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! :)

What Does Success Mean?

What Does Success Mean?

I stumbled across this question while reading a blog post yesterday, and it was unrelated to writers. This question, which clearly had the blogger stumped, was just as thought-provoking for me. I thought I would turn it on all of you. 

“Success” is a complicated word. Writers at any level of their careers can struggle with this problem of properly defining “success”. So, what is success, in your opinion? Now, before you jump in and tell me that success is a house in the Hampton’s and a summer home in France, which are worthy goals, to be sure, perhaps you should give yourself time to ruminate on this question. I posit this question to you, and then dare you to come back to it five years later. I bet your answer would change. 

The truth is that we’re all in the same crazy boat, whether we’re just starting out as writers, or whether we’re self-published or traditionally published. The competition is fierce, forcing us to get rather creative in our author journeys. Both indie and traditionally published authors have to work their butts off, and anyone who thinks it’s simple is just plain wrong. So, I urge you to consider the following questions carefully.

1.     How do you define success?

2.     What are your goals as an author?

3.     Why do you write?

4.     Is there a moment that has made you especially proud? Or more than one?

5.     What do you require to be happy?

“Wait a minute, Marie. This is getting deep. Aren’t you going too far?”

Not really. As authors, we must constantly reevaluate our goals, and shape them as trends change. We evolve as writers, just as we grow as people through our experiences. And I sincerely think these questions can help anyone, even if you aren’t a writer.

What does “success” mean to you? Is it measured by a steady paycheck and food on the table? Or do you have loftier goals in mind? What is your passion? Have you pursued it? If you haven’t, why not? And what will satisfy you in the long run?

As an author, is it enough to see how far you’ve come? Maybe not, but it should weigh into your goals on some level. Why not take a moment and recognize it? Did you imagine you’d be here five years ago? Well, heck, I certainly didn’t! I was just trying out the self-publishing fad after years of writing and actively working on my big manuscript. Fast forward five years and now I’ve published twenty books, I run three blogs, moderate several discussion groups on LinkedIn and Facebook, I’ve had numerous author interviews, both on blogs and on the radio, written countless articles, and the story ideas just won’t quit. I’m just plugging away, steadily working on my goals. Instead of thinking, “Well, gee, I’d love to be a millionaire someday”, I am thinking of specific projects, and what kind of progress I’d like to make on those.  

So, what is success to you, and how do you go about defining it?  Maybe you have a role model you look up to, someone you know has gone through a lot to get where they are today. Well, that’s great! Is that person your idea of “success”? Or could you also be just as inspired by a mother of three who works a day job, manages to get a promotion, and still carves some quality time out of the day to spend with her children? 

No matter our goals as authors, we can’t forget that we are human beings as well. How do your goals fit into your life? Life will go on regardless of whether we write. The clock will keep moving, and the people who depend on us will still require our attention. Being an author can feel like a solitary, juggling journey at times, but it’s not exactly lonely. A whole community of writers who’ve been through the same thing, who are going through the same thing, are out there as well.

Despite all of that, it’s good to define your idea of success, and answer some important questions for yourself from time to time. Your answers may change as you grow as an author.

So, what is “success”? I’ll give it a go. To me, it is pursuing your dreams and taking the risks to achieve them.

What are my goals? I don’t ask for the moon, and I don’t really care for being a millionaire. My ultimate goal is to make it into a bookstore, and I don’t mean just walking into one. LOL. I’d like to see at least one of my titles on the shelves. 

I don’t know how it will happen and I don’t know when, but there it is. I think the goal is achievable, and I will continue to work towards it while enjoying the crazy journey along the way. Do I have other goals? Sure, I do, but they are smaller goals, as aforementioned. The great thing about being an author is that you can reshape your goals as publishing trends change. Will bookstores go out of style? Will ebooks take over entirely? I don’t know, but honestly, I am satisfied with where I am right now.

Why do I write? I am answering the call inside of me, the urge to put pen to paper, and I am honoring the characters who need their stories told.

A proud moment, or moments? There have been a few. Receiving a book contract was one, and I can’t even describe how it felt to see my book in print for the first time. Amazing! And third? Well, I think I feel a wonderful thrill every time that I finish a manuscript. There’s just something about knowing the world you’ve created has played out to the best of your ability, that you’ve told your story and honored your characters. 

And then there’s that tricky question…

What do you require to be happy as a writer or author? For myself, just give me the ability to write (a keyboard, or a pen and paper), maybe some fresh air and a good drink like hot tea or water. Then I am set! I don’t need anything fancy, just that connection to the page, to the story and I know I can’t lose. Writing is who I am. To take it away would be a personal tragedy. If I ever get stranded on a deserted island, I'm probably screwed because I'd have no creative outlet. Although if I could find a way to create a makeshift pencil, I guess I could write on palm leaves. LOL. But, I digress. Back to the topic of success.

So, is that enough for you? Can you content yourself with how far you’ve come as a writer or author (remember that those successes should be celebrated too!), and knowing that you are still working towards your ultimate goals? An even if you’re not a writer, these questions can be just as thought-provoking. Let me change it up a bit in that case.

1.     How do you measure success?

2.     What are your professional/personal goals?

3.     What is your passion? Why do you do it? If you haven’t pursued it yet, why not? What’s standing in your way?

4.     Think about some of the proudest moments in your life.

5.     What do you require to be happy?

Wow! See how that completely changed everything? Why shouldn’t we take a step back from our busy lives, and try to define “success” for ourselves? It will mean something different for everyone. Maybe your definition of success is that mentor you’ve always looked up to. 

Perhaps it’s one or both of your parents. Just because that person isn’t in your industry doesn’t mean you don’t admire their trials and successes, big or small. Or maybe success for you is defined by a specific item you’d like to earn or acquire.

So, what does success mean to you? Think about it. I dare you.