Bern is the capital of Switzerland and is a little bit of a special potato. It feels like a city, looks like a city, and has the infrastructure of a city, but is not the largest city in the country. The trams run for just 20 minutes before reaching the Read more…
Some cities like Neuchâtel have a castle, but the Stockalper Schloss has a city. Most well known for its quadrilateral castle, Brig is actually an urban agglomeration of Naters and Glis. The Stockalper Schloss can be visited for free, but the hourly guided tours cost a few Francs and are Read more…
My first contact with Kansas City was probably when I heard the Beatles’ song Kansas City/ Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey when I was about 12 years old. Then in my first year of university I met Sam, a friend from the same prayer group who was an exchange student in Hong Kong for Read more…
Located just a little ways from Toronto, Hamilton is a quiet lakeside city with a lively and artistic downtown area. It’s perfect for a morning stop on the way to Niagara Falls with plenty of cafes that are open even on weekend mornings. Although it shares the same name as Read more…
Even though I’ve perviously lived in Europe, Geneva never really felt like home to me. Sure, the western sectors of Berlin look a bit like Geneva, but the two cultures are so vastly different that it confirmed that my heart was still in Berlin. Geneva didn’t speak German, it wasn’t Read more…
Known as the great humanitarian president, Herbert Hoover gave all he could to US aid projects in Europe after the two world wars and encouraged his fellow Americans to do so as well. It could be said that he is the man who sings-handedly created the mid-century image of American Read more…
While Sioux Falls actually has a waterfall, the radio of Cedar Rapids remains nowhere to be seen. Located just 30 minutes north of Iowa City, Cedar Rapids is an optional stop for those looking for a genuine piece of Europe in North America. Most well known for its Czech and Read more…
Located conveniently along the I-80, Iowa City is a must-see afternoon stop for travellers along the route. Right next to West Branch, which houses the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library, Iowa City used to be the seat of government in the state of Iowa. The Old Capitol Building is now home Read more…
While writing this, I realised that Neuchâtel is French for Newcastle, like the town in the UK. At just 33,000 residents, the Neuchâtel area is small enough to be quiet and large enough to be interesting. The Castle of Neuchâtel is a must-see as it is the centrepiece of the Read more…
Right on the westernmost end of Lake Neuchâtel, Yverdon-les-Bains reminds me of the geography of Geneva, but the similarities end there. It is a much more industrial town and it actually reminds me of the Midwestern US where the buildings are sparse and people rely on cars to get around. Read more…