Riga boasts an incredible café scene, with a dedication to craft coffee and locally-sourced, high-quality ingredients. In my opinion, the Latvian attention to detail rivals that of the Japanese and Scandinavians. So it should be no surprise that the city is also full of passionate bakers. After much taste-testing, I’ve compiled this list of the […]
Europe
Terrific Talsi, Another Jewel in Latvia’s Crown
Last year I visited medieval Kuldiga and proclaimed it the cutest town in all the land. But little did I know that Latvia’s Kurzeme region is brimming with fetching towns and villages. My latest crush is Talsi, a picturesque hamlet of about 9,000 nestled among nine hills and two lakes. Comfortably reached via a two-hour bus […]
Celebrating Easter in Kaunas, Lithuania
As the Knights of the Teutonic Order spread Christianity across the European continent, Lithuania was the last pagan holdout. But in the mid-1300s, Kaunas Castle was besieged and eventually captured by the crusading knights. To celebrate their victory, they reportedly held a Mass at the castle on Easter Sunday. Lithuania was Christianized a few decades later, […]
Wandering the Ancient Alleys of Split, Croatia
As destinations go, Split, Croatia is one of the more extraordinary I’ve come across. In fact, the Old City as we know it today shouldn’t even exist! At the beginning of the 4th century, Roman Emperor Diocletian built a retirement palace on the shore of the Adriatic Sea near his hometown in what is now Croatia. I’ve […]
Exploring Dubrovnik and Its Medieval Walls
Imposing stone walls have encircled Dubrovnik, Croatia since the 9th century, protecting it from invaders. Visitors now patrol the ramparts, searching for ships on the horizon and perfect photo ops, of which there are many. It’s possible to walk the entire length of the Dubrovnik City Walls, which continue unbroken for 1,940 meters. Watch towers […]