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New Discoveries in the Old Country
Budapest, Hungary
If you’ve been to Europe a couple of times, you may think you’ve seen it all. But on a continent that’s roughly the size of the United States, chances are that you’ve only scratched the surface.
Destinations that are household names to many European travelers are barely a blip on the radar for most Americans. Europeans bask on the beach in Cyprus, linger in sidewalk cafes in Tallinn and Dubrovnik, visit spas in Budapest and go horseback riding in the Czech Republic. They eat pastizzi – flaky pastries stuffed with ricotta cheese – in Malta’s sunny capital of Valletta and sample reindeer stew with Laplanders in Finland. This year they’ll be flocking to Istanbul, which will be marking its selection as the 2010 European Capital of Culture with a ballet competition, a youth festival, a new opera house and much more.
Even in wildly popular countries, off-the-beaten-path adventures abound for those who know where to look. So, even if you think you’ve “done” Europe, ask the travel consultants at The Travel Center / American Express for recommendations on intriguing things to see and do this year. They’ll make you see the continent in a whole new light.
Undiscovered Countries
Large swaths of Europe were once hidden behind the Iron Curtain. Now a whole new world awaits curious American travelers:
*The Baltic region: The tiny countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are rich in history. Don’t miss the charmingly preserved central cities of Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius, each a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
*Croatia: Gorgeous Dubrovnik, the new building of the Zagreb Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Adriatic diving sites off the coast of Istria are just three highlights of this Balkan country.
*Hungary: Spend a few days in Budapest, with its lovely baroque and Art Nouveau buildings and famed thermal baths. Then hop a train to Lake Balaton, the largest lake in Central Europe, where you can enjoy just about any water sport, from sailing to kite surfing.
*Romania: Top draws include resorts along the Black Sea and sites associated with Dracula in castle-dotted Transylvania.
Intrigued? Speak with a travel consultant at:
The Travel Center / American Express
50 E. Ridgewood Ave.
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
(201) 447-3311
Or find unique itineraries on our NEW website:
https://www.thetravelcenterae.com/
“Ridgewood’s only full-service travel agency”
Euros and British Pounds available on-site immediately; call ahead for additional European currencies.
