightning the mood in October. Because one was not enough. „The Festival of Lights“ and „Berlin Leuchtet / Berlin Illuminated“.
Continue reading “Light of Freedom”
Applying and receiving an Erasmus scholarship in Denmark at 19 years old I actually received wings. 10 years feels like a lifetime and is beautiful to look back where it all started.
Continue reading “Erasmus revisited. Copenhagen”
The neighbourhood with the European institutions in Brussels is a piece of Europe within Europe. Initially, I wanted to write about places to visit in Brussels and a small paragraph about the European institutions and the elections today, and in the end, the following piece turned out. It became o plea for being critical, optimist, base everything on facts. How my mind works while thinking … Continue reading Heart of Europe
Growing up I always projected my life and career as a clear path. Or as a ladder. Something linear, straight, filled with clichés. Now I see both as a painting – beautiful, bold, deep, lively, patterned, but also uneven, dark, broken, rough, changing.
Brussels, Belgium
~ “We only have two hours, can we make it?” We have to discuss two proposals today: one to implant microchips into European citizens and one for a new water directive. Members of the Parliament (MEPs) and Council negotiators must strike a deal.” ~
I was playing with the option of building my own website since January 2014, during the time his picture was taken in Brussels, just an idea how much it took me to get started.
And 5 years later, here I am, writing finally my first post.
Thanks for joining me!
Travel Journal 