An unforgettable holiday in Europe

Vacation is good at any time of the year. But it is best to spend it usefully - get acquainted with the culture and flavor of other countries.  The topic of the article is Europe. What you definitely need to see with your own eyes, what information is useful to know and what dishes are worth trying, and now about everything in more detail.

Sights of Europe

The first rule of a traveler is that it is better to observe beauty in person, and not from the window of a bus. Only a walk through the main places can give an unforgettable experience. This way you can see architectural monuments from all sides, touch them if possible, and breathe in this air. Therefore, the main recommendation for a vacationer is to walk. And it's good for your figure.

Unfortunately, this condition cannot always be met. For example, getting to Edinburgh Castle in Scotland on your own is quite long and problematic. However, there are enough places that are not at all difficult to reach on foot.

So, what is worth seeing first when traveling to Europe:

• When in Greece, be sure to visit the Parthenon. The spirit of antiquity that surrounds this place definitely needs to be felt. See with your own eyes a piece of an ancient era, try to imagine what it was like before, what kind of people walked around.  The emotions are simply amazing.
• Coliseum. Doesn’t anyone really want to touch the centuries-old history about which there are so many epics? Probably everyone has heard about the rivers of blood shed during gladiatorial fights in the Colosseum.   And to see with your own eyes the remnants of the former greatness of this place is priceless.
• France. A country of romantics, croissants and picturesque green meadows. Places of glorious battles, love victories and, of course, the Eiffel Tower. This monument is the most visited in the world. Throughout its existence, this place has received more than 230 million visitors. I wonder why she attracts people so much.
• Sagrada familia. The expiatory temple of the Holy Family, built by the truly great architect Antonio Gaudi. A majestic, pompous building, unique of its kind. Not only is the architect's flamboyant style not often seen these days. So in addition there is the fact that the Temple is still under construction. Although its foundation was laid back in 1882. Please note, it is impossible not to fall in love with this place.
• Stonehenge, located in England, excites the minds of scientists to this day. Why did the ancient British need these pillars? Perhaps, having seen this place with your own eyes, you will be the one to unravel its secret.
• The Vatican City itself is worthy of tourists' attention. An independent power with its own rules and laws. Stunning architecture, an abundance of all kinds of temples and cultural monuments. But the one that stands out among them is St. Peter's Cathedral. This majestic structure will also be of interest because a large number of architects from different eras worked on its creation. Among them are Michelangelo, Raphael, Bernini and other world-famous figures.
• Buckingham Palace. Residence of the royal dynasty in England. One can only guess about its secrets. But it won’t hurt to imagine yourself, at least for a moment, as the heroine of a fairy tale, rushing up the wide stairs to meet the prince.
• Leaning Tower in Pisa, Italy. This is one of the most famous long-term construction projects on our planet. The construction of this building, which was originally supposed to serve as a bell tower at the cathedral, lasted 2 centuries. No, here, of course, the reason is not the architect’s ingenious and difficult-to-execute idea. This is because of the civilian soldiers. By the way, this is not the only building with a tilt; there are similar ones in Pisa itself and in Germany. German buildings hold the Guinness record for the angle of inclination.
• A visit to the Louvre is a must, even if you are far from the world of art. You will not find such a collection of antiquities anywhere else. See with your own eyes the paintings of the world's greatest artists, stand next to the most beautiful sculptures. It's a shame you can't touch it.
• Big Ben, the heart of foggy London. A watch that never keeps pace and there are only a couple of recorded times in history when it stopped.  In fact, only the bell inside the tower is called Ben. And the tower is named after Elizabeth. By the way, the sound of the bell can be heard at a distance of 8 km. You can get inside. But applications are accepted strictly in writing. And yes, the tower does not have an elevator. To a height of more than 90 meters you will have to climb the stairs.
• The old town of Dubrovnik in Croatia is known to few people. However, its fortress walls are worth a look.
• Tower Bridge. It is noteworthy that the bridge is a drawbridge. And the bridge construction schedule is very strict. It cannot be changed even if Bill Clinton himself crosses the bridge. The country's chief architects sent their plans for the construction of this structure. And only after 8 long years, a special commission selected the best plan for construction, the implementation of which can be admired to this day.

Beautiful places in Europe

In fact, every town in Europe is beautiful in its own way. Small towns and villages will introduce guests to local color, cuisine, and traditions. The main monuments of architecture and art are concentrated in large cities.

Cities worth visiting when traveling to Europe:

• Vienna, city of romantics and waltz. Such a number of architectural monuments, museums, cathedrals and public gardens of extraordinary beauty cannot be found anywhere else.
• Brussels is a beautiful city that successfully combines the modern (NATO headquarters is located here) and echoes of the past. The medieval city, which was built back in the 6th century, is perfectly preserved.
• Liege and Bruges are Belgian cities that are worth visiting if only to hear the ancient French dialect - the Flemish dialect, and to feel the spirit of the Inquisition. In general, Belgium is a rather contradictory country, whose cities have different architecture, culture and languages.
• Besides London, there are many other equally interesting cities in Britain. And the nature and traditional British culture in small villages and towns will not leave even the most severe critic indifferent.
• Budapest became a city relatively recently, only in 1873. Previously, 3 cities were located on this site, each of which had its own building styles and traditions. An amazing mix of buildings from different eras and directions.
• Bavaria is famous not only for its sausages and beer festivals. This is an amazingly picturesque place, combining modern features and the remains of medieval buildings.
• Cologne is a city that has recreated medieval buildings in copies.
• The homeland of vampires is Romania, which boasts a rich cultural heritage even without Count Dracula.
• If you want to look at pristine nature that will take your breath away, then pay attention to Iceland. An island of Vikings and a harsh climate, green meadows and black beaches, snow-white glaciers and furious waterfalls. You will not find such nature as in this land of contrasts anywhere else. The island was created by a volcano, which is probably why this place has the most unrealistically beautiful landscapes. While there, you begin to think that the legends about giants who died and turned to stone are not fiction at all.
• Amsterdam boasts the presence of 4 ancient canals, the original appearance of which has remained untouched.
• Santorini in Greece looks like it came straight out of a postcard. White walls of buildings with a bright oriental flavor, blue domes and roofs, hedges made of red grape leaves. It's just a resort dream.
• The island of Mallorca, the resort heart of Spain. Such picturesque beaches and clean water still need to be found. You are guaranteed an unforgettable experience from this place.
• Barcelona, ​​the center of modern Spain. In addition to well-known interesting facts, this city has a Gothic quarter. In it you can see ancient buildings that have survived to this day. Also in this place are the ruins of ancient buildings built by the Romans.
• Venice - the cradle romantics and lovers. Gondoliers, pigeons and tiny outdoor cafes. When Venice was a fairly powerful republic, stately mansions remained in memory of this time.
• Rome, it needs no introduction. The Eternal City and that says it all.
• Warsaw is famous for its cultural monuments. But Poland as a whole is interesting to tourists because it combines the main interests of everyone - mountains, beaches and attractions.
• The Baltic resorts have long been firmly established in the hearts of travelers. Great climate, friendly people, great views.
• Montenegro and its unforgettable landscapes are also worth seeing. It seems that this place came from the wildest magical dreams.
• For a closer acquaintance with the culture and customs of different peoples, we recommend heading to cities that are not on the list of major tourist guides. They also have something to see and eat. And the absence of crowds of tourists on the streets will allow you to enjoy your vacation to the fullest.

European cuisine

European cuisine, also known as Western or continental. This generalized word refers to the cuisines of North America, European countries, Australia, etc. Despite the abundance of ingredients and a fairly wide variety of recipes, Western cuisine has several common features. Namely:

• a large number of hearty meat or fish dishes;
• the desire to preserve the natural taste of products leads to minimizing the use of seasonings and spices;
• an aperitif is often used;
• many recipes include the use of wheat flour;
• frequent use of eggs in preparing dishes and drinks.

Conventional delineation of continental cuisine and distinctive features of its parts:

1. Central European cuisine includes Czech, Slavic, Slovak, Hungarian and Polish. Traditional dishes include goulash, steaks, delicious pastries and a variety of fruit liqueurs.
2. Eastern European cuisine includes Georgian, Armenian, Bulgarian, Tatar and, oddly enough, Russian and Ukrainian. The distinctive features of this type of cuisine are an abundance of hearty meat dishes, a large number of vegetables and herbs, and amazing pastries.
3. The concept of Northern European cuisine includes traditional dishes from Britain, the Baltic states and Scandinavia. It differs from others in the abundance of fish. It is used to prepare both first and second courses, as well as salads. Mushrooms and berries are also widely used - cranberries, lingonberries. Dishes are mostly boiled, with a small amount of salt and seasonings. The best sauce for this type of cuisine is sour cream, butter, etc. A large number of dishes made from flour or potatoes.
4. Southern European, also known as Mediterranean, cuisine is based on recipes from Greece, Spain, Portugal, and Turkey. A large amount of seafood, exotic fruits, juicy greens, cheeses, olive oil and quality wines are the main features of these dishes.
5. French, Belgian, and Swiss cuisines substantiated such a direction as Western European cuisine. Residents of these countries love to eat abundantly and tasty food. A classic meal should begin with appetizers, followed by soup, main course, salad and cheese platter. At the end of the meal there must be dessert or fruit.

Features of Europe

What do you need to know when planning a trip to Europe? Despite different countries, traditions and languages, there are several facts that unite Europeans. These are:

• respect for each individual nation, despite the common history;
• tolerance to the traditions and culture of other nationalities;
• meticulous respect for human rights;
• intolerance to manifestations of Nazism;
• social equality is very important;
• Europeans are sensitive to their history and cultural heritage.

Holidays in Europe

If you are lucky enough to be in Europe during festivals and folk festivals, consider this your winning ticket. Such holidays can't be found anywhere else. It is the Europeans who celebrate their dates on a grand scale - they organize parades, costume parties, carnivals, a huge amount of goodies are prepared, everyone has fun and dances. Moreover, everything is done absolutely sincerely; there is simply no place for falsehood at such moments.

It is worth noting that despite the commonality of religions and memorial dates, many holidays in Europe they are still different from Russians. For example, the analogue of our Victory Day, the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation, is celebrated by Europeans on May 8th. This is due to the difference in time zones. According to European time, the agreement on the surrender of Germany was signed on 8.05 at 22-43. The difference with Moscow is 2 hours. that is, in Russia it was May 9, 00-43. Europeans celebrate this day no worse than ours.

What’s remarkable is that Europeans love holidays very much and there are a lot of them. For example, January 3rd is the birthday of the drinking straw.

By the way, not only Germany is famous for beer festivals. For example, from March 24 to March 26, 2017, just such a holiday will take place in Barcelona.

The best hotels in Europe

If you want to spend your vacation in a luxury hotel, with a super beautiful interior and luxurious cuisine, be prepared to pay a pretty penny for it. A hotel room, where celebrities sometimes stay, costs from $400 per night.

Among the leaders in customer reviews are the following hotels:

• Four Seasons, a chain of these hotels, is located throughout Europe; in almost all major cities you can find a sign with this name.
• Castello di Casole – A Timbers Resort is located in Tuscany.  Housed in a converted 15th-century building, leisure activities include horseback riding, painting classes and wine tasting. This will ensure complete immersion in the atmosphere of the past.
• The Greek hotel Perivolas will delight its guests with a gorgeous view from any window, any room.
• Trump International GolfLinks & Hotel Irelan in Ireland offers a wide range of activities for its guests, from golf to surfing. The hotel itself is located in a quiet, picturesque location. Ideal for a family holiday.
• Parador Santiago de Compostela is one of the oldest hotels in the world. But this does not mean that it is worse than new competitors.

Resorts in Europe

We present to your attention a list of the best popular resorts in Europe:

1. HarborBeach, UK. An ancient port with snow-white sand, next to a medieval castle. What else is needed for happiness?
2. Islands of Greece, Mukonos, Santorini. This is far from a budget vacation, but believe me, it's worth it. Sun, sea and constant holiday - perhaps, there is no better description for this place.
3. Cyprus is famous for its clear waters, rich marine life and stunning nightclubs.
4. Among the resorts in Spain, everyone can find something to suit their hearts and wallets. A rich selection of islands, paradise landscapes, excellent cuisine. It's all about Spain.
5. Brittany in France is famous for its comfortable climate. Due to its closed location, this place never experiences excessive temperatures. The spirit of the old city can be found literally at every step.

If you don’t want to constantly bump into crowds of tourists and spend tedious hours waiting in queues, we suggest you familiarize yourself with the beautiful but little-known resorts of Europe:

• Croatia, Pula. Pine forest and pebble beaches. The buildings in this city are located in such a way that you can always find a deserted path to the sea. Pula is only 6 km from the airport. In the city center there is a mini-Colosseum and an ancient Roman arch.
• Cassy, ​​Provence, France. Cote d'Azur, lavender fields and vineyards. From the airport in Marseille it takes about 40-60 minutes.
• The Bulgarian city of Ahtopol is recognized as the southernmost resort of this country. In addition to the picturesque beaches, you can also see architectural monuments.
• Calpe in Spain is simply a paradise for surfers and diving enthusiasts. A large number of water parks and fish restaurants made this town pleasant for a family holiday.