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Veggie Meal Alert! Thrill Grill in Haarlem, Netherlands
If you find yourself in the quaint town of Haarlem, Netherlands & if you're looking for a tasty vegetarian meal, go for Thrill Grill. I have to admit there weren't any vegetarian options save for this exact meal, but it was worth it. Thrill Grill is a must-visit place if you want a unique veggie-friendly dish in Haarlem.
Related reading: How to Save $$$ on Flights Using Google Flights
I still dream about the Veggie Falafel Thriller, made with homemade falafel, tomato, pickled cucumber, red onion, & bell pepper hummus served on a toasted organic bun. It was so hearty, filling, & huge. It's not your average falafel either; it's incomparable to any type of falafel I've ever had. Pure delight for vegetarians & non-veggies alike.
Related reading: Cheesing it Up in Gouda, Netherlands
Ask for Thrill Grill's herb fries, made with homemade, fresh-cut fries & mixed with tarragon & chervil, a relative to parsley. Pure greasy perfection that's best washed down with a glass of Heineken, the famous pale lager beer brewed in the nearby city of Amsterdam. I tell you what, Heineken tastes best when you drink it locally.
Sit outside. You won't regret the marvelous views & the immense amount of people-watching potential. Haarlem has a lot of character with its cobblestone streets, gabled houses, & narrow alleys. Thrill Grill is centrally located in the market square with a perfect glimpse of the Grote of St. Bavokerk, an important landmark & church within Haarlem.
My Thrill Grill falafel burger remains one of the top meals during my month-long trip to Europe last year. Perhaps it was the superb taste or even the inspiring views, but the verdict is the same: amazing. Homemade, home cut fries paired with a non-conventional burger & a cold glass of Heineken mesh together to create a pleasant & harmonious meal. Ah, the memories.
How does Thrill Grill sound to you? :]
You may find Thrill Grill:
Oude Groenmarkt 26, 2011 HL
Haarlem, Netherlands
Oude Groenmarkt 26, 2011 HL
Haarlem, Netherlands
+31 23 202 4047
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Things To Do in Gouda, Holland (The Netherlands)
Gouda is one of my favorite types of cheeses. What is gouda? The cheese tastes creamy & rich; the soft texture that makes almost melt in your mouth, making nearly irresistible to munch on. It's similar to Havarti cheese in that way.
That's why I was so excited when Gouda, a city in the Netherlands, made its way onto my family's radar during our Europe trip. I made sure we put it on the itinerary because I just had to see where the famous cheese hailed from. There are a few things to do if you're visiting Gouda, Holland.
The city of Gouda is a Dutch cheese town. While Gouda is world-famous for its cheese, it's also recognized for smoking pipes & stroopwafels — a waffle sandwich made from two extremely thin layers of baked batter with a caramel syrup filling in the middle aka a gift from the heavens. Stroopwafels were invented in Gouda! How cool is that?! Side note: I ate soooo0oo many stroopwafels on my trip; they're incredible. If you have access to an international market, keep your eyes out for them. Or you can buy stroopwafels online.
The Gouda market square has a gorgeous gothic city hall that's hard to miss & beautiful to photograph. You can explore the town, the Gouda market, the shops, & everything in between in a day. Gouda is a relatively small place but there's still plenty of things to do in town. You can appreciate it for a few hours or stay overnight.
That's why I was so excited when Gouda, a city in the Netherlands, made its way onto my family's radar during our Europe trip. I made sure we put it on the itinerary because I just had to see where the famous cheese hailed from. There are a few things to do if you're visiting Gouda, Holland.
The city of Gouda is a Dutch cheese town. While Gouda is world-famous for its cheese, it's also recognized for smoking pipes & stroopwafels — a waffle sandwich made from two extremely thin layers of baked batter with a caramel syrup filling in the middle aka a gift from the heavens. Stroopwafels were invented in Gouda! How cool is that?! Side note: I ate soooo0oo many stroopwafels on my trip; they're incredible. If you have access to an international market, keep your eyes out for them. Or you can buy stroopwafels online.
Related reading: Amsterdam, the Netherlands in Black & White
The Gouda market square has a gorgeous gothic city hall that's hard to miss & beautiful to photograph. You can explore the town, the Gouda market, the shops, & everything in between in a day. Gouda is a relatively small place but there's still plenty of things to do in town. You can appreciate it for a few hours or stay overnight.
Related reading: Veggie Meal Alert! Thrill Grill in Haarlem, Netherlands
Munching on local delicacies is one of my favorite things to do in Europe. The Netherlands is particularly known for their apple tarts so I recommend eating them as often as possible. While I was there, the indulgence was real. The apple tart in Gouda had giant chunks of apple. Soft on the outside with a slightly crispy interior. An absolute delight.
What is Gouda?
Since Gouda cheese hails from Gouda, Netherlands (duh), you have the opportunity to sample product like you're the queen (or king) of the world. Coconut gouda, pesto gouda, paprika gouda, fenugreek gouda. All the gouda cheese flavors of the rainbow. It's something I still dream about. I tell you what: there's no gouda like the gouda from Gouda. Say that fast 10 times!
Related reading: How to Save $$$ on Flights Using Google Flights
If you make it out to the Dutch cheese town of Gouda, be sure to take the time to eat any of the local food. I drooled at every bakery & cafe & restaurant I walked by. One of the best parts of traveling is tasting various types of cuisine. Eating out can get expensive so it's important to understand how to eat on a budget while traveling abroad. How cute are these fruit-inspired gummy candies?!?
Looking for a hotel in Gouda, Netherlands? Here are some options - just put in your check-in & check-out dates to see what's available:
Booking.com
The canals of Holland are magnificent. Each one has its own personality & ranges in every city. Back in the day, the canals were used for water management, transportation, & defense purposes. As the times changed, the canals are normally utilized for recreational activities like canal tours. Gouda continues to use the tradition of canals with some unique cheese-inspired decorations.
My experience in Gouda, Netherlands was delicious but brief. Take a look at the town center or the local shops, & make sure you stop to enjoy a pastry & some cheese. Walk around the Gouda market square. Grab a wheel of gouda cheese to go as your own edible souvenir. Gouda is an old town with a lot of character. It remains fondly in my heart.
Have you visited Gouda? Have you eaten the cheese? :]
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How to Eat on a Budget While Traveling Abroad
Traveling abroad is one of the most amazing things you can do in life. You get to witness how other people live their lives, what they eat, how they speak. There's really nothing like it. One of my favorite things about traveling is trying local foods, new foods, & getting out of my usual routine. The thing to consider is that you're already paying a huge chunk of change for your plane ticket. The question therein is: how do you eat cheap & on a budget while traveling abroad? Don't worry I've got your back with plenty of tips to lead you on the right track. Here's to eating well & eating cheap!
Related reading: How To Use Google Flights to Find Cheap Flights
Mercat de la Boqueria - Barcelona, Spain |
Do your research
If you have some sort of Internet access look online to see what food is out there. You can check out Yelp, browse reviews, & search for affordable options in your area. There's no way that you could possibly know all the restaurants & cafes yourself, so to do a little bit of research & narrow it down. Be sure to consider the pricing, portion size, & distance from your current location.Understand tipping
Tipping practices vary per country. Some don't require or expect tips at all. Some include tips into your check. Make sure you learn & understand how it works. Over time, you'll save a pretty penny if you know the tipping culture.
Related reading: How to Survive a Family Vacation as an Adult
Go to a grocery store
Heading to local grocery stores is one of my favorite things about traveling. I will never forget Albert Heijn, a Dutch supermarket. You have no idea how many times I went into that store to buy delicious juice, cheese croissants, & lentil avocado salad. Their prices were cheap & made for the perfect picnic. Grocery stores & markets are the way to go because you get to grab something to-go or make, cook, & assemble your own meals. You can also buy coffee or tea bags to save you from picking up one every morning.Pack your lunch
You're out & about all day exploring the city & its many wonders. Save some cash by bringing lunch with you. It's just like the old days in elementary school; packing your lunch will keep your cost down. The fun challenge is finding a lovely place to eat your lunch. Picnics are everything when traveling abroad! I'll never forget the quaint garden lunch at a picnic table in Copenhagen or the lovely lakeside picnic in Amsterdam. Those packed picnic lunches were some of my favorite memories from traveling abroad.Eat before you're super hungry
I admit I made this mistake many times. Learn from my mistakes. In order to save money while you're traveling the world, eat before you're super hungry. If you're about to faint from hunger you'll likely visit the first place you see regardless of its price. That doesn't really help if you're on a budget. Be sure to get some food before you're starving.Have a snack on hand
This kind of goes hand in hand with the above tip. Always always always have a snack with you. Keep it in your purse, your backpack, your fanny pack or pocket if you have to. If you have a snack with you you won't immediately be tempted to lunge at the first sight of food. A banana, cup of cereal, or mixed nuts ought to do the trick.Ask a local
Engage with the locals & inquire about their favorite restaurant, cafe, or underrated eatery. Ask about budget-friendly options in the neighborhood. Locals know a hell of a lot more about the city than you do. Take their advice & run with it. You have no idea how many times asking a local about something totally enhanced my overall experience.Eat at the hotel
If you're at a hotel, motel, hostel, Airbnb that includes a meal, take advantage of it. In Paris, my mom, sister, & I ate breakfast every day at the hostel. That saved us about €10 per person per day. You can buy souvenirs, macarons, museum tickets, or what have you with that money. The more cash you save by eating on a budget when you travel abroad leaves more room for other options.Use a kitchen
Does your hotel or Airbnb have a kitchen? Take advantage of it. Cook your meals at home. We all know this is one of the best ways to eat on a budget in general. As a broke college student, I took pride in being able to scrummage up food with whatever I had in the house. You can obviously supplement that by going to the grocery store.Refill your water bottle
In some countries, you have to pay for water at the restaurant or they may not give you any at all. I remember sitting down for lunch in Denmark & specifically asking for tap water only to find out that they charged for it. Lesson learned. Buy a water bottle & refill it. You'll save a lot of money on water alone.Drink outside
Europe is pretty chill about drinking outside or in public. Stop by the store & pick up a bottle of wine, some beer, even juices rather than buying them at a restaurant at a markup. I spent €6 on a beer at a restaurant. Then I got wise & bought an even larger beer at the market for about €2. Do a little research on the laws about drinking in public in your country.Go to the Market
I always like to visit the farmer's market wherever I may roam. Whether I unintentionally happen upon one in Milan, Italy or perhaps a very purposeful promenade through Mercat de la Boqueria in Barcelona, Spain. Markets & farmer's markets tend to have almost a wholesale price for produce, veggies, & other goodies. Plus, they're as fresh as can be.
Were these tips on how to eat a budget while traveling abroad of any use? Any tips I left out? :]
Welcome to the Cologne Cathedral Germany
Want to visit one of the most enormous & gorgeous cathedrals in the world? It's a work of art! If you're looking for things to do, take a trip to see the Cologne Cathedral in Koln (Cologne,) North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
Koln Cathedral / Cologne Germany Cathedral
The Roman Catholic cathedral is also referred to as the Kölner Dom in German. The Cologne Cathedral is the cathedral (Episcopal Church) of the Archdiocese of Cologne; it is under the patronage of St. Peter. They have masses, devotions, choir performances, and organ recitals. In 1996, the cathedral was declared a UNESCO Heritage Site. You will adore its splendor & beauty. Keep reading to learn a little bit more about this stunning cathedral. There are plenty of day trips from Cologne too.
Address: Cologne Cathedral, Domkloster 4, 50667 Köln, Germany
Related reading: Cologne (Germany) Street Art & Graffiti
History of Cologne Germany Cathedral
The construction of the Cologne Cathedral began in 1248. Goodness gracious; that's a really long time ago! The cathedral itself is 474 feet tall (144.5 meters) & 283 feet wide (86.25 meters); the towers are 515 feet tall (157 meters). It's enormous. It's difficult to get it all in one photo. In fact, the history of Cologne Germany is that Cologne Cathedral is the largest Gothic church in northern Europe.Cologne Cathedral width is 86.25 m (283.0 ft). It has two spires and eleven church bells. The spire heights are 157 m (515 ft). The nave has many 19th century stained glass windows. The address is Cologne Cathedral, Domkloster 4, 50667 Köln, Germany. There's always restoration work or maintenance work to keep this remarkable cathedral in great condition.
Significant works include:
- Gero Crucifix, circa 970
- Shrine of the Magi/Shrine of the Three Kings Wise Men, circa 1190-1220
- Milan Madonna, c. 1280/90 - Located in the Sacrament Chapel.
- Altar of the City Patrons, c. 1442
- Open Choir Stalls from Southeast
- Design of the Floor Mosaic, 1887
- Plan F, End of the 13th Century
- Altar of the Poor Clares High Feast Day Opening
- Window of the South Transept, 2007
Related reading: Europe Trip Double Exposure Photography
The gothic-style cathedral features two huge spires, flying buttresses, a black marble High Altar, Three Kings Shrine, art treasures, immense stained glass window, and more. Visitors can climb up the spiral staircase of stone steps to a viewing platform. The Cologne Germany Cathedral is genuinely gargantuan. It is one of Germany's most famous landmarks. You have to back up pretty far in order to get the whole thing within frame for your photo. Spot it from outside & gasp with surprise. Head inside & see what riches lie within. I like to think of it as a history of Cologne Germany museum because there's an abundance of beautiful religious art inside. You can travel nearby since there are day trips from Cologne.
UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996
Throughout the entire construction period, the original blueprints were not changed. The Ottonian Gero Crucifix on the altar in the cathedral is the oldest monumental sculpture of Christ still in existence. While the Cologne Cathedral is not dedicated to Three Kings, relics are said to be located there, making it a site of pilgrimage. Let's start with the exterior. It's the first thing you see. Take a look at the main entrance with its 19th-century decoration. There is plenty to look at, that's for sure. You could stand around browsing each statue, each figure, but a photo lasts longer & is less time-consuming. So that's what I did.
The Criterion for being a UNESCO World Heritage Site includes (i): Cologne Cathedral is an exceptional work of human creative genius. It was constructed over the course of more than six centuries. The last Criterion is that Cologne Cathedral is a powerful testimony to the strength and persistence of Christian belief in medieval and modern Europe. People will often travel there for the Shrine of the Three Kings. The cathedral is a place of great religious significance.
There are furnishings, windows, tombs, monuments, floor mosaics, & cathedral bells at the Cologne Cathedral. When I went back to the Kölner Dom website, I was surprised by just how many significant works were held within its confines. A lot. If you can't make it to Cologne, Germany, you can do a virtual tour on their site. It tells you about every piece & where it's located within the gothic cathedral.
The entire cathedral is massive. Don't feel bad because you're not the only tourist there. It's one of the biggest tourist hubs in Cologne. Many people were there taking photos, praying, & enjoying the glory of Cologne Cathedral. On another note: I couldn't help but be captivated by the creepy looking door handle. It's truly creepy no? It's sad. It kind of reminds me of The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
You could spend all day occupied as you look around the interior. It is a walk-in masterpiece, a celebration. Have you visited Germany? How about the Cologne Cathedral? What's your favorite gothic cathedral, church, religious structure that you've ever visited? Do you have any ideas for day trips from Cologne? Do you know the history of Cologne Germany?
Spending the Day in Luxembourg City
Luxembourg is the capital of the small European country of the same name. To avoid confusion it's often called Luxembourg City. The country borders Belgium, Germany, & France so it's the ideal destination if you're heading to any of those places on your trip. The city is known for its medieval fortifications & is one of the largest fortresses of modern Europe. Pretty cool, huh?
Luxembourg is a city full of history & beauty. I only spent the day there but was able to experience enough to whet my appetite. It was a sweltering day -- the kind of hotness that leaves you sticky & uncomfortable. Humid. It was so different compared to the influx of rainy & cloudy days spent in Copenhagen & Amsterdam.
Le Chemin de la Corniche is a must-see because it overlooks the old city; that was probably my most favorite thing in Luxembourg -- being able to witness so much history in one spot. I'd recommend spending one to two days in Luxembourg if you're making a visit. It's the perfect amount of time so you can enjoy all the sites without feeling overwhelmed.
I viewed several of Luxembourg's most well-known sights. The Cathédrale Notre-Dame (Notre Dame Cathedral) is the only cathedral in Luxembourg. It's a beautiful church with Gothic architecture & really cool door handles. It's quaint but definitely worth a look see. The Monument National de la Solidarité also known as the Monument to National Unity is centrally located with a golden woman atop the long column; it's also a popular tourist destination. You'll find a crowd of people around it taking photos.
Le Chemin de la Corniche is a must-see because it overlooks the old city; that was probably my most favorite thing in Luxembourg -- being able to witness so much history in one spot. I'd recommend spending one to two days in Luxembourg if you're making a visit. It's the perfect amount of time so you can enjoy all the sites without feeling overwhelmed.
I was ultra excited by the amount of bakeries & scrumptious, colorful goodies. I mean seriously. They're mouthwateringly beautiful. They're so magnificent that they're almost too pretty to eat. Almost. I definitely ate my fair share of pastries. But can you really blame me?
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