5 Things I Love About Europe

I have always lived in the United States and this country will forever be my home. There are so many things that make the U.S. one of the most unique and culturally diverse places in the world. But I have also spent some quality time in Europe and let me tell you– they do it right! Here are five things I love about Europe:

1. Cafes/Tea & Coffee

Nearly every place I get a coffee or a tea in Europe has left me satisfied. I remember heading out for an excursion to Galway from Dublin and my mom and I were waiting for our bus. It was really early in the morning and one of the only places open was a non-descript and very tiny convenience store. We walked in and were instantly greeted with an intoxicating smell of croissants and pastries. We each ordered a croissant and a coffee, and it is still one of the best breakfasts I’ve had to date! Pictured below is a favorite cafe of mine in London, Patisserie Valerie. Another popular place that I love in Europe is Costa Coffee.

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2. Transportation/Travel

The transportation within and between countries in Europe tends to be reliable. The chunnel from London to Paris or the train from London to Brussels gets you there in about two hours. The trains are fast, convenient, and, from my experience, are clean. It’s no wonder Europeans seem to travel with such ease. Also, I have noticed that flights within Europe tend to be pretty cheap. Considering Europe is about the size of the U.S. it makes sense that traveling between countries is quick and relatively easy. (Of course this is a general impression and it is important to know not all transportation in Europe is necessarily safe or reliable. For example, my friends and I were told not to use the underground in Prague.)

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London Underground

3. Weather

Europe as a whole experiences milder weather than the eastern coast and many parts of the United States. This has a lot to do with jet streams and ocean currents. Since Europe is “downwind” from the Atlantic Ocean, they experience warmer temperatures and enjoy a milder climate throughout the year without the wide variance in temperatures the eastern portion of the U.S. feels. This makes Europe slightly chillier in the warmer months but slightly warmer in the colder months. I love visiting in August or September and whipping out my boots and scarf for chilly evenings.

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Nice, France

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Paris, France

4. Architecture/History

Europe has been around a lot longer than the United States. This makes for plenty of interesting architecture and very old structures. There are castles that have been around for hundreds, even thousands, of years, and you can’t forget about the ancient ruins in Greece and Italy. Europe is definitely a historian’s dream! I always enjoyed touring the old structures and palaces during my time studying abroad. There is so much to learn and it is very special to see something in person rather than read about it out of a history book.

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Arc de Triomphe, Paris

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Charles Bridge, Prague

5. Culture

Finally, I love how many cultures you are able to see so close together around Europe. A quick train ride brought my friends and I from Nice, France to Ventimiglia, Italy in 30 minutes or so. We ate lasagna, had gelato, and bought homemade pasta within a few hours before returning back to France. Traveling between countries in Europe is almost comparable to traveling between states in the U.S. Many schools teach children not only English, but several other languages in order for them to communicate easily with cultures nearby. For example, most people speak German, Italian, and English in Switzerland.

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Lasagna in Ventimiglia, Italy

So those are five of my favorite things about Europe! There are many more things I love, and also a few things I don’t love about Europe too. But I think it is important to travel in order to appreciate what other countries might do better or differently than your own. And for the things you don’t necessarily like about where you are visiting, it will just help you appreciate your home more.

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Street in Prague, Czech Republic

Have you been to Europe? What do you love about it?

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  • andy1076April 21, 2016 - 10:30 am

    Art and architecture is definitely what I want to explore about Europe, great shots too 🙂ReplyCancel

  • meadowhillmountainApril 21, 2016 - 3:32 pm

    I live in Europe so it would have been strange if I haven’t seen some of it. Personally I love the history, food and atmosphere of Italy. I love the British people and what their island have to offer of history, including natural history. The food however is nothing to brag about.
    And being a bit patriotic perhaps, I love the nature and history of Scandinavia and Iceland too. Norway being closest to my heart.ReplyCancel

    • Erin SchererApril 21, 2016 - 8:01 pm

      Thanks so much for your comment! I completely agree with you on all those points, though I’ve never been to Norway. It looks absolutely stunning and I would love to visit it one day. Thanks for reading! ReplyCancel

  • Kelly (@KRod0519)April 22, 2016 - 9:27 am

    Yes to all of these! I love Europe too; we go every year and plan to retire there. Your photos are beautiful!ReplyCancel

  • ClaireApril 22, 2016 - 3:11 pm

    I’m obsessed with the history of Europe! It’s such a quaint place, I’m British and am planning to jet off to Australia/ Asia for a bit but will definitely be exploring more on my return!ReplyCancel

    • Erin SchererApril 22, 2016 - 3:26 pm

      Oh how incredible, I would love to go to Australia. Thank you so much for reading and happy travels, Claire!ReplyCancel

  • Sarka VancurovaJuly 15, 2016 - 3:48 pm

    I wonder what was the reason you had been told not to use the underground in Praha ;-). I consider our underground be more clean, modern and safe than the Paris or London’s one and I love it…ReplyCancel

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