Europe, July 14-August 1, 2025
Posted: October 22nd, 2025 | Filed under: Out Of TownJuly 14, 2025
The impetus for this whirlwind trip across Europe was the insanely low price of trans-Atlantic plane travel via Norse Atlantic Airways — like $500 round-trip in the middle of the summer high season. Soon after we returned, we learned that the carrier was planning to cancel routes between North America and Europe — including the New York-Paris (JFK-CDG) and Berlin-New York (BER-JFK) routes we flew — in favor of sending Mancunians to Bangkok. Alas, too good to be true — but not before an epic 19-day journey through four amazing European cities!
We immediately set out sightseeing across Paris, eating a picnic at Jardin du Luxembourg:
It didn’t immediately register that we landed on Bastille Day, but we got as close as we could to the magnificent fireworks display against the dramatic backdrop of the Eiffel Tower:
July 15, 2025
A primer on Parisian cuisine at Bouillon Pigalle:
Nearby, the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre:
The rehabilitated Notre-Dame de Paris:
July 16, 2025
A morning run along Canal Saint-Denis:
And through Parc de la Villette:
Back to our AirBnB on Rue Alphonse Daudet in the suburb of Aubervilliers:
Lunch at Le Relais de l’Entrecôte:
Back to Champ de Mars to see the Eiffel Tower:
July 17, 2025
A morning run along the Seine and through the Tunnel des Tuileries:
. . . continuing along the Champs-Élysées:
As this was the middle of July, got to see the Tour de France Pop-Up Store in Place Charles de Gaulle:
And of course the Arc de Triomphe:
Stohrer for pastries:
Printemps Haussmann for the view:
Galeries Lafayette for another great view along Boulevard Haussmann:
Robert et Louise for exceptional wood-fired meats:
Au Pied de Cochon for a Soupe à l’Oignon nitecap:
July 18, 2025
The Musée du Louvre:
And we saw the Tiara of Empress Eugénie in the Apollo Gallery before it was yoinked:
More great classic French bistro cuisine at Bistrot Richelieu, including frog legs, croque monsieurs and steak tartare:
A brief respite in Jardin des Tuileries . . .
. . . before heading to Gare du Nord to take a train to Amsterdam:
July 19, 2025
The Van Gogh Museum:
Freshly made stroopwafel at Hans Egstorf:
We missed the window for tickets for the Anne Frank House/Anne Frank Huis but we saw it from the outside:
Exceptional herring, smoked mackerel and fried cod at Frens Haringhandel:
Nearby, the Bloemenmarkt Flower Market:
July 20, 2025
We stayed in nearby Zaandam and I got the opportunity to explore it during an early morning run:
During which, I saw my first windmill, Het Pink:
Later, back in Amsterdam, the Rijksmuseum:
French fries at Vleminckx de Sausmeester:
Back in Zaandam, the old-school automat vibe of Febo was a hoot:
July 21, 2025
A day trip out to Haarlem where we rented bikes at Rent a Bike Haarlem . . .
. . . and biked out to Bloemendaal aan Zee:
Haarlem was very pleasant, and exuded Dutch charm without all the touristy trappings of Amsterdam:
July 22, 2025
A long journey between Amsterdam and Copenhagen via Hanover, Germany:
July 23, 2025
Exploring Copenhagen; first stop, Copenhagen Central Station/Københavns Hovedbanegård:
Compare with Strøget, November 16, 2007:
(contrast with Christiania nearly 18 years earlier)
“Danish” pastries at Lagkagehuset in Christianshavn:
July 24, 2025
Morning run down Grisestien Trail north of Copenhagen, near Vedbæk, where we stayed:
The peat bog of Bøllemosen:
The beach at Vedbæk, i.e., Vedbæk Strand:
A day at Tivoli Gardens:
July 25, 2025
Vikingeskibsmuseet/Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde:
Then across the harbor from Copenhagen, a visit to Malmö:
The square called Stortorget is rather charming:
Bullen for a proper lunch of Swedish meatballs:
Followed by a visit to the Disgusting Food Museum:
July 26, 2025
A FC København match at Parken Stadium:
“FCK” is obviously a wonderful team to root for . . .
Afterward, we scored this thing of beauty in Trianglen:
July 27, 2025
Storebæltsbroen/Great Belt Bridge:
All farts are funny:
July 28, 2025
Then a long journey via train to Berlin . . .
July 29, 2025
Morning at Potsdamer Platz:
Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe:
The Spree river runs through the center of Berlin:
Die Berliner Republik for lunch:
Konditorei Buchwald for sweets:
July 30, 2025
A morning run, first by Niederkirchnerstraße where a long stretch of the Berlin Wall exists:
Nearby Checkpoint Charlie:
Back to Brandenburg Gate, before the crowds showed up:
Through Tiergarten:
Down Tilla-Durieux-Park:
Through Mendelssohn-Bartholdy-Park:
And ending up at Anhalter Bahnhof:
I can’t believe the folks running the Trabi Safari Tour let you drive those things through the streets of Berlin, but they do. Highly recommended:
The fascinating DDR Museum, detailing what daily life was like in communist East Germany:
The Berlin Wall is visible around the city, but the longest stretch comprises the East Side Gallery:
Down the road is the whimsical Holzmarkt 25:
July 31, 2025
Wiener schnitzel at Felix Austria:
Which is just across from Spielplatz auf dem Marheinekeplatz:
The Reichstag Building and its rooftop terrace and dome are a lovely free attraction:
The Berliner Unterwelten tour from Gesundbrunnen Station is very interesting (though no pictures allowed):
The currywurst at Curry Baude, adjoining Gesundbrunnen Station, is excellent:
August 1, 2025
A morning run along Landwehr Canal:
Also excellent in relating the East German experience, the Stasimuseum:
A final meal at Izmir Köftecisi:
And onto the flight back home . . .
