The French city Strasbourg and German Cologne have gained a reputation for hosting the best Christmas markets in all Europe. But for me, I guess there's nothing called "The Best" Christmas market. Europe in general is a wonderful place to visit during this time of the year. From Paris to Rome, and Prague to Ljubljana, I have to say that each place has its unique magic. Local artisans, marvellous decoration and savoury food, each market will offer you a unique experience and a chance to dive into the mystical world of the city. Here is my list of 7 Christmas markets I've been to over the last 7 years. My first time to see a Christmas Market was the one in Brussels in 2007.
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When I first arrived in Paris, I was showered by invitations from my Egyptian friends who have been living there since some years. Sometimes for lunch, sometime for dinner, they were doing their best to show me around and let me savor the best food in the city. Or at least, this was their intention. For weeks and weeks, I found myself strolling in the Champs Elysees, between Le Relais de l'Entrecote and Leon de Bruxelles, sometimes for more than 3 times per week. And then, I was fed-up. Of course for all Egyptians, Paris is synonyme of the Champs Elysees. Luxury is equivalent to the Champs Elysees. And they are totally missing out the real Parisian culinary places. If you want to enjoy some of the best dishes in Paris, just avoid the 8th District. I will not recommend the ones with Michelin Stars either or the fine dining restos which will make you suffocate. Just cozy little hidden gems that I luckily discovered during my 6 months stay in Paris, mostly in the 16th District where I was working. When I first started to prepare for my Swiss escape, I got a little bit confused! ... Shall I go to Geneva? Or better Zurich? What about both? ... Don't think to much, both cities are a bit boring: Geneva is a very administrative and institutional city, where all the UN Headquarters and main agencies are located, while Zurich is the commercial and financial heart of Switzerland. Both doesn't have much to offer, but you will need to pick one as starting point from where you can go on day trips to discover the real beauty of the country. If legends from Central and Northern Europe were mainly focused on Ghosts, Satan and tormented spirits, it was astonishing to see that stories from Eastern European cities were mainly about creatures like dragons, mermaids and lions. But let me first begin with a story from Prague about .... A Clock! I always start my visit to any city by heading to its old town. This is where it all began. This is the heart, the soul and the identity of the city. As I wander between the small alleys and the ruins of a glorious past, I can only see smiling faces of happy tourists taking endless photos in front of this monument, this building or this square. But all that comes to my mind is, were these places as joyful as we see them today? How many Kings and Emperors have passed by here? How many fights have took place just underneath my feet? "The Maldives are for honeymooners, you need a fortune to get there, plan a year in advance and at least allow 10 days to be able to enjoy" ... Well, that's totally not true, and I don't know why we all have these stereotypes about this country that we never think about visiting, not knowing what we are truly missing!So here you go! I went to the Maldives with my childhood best friend, and the resort where we stayed was full of groups, friends, couples of course but also families. We stayed only for 4 nights due to work commitment. To be precise, we arrived very late at night, 12 am, so we only got to enjoy 3 full days. We decided to travel only on the 20th of June, made the bookings and were on the plan on the 25th of June. I think that any beach destination works like miracle when it comes to healing. Of course it all depends on your mood, interests and temper. But the touch of the sea water, the feeling of the breeze and the iodine smell have a soothing effect that clears your mind, purifies your thoughts and reenergize your soul. But there are more than just beaches on my list here. And the last one is my special gift for you ;) I've spent a whole winter in Paris. And while it was constantly raining, hail falling from time to time, the city was stormed with heavy snow only for 2 or 3 days. And that's when Paris became really charming. It felt as if you are living in a fairytale. A magical sensation everywhere you go. No cars, no pollution, no noise, just people walking slowly around the city enjoying parks, the left bank and the stunning bridges of the Seine. And a nice café or hot chocolate. Those how never experienced Paris while covered in white, have no idea to which extend this city could really become ... Romantic. Enjoy those black and white, untouched photos. They are self explanatory. Dating from January 2012.
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Hi, I'm IngyI am a part time traveler from Egypt, and I travel mainly to collect Hats :) I have visited more than 30 countries and around 50 different cities. I am sharing interesting cultural stories, photos, travel tips and itineraries of places I visited that could help you plan your next trip.
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