top 5 reasons to visit europe in the late fall and winter

Yes, I've heard it many times before that the European continent could be cold to freezing in winter (although the Southern parts and the Adriatic coast may be relatively warmer). But, I hope the following reasons will convince you to at least consider a European trip when the mercury dips.

Rovinj, Croatia - no crowds!

1. It's cheaper. Other than around Christmas, airfares to and lodging costs in Europe tend to be cheaper in the late fall and winter because most people shy away from the continent during that time. So, because the law of supply and demand means less demand = lower price, winter is the perfect time to take advantage of an affordable European trip.

York, England - no crowds!

2. It's less crowded.  I hate crowds. I really do. That's why very late fall/winter is my favorite time to travel (and particularly, late November -- see reason #3 -- where the photos on this post were taken during many different trips during that time of the year). Europe in winter could provide you with winter wonderland photo opportunities with a smaller chance of a random person photo bombing your shot. 

sazy rock's top 10 best street food dishes (to date) around the world

For me, there is nothing more satisfying than traveling to a new place and falling in love with the food. Let's face it, the way to this gal's heart is through her tummy (and sometimes, liver). When I look back on my travels, I often drool when I remember all the food I ate.

Last week, I listed my top 10 restaurant dishes.  This week, I'm sharing my top 10 favorite street food dishes I've encountered while traveling.  I'm not sharing those found in the United States because that's where I live (although, I particularly like this taco truck in Los Angeles called, Mariscos Jaliscos, that serves the most delicious shrimp taco I have ever tasted).

So far, these are my top street food dishes I've encountered while traveling listed in no particular order.

1.  Taiwanese sausage in Taipei, Taiwan.

I found all sorts of tasty food in the Taipei night markets. But, the simple Taiwanese sausage caught my eye, nose, and taste buds. My first bite snapped the casing and immediately released slightly sweet juices of the cooked ground pork. While I liked eating the sausage by itself, dipping it in garlic sauce added another layer of flavor.

Taiwanese sausage.