I was not planning on getting gyudon — a Japanese dish in which features a tasty mix of tender beef and onions served on top of rice — at the Tsukiji outer market, which is largely known for its abundance of fresh seafood. But then I saw an impressively long line and instantly knew that my plans had just changed.
Though pork patties are pretty much unheard of at McDonald’s back home, they actually pop up on several international menus (most notably in Germany, where the McRib is a permanent item on the menu).
Though I don’t think you need much more than a day or two in Zadar (I was actually planning on spending a few days here, and then cut that down to one when I realized how small the city centre was), it’s definitely worth checking out. Maybe as a day trip from nearby Split?
This is a cool subway entrance in Frankfurt, Germany.
The most popular theme park in Europe is, obviously, Disneyland Paris. Everyone knows Disneyland, everyone wants to go to Disneyland… it’s the best.
But number two? That’s Europa Park, a Disney-style theme park in Germany that was built by a ride manufacturer in the ’70s as a showcase for their own rides, and eventually evolved into something that can almost compete with Disney.
If you have even a passing interest in movies and moviemaking, the Cinema and Miniature Museum in Lyon is pretty much a must-visit.
Croissant from Le Fournil de L’artisan
Hey, what do you know? Another extremely tasty croissant in France. It’s almost like the bakeries here know what they’re doing. The only odd thing about this place is that I’ve been in Europe for a couple of weeks, and this was the first time that I had to pay cash for anything. I’ve been able to tap my credit card for every single purchase thus far, no matter how small, which has been enormously convenient (especially since I have a travel credit card that doesn’t charge any currency conversion fees).
I went to Disneyland Paris during my last visit to the city in 2017, and it was great (of course) as all Disney parks are. It’s been several years, so I figured another visit was in order.
Croissant from Boulangerie Pâtisserie Ounissi
On this particular morning, I randomly decided that I should probably eat a croissant and found a well-regarded place that was within a few blocks of where I was; Paris being the magical place that it is, this just happened to be one of the best croissants I’ve ever had. It’s intensely buttery; borderline too buttery, but it never crosses that line (the paper bag it came in was spotted with grease within seconds, and was practically translucent by the time I finished). The exterior was delicately crispy in all the best ways, and the interior was light and fluffy, with just enough substance to hold together (it might actually be a touch too light and fluffy, but that’s a minor complaint). And that buttery flavour. Wowza.
I’ve already mentioned on this blog how impressive the Louvre is, but I feel like I should reiterate it, because… wow.