Ptuj Castle is one of the main places to visit in Ptuj, Slovenia. The castle overlooks the city from Castle Hill and is an easy walk from the old town. You can walk up Castle Hill for free and see the courtyards, gates and views without buying a ticket. Inside are some artworks, artefacts and…
Find out what to eat or drink while in Bulgaria, including some delicious Bulgarian cuisine and beers. Dining out in Bulgaria is relatively cheap compared to other European countries, especially if you choose local Bulgarian cuisine. Most cities have a range of restaurants, from cheap lunch places to some more upmarket eateries. Bulgarian cuisine is…
There are many places to see beautiful sunrises and sunsets in Slovenia. During my visits to Slovenia, I have watched some impressive sunrises and sunsets in Ptuj, Maribor and Lake Bled. The highlight of my visits was the sunset walks at Lake Bled and the nearby countryside. Sadly, I didn’t get to see any in…
Belvedere Palace Gardens are between the Upper and Lower Belvedere in Vienna. The main Baroque gardens are free to enter and feature fountains, statues, terraces, and views of both palaces. This is a nice place for a look around if sightseeing in Vienna on a budget. These are some of the most popular palaces in…
Romania is a beautiful country to visit in the winter, especially during the annual Christmas markets. Most of the cities in Romania have their own Christmas markets, which typically take place each December. In addition to the Christmas markets, Romania is a fantastic winter sports destination. There are many options for ski resorts and hikes…
Sunset and sunrise are special times of the day in Rome, and they really can enhance places. Not that they need it. Sunset and sunrise walks are my favourite times of the day, especially in the summer when walking the dog to avoid the heat. We enjoyed various forays to see the early and late…
There are some excellent bars and restaurants in Karlovac, Croatia. These tend to serve delicious Croatian cuisine, and many were fairly dog-friendly. We visited many bars, restaurants and cafes on our visits to Karlovac and found them very good value compared to the prices on the coast and in the capital, Zagreb. Karlovac has options…
Beer gardens, aka biergartens, are fantastic places to hang out with friends and have a beer or food while in Vienna. Vienna has many options, including the famous Schweizerhaus and Wiener Grill Haus. I enjoyed a few beers at these and also relaxed on the terraces of bars throughout the city. These are more of…
As with most major cities in Europe, Vienna, the capital of Austria, has lots of churches to see or visit. These include some very famous churches and some not-so-well-known ones. Some churches in Vienna are must-see attractions, including Karlskirche, St. Peter’s Church and St Stephen’s Cathedral. The churches of Vienna come in all shapes and…
The big aim for travel in 2023 was to gain residency in Romania; thus, we can stay longer. This involved lots of bureaucracy to get all of our ducks in a row while avoiding overstaying in Schengen, Romania and Bulgaria. The 90-day rule creates some fun and games with some fascinating opportunities. The enlargement of…
As a long-term traveller, the laundrette is a frequent haunt of mine, including on our trips to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. I tend to visit the self-service launderette weekly when slow travelling unless we have a washing machine in our accommodation. Prague has a few good options for laundrettes in the central…
In my experience, London is rather dog-friendly and a great place to visit with a pet. As with most cities, there are limitations on visiting inside tourist attractions. There are lots of options for pubs and restaurants that allow canine guests. London is blessed with lots of pleasant parks, which makes walking in the city…
Vienna is a city with many palaces to see when sightseeing. Some of the best palaces in Vienna are stunning buildings and well worth visiting for their exteriors or interiors. The three most famous are the Hofburg, the Belvedere and the Schönbrunn Palace. In addition to the three most popular, there are many other palaces…
Devín Castle is a beautiful place to visit in the capital of Slovakia. It is on a hilltop overlooking where the River Danube and River Morava meet. Devín Castle, just outside Bratislava, is one of the oldest castles in the country. The Knights of Devin Castle event is a great time to visit. Each year,…
The Clarion Congress Hotel Bratislava is one of the best-rated hotels near the train station in the Slovak capital. We stayed at the Clarion Congress Hotel for our weeklong trip to Bratislava with Henry, our dog, and really enjoyed our time there. It’s a posh four-star hotel with fantastic bedrooms and facilities. Bratislava has many…
As a long-term traveller, the laundrette is a frequent haunt of mine, including on our visit to Bratislava in Slovakia. We tend to visit the self-service laundrette weekly unless we have a washing machine in our apartment. On researching laundry services in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, the lack of options surprised me. Basically, in…
Vienna, the capital city of Austria, has many free things to do, including lots of things to see and beautiful open spaces. The city’s impressive architecture is one of its principal attractions, and you can see most of it without spending a euro if you enjoy lots of walking. I’ve visited Vienna a few times…
Bratislava has a good selection of restaurants, pubs and cafes, including traditional Slovak eateries, bars, bistros and a few higher-end options. We ate out several times during our visits to Bratislava and found plenty of places serving Slovak food, local beer and good-value meals. For those travelling with pets, many places to eat out are…