We spent a few days exploring Bucharest, the capital and largest city in Romania with about 2 million residents. It’s sometimes called “Little Paris” because of its architecture, but honestly, to us, it felt like a mix of big cities from all over the world. Its history stretches back to the mid-1400s, with ties to …
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Our visit to the Belogradchik Rocks in Bulgaria was one of those off-the-beaten-path travel days you hope for but can’t always plan. It’s not the sort of place you stumble across by accident—you have to make the effort to get there—but that’s part of its charm.
We spent a day in Vidin, Bulgaria — a city that’s clearly working to revive itself despite noticeable wear and challenges. Once an industrial and agricultural hub on the Danube, Viden remains the poorest city in Bulgaria, which itself is the poorest nation in the European Union. The decline shows: crumbling sidewalks, weathered buildings, and …
Cruising Through the Iron Gate Gorge Few places capture the power of nature and history quite like the Iron Gate Gorge, where the Danube carves a deep boundary between Serbia and Romania. The river itself forms the dividing line—Serbia on our right, Romania on our left. This section is known for its dramatic scenery, and …
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We visited two sites in Northern Serbia that could not be more different in age or appearance—Golubac Fortress, which dates back to the 14th century, and Lepenski Vir, an archaeological site over 8,000 years old. Experiencing both in one day offered a striking contrast between a fortified medieval outpost and an ancient riverside community. Golubac …
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Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, is a city with a truly complex history and a dynamic present. Home to about 1.2 million people, it’s one of the largest cities in the Balkans. Its story stretches back more than two thousand years, shaped by empires, conflicts, and holds a unique position at the crossroads of East …
If there was one city on our river cruise that totally surprised us, it was Novi Sad, Serbia. Tucked along the banks of the Danube River, the city greeted us with subtle heart motifs—symbols of welcome that echoed other places in the region. You don’t always know what to expect when exploring places with complex …
We imagined that Vukovar, Croatia might be an emotional visit because of its history. It’s one of those places where the past still lingers—etched into walls, burned into memories, and stitched into the fabric of everyday life. Before our visit, we didn’t fully understand. There are cities you breeze through, soaking in the scenery and …
We’ve been to Budapest before—and we were truly looking forward to going back. It’s one of those cities that stays with you. Not in an overly grand way, but in the kind of way that lingers, long after you’ve left. This time, we were just passing through—Budapest was the starting point for our river cruise …
To be honest, Venice was NOT on my list of favorite vacation spots. When I was 17, I joined my high school Latin class on a 2½-week tour through Italy. The romance of the country—especially Venice—was not lost on us. But let’s just say that 20+ teenagers roaming Italy together wasn’t exactly a recipe for structure …
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