This is the 2nd part of the article about the vibrant colours of Morocco. Here are the links to the Part 1 and Part 3.  

First time in Morocco?" a border security officer asked me with a strained smile. "Oh, is that an Arc'teryx bag you have? Can you lift it so I can show it to my colleague?" "Hey buddy, this is the bag I was talking about, from Canada." His colleague suddenly brightened up with excitement as my bag most certainly broke the monotony of his stamping routine. I stood there, waiting to get my passport back, unsure how much I should worry about my bag or any other possessions in this country. "Welcome to Morocco," said the officer cheerfully, "You'll like it." And I certainly did: Morocco turned out to be one of the most exotic and culturally rich places I've ever visited.

One of the most fascinating and unexpected discoveries for me in the heart of London was the King's Cross neighbourhood. It has undergone a remarkable journey, evolving from a bustling railway hub to a neglected industrial area and finally, to a vibrant, cosmopolitan district. Its captivating story showcases the area's resilience and rebirth.

Georgia. This country should be on every traveller’s bucket list! Sitting at the crossroads of major civilizations like Persia, Byzantium, and the Ottoman Empire, and serving as a bridge between Europe and Asia, the country is a cultural melting pot that showcases diverse landscapes stretching from the Black Sea coast to the majestic Caucasus Mountains. I had the pleasure of visiting Georgia multiple times between 2008 and 2014, and its appeal always called me to return. Despite both Ukraine and Georgia sharing over 70 years under the same repressive Soviet regime, Georgia struck me as the most exotic place I've ever visited. You will experience rich history, delicious cuisine, beautiful scenery, and very warmhearted people. In this article, I'm excited to share my top nine fascinating encounters in Georgia.  

For as long as I can remember, I've held a keen interest in topics related to nature, technology, and architecture. So, I was captivated by the opportunity to listen to a recent episode of Lex Fridman’s podcast featuring Neri Oxman, a professor at MIT renowned for her groundbreaking work that pushed the boundaries of what is possible in terms of the integration of design, technology, and biology. She insists that we should aim to grow all our necessities rather than manufacturing them artificially. Listening to this interview brought to mind the architectural heritage of the late Zaha Hadid, who similarly merged innovative architectural styles with practical design that blends with the environment. Her architectural influence can be seen across the globe, particularly in cities like Baku, Rome, London, Glasgow, and Guangzhou, China. But there is also a lesser-known place that I had an opportunity to visit in 2018 (and, yes, it’s about trains): the Innsbruck Funicular in Austria.

Liechtenstein is one of the world's smallest countries, yet it has a big heart. The warm hospitality and friendliness of its people make any visit memorable. When I was in Bavaria in 2018, I seized an opportunity to make a day trip to Liechtenstein. At that time, my knowledge about this country was limited to its reputation as a financial haven where the wealthy securely stowed their money. Turns out, that this tiny country is well worth the visit as the people here embrace a strong sense of community, and visitors often experience a warm reception. 

Bavaria is the largest state in Germany and, in my opinion, the most diverse, rich and charming one as well. I feel like the whole world knows what Bavaria is famous for - King Ludwig II’s castle of Neuschwanstein, BMW, Oktoberfest, pretzels and of course the best beer in the world! And if you're a soccer fan, FC Bayern Munich definitely tops your list of the best soccer clubs. But Bavaria is also infamous for sheltering the national socialist German workers party led by Hitler which gave birth to nazism and mass killings of millions of innocent people. I purposely added Dachau, the most notorious death camp in nazi Germany, to my itinerary as I felt the trip would not be complete without visiting this disgraceful place where thousands of victims, mostly Jews, would starve, suffer and eventually die in a gas chamber. We must never forget. Ready to see Bavaria? I hand-picked those 8 not to be missed places that should definitely be on everyone's bucket list. 

My early trips outside of Ukraine, where I was born and raised, fuelled my hunger for travel and helped me eventually end up in Canada. I should admit that I haven't travelled abroad until I was 22. In the mid-2000s, most people in Ukraine would still travel locally or wouldn't travel at all. Cheap all-inclusive resorts in Turkey and Egypt would still be out of reach for most people in Ukraine since it was considered a luxury. So it's pretty remarkable to see how much change this past decade has brought for international tourism. Internet and low-cost flights allowed people to travel quickly, easily and on a tight budget. Looking back now, Korea in 2008 was the biggest eye-opener for me closely followed by Vienna, Austria in 2010. And believe it or not, those 8 things I've never done or seen in my life before visiting Austria.

April 15 marks the first anniversary of the fire that devastated Notre Dame de Paris, one of the greatest landmarks of Western civilization. The Cathedral was accidentally set ablaze likely by a short circuit due to an ongoing renovation and miraculously remained intact despite losing a spire and a wooden roof. Throughout its 850-year-old history, Notre Dame de Paris survived several swirling events including the French Revolution, World War I and World War II, as well as plague, smallpox, cholera, flu and other fatal diseases that ravaged France and the rest of Europe. The current COVID-19 pandemic has temporarily put breaks on the restoration of Notre Dame de Paris which is quite symbolic as it exemplifies the hardship and resilience of the French people. I was very fortunate to visit Notre-Dame de Paris in 2017 and was stunned by its grandeur and beauty, and today I'd like to share some of those memories with you.

I don't know about you, but I first learnt about Switzerland from a TV commercial featuring Milka Chocolate and lush green Swiss Alps valleys with perfectly groomed cows wearing sonorous bells. To my deepest disappointment, Milka Chocolate, though originally made in Switzerland, has been produced in Germany for the past 100 years. On the bright side, these Swiss valleys with perfectly groomed cows do exist, and I was fortunate enough to locate a few of them in Appenzell, a little village that sits next to the Swiss border with Germany, Austria and Liechtenstein. 

Contrary to popular belief, Québec does not only bring an old European city to mind but rather has its own distinct French-Canadian flavour, unlike anything you can find in Europe. Québec looks and feels fabulous in many ways. I know quite a few people who aren't big fans of Montreal, but not a single person who wouldn't fall in love with Québec after visiting it. Even in the middle of winter, when it's freezing cold outside and there is a real chance of getting frostbite, Québec somehow manages to attract busy crowds for its world-famous winter carnival. Mesdames et messieurs make the acquaintance of Québec, one of my favourite places in Canada!

If you read my previous article about my home city, I hope I convinced you that Kyiv ranks high among the top destinations in Eastern Europe. So while you are picking and choosing attractions you want to visit there, I'll tell you about this one particular hidden gem that I regard as one of the most interesting and unusual places in beautiful Kyiv. It's called Pyrohiv, an outdoor museum of Ukrainian folk architecture. Pyrohiv is like a time capsule that allows you to take a glimpse of what Ukraine was like a few hundred years ago.

Alright, I hear you - no heavy texts and long reads this time. Especially about Paris. Because you either already know what I could possibly be telling you about this city, or want to learn it your way, through your own experience. I'll only say that my way of exploring big cities like Paris, London or New York is to wear comfortable shoes, have my camera ready, and just sit for a long stroll in whatever direction I want.

Amsterdam wasn't my first choice when it comes to visiting places in Europe, I just happened to catch a free overnight stopover in mid-August last summer. But I can now see why so many people worship Amsterdam and pilgrimage there from all over the world: Amsterdam, similarly to Las Vegas, is a sinful city where a few universally forbidden pleasures are easily accessible and totally legal. However, as it often happens, Amsterdam is not only about getting high or strolling around the Red Light District at night. It also seems to be a very livable city with a rich history, uncustomary architecture, and excellent food options. Besides traditional public transit and your own feet, you have at least two more wonderful ways to explore the city: by taking a boat and riding a bicycle.

BMW is not the oldest brand in the automotive industry, and definitely not the largest one by sales or production. It's also often seen as too conservative when it comes to its design and playing catch-up in the electric vehicle market, reluctant to leave its famous gas-powered internal combustion engines behind. But there is something in BMW that attracts and retains so many loyal fans throughout the world, so I decided to visit its headquarters in Munich, Germany and take a plant tour to see how legendary BMW cars are produced.

The Italian city of Rome proudly bears the title of a "city of seven hills", however many other cities across the globe claim the same title. Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine is one of them. You can literally feel each hill as you go explore this ancient and beautiful city, but I think the best way to see them all (or at least most of them) is if you take a Dnipro river cruise from the River Port at the Podil neighbourhood.

It's not uncommon to stumble upon a town or a city in North America that bears the name of a famous town or a city from somewhere else, mostly from Europe. And it always amazes me how different a real place and its North American namesake can be. I was driving through the northern part of New York state the other day, and in 20 minutes I saw three European capitals - Lisbon, Madrid, and Stockholm. If you try hard enough, you can find some similarities between that area and Scandinavia - rushing rivers, blue lakes, pine trees, and old rocks, but nothing resembled Portugal or Spain. Keep in mind: those places were named by early immigrants who probably never came back. Lucky us, we can now shoot pictures and videos, make phone calls and send instant messages, but those immigrants had nothing like that and must have been feeling really homesick if they gave names of their native towns and cities just to any place. So Lisbon, New York reminded me that I haven't yet shared my pictures and stories from the real Lisbon which I visited last year.