Hill of Crosses
Just north of the town Šiauliai, a strange sight can be seen. A small hill is filled to the brim with a hundred thousand crosses. This is the infamous Kryžiu Kalnas, or simply Hill of Crosses.
Latest posts
Return to Riga
What better way to enjoy the autumn days of September than to make a tour across the Baltic states. First stop is Riga. It feels good to be back, a decade later.
Bourdain travel map
I was a bit surprised to discover that a new season of Parts Unknown will start this weekend. Since, you know, the leading man is not with us anymore.
The legacy of Bulgaria
The area of modern day Bulgaria has been a cultural crossroad since ancient times, while Sofia is the second-oldest capital in Europe (after Athens). Even Constantine the Great considered making it the capital of the Byzantine Empire instead of Constantinople.
Tales of Kosovo
Kosovo. A mere mention of the name is enough to start a debate wherever you go in this part of the world. The war ended almost 20 years ago, but the scars still appear to be fresh.
Is this Macedonia?
As I crossed the border from Albania to Macedonia, I kept a careful eye on the signs. The republic of Macedonia is the country I’m aiming for, but there is also a region of adjacent Greece which claims the name Macedonia. To make things more complicated, the republic changed its name to North Macedonia just a month ago, which likely has not been updated in road signs and maps yet.
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Featured stories
Greetings from Moldova
"But Chisinau is an unexpected gem in the wilderness. Even though Moldova is one of the poorest countries in Europe, the capital has its fair share of impressive buildings and post-Soviet architecture."
Roaming in Valletta
"I passed the statue of Jean de Valette, the 49th Grand Master who laid the foundation stone to Valletta in 1566, to gaze at the golden interior of St. John’s Co-Cathedral, where he is buried in the crypt."
Getting lost in Yazd
"Navigating on random while surrounded by staring old men, pointing their crooked fingers at the Godzilla Viking in surprise. It feels like I’m walking around in Mos Eisley."
Historic locations in Gothenburg
"Hundreds of houses were quickly build, but unfortunately all of it was burned to the ground in 1611 by Danish forces."
Bunker safari
"The area contains 54 excavated bunkers along with gun emplacements, scattered around the town’s most visible landmark."
I still love you, New York
"Now I’m back and our roles are somewhat reversed. Like River Song and the Doctor, we meet again under different circumstances."