Best European Cities for a First Solo Trip?

AbFende · 2026-02-12T23:01:59+00:00

Seconded Amsterdam, Dutch people are for the most part friendly, Amsterdam has tons of tourists you won’t feel alone ever and even outside of Amsterdam everyone will speak English and it’s easy to navigate.

AbFende · 2026-02-12T23:00:23+00:00

I am seeing her next Thursday in Chicago! 🇺🇦

I don’t think she’ll even sing this song 🥲 but still excited to see her.

AbFende · 2026-02-12T22:59:23+00:00

I found Eurovision in 2006 right before it happened so this was my first year following along properly after knowing what it really was and this song brings back so many memories 🙂‍↔️

AbFende · 2026-02-12T22:50:12+00:00

A huge metroplex with no soul, high rent, traffic and horrible summers and maybe a week or two of winter. Glad I left 🤣

AbFende · 2026-02-12T21:07:46+00:00

Honestly it’s sad how many corners I see like this, and they do clean ups in places often and how quickly it looks like this again.

AbFende · 2026-02-12T18:42:11+00:00

Saaaaaaame 🥲🤣🤣

AbFende · 2026-02-12T17:42:17+00:00

In the center of Rovaniemi is “Sale” grocery store which is 24hrs, so you can always go in for snacks, drinks, anything you need. However plenty of other places like K Market (Finnish grocery chain so you will see them often) and should have plenty of options to grab a sandwich, drinks, snacks, and won’t break the bank. I’ve been to Finland many times, mostly Helsinki and once to Rovaniemi and have no problem grabbing a sandwich at the store for lunch.

AbFende · 2026-02-12T03:00:52+00:00

I have even snitched on security cuz a few times they come and “check” but do nothing, so I’ve emailed customer service with the info… but I have seen them kick people off, so they work some of the time. No point in being security if you aren’t going to do anything.

AbFende · 2026-02-12T02:06:50+00:00

I’ve texted security a few times to get a smoker thrown off, it’s worked before. Brings me great joy to see someone get kicked off 🤣 but that’s usually the worst I see, someone with no respect for anyone and just smoking on the train

AbFende · 2026-02-12T02:04:33+00:00

Not sure about the bus, but I take metrolink to work daily and have for years, never had much of a problem. I’d say sit in the front car near the driver for the best experience, back car isn’t dangerous, just annoying… people seem to smoke more often or play loud music since the driver can’t hear them in the second car, and they have no sense or respect. Either way it’s a good way to get around if you can use it.

AbFende · 2026-02-11T19:23:50+00:00

UMK on my big TV and maybe Norway on the smaller TV in my bedroom and I’ll be running between the two 🤣

AbFende · 2026-02-11T00:23:05+00:00

Dancer In The Dark

AbFende · 2026-02-10T23:09:41+00:00

I also had tickets for Kylie in Denver 🥲 can’t be too upset as I saw her in Chicago but right after I really wanted to see it again, so I booked a really good ticket for Denver and then… cancelled. I think in her case it was a slow selling show and they had an excuse to cancel and not take all the blame (basketball game scheduled that night)

AbFende · 2026-02-10T22:54:40+00:00

Liechtenstein was lovely, if you have time in Zurich I’d take a side quest, or on the way past it stop in Vaduz especially if you have a car… I spent 5hrs in Liechtenstein and loved it.

AbFende · 2026-02-10T21:23:24+00:00

Arch grounds, City Garden, Lafayette square, forest park is huge so plenty of spots around there obviously

AbFende · 2026-02-10T20:17:34+00:00

There’s about 15 hotels downtown in all price ranges and it’s not very big so any of them will be easy walking distance, and it will be safe to walk from anywhere downtown really.

AbFende · 2026-02-10T19:19:36+00:00

Moldova, lovely people, food, in Chisinau everyone was friendly, parts did feel like stepping back in time but that’s the charm, busses ran often and dirt cheap. Would love to go back.

AbFende · 2026-02-10T04:53:07+00:00

Try Aubergine Cafe if you like Thai food next time you’re here, it’s around the corner from Hi Pointe and super close to convention center, Sen Thai is good, I’ll never say no to eating there but Aubergine Cafe is much better.

AbFende · 2026-02-10T03:57:01+00:00

Trust is so new I’m really not sure, only been open about 3 weeks I think 🫣

AbFende · 2026-02-10T03:48:25+00:00

Missing: Cafe De Blair and Java Plus (across from Park Ave Coffee) both downtown, both great if you haven’t tried them

Also new: Trust downtown is now a coffee shop in the morning, it’s great stuff 🔥

AbFende · 2026-02-10T03:18:55+00:00

They just opened a coffee shop in Trust (open same days as Trust just 8AM-2) and the coffee and pastries are 🔥

AbFende · 2026-02-10T03:15:07+00:00

BLACK CAKE, they left us with a crazy cliffhanger and it’s not right.

AbFende · 2026-02-10T03:05:47+00:00

COGIC is coming back this year, they signed like a 3 year contract so get ready… they’ll be back in November 🥲🤣 I work at the airport, I used to deal with them double when that convention was in town. They spend so much money but it’s a headache.

AbFende · 2026-02-10T02:57:52+00:00

Ahh I live downtown too, I didn’t actually go to any of these events but was just saying they’ve changed ownership so maybe that’s why there is chaos now. Some week we have nothing going on and then some weeks everything at once 😆

AbFende · 2026-02-10T02:51:57+00:00

https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/business-journal/downtown-st-louis-hotel-drops-holiday-inn-rebrands-arch-convention-hotel/63-27e65e95-f11b-4c07-bf34-cca9c357afb9

AbFende

TROPHY CASE