March 5, 2013

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Walk along the white cliffs of Dover

Now that England has been my residence for over one full year, I’ve adapted the British attitude about the weather; the definition of a beautiful day is when it doesn’t rain and you’re lucky enough to catch one or two “sunny spells” (e.g. when the sun stays out for 20 minutes or so before it […]

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March 3, 2013

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Around Amsterdam: Beer Day Trips

Jopen beer

With only 48 hours in Holland, day two was devoted to guess what……BEER!! We began the day at the Heineken Experience (recommended for museum-esque quality of Heineken’s history and brand marketing/packaging) and then made our way back through Amsterdam to the Central train station. Following in the footsteps of some great beer aficionados who already […]

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March 3, 2013

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Amsterdam Beer Scene

Tanya inside Cafe Gollem

Amsterdam is a city of beautiful canals, friendly faces, and a very liberal approach to societal norms. As we wandered from street to street and rode the city trams, there was an exciting vibe in the city – despite near freezing temperatures and gray February skies. While the coffee shops are well known for their […]

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February 26, 2013

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Amsterdam Observations

Amsterdam

Known for its red light district and open drug laws that allow marijuana to be smoked legally, I wasn’t sure what to expect when we booked a cheap flight to Amsterdam for the weekend. I was not looking forward to walking past women displaying their barely clothed bodies like mannequins in shop windows, and though […]

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February 22, 2013

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Exploring Hackney: Crate Brewery

Crate

Crate Brewery Where:  In Hackney, East London. See map. Why you should visit:  Crate entered the craft beer scene in July last year, perfect timing for the start of the 2012 London Olympics. Next to a picturesque canal at the site of an old factory, you can see the Olympic park in the distance.  A […]

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February 19, 2013

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This pub or that pub?

Mayflower pub

You want to take in the London culture, therefore an immersion into the London pub scene is necessary. You’ve endured a long flight, made it to the hotel, and finally you set out to find that perfect British pub. But now it’s decision-making time: this pub or that pub? With approximately 6,000+ pubs in London, […]

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February 18, 2013

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London Walks: Thames riverfront, south side

Clink Prison Museum

One of my favorite weekend activities, whether I’m in London or traveling, is to walk…everywhere! I’ve learned so much about life in a city by observing the scene around me, noticing how one street changes from another, and discovering everyday life in that neighborhood. Today I’m starting a new series of informational type posts for […]

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February 16, 2013

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Notable Bury St. Edmunds Beer Spots

Greene King sign

Bury St. Edmunds is primarily known in England for two things: an ancient abbey dating back to 900 AD, and beer!  ‘Bury’ as the locals call it, is home to the Greene King Brewery, one of the largest and oldest UK breweries still in operation. For those of you that have ever visited the Yuengling brewery in […]

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