Author Archives: John and Michelle
Beautiful Budapest
Budapest is a hotbed of history, from Roman Aquincum onward to 2000 years of tumultuous fortunes. But whatever the causes, that history has left behind a truly beautiful mark. I like to say of Budapest that it’s like someone crumpled up Paris and then tried to lay it out flat again. There’s an old saying […]
Everything is Connected – The Fortress of Klis
It is a little rare, however, for so many of our experiences to converge on one particular spot as they did at Klis Fortress. Perched above Split on the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia, Klis is probably best known these days as a setting for the show Game of Thrones. …Aside from being well-traveled by some of history’s leading lights, it seemed like it was designed to integrate the experiences we’ve been having while traveling around eastern Europe.
Persimmons and Zeppelin Hangars: Hanging Out in Riga’s Central Market
No visit to Riga, Latvia is complete without a visit to the sprawling Central Market, a melange of fresh foods and handmade goods that fills out not one, but five, “upcycled” German zeppelin hangars and bulges out onto the surrounding streets and waterfront. It is so substantial that it has been called Europe’s largest market and bazaar; I have no square-footage facts to back that up, but I have no real problem believing it after having seen it.
You Went to Estonia!? Or, Quitting Government Cold Turkey
Estonia went from a backwater basket case to a modern EU country, a NATO member, and a driver of digital innovation that punches well above its weight in the world economy in just twenty years. That’s remarkable.
Okay, Maybe One Ticket Back…
So we are back in Europe, in the Netherlands specifically. After a couple weeks wandering about the Baltics, we’ve settled into Utrecht, a nice little city south of Amsterdam.
Europe’s Great Streets
Michelle and I have been lucky enough to travel to quite a few European cities thus far in our trip, and one of the things that has always struck me as important to my enjoyment of any given place is whether it has that one street with the energy, the crowds, the centrality…
Highlights from the otherworldly land of Cappadocia
This short video sums up our time exploring the Turkish region’s fantastical topography via hot air balloon, hikes, and a descent into an underground city.
Five random ways in which Istanbul is like the Minnesota State Fair
This year, I’ll be missing out on a Minnesota classic: The State Fair. But fortunately, I’ll be surrounded by enough similarities over here to help recreate this quintessentially Midwestern experience on the other side of the globe.
Now Live: Istanbul Recap Video
After reviewing ~800 video clips and spending countless hours editing a fraction of those, the Istanbul highlight reel is finally here!
Spires Upon Spires: The Church of Our Lady Before Týn
Prague is a beautiful city, and rightfully known for its spires. One of its most striking buildings possesses some of the most soaring spires, and as an added bonus, spires upon those spires. How very Prague. This is the Church of Our Lady Before Týn.
No Ticket Back 
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