When travelers make the decision to travel to Europe, they find that unlike the United States, Europe is not just one big country with a bunch of smalls regions. Each country has it’s own cultural background that is absolutely different from this neighbors with it’s own history, and most times, a different language as well.
As visiting Europe can become confusing in a single-short travel as it offers a lot and receiving all of it would become overwhelming in a single trip so we would be discussing about some parts of the European continent in this article. Let us explore the Southern part of the European continent.
As the name itself signifies, Southern Europe means all the countries falling in the northern region of Europe. The main countries which are famous as tourist spots in this region are France, Monaco, Portugal, Italy, Vatican City, Greece and Croatia. The overall Southern Part consists of dry hills and small planes. The sunny beaches, sun bath, bright sky will make your travel an immense pleasure.
While their tourism campaigns seem focused on these marvelous beaches, The Southern regions has so much more to offer then Sunshine. The rich past, ancient civilizations that were the cradle of ideas that spread with colonization in ancient times is there to be explored. Eternal architecture that has been copied all over the world is waiting the visitor. Greece offers some of the most fantastic structures in it’s capital, but do not over look it’s islands and the center of the country as Meteora Monasteries should not be ignored. Spain’s history of being occupied by various cultures over the centuries has brought numerous creative influences. The continuous rebirth of artistic traditions as culture after culture left their mark on the country has given Spain a unique feel that not one of the contributing societies could have done on their own. In the Southern part of Spain, where Moorish influence was very strong, and some of the most beautiful buildings in this country wait to be experienced.
The people who call these countries home are also famous for the Mediterranean blood that runs through their veins. Their spontaneous outlook on life makes it easier for the tourist to strike up casual friendships. Italians are well known for the most outgoing people in Europe. You will find a much different character here then in the rest of Europe. While you might find it easy to make a fast friend, the locals will still keep part of themselves secret to outsiders. Deep lasting friendships may be more difficult.
Sea food has a prime role in the balanced diet in these parts of Europe while Spain has specialized in Wine brewing.
When life is lived to it’s fullest, it sometimes leaves a mess. The cities of this reagion are not known to be the cleanest ones in Europe. The attitudes towards public spaces and that of nature tend to be more relaxed then other parts of the continent. This is something that should be expected when you visit shared public venues. Security is also an issue in this region, as compared to other developed parts of Europe. Direct physical violence is not usually the concern as much as the types of crimes that poverty brings. Keep an eye on your bags, hide your money, and avoid going out at night alone in solitary places.
The airline service in the Mediterranean is very accessible, especially for Spain and Italy, serviced strongly by Ryanair. It may run you a little more for tickets when traveling to Greece. One way to save money is to take a flight to Italy, and then take a ferry from Italy to Greece. You can also take a connecting flight from Spain to London on Ryanair. Easyjet services London to Greece. You may also consider using the train, but you may not have access to certain places.
Skiing lovers would love Italy and Spain as these two countries are famous for their ski villages and skating rinks. Mediterranean Sea will provide you all the measures to travel by a cruise ship. The cost is also affordable and one can manage to visit a lot of countries in a meager amount.
Whatever your plans are, wherever adventure takes you in our part of the world, just remember to take it easy- the way we Southern Europeans do. Things don’t happen quickly. Good things need to be allowed to happen in their own time. A little bit of chaos can be a good thing. Just accept and enjoy what these ancient cultures have to offer. Don’t forget the sun block!