Makeyourtraveleasy

 When I first entered Karlovy Vary I felt as though I were being welcomed by the steam escaping through the colonnades. This tiny Czech city is listed among the ancient spa retreats and even nowadays, when one walks in its pastel-colored streets, one can feel that they have been transported to the world of rest and renewal.   A Town Built Around Healing   The Karlovy Vary is a story of its springs. It is said that the town was created when Emperor Charles IV found out about the healing waters during his hunting. Royalties, writers and musicians have since then visited here to burn, drink and give in to its curative capabilities.   You are walking along the colonnades and you notice that locals and visitors alike are filling up the porcelain cups with warm mineral water that comes straight out of the springs, and it feels both old and new at the same time.   The Spa Experience   The actual magic however is the thermal baths. One afternoon I spe...

 When I first arrived in Germany I believed that bread was bread. A loaf which can be cut, toasted, or eaten with butter. That fantasy was soon dispelled when I entered a bakery in Germany.   Shelves and shelves of loaves of all sizes, colors, and shapes, crusty rye breads, soft wheat rolls, sourdoughs, seeded dark loaves, which seemed nearly too firm to slice.   Side note: Before travelling, make sure to check airport parking Heathrow to secure an affordable deal. More Than Just Food   It is not just a bread one eats in Germany but a cultural anchor. Families continue to share a meal called Abendbrot, or evening meal, which consists of fresh bread, cheese, cold cuts and spreads. It is plain, but strongly tradition based.   Every land contributes something: Bavarian pretzels, Westphalian pumpernickel, Swabian "Seelen". The country has more than 3,000 officially registered types of bread with each bearing tales of place, history, and craftsmanship. At ...

You think that Mardi Gras is crazy, you should wait till you visit Carnival in Cologne. The festival is also addressed as the fifth season locally and the city turns into a tornado of costumes, parades and unbridled happiness.   Carnival in Cologne is not merely a phenomenon: the Carnival is a mood, an opportunity for all people to forget about their everyday life, and throw themselves into the celebration.   Side note: For a stress-free trip, make sure to book  Meet And Greet At Stansted . When the City Comes Alive   The season starts on November 11 at 11:11 a.m., but it reaches the height of madness in the week before Ash Wednesday. It is marked by the opening day Weiberfastnacht (Women Carnival Day).   Offices close, the streets are full of music and women before going out to have a good time, symbolically cutting the ties of men. Since then, the city has not slowed down.   Costumes, Crowds, and Chaos   You will see everywhere people...