About Matt Long
Who am I? I am a typical Gen-Xer and recovering cubicle-dweller who has a passion for all things travel. My site brings a unique perspective that is hard to find online. I am not a backpacker, nor am I...
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Visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Sites
11 April 2013 11:55 PM | 14 Comments -
20 Things Every Smart Traveler Should Know
11 March 2013 11:55 PM | 33 Comments -
Five Foods You Must Eat in Europe
12 November 2012 8:10 PM | 23 Comments -
Five Reasons to Stop Dreaming and Travel Now
16 April 2012 11:55 PM | 44 Comments -
So What’s Reykjavik Really Like?
28 February 2012 11:55 PM | 30 Comments
As Seen In:
Europe Archive
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Oh Marseille, What Happened?
Posted on March 27, 2013 | 27 CommentsIt’s partly my fault, I realize that. I was on a crazy schedule around France (which I agreed to) and frankly some cities suffered from lack of time. Marseille was one of those cities. But I refuse to accept all of the culpability, I’d like... -
Ghent in Five Tastes
Posted on January 15, 2013 | 5 CommentsI knew that Belgium was a great foodie destination, but I was surprised to learn that Ghent has its own cuisine unique to the city. I experienced a lot of great food while visiting on a trip organized by Ghent Tourism but these tastes were... -
Music, Whisky and My First Travel Crush
Posted on January 14, 2013 | 5 CommentsGas cost $1.15 a gallon and you could buy a loaf of bread for less than two bucks. Peace was reached in Northern Ireland, the US had a budget surplus, Google was founded, Buffy was slaying vampires and Bill Clinton swore he didn’t have sexual... -
Lost and Found in Venice
Posted on January 13, 2013 | 16 CommentsI didn’t want to go to Venice, had no desire really. My partner made the great point though that we were only a couple of hours away and that I might not get another chance for a long time. So it was with reluctance that... -
First Timer’s Guide to Iceland
Posted on January 10, 2013 | 13 CommentsIt was dark as we arrived in Reykjavik, it would be dark for most of our stay, but I didn’t care. I was excited and charged to finally be in the capital of cool, Iceland. In recent years Iceland’s popularity has exploded, thanks to great... -
Spending a Day at the Gelato University and Museum in Bologna
Posted on January 9, 2013 | 9 CommentsIt didn’t look like the Wonka Factory. That’s what I imagined a Gelato University would look like. Giant heaps of ice cream and other fantastical delights to entertain and bring joy strewn about like a moving feast. Executives jumping into giant vats of ice cream,... -
The Great Brussels Christmas Tree Controversy
Posted on January 7, 2013 | 5 CommentsIt was huge and purple. The massive construction soared more than 80 feet into the air and throbbed in time with the lights and music. I stood there, staring at it trying to understand what the problem was. No, it wasn’t traditional but when the... -
The Hills Are Alive: A Journey Along the Bernina Express
Posted on December 31, 2012 | 6 CommentsJust a couple of hours north of Milan lies the Italian mountain town of Tirano. No, not Torino the site of the 2006 Olympic Games, which is slightly confusing when planning a trip. The lesser known Tirano may not have held the world stage like... -
Five Reasons Christmas is a Great Time to Visit Europe
Posted on December 12, 2012 | 10 Comments1. Sights – A highlight of any European vacation are the amazing sites, from the Vatican to the Eiffel Tower and everything in between. During the holidays all of these famous landmarks are even more fun to visit. If you’re religious, then the many churches... -
Why Do People Love Train Travel So Much?
Posted on November 13, 2012 | 22 CommentsFor some people the process of getting from one place to the other is a pain, a chore, an experience to dread with fear and trepidation. For others, like me, the act of travel itself, be it flying or riding in a car is just... -
Five Foods You Must Eat in Europe
Posted on November 12, 2012 | 23 CommentsOne of the best aspects of traveling in Europe is the food. From the best pastries in the world to savory dishes created with care and perfection. There are a lot of great foods from which to choose, but these are my favorite go-to foods... -
Dear Europe: When Did You Capture My Heart?
Posted on September 17, 2012 | 13 CommentsWhen I was ten my parents packed up the family roadster and we made the long, very long drive from Missouri to Orlando, Florida. The object of our desire was Disney World and was the culmination of years of begging and whining on my part.... -
Five Tips for Traveling in Europe
Posted on June 3, 2012 | 17 CommentsI’ve been traveling to Europe for twenty years, but with each trip I learn something new not only about the continent of course, but how best to travel there as well. Here are some tips for anyone traveling to Europe, be it for the first... -
Exploring the Quirky Brussels Comic Strip Museum
Posted on February 15, 2012 | 2 CommentsBelgium has an obsession. No, it’s not with waffles, french fries or beer; ok, it is, but that’s not what I want to talk about. Their appreciation of and respect for the 9th Art known as the cartoon is the real obsession and although it’s... -
Is Eurail Worth It? A Review by a Thirty-Something Non-Backpacker
Posted on January 2, 2012 | 19 CommentsFew things capture the travel imagination more than the idea of hopping across Europe by train. Short journeys through breathtaking landscapes, having breakfast in London and dinner in Paris, you get the idea. Especially from the American point of view, such travel borders on the... -
Join Me as I Explore the Christmas Markets of Europe
Posted on December 15, 2011 | 5 CommentsThere are many travel experiences I have hoped to enjoy for a long time. Near the top of the list for several years has been visiting Europe around the Christmas holidays. This year thanks to some good luck, we are finally able to make it... -
Five Best European Travel iPhone Apps
Posted on February 24, 2011 | 7 CommentsEurope is one of the top travel destinations in the world, and with good reason. History, culture, food – Europe has a lot going for it. Given the number of countries, customs and languages, it can sometimes be tricky to navigate, especially for the first... -
How Nutella Can Save the World
Posted on July 28, 2010 | 27 CommentsMy first memory of Nutella was when I was an exchange student in Paris in the early ‘90s. We had gone up to Fontainebleau for a day of biking and about midway through my host mom unpacked a jar of Nutella and a fresh baguette....
