Anyone who knows me well knows that I love traveling to Europe. I consider it my playground. Today I am sharing the top five European countries I love to visit. Let’s kick things off with country #1.
European Country #1 – Germany
My favorite country to visit in Europe is Germany. My family comes from Germany and I lived there for several years. I always have a great time when I am in Germany. One main reason – the beer is world-class. Germany is full of sites to see. I am a big fan of German food. It is heavy and heavenly. Schweinhaxen is my favorite German dish. Sausages, sauerkraut, and Knodel are classic German meals. The autobahn is awesome. Who doesn’t enjoy driving over 100 mph? It sure makes getting between sites a lot more efficient.
European Country #2 – France
The food alone makes France worth visiting. Crepes, croissants, escargot, and many other wonderfully weird foods to enjoy. France is full of sites. Paris alone has all kinds of things to see and do. French wine is wonderful. Even if you are not a wine lover go to where they make it. Drive around Burgundy and you will see what I mean – beautiful towns and wine villages. I don’t know much about art, but I do know that France art museums are some of the best in the world, especially for impressionism. France contains many diverse regions. Normandy is very different than the area around Paris. Alsace is similar to Germany and the Riviera will remind you of Italy. Get around France to see the various regions. Don’t spend all your time in Paris.
European Country #3 – Belgium
This choice may be a surprise, but I like visiting Belgium. I have actually been there many times. Belgium is one of the beer capitals of the world. They make many different styles, and each beer is served in a special glass. I may own many Belgium beer glasses – great souvenirs. Belgian sweets like chocolates and waffles are tasty. Brussels is full of chocolate shops and waffle trucks. There are tons of great sites in Belgium like the medieval city of Bruges – one of my favorites. The country is easy to see because it is small with big highways connecting the main cities. Belgian food is delicious – mussels and fries are a staple dish well worth enjoying while you are there.
European Country #4 – Spain
Spanish food is excellent. Tapas is a great way to sample many different items to see what you like. Spain is sunny. I visited in October and it was 70 degrees every single day. Spain is full of wonderful sights to see. It was not really part of World War II, so some of their cities are better preserved than other parts of Europe. Spanish culture is unique and diverse. I found Catalan culture to be fascinating while there. Spain is famous for its beaches along the Med. It is no wonder many Europeans spend their summer vacations on the Spanish coastline.
European Country #5 – The Netherlands
Another surprise – I really enjoyed visiting the Netherlands. The Dutch have a special relationship with the Sea. You see it in the canals of Amsterdam. Go on a canal tour – a great way to experience the capital city. Speaking of cities – there are several in the Netherlands worth visiting. They are easy to get to, all similar, but not the same. The Netherlands includes many sites to see. Dutch culture was much better than I expected—plenty of museums full of wonderful art. Getting around the Netherlands is super easy – it is tiny. You can take the train from town to town using their excellent public transportation system. I almost forgot – the cheese in the Netherlands is awesome.
Three quick questions about European countries
- The country I want to visit the most – Italy. I really want to get back there soon. World-class food, sites, and more.
- The new country I want to explore soon is Ireland. I have only been to Dublin and want to see more.
- The small country I want to discover – Slovenia. It looks like an awesome place to spend a week, or two.
I am Doug Keating and this is my letter to my sons.