Expats stories to select the best travel attractions in Europe. Longing for a shower is common to many people. That Ulysses really existed – this is unknown. But his return home is told by Homer as a wandering, being an important cultural treasure left new heritage from antiquity. Perhaps this is the expression of a healthy skepticism, opposed to the longing and euphoria of traveling. Many shades of longing: Columbus, Marco Polo or Amerigo Vespucci, Vasco da Gama, Magellan, Alexander von Humboldt – they were all explorers who traveled on a mission or were driven by their thirst for knowledge and who did great service to mankind.
Florence – Ponte Vecchio: Florence, Italy is home to the medieval stone arched bridge called Ponte Vecchio. Overlooking Arno River, the bridge is the oldest in the city dating back to 1218. Today visitors consider the bridge to be a romantic place to take an evening stroll while overlooking the river. Helsinki – Helsinki Cathedral: The magnificent green dome and white neoclassical design of the Lutheran Cathedral of Helsinki is a must visit attraction in Finland. Built in 1830 to commemorate Tsar Nicholas I of Russia, the cathedral is also called St. Nicholas’ Church. If you are traveling to Helsinki in Christmas, you’ll be on hand to experience the glorious procession of Lucia, which is a major Finnish holiday tradition.
For many people, shopping is an important part of a vacation. If you are visiting Turkey, then spending time at the Grand Bazaar is an experience like no other. It is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. As many as 400,000 people visit this market every single day and it was listed as the most visited tourist attraction of 2014 when it had over 91 million visitors. The market is often described as one of the earliest shopping malls in the world. It is located in the Faith district of the Walled city of Istanbul and the core of the market was constructed between 1455 and 1456. The market sells an eclectic mix of items, from fresh produce to handmade arts and crafts items.
Expats in Europe advice of the day : As in, like, don’t feel obligated to jump into a weird sex party just because you’re lonely and nobody back home will answer your Skype calls. (Unless you’re already into weird sex parties.) The day-in, day-out challenges of living in a different country, dealing with different cultural norms, and speaking a difficult language will wear you down. So, be prepared. But there’s a big difference between being willing to try a new experience and being the one American dude who’s waaaaay too into Japanese drumming. Don’t lose yourself in the name of integrating, but be open to the differences a host culture can offer. Read more info on We Be Trippin.
Mingle with other expats. While you don’t want your whole social circle to be those who have migrated from other countries, it’s often helpful to have individuals who are going through the same situation as you around. Additionally, these individuals may be able to offer great insight on where to find good international services like international health insurance.