1. The History
Of all the reasons why I love Europe, this one is number 1 for a reason. I've loved European history since I was about 7 years old. I've been a bookworm my whole life thanks to my parents constantly encouraging me to read, and the books I was always drawn to were usually historical fiction. History also happened to be the subject in school I tend to excel in the most. In my junior year of high school, I tried to select as many history-focused elective classes as I could. While US History was always the primary focus in school, I always had a major soft spot for European history. Castles and queens in particular, of course! Despite having graduated high school 11 years ago (I graduated one year early), I have continued to read European history books to learn more. Most of you know that I have always been fascinated with the Tudor era, the War of the Roses, and the Edwardian era. Since The Crown came out two years ago, I have been reading more and more about the Windsor family. While in Europe, I feel connected to all that history I have studied over the years. I get chills whenever I visit the Tower of London (I had an obsession with Anne Boleyn for years), and I love seeing the sites of former palaces where history was made. Visiting European historical sites helps paint a sharper picture in my mind whenever I read history books.
2. The Food
I wasn't sure if I should write this, but I'm going to anyway. I've gained a bunch of weight in the last year, and my doctor and I attribute it to one thing - eating my heart out in Europe. I'm not much of a meat eater, but I very much enjoy seafood. We have always had mouth-watering and eye-opening dishes in Europe. Whenever we return home after a European adventure, I try to make our dinners just as savory and flavorful. Maybe it's because I grew up on home cooked Italian and Danish food that I find myself loving European cuisines, but I am not going to complain about that! Some of our favorite meals have been in Iceland, Austria, Finland, Spain, Denmark, and France.
3. The Fashion
On our last trip to Denmark, Tor and I both agreed that European fashion is more our style. European style is a bit more sophisticated, classic, and also extremely unapologetic. Tor and I have a hard time dressing laid back. We enjoy dressing up. Even our casual outfits tend to have a little bit of something that isn't quite what we see everyday at home in Los Angeles. We also prefer reading European fashion magazines, and I look forward to London, Milan, and Paris fashion weeks more than anything else.
4. The People
This might be one of the easy reasons why I love Europe, since a majority of our friends are European (that's because most hail from London or Ireland). Naturally, we find ourselves having a deep connection to those who call Europe home. On all of our European adventures, we have befriended as many people as we can. We love getting to hear stories about their way of life in whichever country we are visiting, plus if we are in a country where English is not the native language, they are very enthusiastic in helping us learn a new language (Tor and I left Iceland knowing much more Icelandic than we ever expected to!). We cannot wait to meet many more people on our upcoming journeys over the next two months.
These are just 4 reasons why I love Europe, but realistically there are more like 10 reasons. These are just the main 4. I am so happy to be back in Europe less than 2 months since our Finland trip, and we will be back again in one month returning to Italy and the UK.
What are some of the reasons why you love Europe?
What I Am Wearing In This Post:
Self Portrait coat (similar here and here), Black turtleneck, Polka dot dress (under $70!), M. Gemi shoes c/o (use code ALYSSA50 for $50 off), Mansur Gavriel bag
As this post goes live, I am currently in my happy place – I am inside a dreamy castle in the Irish countryside. It’s no secret that both Tor and I love Europe. We have been to the continent countless times in our 7 and a half years together. In this year alone, we will visit Europe three times in six months. So what is it that keeps drawing us back to Europe? Read on below for the 4 reasons why I love Europe.
1. The History
Of all the reasons why I love Europe, this one is number 1 for a reason. I’ve loved European history since I was about 7 years old. I’ve been a bookworm my whole life thanks to my parents constantly encouraging me to read, and the books I was always drawn to were usually historical fiction. History also happened to be the subject in school I tend to excel in the most. In my junior year of high school, I tried to select as many history-focused elective classes as I could. While US History was always the primary focus in school, I always had a major soft spot for European history. Castles and queens in particular, of course! Despite having graduated high school 11 years ago (I graduated one year early), I have continued to read European history books to learn more. Most of you know that I have always been fascinated with the Tudor era, the War of the Roses, and the Edwardian era. Since The Crown came out two years ago, I have been reading more and more about the Windsor family. While in Europe, I feel connected to all that history I have studied over the years. I get chills whenever I visit the Tower of London (I had an obsession with Anne Boleyn for years), and I love seeing the sites of former palaces where history was made. Visiting European historical sites helps paint a sharper picture in my mind whenever I read history books.
2. The Food
I wasn’t sure if I should write this, but I’m going to anyway. I’ve gained a bunch of weight in the last year, and my doctor and I attribute it to one thing – eating my heart out in Europe. I’m not much of a meat eater, but I very much enjoy seafood. We have always had mouth-watering and eye-opening dishes in Europe. Whenever we return home after a European adventure, I try to make our dinners just as savory and flavorful. Maybe it’s because I grew up on home cooked Italian and Danish food that I find myself loving European cuisines, but I am not going to complain about that! Some of our favorite meals have been in Iceland, Austria, Finland, Spain, Denmark, and France.
3. The Fashion
On our last trip to Denmark, Tor and I both agreed that European fashion is more our style. European style is a bit more sophisticated, classic, and also extremely unapologetic. Tor and I have a hard time dressing laid back. We enjoy dressing up. Even our casual outfits tend to have a little bit of something that isn’t quite what we see everyday at home in Los Angeles. We also prefer reading European fashion magazines, and I look forward to London, Milan, and Paris fashion weeks more than anything else.
4. The People
This might be one of the easy reasons why I love Europe, since a majority of our friends are European (that’s because most hail from London or Ireland). Naturally, we find ourselves having a deep connection to those who call Europe home. On all of our European adventures, we have befriended as many people as we can. We love getting to hear stories about their way of life in whichever country we are visiting, plus if we are in a country where English is not the native language, they are very enthusiastic in helping us learn a new language (Tor and I left Iceland knowing much more Icelandic than we ever expected to!). We cannot wait to meet many more people on our upcoming journeys over the next two months.
These are just 4 reasons why I love Europe, but realistically there are more like 10 reasons. These are just the main 4. I am so happy to be back in Europe less than 2 months since our Finland trip, and we will be back again in one month returning to Italy and the UK.
What are some of the reasons why you love Europe?
Hey Alyssa! I love this post aha!
I’m so happy that you like Europe that much, I can tell you since I’m leaving here that I love her a lot too!
I dreamt that you would say you love Europe because of… your best fans ?
Jocking! It’s true that for history we have a lot to say and also, I know you love Castles, manors… why wouldn’t you come to the Loire Valley in France? I could make you a tour? 😆 or just give you the best spots ☺️
Look forward to read about your trip in Ireland, x
Ps: sun is here in Helsinki, but it’s still cold as hell!
Chloé
Loved reading this post Alyssa! When you come to the UK you should visit Sudeley castle, another castle with a deep Tudor history! Also have you heard of Bicester Village, for shopping? people come from all over the world to visit it!
Hi Alyssa, I’ve been a fan of your blog for years! I live in the UK and am also obsessed with European, particularly British, history. As a fellow Anne Boleyn enthusiast, I just wondered if you’d ever been to Hever Castle in Kent? It’s Anne’s childhood home and is so wonderful for her history! I know it inside out and would love to show you around one day, or at least to give you the recommendation! Enjoy your time in Ireland with Torrance x
I love Europe. We’ve spent 6 years living there (4 in Germany, and we just spent 2015-17 living in London), and I cannot get enough (nor can I wait to find a reason to move back). My great grandparents on both sides immigrated to the us, one set from Scotland and my paternal great grandfather from County Louth, Ireland, and we’ve visited both places many times. Last year before we moved back to the US, we did a long weekend driving around Ireland and spent an afternoon in the tiny town where my great grandfather was from. I stood in front to the church were he and his many siblings were baptized and went to mass, and it was amazing just thinking of my family history in that spot.
I’m very lucky that I’ve been to 22 countries (so far) and my kids have been along for almost all of them. One of the greatest parts is meeting people, seeing the history (a 200 year old building is practically new in Europe), and getting to be a part of another culture, however briefly.
I relate to this post so much! I moved to London in October 2017 and only recently have been able to go to the Tower of London – having had an obsession, like you, with Anne Boleyn, seeing the tower gave me chills and a feeling of awe. I also enjoy seafood despite not being a fan of meat, and like you and Tor, find myself more comfortable with European fashion (perhaps due to the fact I am both American and French!). Looking forward to reading all about your European adventures (though I am awaiting Asia with excitement too 😉 !)
Hello Alyssa!
You should go to Chastworth House in Derbyshire.
George Talbot, was entrusted with the custody of Mary Quenn of Scots, she was brought to Chastworth house several times, there’s even a room known as Queen of Scots Rooms.
Even so, you should go to Scotland as well, has an interesting history, specially the highlanders traditions and superstition, and has many lochs, you two could go to Loch Ness, maybe you’ll see the monster, ha.
You really should come to Yorkshire, UK. Biggest county in the country – best shopping in Leeds with high end plus high street shopping, brilliant history in the city of York, great walks in Yorkshire, great fish and chips in Whitby where Bram Stoker wrote Dracula. Great country pubs! You would love it Alyssa!
What about Greece? Have you ever been to?
Omg these four reasons literally describe me, specifically the history one!! I’m a complete history nerd, specially European too! Apart from The Crown, two of my favorite tv shows are actually The White Queen and The White Princess because of the War of The Roses!
Hi Alyssa!!
My husband and I talk all the time about possibly moving to Europe to live, but leaving our family here would be extremely hard. I would be able to find work there with no issues and the quality of life would be phenomenal. Also, since my grandparents came over from Italy, I’ve got myself dual citizenship in Italy and US. Yay me lol.
I am hoping one day before I am 45 we can take that leap and move to Italy.
Thanks for posting!
~Alisha
That’s so cool about the dual citizenship! My grandfather immigrated from Denmark just before my mom was born so I have always thought about applying for a Danish passport.
History is #1 for me too. I get chills (and sometimes cry, like at the Tower of London and Holyrood Palace) literally walking in the footsteps of people I’ve studied. European history is so much older and more dense than American history. It’s fascinating. I, too, have always loved historical fiction and highly recommend the book My Lady Jane (about Lady Jane Grey). It’s more historical fantasy, putting a happier spin on the real story.
I get chills inside Hampton Court Palace, knowing Anne Boleyn once lived there, Jane Seymour died there, and Catherine Howard’s ghost haunts there.
I don’t enjoy historical fiction anymore… I prefer historical nonfiction. But I do love reading about Jane Grey. I’m currently reading the nonfiction book “Crown of Blood” about her.
Whay about the Czech Republic? Have you ever been to Prague? It’s a wonderful place. 😉
It’s super high on our list!
I completely agree with this post! My family is from Ireland, but I grew up in Canada and I was always in awe of the women wearing heels everywhere whereas in Canada it is so much more laid back, although I always loved wearing some heeled boots to go out myself…
Ive now moved to Scotland and am so happy! I have so many “Oh my God I actually live here” moments while walking down a street that is probably older than my home country…so much beauty and history!
Enjoy your time in Ireland! xx
I just stumbled across this great post. I have been living (happily) in Europe ever since I married my Austrian husband, about 14 years ago. If you haven’t been yet, you might enjoy Austria. I write an art blog and post cultural posts every now and again. If you love traditions, and a bit of history, or just seeing what is going on, feel free to check it out.