Jim's Articles

Top places to see in Europe

Expats guide to choose the top travel places in Europe. US has a long tradition of travel. For decades it has been said that the americans are world champions in this field. I have friends who go every year to another country and are preparing for a whole year for such a trip. I beat libraries, swallow whole books and informative material. I read about literature, history, books about life, people, about art and culture. He attends events related to the topic of interest. I draw knowledge about the next country of destination. They want to know better the existing realities, whether they are political or of daily life. They even learn the basic vocabulary of the language spoken in the country they are traveling to.

Reykjavik – Hallgrimskirkja: In Reykjavik, Iceland the Hallgrimskirkja Church is the city’s main landmark. The Lutheran church is a 244-tall tower in a minimalist style in a combination of Expressionist and Gothic Revival design jutting straight up to the sky. Rome – Trevi Fountain: Considered the most beautiful fountain in all of Rome, Italy, Trevi Fountain features an elaborate stone sculpture of the papal coat of arms. It is said that visitors who toss a coin in the fountain will return to Rome one day.

Regardless of whether you are religious or not, the Sistine Chapel is a stunning place to visit if you are lucky enough to travel to Vatican City. It is a chapel that lies within the Apostolic Palace which is the official residence of the Pope. Its purpose is for both religious and papal activity. The chapel was constructed in the 15th century and was designed by Baccio Pontelli and Giovanni Dolci. Other than the religious and historical significance of this building, another reason why people visit the chapel is to admire the breath-taking frescoes on the ceiling of the chapel. The most famous of these is ‘The Last Judgement’ by Michelangelo.

Expats in Europe tip of the day : Unless it’s Spanish and you took it in college, ’cause then it’ll probably be easy. But if not, make an effort to at least learn the basics immediately; people will be a lot friendlier if you show an interest in their native tongue, and it will help ease everyday interactions. And remember, every country has its own sayings and slang — there’s bound to be some miscommunication, even if you’ve spoken the language for a long time. See extra details at We Be Trippin.

Stay open-minded. Not everything will be the same as inside your home country, more than likely they will be very different. However, that is all part of the experience of living in a new place. While you may not love every difference, keep in mind that you more than likely don’t love everything about your home country either- and that’s ok.