If you love travelling, it’s almost certain that somewhere in Europe is on your romantic list, your bucket list, pretty much your everything list! Europe is the perfect getaway to satisfy wanderlust – from alfresco dinners next to the quaint canals of Amsterdam, visiting centuries of history and art in Rome, taking selfies against the azure blue horizon of Greek beaches, clubbing in Ibiza, to exploring Dracula’s creepy myth in Wallachia. But, the list doesn’t end there. I mean, this is Europe we are talking about.
Here are 8 things you probably didn’t know about Europe.
1. Finland
You can stare at the Aurora Borealis until you fall asleep in a glass igloo in Finland. Kakslauttanen, a luxurious arctic resort, offers you the leisure of watching nature’s amazing light show while having the best slumber of your life.
2. Germany
There’s an on-going building project in Germany called The House of One, where you will find a Christian church, a mosque and a synagogue all under one roof. You can support the project by donating a brick online to complete 4,350,000 bricks needed to construct the building.
3. France
In France, being polite means cheaper coffee – at least at La Petite Syrah, in Nice. It is famous for making its customers pay more if they don’t say “hello” (“Bonjour”) and “please” (“s’il vous plait”). It charges 7 euros if you ask for a coffee, 4 euros if you say “s’il vous plait” – but comes down to just 1 euro if you say “bonjour” and “s’il vous plait” when making an order.
4. Italy
Italy is not just about pasta or Leonardo da Vinci. It’s also known for the world’s oldest fully operational university. The University of Bologna, founded in 1088, has famous alumni, such as Pope Alexander VI, Mathematician Carlo Severini and Political leader Pierluigi Bersani.
5. Sweden and Finland
The Green Zone Golf Club might be the most unique golf club you can ever be in. It is located in the border of Sweden and Finland. Half of the holes are in one country and half in the other. How awesome is that! Plus gives a “whole” new meaning to the golf term “hole in one”…
6. Spain and Portugal
You can travel from Spain to Portugal through a zipline. Thrill seekers can enjoy the 60-second ride that travels through the 2,365 feet (720 m) long wire at the speed of up to 50mph. It starts from Sanlucar de Guadiana, Spain landing across the Guadiana River in Alcoutim, Portugal. The experience can’t get any weirder due to the mind-boggling fact that it transports you one hour back in time because of the time zone difference.
7. Greece
13th century-old olive trees planted in Greece are still producing olives. Greece, the third largest olive oil producer next to Spain and Italy, generates olive oil that weighs as much as 1,575 blue whales, every year.
8. Norway
Hell is real, apparently, in Norway. Hell is a small rural town in Norway that, ironically, freezes over during winter. Dropping to as low as -25 degrees Celsius, this makes “cold Hell” one of the coolest oxymorons we know! (Oxymoron: a combination of words that have opposite meanings)
Now, the only problem we had discovering the hidden secrets of Europe was limiting oursevles to only 8! With its diverse culture and people, Europe is a true treasure trove of surprises.
Take a trip to Europe with our delicious, mouthwatering Smorgabord of over 160 languages to make sure you get in the mood to travel, or try some tasty language treats.
Andrie Steliou
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