thegetAwayZ | European Travel Podcast

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Milan is a city we’ve spent real time in. Living nearby meant it was never just a stop on a trip and that changes how you experience it.

In this episode, we talk about what it’s like spending time in Milan. The neighborhoods we kept going back to. The food. The design. How the city works day to day and why it feels different from other places in Italy. We also talk about why Milan makes sense when you give it time instead of rushing through it.

This is not a highlights episode or a checklist. It’s a conversation about Milan as a place to spend time, not just pass through.

Music: Seize the Day by Andrey Rossi via Uppbeat
License code: G7J4UDC0NAOFRJYL

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Erin hosts a fast paced European food trivia showdown with Lisa, Dylan and Meghan, and it got competitive fast. From iconic dishes to regional specialties and a few trick questions, this episode puts European food knowledge to the test.

We cover classic foods people think they know, regional details that spark debate, and questions guaranteed to make you second guess yourself. Play along and see how you stack up before the answers are locked in.

A fun break from traditional travel episodes and perfect for anyone who loves European food, travel trivia, or yelling answers at their phone.

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In Part 2 of our Rhône-Alps series, we continue beyond Chamonix and talk about spending time in Annecy, Aix-les-Bains, Chambéry and Grenoble.

We talk about what Annecy feels like once you’re there, how crowded it can get depending on timing and why it stands out compared to other lake towns we’ve visited. We also talk about Aix-les-Bains and Chambéry as quieter stops, how they felt in comparison and why they worked well without needing much planning.

We end with Grenoble and how different it feels from the alpine towns, shaped by its setting and the way the city interacts with the mountains around it.

usic: Seize the Day by Andrey Rossi via Uppbeat
License code: G7J4UDC0NAOFRJYL

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The Getawayz is a travel podcast about exploring Europe the way people actually do.

We moved from Los Angeles to Europe in 2017 and have spent years traveling by car, often with a teenager and a dog. We talk honestly about where to stay, what to skip, what’s worth planning around and what we learned the hard way.

If you’re planning a trip to Europe or thinking about living abroad, start here.

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In Part 1 of our Rhône-Alpes series, we’re starting in Chamonix, one of the most iconic mountain towns in the French Alps.

We talk about what Chamonix is really like beyond the photos, how the town feels when you’re walking through it and why it stands out compared to other mountain destinations we’ve visited. We cover the Mer du Glace glacier experience, the ice cave, hiking to Cascade du Dard, where we ate and where we stayed.

This episode is about slowing down, choosing the right experiences and letting a place like Chamonix set the pace instead of trying to do everything.

Next week in Part 2, we continue through the Rhône-Alpes with stops in Annecy, Aix-les-Bains and Chambéry.

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Spending New Year’s in Sweden, in the middle of winter.

We spent New Year’s in Gothenburg with fireworks everywhere, busy streets and just enough going on without overplanning the days. Winter was fully in place and the city felt active without being overwhelming.

In this episode, we talk about how we spent New Year’s in Gothenburg, from walking the city and spending time in Haga to visiting the World of Volvo and Universeum. We share where we ate, where we stayed and how the trip naturally stayed close to our neighborhood.

We also talk about New Year’s Eve in the city, from pre dinner drinks to a relaxed night at the apartment while fireworks lit up the sky outside. This episode is about winter travel in Sweden, choosing not to pack in too much and why Gothenburg worked so well for this time of year.

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Europe celebrates New Year’s in ways that are fun, strange, symbolic and older than most people realize. In this episode, we break down the traditions and superstitions that show up across countries like Spain, Italy, Austria, Germany, Denmark, Croatia, France, the Netherlands, the UK, Ireland and Sweden. Some places eat twelve grapes at midnight, some wear red underwear for luck, some jump off chairs and Austria has full monster parades designed to chase away bad spirits.

We also look at the food rituals that shape New Year’s across Europe, including lentils, pork, oliebollen, kransekage, marzipan pigs and the rules about what you should and should not eat on January 1. And we talk about why so many countries call New Year’s Eve “Sylvester” and where that name actually comes from.

If you have ever wondered how the holiday looks outside the United States or want to learn the meaning behind Europe’s oldest New Year’s traditions, this episode has everything. It is a mix of history, travel, folklore and real traditions that people still follow today.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/andrey-rossi/seize-the-day
License code: G7J4UDC0NAOFRJYL

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In this episode, we talk about the expectations we all had before living in Europe and how those ideas compare to real life once you arrive. We cover safety, taxes, food and the small cultural shifts that stand out the most. Some things feel easier than expected and others take a little more adjusting, especially during the first year.

Meghan joins the conversation as someone who is still settling into European life, while we share what felt different after living here for years. It is a relaxed and honest look at the things people imagine about Europe compared to what you actually experience once you spend real time here. If you are curious about how Europe feels as more than a vacation, this episode gives you a clear, friendly look at the reality.

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Europe has some of the oldest Christmas traditions in the world. In this episode we look at where many of them began. We talk about Advent calendars in Germany, the first Christmas markets, and why most of Europe celebrates on Christmas Eve. We also get into regional customs in France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Iceland and the Czech Republic. Some traditions are sweet and familiar, others are unusual and only found in certain corners of the continent. This is a simple guide to the history, food and folklore that shape Christmas in Europe today.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/andrey-rossi/seize-the-day
License code: G7J4UDC0NAOFRJYL

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Experience Vienna in winter through our real stories of palaces, music, good food and holiday markets. We talk about the stops that stood out for us, from interactive museums to classical concerts in golden halls. We share what we ate, what we skipped, and what we would do on a return visit. If you’re planning a trip to Vienna with a teen, a dog, or just a love for culture and desserts, this episode walks you through what to see and how to make the most of a winter visit.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/andrey-rossi/sei...
License code: G7J4UDC0NAOFRJYL

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