http://goeurope.about.com/ Get the latest headlines from the About.com http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hh http://www.about.com/ 118 20 en-us 2012-02-20T13:23:05Z Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:23:05 +0000 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 http://goeurope.about.com/b/2012/02/21/the-prince-of-venice.htm <p>The nice thing about plumbing the depths of the internet is that you find a wonderful mish-mash of viewpoints. Hate <a title="pictures of venice" href="http://goeurope.about.com/cs/venice/a/venice_pics.htm">Venice</a>? You'll find somebody who shares your view on the internet. Then you can commiserate on Twitter.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goeurope.about.com/b/2012/02/21/the-prince-of-venice.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://goeurope.about.com/b/2012/02/21/the-prince-of-venice.htm Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:26:00 +0000 2012-02-21T18:26:00Z http://goeurope.about.com/b/2012/02/20/free-attractions-in-europe.htm <p><img class="alignleft" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goeurope/1/3/V/q/1/tuscany-flower-pictures-malgrate-1.jpg" alt="Tuscany flower picture, malgrate flowers picture" />If you're planning your first vacation in Europe, perhaps you're thinking "what do I do in between the museums and tours I've so laboriously planned for?"</p> <p>If you're from the US, you'll find lots of differences between Europe and your own state. For example, I live near a lake. Houses cram the shores. If you drove by this enormous lake in a car, you might not even know you're near it. There is no place to walk along the shore--unless you take your life in your hands and walk on the asphalt between cities searching for a view while dodging cars. I've done it. It is exciting but not fun.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goeurope.about.com/b/2012/02/20/free-attractions-in-europe.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://goeurope.about.com/b/2012/02/20/free-attractions-in-europe.htm Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:23:05 +0000 2012-02-20T13:23:05Z http://goeurope.about.com/b/2012/02/19/dresden-and-museums.htm <p>After spending part of the weekend listening to friends talk about acquaintances who've stood in stunned amazement for hours in front of the Mona Lisa, I got to thinking of the grand art museums in Europe. Yes, they're quite nice. The sheer volume of precious oils pressed to canvas amazes, the sculpted marble glistens with hope and promise, and some observers are so overcome by the finest of art they can't hold back the tears or suffer "<span>fierce palpitations of the heart"--the </span>Stendhal Syndrome they call it.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goeurope.about.com/b/2012/02/19/dresden-and-museums.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://goeurope.about.com/b/2012/02/19/dresden-and-museums.htm Sun, 19 Feb 2012 21:18:30 +0000 2012-02-19T21:18:30Z http://goeurope.about.com/b/2012/02/17/stargazing-in-europe.htm <p>If you like looking up at stars and planets, you know that you need a rural place without big city lights in order to see everything. When you find one of these places, the night sky is pretty darn amazing. We had the experience on Youra island in Greece, a tiny island without electricity inhabited by a special breed of goats and two folks who protected them from poachers.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goeurope.about.com/b/2012/02/17/stargazing-in-europe.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://goeurope.about.com/b/2012/02/17/stargazing-in-europe.htm Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:42:31 +0000 2012-02-17T13:42:31Z http://goeurope.about.com/b/2012/02/15/vertical-cologne-picture-of-the-week.htm <p><img title="Cologne Picture" src="http://0.tqn.com/d/goeurope/1/0/x/F/2/cologne-germany300.jpg" alt="picture of buildings in cologne" /></p> <p>I've always liked this picture of&#160; well-maintained 15th century buildings in Cologne, Germany in front of the 11th century church called Gross St. Martin. Cologne is easy to get to by train, and the main attractions are close to the train station. There's good food and a city beer called K&#246;lsch.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goeurope.about.com/b/2012/02/15/vertical-cologne-picture-of-the-week.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://goeurope.about.com/b/2012/02/15/vertical-cologne-picture-of-the-week.htm Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:07:48 +0000 2012-02-15T14:07:48Z http://goeurope.about.com/b/2012/02/14/romantic-heidelberg.htm <p><img class="alignright" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goeurope/1/3/L/H/heidelberg_1.jpg" alt="heidelberg germany picture" />Ok, it's a day for entwined lovers, cupid's arrow, chocolate and champagne, so I thought I'd throw out an idea for a romantic destination. How about Heidelberg, Germany? It didn't get totally trashed in WWII, it's got a romantic old bridge leading to a well-preserved medieval gate and fine old castle above the lower town nestled along the Neckar river (you'll find Heidelberg along Germany's <a title="Castle Road map and guide" href="http://goeurope.about.com/od/mapsofgermany/l/bl_castlerd_map.htm">Castle Road</a>). If you're done being romantic and it all works out, you can even get <em>married </em>in the castle! Find out more: <strong><a title="Heidelberg travel information" href="http://goeurope.about.com/od/heidelberg/a/heidelberg.htm">Heidelberg Travel Guide</a></strong>.</p> http://goeurope.about.com/b/2012/02/14/romantic-heidelberg.htm Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:35:40 +0000 2012-02-14T14:35:40Z http://goeurope.about.com/b/2012/02/13/bruges-in-the-off-season.htm <p><a href="http://goeurope.about.com/od/belgiumpictures/ss/brugge_colors.htm"><img class="alignright" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goeurope/1/9/X/7/brugge_blog_hdr.jpg" border="0" alt="bruges in autumn" /></a>Bruges is a fine city to enjoy any time of year, of course, but there are some special reasons to go outside the summer tourist season. These reasons involve some ...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goeurope.about.com/b/2012/02/13/bruges-in-the-off-season.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://goeurope.about.com/b/2012/02/13/bruges-in-the-off-season.htm Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:57:51 +0000 2012-02-13T12:57:51Z http://goeurope.about.com/b/2012/02/12/friesland-in-the-netherlands.htm <p><a title="Map of Friesland" href="http://goeurope.about.com/od/thenetherlands/l/bl-friesland-map.htm"><img class="alignright" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goeurope/1/3/v/F/2/friesland-map.png" border="0" alt="friesland, the netherlands, friesland map" /></a>In our last post, we mentioned that the Elfstedentocht (Eleven Cities Tour)--the world's biggest skating competition--could be held this year in the Netherlands. The ice still isn't thick enough, but everyone in Friesland is rooting for the cold air to stay a bit longer and freeze the track.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goeurope.about.com/b/2012/02/12/friesland-in-the-netherlands.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://goeurope.about.com/b/2012/02/12/friesland-in-the-netherlands.htm Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:43:25 +0000 2012-02-12T21:43:25Z http://goeurope.about.com/b/2012/02/09/skating-the-netherlands.htm <p>If you ever wonder why there are so many speed Dutch speed skaters in the Olympics, this week's Dutch fervor over the European cold snap that could mean the start of a long canal-skating season should make it all clear to you. What other country trots out players from its most famous orchestras to serenade skaters on Amsterdam canals? Yes, tomorrow, the 10th of February, from 12:00 to 13:00 The Paradiso Orchestra, with musicians from the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and other renowned orchestras will participate in an on-ice concert, according to <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.iamsterdam.com/en/living/events/ice-fun-in-amsterdam">Iamsterdam</a>, which notes many other upcoming skates (if the cold weather holds).</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goeurope.about.com/b/2012/02/09/skating-the-netherlands.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://goeurope.about.com/b/2012/02/09/skating-the-netherlands.htm Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:51:17 +0000 2012-02-09T21:51:17Z http://goeurope.about.com/b/2012/02/06/puccinis-lucca.htm <p>Few cities give a native son the respect and adoration that <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goeurope.about.com/od/lucca/a/lucca_guide.htm">Lucca</a> gives to Giacomo Puccini. A bronze statue of the composer dominates the piazza near his childhood house, now a <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/lucca/qt/puccini-house-museum-lucca.htm">museum</a>. His music dominates the opera season. Now February marks a new festival called "Puccini e la sua Lucca" or <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.puccinielasualucca.com/en/events.asp">Puccini and his Lucca</a>.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goeurope.about.com/b/2012/02/06/puccinis-lucca.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://goeurope.about.com/b/2012/02/06/puccinis-lucca.htm Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:49:03 +0000 2012-02-06T19:49:03Z