Nine European Cities You Should Visit in 2020 by Rebecca Siggers

9 European Cities You Should Visit in 2020:

a guest post by Rebecca Siggers

People begin every year with all sorts of wish-lists and resolutions. One of the most common tasks that people set out for themselves at the beginning of the year is to travel to their favorite holiday destinations. Amongst the many places that people love to visit, Europe happens to offer the most amazing cities for travelers. If you are one of those people who are always on the lookout for exciting places to visit and have never been to Europe before, then this post is just the right place to start.

Further, in this post, you will read about some of the most amazing European cities where you can travel to in the year 2020. These cities are handpicked, especially for someone who is visiting Europe for the first time. Here is the list of top cities you must check out there.   

1.    Amsterdam, Netherlands

 

Image by Laura Montagnani from Pixabay

 

Amsterdam is among the most beautiful cities out there in the Netherlands. It happens to have some exciting locations to visit. Amsterdam is full of charm and has a royal heritage to boast off. You can take a cruise in the famous canals of the city, explore the beautiful architecture of monuments, and even get to try the ever-delicious beers of the Netherlands.  

People usually consider the Netherlands to be a perfect country to start a tour of Europe. So, if European cities are a part of your traveling plans, then we suggest that you ensure it is Amsterdam from where you begin.

2.    Rome, Italy

 

Image by Nimrod Oren from Pixabay

There is a very common Roman proverb that goes— “when in Rome, do as the Romans do." Rome certainly gives all the reasons for its tourists to embrace its culture. The beautiful city in Italy is known for its heritage and people take pride in carrying their culture for years. Visiting art galleries and museums in Rome is something that every traveler must try.

Italy is one of the first countries that comes to the mind for individuals when one talks about Europe. The people are amazing, their food is delicious, and the overall experience of spending time in the city is worth every second you spend there.            

3.    Istanbul, Turkey

 

Image by Eduart Bejko from Pixabay

Istanbul might not be the first place that might pop up in your mind when it comes to traveling in Europe, but it is undoubtedly a place that you must consider going to. The city of Istanbul offers unique places and scenery for you to appreciate. Taking the Bosphorus Cruise to get a tour of the entire city is something that you must not miss out on. There are endless flea markets in the city that will allow you to get your hands on some fabulous artifacts there.               

4.    Stockholm, Sweden

Image by Giraffew from Pixabay

Stockholm is yet another European city that deserves to be in your dream travel destination list. Amongst the different towns that we mention in this list, Stockholm is one of the richest cities out there. The city has a great history and places to visit. It is the home to UNESCO’s two world heritage sites, which are big attractions to  tourists. Birka and Drottningholm Palace are the oldest tourist destinations where you must go. 

If you are a history buff, then you would love to know more about the past of Stockholm by visiting the Skansen air museum. Stockholm has some of the hottest restaurants to visit in the entire country of Sweden. From the classic Den Gyldene Freden to the amazing Gondolen, there are some trendy restaurants that you may want to try.

5.    Poznan, Poland

Image by Erwin Nowak from Pixabay

Poznan is another historical city on our list of top places to visit in Europe. One of the oldest cities in Poland, Poznan is a beautiful place to explore and learn about the country. It has some unmatchable monuments and old buildings that have very interesting stories which go along with them. The Franciscan Church and many other grand cathedrals are worth a visit in the city.

A tour in Poznan does not cost you much and it happens to be a place that one can visit any time of the year. If the purpose of your trip to Europe is to get a break from work and get away from all the city rush, then Poznan is where you should be heading to. You can get your much-needed silence here and relax easily.           

6.    Geneva, Switzerland

Image by Luis Francisco Pizarro Ruiz from Pixabay

Geneva offers you endless reasons to visit. Different attractive locations, a vibrant environment, delicious food, and the unmissable shopping stores make Geneva a definite place to consider for a visit. If you are someone who loves adventures, then the watersports in Geneva are something that you must try. Scuba diving and rafting are two activities that tourists seek to do in this city.

The French culture highly influences Geneva, and as a tourist, you'll notice it too. The city is home to the UN and many other relevant international organizations in Europe. Lake Geneva and the English Garden are two highly recommended places that we suggest you visit this New Year.

7.    Venice, Italy

Image by Gerhard Gellinger from Pixabay

There is no doubt about the fact that Venice is very popular among tourists from all over the world. The city is full of colors and has a vibrant culture that goes along with it. Being an Italian city, Venice has delicious food to offer that is full of flavors.

If you start your trip to Italy from Venice, then you should also consider a road trip from there to Rome where you can enjoy the scenery while driving there. Traveling by road to Venice is hassle-free. You can manage your luggage by investing in a top-quality roof rack during this road trip while exploring some of the grandest hotels available there.

Venice is well-known as the ‘city of canals,’ and you can take a tour of the whole place by going on a cruise. St. Mark's Square and the Grand Canal are some destinations in Venice that you must not miss out on.

8.    London, England

Image by skeeze from Pixabay

London is not just one popular city in Europe, but it happens to be among the most visited cities in the world too. Millions of tourists visit London every day to explore this city of the royal family. There are so many attractions for London visitors that even after spending a week there, you might not be able to explore all of them. Despite how crowded the city is, London is still a lot calmer compared to other big metro cities in the world. Big Ben, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and the magnificent Buckingham Palace are just a few of the many significant places to visit in the capital of England.

9.    Budapest, Hungary

Image by Walkerssk from Pixabay

 

Budapest has everything that one can ask for from a tourist destination. Easy commuting, beautiful spaces, friendly people, and less expensive accommodations make Budapest worth recommending. This unique city of Hungary has an amazing nightlife that every party-lover would enjoy.

If you happen to begin your journey to Europe with Budapest, then we suggest that you take a bike tour of the whole city to know it closely. Sailing in the Danube river is also something that you should do when in Budapest.

  

 

Awesome, now I have the traveling bug, for sure! ;) Thanks, Rebecca.


Guest Blogger Bio

 

Rebecca Siggers is a working Designer and passionate writer. She enjoys writing about the latest fashion tips and lifestyle trends all around the globe. Through her writing, she hopes to influence as many people as possible to help out.    

 

Guest Links    

 

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/siggers_rebecca    

Other Articles by Rebecca:  

https://mystoryonline.org/7-style-tips-for-gentlemen-over-thirty/    

https://aloha.com/blogs/nourish/6-organic-and-healthy-road-trip-snacks https://www.teachworkoutlove.com/8-best-vacation-spots-for-military-families/ https://www.confettitravelcafe.com/7-must-visit-new-zealand-attractions/ https://greatlifezone.com/why-traveling-makes-you-a-better-person/ https://iloveromanceblog.wordpress.com/2019/11/08/6-fashion-tips-for-a-mans-first-date-a-guest-post-by-rebecca-siggers/  https://marielavenderbooks.blogspot.com/2019/12/top-ten-amazing-gifting-ideas-for-new-year-2020-guest-post-article-by-rebecca-siggers.html

http://marielavenderbooks.blogspot.com/2019/12/seven-things-to-gift-for-housewarming-guest-post-article-by-rebecca-siggers.html

https://iloveromanceblog.wordpress.com/2020/01/08/seven-most-ideal-ways-to-plan-your-honeymoon-guest-post-by-rebecca-siggers/  

https://marielavenderbooks.blogspot.com/2020/01/ten-surprising-health-benefits-of-wine-guest-post-by-rebecca-siggers.html  
 

Thanks again, Rebecca! We hope to see you back on MLB sometime. 

As always, happy reading, everyone! Have a great rest of your week! :)

Exclusive Interview with Alex Pilalis

Today, we're doing something a little different. This is our 20th guest author interview on the Marie Lavender's Books! blog, and fellow author Alex Pilalis is visiting us. 

Hello! :)

 

Hi. Thank you for having me today.

 
 
 





Oh, it's my pleasure! 
 
Can you tell us a little bit about your book? When did it come out and where can we get it?

My novel, Island Legends: The Awakening of James Island, is the first book of an epic fantasy adventure series. Set in a galaxy filled with aliens and different planets, it is part science fiction, but more strongly geared towards high fantasy. I like to describe it sometimes, in a very broad sense, as a cross between Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. I wanted to create worlds with different aliens and cultures, and also have my characters running around swinging swords and throwing magic, which I feel gives it a fairly unique tone. It is a serial book series, where each book tells the next part of a long journey. A bit like if the Lord of the Rings books were split up into ten or so parts instead of three big books.

Along with the fantasy genre tropes of magic and high adventure, it is also a story of self-discovery, particularly for James, and seeks to delve deep into the human psyche to ask such questions as ‘what does it truly mean to know who we are?’ and ‘how important are our past memories for shaping who our present selves are?’ I like to think of it as a character study, inspired by the varied and flawed characters forced to survive together on the television series Lost, or the daily lives of the intricate characters in Mad Men.

The novel was published by Solstice Publishing on January 15th 2016 (time perfectly with my second niece’s first birthday!), and is available on Amazon in Kindle and paperback formats. 

 

Interesting!

So, did anything prompt this book? Something that inspired you?

I first had the idea of the character of James Island somewhere around twenty years ago, actually. It sounds very cliché but I had a very quick image flash in my mind one morning when I was waking up – of a group of characters on a pirate ship. I drew the image that day (I drew everything back then) and had the name ‘James Island’ for the main character in my head.  I started developing the adventures of James Island as a computer game concept, and to this day have amassed hundreds of A4 pages, several filled notepads, dozens of Word documents and even its own Wiki, collecting all the ideas and images of the world as it progressed and became what it is today.

Being a big science fiction and fantasy fan, and heavily inspired by classic adventure stories such as The Lord of the Rings, the Star Wars films and Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces, I felt a great urge to tell my own story. The narrative that has become The Awakening of James Island is partially based off of the Heroes Journey (although most stories are) and maintains some of its computer game concept origins, in the sense of a group of characters going on a long and dangerous journey in the vein of a Final Fantasy RPG game. Spending many summer holidays visiting family in Cyprus, I’ve drawn on my experiences there to help shape the world that James Island lives in, forming a culture and lifestyle of a race of desert people similar to a Mediterranean culture, from a skewed fantasy perspective.

It was around ten years ago that I actually started writing the story as a novel – writing very on and off, some years with zero words – until I finally completed it at the end of 2014, having written it pretty much on my own, with little training or knowledge of how to actually write well. I uploaded the chapters onto Wattpad shortly after I discovered the site, and gained invaluable feedback on the writing and story. Through lots of rewriting and polishing, and finding that it still needed A LOT more work, I came across a Copy Editor named Melissa Manes, who looked over the chapters, giving the novel its first professional touch. Through my own edits and with Melissa’s great advice, the final edit removed about 10,000 words to the original manuscript, while still keeping the same story and character development – that’s the power of editing!

 

That's great!

 

So, when did you know you wanted to write?  Or has it always been a pastime of yours?

I’ve always enjoyed writing, and English was my favorite class in school. I remember writing short stories with some of the other kids at school in our spare time, challenging ourselves to write the most gory and scary stories we could. I definitely channeled my inner Steven King for those.

When I felt the overwhelming need to bring the story of James Island to life and out into the ether, somehow, I decided to use my passion for writing and storytelling and adapt the story into a novel. Doing so has allowed me to delve into the character’s minds and bring them to life so much more than I ever thought possible back when I was designing hit-point percentages of sword attack combinations, and the result is a much more mature and complicated story than my younger mind could have ever conceived. 

As I’m sure many newbie and aspiring authors can say, I would love to get to the stage where writing can be more than a pastime and graduate to a full time job. It’s a great process, to live and turn your experiences into events and emotions on the page, and reach out to other people in the world and hopefully enrich them a little.

 
Definitely! ;)

So, do you have any favorite authors?

I’m a big Stephen King fan. If anyone hasn’t read his Dark Tower series, his most fantastical and epic work, I’d strongly recommend it. Especially if you’re familiar with his other work. I highly respect J.K. Rowling for the Harry Potter series, and the way those books exploded with popularity, especially given the situation she was in while she wrote the first book. I love Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy too, a very mature and fascinating world that can also be seen as a children’s series – just ignore the terrible film adaptation of the first book!

The author I probably look up to the most right now (except for Tolkien, of course, bow down to him), is Steven Erikson and his Malazan Book of the Fallen series. They are undoubtedly the most epic high fantasy stories I have ever read, with a depth and scope that is unparalleled to any other.   

 

All right. 

So, just to let you know, we're curious...

Do you write in a specific place? Or time of day?

I actually found my favorite place today, as I’m writing this. It’s a hotel coffee bar, which has large comfy sofa chairs, with fireplaces and books on the shelves, and a nice bar. It was especially nice being there while it rained outside. I like to be in a place that gets me out of the house, has some activity around me that I can zone out, such as people talking or walking around, but that I can also focus on while I search for the right words to type. Things like plug sockets, free wi-fi and good coffee and cakes also help (I generally like to eat fairly healthy and balanced, but not while the creative juices are flowing!). And I prefer smaller, independent coffee shops rather than the big franchises. I find they have a much friendlier, more focused service and a more relaxed atmosphere, which all help me delve into my written world for a time.  

 

It does sound perfect! ;)

Alex, are there any words you'd like to impart to fellow writers? Any advice?

You have to really know your characters. Writing a fairly detailed history of their life up to the point of the start of the story helps. Even if none of it makes it on to the main pages, it helps you to know how a character would react to meeting a certain person, hearing a certain thing, being faced with a certain obstacle. If a character had an ex-wife who cheated on him, or saw his younger brother get killed, or was secretly subjected to mind-control when they were younger (without them even knowing about it), it all adds up to who they are. And you’ll find that when they start talking, their dialogue will write itself because you have a good idea what they’ll say, how they’ll say it (as in their word choice) and how they’d react to situations. Maybe I’ve written far too much about the history of my characters (and their relatives and family trees – sigh… I write too much extra stuff!) but it all helps.

Drawing on real experiences too (like someone’s laugh or how they walk) even if they were someone you know and not your own, also really helps add a touch of realism too. You can even take a real person or event and add a fantastical twist to it, if it’s more in-line with your story. 

I also wouldn’t hold too much influence on what one person says, or even on what a few people say. If twenty people say your writing is strong and you have a talent, and two say it’s terrible, people will tend to focus more on the critics, unfortunately. Even if the writing isn’t that strong, say you’re a 15 year old that is passionate about telling stories but hasn’t quite come to grips with the intricacies of writing, my advice is to keep writing and keep reading. 

Read everything that interests you, and even genres that might not be so connected with what you want to write. It all helps. As you develop your knowledge and understanding, your writing will improve too. Start with a few short stories and try something else, keep going and learning, and when you have something incredible that needs to be told in the best way you can, you’ll be ready for it. And even if you’re not fully ready, get it written down and it can always be something that you come back to when you’re more experienced. Some of my earliest writing was just downright terrible when I look back on it! : )

And the old saying still stands: All writing is re-writing!

That's great advice. Thank you!

And thanks so much for stopping by! It was such a pleasure to have you here.  :) 

 

Readers, here is the blurb for Island Legends: The Awakening of James Island.

After awakening two years earlier as a fully grown man, James Island has managed to make a life for himself in the city he found himself in. Until the day a lost young alien named Evan Goodheart appears, claiming to be on a mission sent by the gods, who have named James as his aid. 

Despite trepidation, James finds an affinity with the lost and bewildered Evan and takes it upon himself to help him find his way; all while attempting to maintain some order in the life he's made and his construction work responsibilities. Throughout the course of the day James will come to realize the extent of Evan’s claims of their fates being entwined, as the truth of his unknown past is revealed to him. 

Island Legends is set in a galaxy reeling from devastating wars, filled with countless alien species, a rich history of powerful magical forces and the interventions of many gods and dangerous spirits and demons constantly at war.

Here is an excerpt.

The wavering sun had now cleared the Dusk Mountains that lined the horizon. The southernmost region, The Ten Fingers, looked to James like the knuckles of a giant hand gripping the earth. He thought of them as a god keeping hold of the planet, if there ever was such a thing.

A rustle from behind shook James from his thoughts.

He turned at the sound, losing his footing. Stumbling back over the cliff’s edge, he found himself falling.

James instinctively grabbed onto his beloved cliff. He hung there helplessly, muscles tight and burning. Dust dispersed around him, several tiny stones falling free, and the muddy smell of the mountain filled his nostrils.

A head appeared over the cliff edge.

It belonged to a small figure wearing a wide rimmed pointed hat, which immediately blew off into the open air, revealing ruffled wavy hair.

James had no choice but to grasp the small hand that reached out, and with an effort he was pulled up over the edge.

Scrambling on his knees, James hugged the rocky ground. His heavy breath brought up dust into his face, causing him to cough and heave. Taking a moment to master himself, he finally saw the stranger in the morning light.

James recognized the boy as a Voarn, the strange small beings he had only read of in books. His ears were pointed at the tips, though much less than his sharply pointed nose. The slant of his large brown eyes gave them a feline quality. A dusty green tunic billowed over his thin frame, baggy trousers tucked into silver highboots, and a short-cape clasped with a silver ornament hung behind him.

James’s eyes were drawn to the large sword on the stranger’s back, and his breath caught. The polished hilt was adorned with intricate gold and jet-black engravings. The sheathed blade was as wide as the decorated cross-guard, seeming far too large for the little Voarn.

James managed to say, “Thank you,” in a shaky voice. His hands were shaking from the near fall, and a shiver ran through him at the thought of what could have happened.

Large, trembling eyes searched James—dusty shirt, long shorts, wearing what must seem like peculiar items on his forearms—with an odd look of puzzlement.

“Where am I?” the Voarn asked finally. His light voice sounded hoarse, as though he hadn’t spoken in a while.

James was taken aback at the question. “Mount Volton,” he answered, though he had a feeling this wasn’t the answer the stranger was looking for.

“Where…” The Voarn searched for the words. “What planet?”

James watched the stranger incredulously. “Carnan. You’re in the Carnan Sand Dunes.”

The stranger continued to search the area with a mixture of wonder and confusion. His open-mouthed gaze accentuated his protruding upper front teeth.

“Unified Land of Medropon,” James added, finding it an odd feeling to explain to someone else where they were. “Who are you?”

The Voarn composed himself. “My name is Evan Goodheart, of the Illan. I have been looking for you, for you are James Island, are you not? You must be. I have come seeking your help.”

 

Interesting! I definitely want to find out what happens next...

Purchase Links:

Universal Amazon:  getBook.at/IslandLegends

Barnes & Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/island-legends-mr-alex-y-pilalis/1121640317

CreateSpace:  https://www.createspace.com/5999821

Publisher:  http://solsticepublishing.com/island-legends-the-awakening-of-james-island/

And readers, Alex is offering his book for FREE on Amazon Kindle for the next two days! Check it out here!

Thanks again for visiting us on the MLB blog, Alex, and telling us about your writing adventures and all about The Awakening of James Island!  :)

Author Bio 

After completing an Art Foundation course and a BA in Digital Arts, Alex Pilalis pursued his interest of animation with an MSc in Computer Animation and an online course with Animation Mentor. He is currently an animator on children's television shows.

Alex began his publishing journey with two children's story books, Three Wishes and Where Dreams May Go, and was spurred on to write and create more.

As a big science fiction and fantasy fan, and heavily inspired by classic adventure stories such as The Lord of the Rings, the Star Wars films and Joseph Campbell's The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Alex felt a great urge to tell his own story. Being an avid gamer, he spent the majority of his time growing up developing a video game adventure concept, and to this day has amassed hundreds of A4 pages, several filled notepads, dozens of Word documents and a detailed Wiki, collecting all the ideas and images of the world as it progressed and became what it is today. Feeling the overwhelming need to bring the story to life and out into the ether, somehow, Alex decided to use his passion for writing and storytelling and turn the game into a novel, which has become Island Legends: The Awakening of James Island. Doing so has allowed him to delve into the character's minds and bring them to life so much more than he ever thought possible back when he was designing hit-point percentages of sword attack combinations, and the result is a much more mature and complicated story than his younger mind could have ever conceived.

Originally from London, Alex currently lives and works in Dublin, Ireland.

 

Author Links:

Website:  www.pilalis.net

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/IslandLegends/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Island_Legends

Google+:  https://plus.google.com/u/0/104026500174844435786/posts

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13787416.Alex_Pilalis

Amazon Author Page:  amzn.to/1p0IXip

Publisher:  http://solsticepublishing.com/alex-pilalis/

 

Alex's Books: