By Dirk Ebener - November 28, 2025 Visiting London - 25 Essential Things Every Traveler Should Know Before They Go I still remember my very first London visit as a teenager, stepping out of Victoria Station and feeling like I had just entered a living history book. The rhythm of the city—its red double-decker buses, timeless pubs, winding alleys, and rich tapestry of cultures—created an atmosphere that was both electric and comforting.   The air smelled faintly of rain and ro

By Dirk Ebener - November 25, 2025 Bayswater Station opened in 1868, preserving Victorian charm within London. My December Journey In a few months, I’ll be in London’s December cold, using both old habits and new tools. I picture myself at a Tube map, tracing lines as I did on my first visit, but now with travel apps ready to get me from markets to pubs, from Christmas lights to hidden curry houses. I love using paper maps, but this trip will be a mix—the map for the big pict

By Dirk Ebener – November 23, 2025 London Travel on a Tap: Traveling with the Oyster Card London on a Tap: Traveling with the Oyster Card...

By Dirk Ebener - November 20, 2025 Piccadilly Circus in London The countdown is officially on! Just two more weeks until I return to London, and I can already feel my suitcase judging me for planning more meals than outfits. I woke up this morning with that familiar mix of excitement and slight panic—the kind that reminds you you’re about to dive back into a city you feel connected to, but you still haven’t decided which market stall deserves your first bite. Enjoy reading "

By Dirk Ebener - October 31, 2025 London, Oxford Street, with Christmas lights and beautiful decorations. “As the film “Tracks” reminds us, every journey is less about what we take and more about what we leave behind.” ( written by Marion Nelson, based on Robyn Davidson’s memoir) There’s a particular kind of excitement that settles in when the countdown begins — not months away, but just five short weeks before a long-awaited journey. London has been calling me for months no

By Dirk Ebener - October 13, 2025 Local Japanese street food at a night market in Tokyo, Japan. A woman is grilling yakitori pork and chicken at a street food vendor market at a Japanese Winter Festival. Traveling, for me, is a feast for the senses — a journey where every aroma, sound, and taste tells a story. The heartbeat of a destination often lies in its kitchens and street stalls, where history and hospitality meet over simmering pots and sizzling pans. From the first si

By Dirk Ebener - September 30, 2025 Panoramic Hastings view: cliffs, castle, seaside charm, historic town. A Young German Student’s...

By Dirk Ebener - September 27, 2025 Poppie's in Spitalfields, London, a famous fish & chips shop that has been serving since 1952 “Every...

Understanding this background sets the stage for appreciating today’s pub customs. The word “pub” comes from public house, a place meant to welcome all—something I’ve always appreciated. In the Middle Ages, alehouses offered weary travelers rest and sustenance, much as they do for me today. As London expanded, pubs became essential meeting spots not just for workers, merchants, and politicians, but also for people like me seeking connection. Some, like Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese

By Dirk Ebener Every once in a while, a book comes along that reminds you why travel stories matter. Bobby Bolton’s Truck It!: The Drive...

Final Thoughts: A Small Step That Makes a Big Difference At the end of the day, travel insurance is like carrying a backup credit card or an extra phone charger; it feels unnecessary until the moment you need it. And when you do, it can transform disaster into inconvenience, helping you return to the heart of your journey: exploring the world one bite at a time.

By Dirk Ebener Source: Dirk Ebener In December, I will arrive in London with a challenge in mind. To prove that I can eat and drink my...