Author: W.T. Brooks
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Colmar at Christmas
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Colmar, France transforms into a living snow globe at Christmas, with six themed markets, fairy-tale streets, and storybook charm. Crowded, yes—but andering its decorated lanes feels like stepping into Beauty and the Beast dressed for the holidays.”
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Comté: A Thousand Years of Flavor
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Comté cheese has been made in the Jura Mountains of France for over 1,000 years. Aged in massive wheels, it ranges from buttery and mild to crystalline and complex — and it was the cheese that hooked me on French cheese forever.
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Traveling with Cheese: How to Enjoy It Now, Later, and Back Home
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When you buy cheese while traveling, you face a choice: eat it now, enjoy it during the trip, or bring it home. From hotel mini-fridges to vacuum sealing and customs tips, here’s how I travel with cheese — and why I once checked 12 pounds of it in my luggage.
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The Often Overlooked and Free Travel Hack: Get Up Early
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Some of my best travel memories come from early mornings — crowd-free streets, golden light, and locals heading to school or work. Here’s why getting up early might be the simplest travel hack you’ll ever use.
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Inspired by Bruges
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Inspired by the movie In Bruges, I chose my first trip abroad because it included an overnight in Bruges. The canals, Market Square, Michelangelo’s Madonna, and even school kids on bikes made it unforgettable — retail chains and all.
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Packing Light: How I Traveled for Two Weeks with Only a Carry-On
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Missed connections and lost luggage convinced me to ditch checked bags. With planning, layering, and a few packing hacks, I managed two weeks in Scotland (plus drones and a video camera) with just a carry-on. Here’s how.
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Where to Start if You’re a Cheese Newbie: Ask the Expert
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In Paris, a cheesemonger asked me when I’d be eating my cheese before picking the perfect one from the stack. That moment taught me the best way to start if you’re a cheese newbie: ask the expert. From Paris to Edinburgh to Stornoway, here’s how letting the cheesemonger choose opens…
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A Visit to a Dutch Cheese Farm
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As part of my first trip abroad, our group tour left us in Amsterdam for the morning and then whisked us out into the countryside. The destination? A family-run cheese farm. The setup was modest but well-loved, with a demo area where a young man — cheerful, thick accent and…
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Why My First Trip Abroad Was on a Group Tour
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On my 60th birthday, I found myself in Amsterdam — not at Disney, but waiting for a bus to a cheese farm. My first trip abroad was on a group tour, and here’s what I learned about the pros and cons of traveling this way as a solo traveler.
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Why I’m starting this blog
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This blog aims to share unique travel experiences in lesser-known European locales, primarily focusing on authentic stories behind local markets and cheeses. It will include travel narratives, insights into cheese cultures, and practical tips—serving as a blend of a personal journal and a guide for fellow adventurers.