Looking to take a lovely road trip through Europe in the near future? While you’re certainly embarking on an exciting and worthwhile adventure, making sure you’re prepared for the excursion is just as important as it would be for any other type of holiday.

Here are eight things you’ll need to know prior to shooting off on a European road trip.

Weekend Reads #64

Hello again from a train! This really becomes some sort of a tradition. I'm traveling to have my teeth and braces checked and to see my sister who has got a dog. I get to be a human aunt to this miraculous little creature. Learning from my mistakes, I am  now dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt. Little fella loves to practice his little teeth! What are your plans for the weekend? I hope you find some time to enjoy these links I've prepared for you!

Weekend Reads #63

Hello there! I'm writing this while sipping an instant tomato soup—while nothing beats my Mom's homemade one, this is rather good, and, well, tells you a lot about my kitchen skills. But have you seen the last post here, on food in Rome?! It's the first guest post that has ever appeared here on Wandering Polka Dot and my two cents are that it's great. I wish I lived in Italy—a friend of mine did for a semester and started complaining about the food after not that much time, but I don't think I would ever have a problem with eating pasta every day. OK, my mirror could... Anyhow, make sure to check yesterday's post and tell us what your favorite Italian dish is, if you'd like. And here are some other links from around the web.

A Foodie Guide To Rome

via

Remember how two years ago I couldn't keep my mouth shut when it comes to the beauty of the Eternal City? Not only Rome is beyond beautiful, but it's also super delicious. I have been restraining myself from ordering pasta all'amatriciana for two years, because I am afraid I will end up disappointed. I am saving that delicious meal for another time I find myself at the Santa Maria di Trastevere square. Today's post is by the lovely Zorica from EuroTribe, a travel blog with focus on European destinations and all things European worldwide, as she puts it. Zorica and I are obviously in love with food in Rome, and to say her post made me hungry would be underestimation. So, here goes!

Weekend Reads #62

Hey there! I am finishing up this post on a train, traveling to a city an hour away to have my regular orthodontist check-up. These braces are hopefully coming off soon! It's a beautiful bright November day and the forecast says the weekend is going to be the same (warm, even!) so I hope to squeeze in some outdoor activities. Though this person's idea of 'activities' is a walk. ;) What are your plans for the weekend? I hope you enjoy! And here are some links to make it more enjoyable, if possible.

Weekend Reads #61

Hello there! I know I've been silent over here and, well, you know my usual response for that: life was happening. It really was, and I hope to gather some strength and time (time, time, time!!!) to finally be a devoted blogger. Or at least pretend to be one. I hope you can accept my apology that would be more weekend reads than what I usually offer. But hey, don't blame me if you end up glued to your screen for the weekend! Yes, they're that good. ;) What are your plans for the weekend? I hope you have a good one! 

Weekend Reads #60

Hello there, I hope you're well!  I came back from Odessa this week, and the journalism workshop I attended was so good! More on Odessa to come. I was really charmed by the city. Once again it was proven: the less expectations you have, the more likely you are to like something. In the meantime, before I prepare a thorough post on Odessa (and Azerbaijan, I know, I know!), you can check out my Instagram for a glimpse of the city. The photo above is of the Odessa Opera and Ballet Theatre. With a dash of blue Lada :) Enjoy the links I prepared for you, and of course, enjoy the weekend!

Weekend Reads #59

Hey guys, I hope you're having a good weekend! I also want to ask you something. Today is basically second-to-last day of my fundraising for my upcoming travel to the USA, to attend the Merit360 program. I'm so far away from my fundraising goal that I honestly have no idea if I'll actually travel or not. And I want need to so much! It's a great program and I really expect to do something great as a journalist/blogger there, covering the program, especially the Gender Equality team! So, if you ever laughed at my Weekend Reads links, if you found them interesting, thought provoking, if you ever looked at my travel photos and stories and felt inspired to book your next trip, please consider donating. I assure you no amount is too small. Here's my fundraising page, and here's the blog post explaining the whole thing. Thank you! 

Six Months Later—Where I Am With My New Year's Resolutions

Hello there! While everyone else does their designated check-ins and weekly and monthly reviews and what not either on the last day of the week/month or the day after, well, it seems running late can be my charming feature. Not that charming? Oh, okay. I thought…

Well, July 1st or 27th, I guess the story is the same. Did I enjoy the second quarter of the year? I hated it. I hated it so much and I still hate the thought of it. Six months ago I wrote here this “might be the greatest year of my life if I make it so”. Well, that was optimistic. Six months later my life is falling apart and I’m this little fella. But hey, if I’m able to crack a joke or two or write about it and not sobbing at the thought of EVERYTHING… I guess I’m fine. (Though I am sobbing quite often. Yeah, I was always that girl.)

Weekend Reads #58

Hi there! If anyone noticed I hadn't posted WeekendReads last week, that's because I was in Azerbaijan, obviously, and even though I had brought my laptop along, I rarely had the time to look at it, if we count out the time spent getting ready in the evenings when we would play a song or two on YouTube—but not more, because, well, lack of time. The schedule was so busy it reminded me of similar programs I attended in high school, which is, truth be told, ages ago. I was constantly tired and felt like an old grandma for going to bed at 2 AM every night, when people were basically starting to have fun. Well, the people were also younger than me and if it's not scientifically proven you can stay up longer without any consequences when you're young, it should be. Aaanyway, post(s?) on Azerbaijan coming some time soon, and in the meantime, here's what you can do today.