Snippets of Europe on Film
Unfortunately this post is not as the title suggests, it is not a collection of photographs from all over Europe but rather two cities in particular. In 2022 I was able to do a few more trips to Europe and visit some cities I had not yet explored. I decided to take my film camera with me instead of my main DSLR. Even though I was a bit disappointed with the results I still love the nostalgic, romantic feel of shooting Europe on film. I hope you enjoy my brief account of these two beautiful cities
The first city on my agenda was Amsterdam. I was only there for about 4 days, Thursday - Monday but it was such a special weekend filled with friends, canals and cafés. I arrived in Amsterdam in the late evening and went straight to my hostel, St. Christopher’s Inn The Winston. This is quite a party hostel so be warned, but it had a great vibe and it was very centrally located. After checking in I decided to walk around and get a feel for the city at night. As I walked through the main streets towards the many canals I started to realise why so many people are drawn to this city. The bridges strewn with flowers and the lights and houses reflected in the water created a magic I had never experienced before. This magic is also interestingly contrasted with the liveliness of the red light district and the flashing lights from a nearby rave. The next day I met up with three of my best friends, friends I made whilst living in Korea. We decided to have a mini reunion and it was just what I needed. We started the day with a late breakfast and then walked around the Jordaan district. Seeing the streets and canals in the daylight emphasised this little city’s charm even more. By late afternoon we knew we couldn’t end the day without a stroopwafel so we waited in line at the famous van Wonderen Stroopwafels. The warm, soft, caramel treat did not disappoint. Sugared up we spontaneously decided to do a sunset canal cruise. Unfortunately the clouds did not let up but we loved seeing Amsterdam from the water and learning a little bit more about the history of the canals, and the buildings that seem to be floating. We ended our short but very sweet day with cocktails at Tales and Spirits, a very intriguing bar with cocktails that each tell their own story.
The next day we explored the different markets around the city. From fresh fish, to cheese, to art and flowers. And spent time enjoying the canals, sitting on the decks watching the boats and bicycles go by. We also ventured a little out of the centre and took a ferry to visit the Eye Film Museum which is housed in a very futuristic building. It was interesting to learn about the history and art of film and worth it even just for the view. After more walking we decided it was time to try the famous apple pie at Winkel 43. Of course there was another line to wait in but soon we were seated outside and I felt like we were in the setting of a classic European movie.
I wish I had more time to soak up this magical place but I know it is a city I will return to in the future. It’s even a city I could see myself moving to one day, who knows.
A few weeks later I travelled to the north of Spain. I was lucky enough to visit the city of Oviedo with the family I was au pairing for (although to be honest I see them as my second family now) and we had a .great mini holiday. Oviedo is the capital of the Asturias region of Spain which is known for it’s mountains, cheese and cider. Oviedo is small but surprisingly charming. It is an old medieval city with lots of history which can be seen in the churches, buildings and museums. It also has great restaurants and bars where you can try the local cider (not for the faint hearted), Spanish wines and traditional tapas.
A few years ago, when I was a young, fresh backpacker, I travelled the south of Spain for a few weeks and although I enjoyed the beautiful coastline and alluring cities, I didn’t fall in love with Spain like I expected to. After spending time in Oviedo I feel very differently. I loved the history that radiated from every street and building I passed. I often began exploring without a destination or route in mind, but I was always pleasantly surprised with what I found.
Our regular cafe spot became Lopita & Co. which had great coffee, fresh orange juice and an array of delicious pastries. Their signature being a sweet mini croissant called a lopis. I will always be dreaming about these.
Oviedo is not a huge city and it is definitely limited on things to do. However, I don’t think this is always a bad thing. It means you can explore the city with ease and it allows you to slow down for a bit, settling into the local way of life, if only for a few days. If you do want to get out of the city it is also easy to explore the surrounding mountains and national parks, which offer incredible hikes, or drive 30 minutes to the coastal town of Gijón. In Gijón we visited the catholic church, Parroquia San Pedro, situated right on the waters edge and with its impressive mosaic walls it felt like the hidden gem of Asturias. We followed that with a walk along the beach, a stroll around the city and some of the best burgers we’ve ever had at Berty’s Burger.
Back in Oviedo we explored more of the old historic quarter. We visited the Museum of Fine Arts of Asturias which is free to enter and houses some incredible art from the region and even a few pieces by Picasso and Dalí. One of my favourite things to do in many European cities is to wonder through the large, indoor food markets that have everything from fresh vegetables and meats to local delicacies and treats. Oviedo’s Mercado El Fontán did not let us down, we couldn’t resist trying the local chorizo and cheese and tried not to fill up too much before our (late) dinner.As we walked around waiting for the restaurants to start serving more than just wine, we passed kids playing football in the squares and families making there way out to enjoy the city at night.
After a few more delicious meals, glasses of wine and some churros on our last day, it was time to say goodbye to Oviedo.
By: Victoria Briggs
