The Unexpected Traveller

Stuff you don't find in guide books

A photo of the Powder Tower by night - Prague, Czechia

Prague’s Powder Tower: The Full History

Tourists crowd around the Powder Tower for selfies and videos and who can blame them? The city is photogenic; this tower is one of the iconic scenes people have in mind. The funny thing about the tower is that, grandiose as it is, it was always more ornamental than useful. This article explains why and how it was built, and how it became what it is today.
A photo of the entrance of the Real Alcazar - Seville, Spain

Enjoying an alternative 24h in Seville

Seville - the 2,200-year-old capital of Andalusia. Phoenician, Roman, Arabic, Spanish. This magnificent city is a beautiful testament to the melting pot that is European civilisation and definitely worth a closer look if you find yourself wandering Spain.
A photo of Prague Tesnov Train Station - Prague, Czechia

Lost Prague – Tesnov Train Station

Like any city, Prague has lost certain elements of its past to the mists of time. Now, these items live on only as a name whose significance few understand. The lost train station at Tešnov is one such element of Prague's past.
A photo of the organ at the Votivkirche - Vienna, Austria

How to Celebrate a Failed Assassination

As you head north-by-north-west from the city centre of Vienna, the old centre of the Austro-Hungarian empire, it won't be long before you reach the Ringstrasse that marks the old walls of the city. There, in Sigmund Freud park, you can see the Votivkirche ⛪️
A photo of Via Rasella - Rome, Italy

Shock, Terror and War – Bombing Via Rasella

Wherever you are in Europe, it is safe to say that you are no more than a stone's throw away from the location of some key historical event. Rome is no different and while the ruins of the old Empire are obvious, there are many more recent stories to be told.