Category: Europe
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Peleș Castle, Sinaia, Romania
Western Europe does not hold a monopoly on enchanting castles. Romania holds its own when it comes to the influence of monarchs and their illustrious abodes. In May of 1866, at a time of great tension in western Europe wherein Austria and Prussia were on the brink of war, the German Karl von Hohenzollern crossed…
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Who is on the front line of the refugee crisis?
Men, women and children serge toward the fence under the watchful eye of border police. Babies nap in weary strollers caked with mud. Lines of people move in a slow shuffle, all that remains of their worldly possessions slung over their shoulder in backpacks that used to carry their university study books. Young professionals, now…
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Memorializing the Night – Elie Wiesel’s boyhood home in Sighetu, Romania
In a remote corner of northern Romania, a mile from the border of Ukraine, sits a modest blue home at the intersection of two city streets. A small plaque memorializes this abode, the house whence Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel and his family were deported during World War II. The home, which is now a museum, supposedly…
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Not stroller-confined – hiking in Transylvania
Unless you have been reading willtravelwithkids since its inception over three years ago, you probably missed the post about confining kids to strollers on outings. This week I’m in Transylvania, interspersing language school with adventurous outings in the area around Sibiu. This afternoon, during a secluded hike meandering with the children along a groomed path…
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From those that labor
Since arriving in Romania several weeks ago, I have been gifted with three jars of honey, several dozen fresh eggs, ten cucumbers and two jars of jam. Many people in this region are subsistence gardeners and tirelessly work their land during daylight hours. Yet, they are very generous with the fruit of that labor. I…
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“Frozen” on a rural Romanian road
Before we arrived in Romania, Romanians and foreigners alike warned us of the poor quality of the roads. After expecting the worst, I have been pleasantly surprised. Perhaps compared to more developed (and not post-communist) European countries, the roads leave much to be desired. Few markings, no shoulders, ditches and drop-offs are a hazard at…
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Not a walk in the park
Yesterday I took the kids on an evening walk after dinner. We are staying with friends who live in a village 40 minutes from where we hope to move next week. After the heat dies off and our bellies are full from dinner, an evening stroll is always a good idea. We walked a dirt…
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Aiud, Romania; Bruchsal, Germany – The pride of the locals
When we moved to Germany eight years ago, my German landlord said we must visit the nearby Bruchsal Palace. It was one of his favorites. During our three and half years in Germany, we never made it to his favorite palace. We visited many other palaces and castles across the continent, but never his highly…
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Children of the Forest – the Waldkindergarten
As we tucked evergreen branches away from our faces, stepped over pools of mud, and climbed the steep embankment by the creek, I didn’t know what to expect. When the forest cleared slightly, it appeared we had stumbled upon a well-organized homeless camp, or, from the looks of the handcrafted objects hanging from the trees, a…
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Five Highlights of Lisbon – a child’s perspective
It was easy to get the girls, ages five and three, excited for a five-day trip to Portugal to visit friends and be with daddy on a work trip. “Hey kids, we’re going to visit Portugal!” Blank stares. “We’re going to eat lots of pastries and go to playgrounds!” Much cheering and excitement. Then it…
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