Part of the magic of travel for me is the historical events and life stories of the areas I visit. Aboard Viking Cruises´ 930-passenger Jupiter, we crossed the Baltic Sea from Scandinavia to Rostock, on Germany´s Baltic coast, and popular as a jumping-off port for all of the Nordic countries. Now this coast´s third largest city (pop. 210,000), it was part of Communist East Germany from the end of World War II till German reunification in 1990. The area was bombed by the Allies durin
Central Europe (5)
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by Felice Hardy
Did you know that you can ski in 274 countries - even including Hawaii and South Africa? The skiing countries of the world certainly do vary a lot, but if you're yearning for world-class winter sports outside cute, classic little chocolate-box villages with friendly family-run hotels and chalet-style architecture like the gingerbread house out of Hansel and Gretel - and perhaps cosy, gemütlich mountain eateries serving heart-warming comfort food - the Austrian Alps are yo
by Marita Acosta
Especially as the weather starts warming up again, I find I have a soft spot for northern Germany’s most vibrant city. As a European looking for a stimulating city break, I consider Hamburg a sweet spot for quenching the thirst not just for some tasty local Pilsner but also culture, art, and the creative scene in general (with fabulous design hotels to stay in all the while). Come with me – it’s springtime for Hamburg, and no more so than in two of its coolest neighbourhoods o
pxhere.com
It's still winter, of course, and we've been reading about (and a lucky some of us even participating in) the frosty fun for which Europe's most extensive mountain range system is famous. But summer is coming, too, and it's not too early to consider your getaway options. The Alps provide a great way to enjoy your holiday with family and friends, and you will find it a fantastic experience and opportunity for bonding.
There's a lot to choose from, because, they stretch approximatel
