NATALIJA UGRINA

Walking through the heart of Calico Ghost Town. I’ve driven between Los Angeles and Las Vegas  more times than I can count. It’s one of those drives you eventually do on autopilot—desert stretching endlessly on both sides, the same gas stations, the same long straight roads. And every single time, I passed the same brown sign pointing toward Calico Ghost Town . “Next time,” I always told myself. But next time somehow never came. Until it finally did. Pulling off the highway a

The first thing that strikes you as you approach Mont Saint-Michel  is how impossibly unreal  it looks. Rising from the misty bay like something out of a medieval fantasy, the abbey seems to defy gravity and logic. I walked the long bridge leading to the island—yes, there's a shuttle, but trust me, walking is absolutely worth it if you want those breathtaking shots. With every step closer to Mont Saint-Michel , the Gothic spires grew larger, and I couldn't shake the feeling t

Looking for weird museums in Zagreb ? You're in for a treat! Even though Zagreb is worldwide known for its Advent Christmas market, many people don't know this Croatian capital is home to some of the world's most unusual and quirky museums. From the world's first Museum of Broken Relationships to the original Hangover Museum , the weird museums in Zagreb have pioneered concepts that have been copied across the globe. I've visited my share of weird museums around the world—fr

I was on my way to Pamplona when a name I’d once read whispered through my thoughts — Zugarramurdi . Hidden in the green folds of Navarre, right by the French border, this village had been calling my curiosity for years. People called it Spain’s Salem , a place where myth, fear, and faith once collided under moonlit skies. The road curved through pine forests and mist, and by the time I arrived, the air already felt heavier — as if the hills themselves were keeping secrets. I

Goethe House Frankfurt stands as one of Germany's most haunting literary landmarks—the birthplace where Johann Wolfgang von Goethe conceived his masterpiece about a man who sells his soul to the devil. There's something undeniably eerie about standing in the very room where one of literature's most famous devil's pacts was written. As I climbed the elegant staircase of Goethe House Frankfurt, my fingers trailing along the polished wooden banister, I couldn't help but wonder:

When I first walked through the gates of Clos Lucé in Amboise, I wasn't prepared for how intimate it would feel. Leonardo da Vinci Amboise - this is where it all happened. This wasn't some grand museum with velvet ropes and crowds - this was a home. Leonardo da Vinci's home. The place where one of history's greatest minds spent his final three years in Leonardo da Vinci Amboise, far from his beloved Italy, creating, dreaming, and ultimately, dying. But as I would soon discove

It was one of those moody Basque afternoons when the sky can’t decide if it wants to drizzle or downpour. I had planned a quick stop in...

The Place Everyone Googles — but Few Actually Visit You’ve probably seen the word “Schengen” stamped on your visa or mentioned when...

The moment I crossed the border into Belgium, I knew this road trip would be something special. The GPS was guiding me toward Bruges, but...

I wasn't looking for books when I stumbled upon Redu . In fact, I was simply following a winding road through the Belgian Ardennes,...

I first learned about Dinant in the most unexpected way— sitting at the bar of my hotel in Luxembourg . I struck up a conversation with a...

Me standing in front of Leuven’s mysterious plaque honoring John E. Lewis, ‘inventor of time travel’ from the year 2152 The Day I...

There’s something magical about tiny places — the kind of towns you can explore in under an hour, where the streets are made of...

I’ve visited many churches in Europe—from the grand cathedrals of Rome to remote stone chapels hidden in the hills—but nothing quite...

I’ve seen my fair share of charming towns and quirky buildings—but this little crooked house in Bernkastel-Kues completely stopped me in...

When I first arrived in Tortola, I stepped off the ferry and landed right in the middle of Road Town’s warm breeze and lively chatter....

“There’s something unsettling about sunlight pouring over marble angels while shadows dance between crypts. I wasn’t sure whether to...

So here’s the thing—I had no idea how different the U.S. Virgin Islands could be until I actually visited them. If you’re anything like...

Jungle Clues and Ancient Faces: My Unexpected Detour from Beach Bliss Most travelers come to St. John for the powdery white sand and...

"If you like piña coladas, and getting caught in the rain..." You’re already humming it, aren’t you? I couldn’t help but play Escape (The...