Castles & Carpathians
Editor’s note: This post will continue to evolve as I do.
Welcome, travelers, new and returning alike. If you’ve been following the Around the World journey, you know we’ve been tracing the globe six countries at a time by uncovering stories (article links), names, symbols (flags) that make up our shared world. It’s a simple way to see just how vast, diverse, and beautifully connected the planet really is.
Today’s chapter, “Castles and Carpathian’s,” opens the doors to Europe. A continent where history lingers in the air and every cobblestone has a story to tell. The Carpathians, a mountain range stretching across Central and Eastern Europe have witnessed empires rise, cultures mix, and legends take root.
From Albania’s rugged coasts to Andorra’s Pyrenean peaks, Austria’s imperial elegance to Belarus quiet resilience, and from Belgium’s medieval charm to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s layered heritage, this is a journey through lands defined by endurance, artistry, and the echoes of old kingdoms.
So, pack your bags and get ready for take off. Today we’re trading temples for towers, and tea for tales as the Around the World continues through the heart of Europe, where myth and memory meet in every stone and skyline.
ALBANIA
Official name: Republic of Albania
Pronunciation: al-bay-nee-uh
Capital: Tiranë
Official language: Albanian
Location: Southeast Europe on the peninsula in the Northern Hemisphere
Surrounding countries: Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Greece
Climate: Subtropical, Mediterranean
Most known for: Accursed Mountain range also known as Albanian Alps
Fun fact: People shake their heads for “yes” and nod for “no”
Recent news article: Will update at a later time
My knowledge: I’m not familiar with Albania
ANDORRA
Official name: Principality of Andorra
Pronunciation: an-DOHR-ruh
Capital: Andorra La Vella
Official language: Catalan
Location: In Southwestern Europe in the Northern Hemisphere
Surrounding countries: Spain and France
Climate: High-altitude, temperate
Most known for: Its mountainous location in the Pyrenees between France and Spain
Fun fact: There is no airport in Andorra, so it can only be reached by land from Spain or France
Recent news article: Will update at a later time
My knowledge: Aside from its location on a map, I’m unfamiliar with Andorra
AUSTRIA
Official name: The Republic of Austria
Pronunciation: aa-stree-uh
Capital: Vienna
Official language: German
Location: Central Europe in the Northern Hemisphere
Surrounding countries: Switzerland, Germany, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, and Italy
Climate: Varied
Most known for: Considered the “birthplace” of many composers, including Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, and Strauss
Fun fact: Home to the world’s oldest restaurant, St. Peter Stiftskeller, founded in 803, and the world’s oldest zoo, the Schönbrunn Zoo, established in 1772
Recent news article: Will update at a later time
My knowledge: I’m a little familiar with Austria as I have met someone who was born and raised and they’ve shared stories
BELARUS
Official name: The Republic of Belarus
Pronunciation: bel-lr-oos
Capital: Minsk
Official language: Belarusian and Russian
Location: In Eastern Europe in the Northern Hemisphere
Surrounding countries: Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia, and Ukraine
Climate: Temperate continental
Most known for: Being “Lungs of Europe” due to its large percentage of territory covered by forests, rivers, and lakes
Fun fact: Potatoes are a staple in Belarusian cuisine as there are over 300 recipes that include potatoes
Recent news article: Will update at a later time
My knowledge: Slightly familiar with Belarus
BELGIUM
Official name: Kingdom of Belgium
Pronunciation: bel-jm
Capital: Brussels
Official language: French, Dutch, and German
Location: In Western Europe in the Northern Hemisphere
Surrounding countries: France, Netherlands, Germany, and Luxembourg
Climate: Temperate maritime
Most known for: Belgian chocolate
Fun fact: French fries and the saxophone was invented in Belgium
Recent news article: Will update at a later time
My knowledge: I don’t know too much about Belgium
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Official name: Bosna i Hercegovina (BiH)
Pronunciation: baaz-nee-uh and hurt-suh-gow-vee-nuh
Capital: Sarajevo
Official language: Croatian, Bosnian, and Serbian
Location: Southeastern Europe on the peninsula in the Northern Hemisphere
Surrounding countries: Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro
Climate: Diverse
Most known for: Cultural and historical landmarks, such as Stari Most (Old Bridge), Sarajevo, and Bascarsija
Fun fact: Home to Europe’s last remaining jungle, Perućica
Recent news article: Will update at a later time
My knowledge: Not very familiar with Bosnia and Herzegovina
Every castle, no matter how grand, eventually becomes a ruin. And every ruin, in its silence, tells us something about what lasts. Traveling through Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina reminded me that exploration isn’t always about seeing what’s new, it’s about noticing what remains. The work steps, the faded frescoes, the stories people still whisper. Those are the markers of a place that has lived.
Here’s a lesson I didn’t expect to find: Travel isn’t about chasing time, it’s about letting it catch up to you. When you stop trying to “do” a destination and start letting it do something to you, you begin to understand the quiet kind of beauty that never makes it onto postcards.
As Around the World continues deeper into Europe, I hope this chapter, “Castles & Carpathians,” reminds you that history isn’t behind us, it’s beneath our feet, waiting to be felt.
Now it’s your turn: Have you ever visited a place that felt like it remembered more than it revealed? Read Castles & Carpathians, and join me as we keep uncovering what the world still has to teach us.
As a signature of my blog, I’d like to end this post with a suggestion to “Pass on kindness.” There’s no time like the present to Inspire Those Who Inspire You. Acts of kindness, no matter how big or small, can have a direct, positive impact on someone else. Go out there today and change someone’s life for the better!
***These are my personal opinions and may not be those of my employer.***
Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina