Our Carpe Diem

Seize the day! Make mistakes, get messy!

Category: Europe

Karen is originally from the Netherlands, and Tom has lived in several countries in Europe. This means that we have enjoyed quite a lot of Europe travel.

Find out how we took two of our girls to Paris on a budget. Do you know how to get into Paris museums for free? Or how to find affordable Michelin restaurants for your dinner?

Did you know that Passau is also known as the Pittsburgh of Germany?

And if you are a reader, you should check out where to find the painting from Donna Tart’s book “The Goldfinch”

The good thing about travel in Europe is that you actually can get paid if your flight is delayed or cancelled. We got $1600 travel credit.

We are constantly updating our Europe travel stories, so stay tuned for more amazing adventures!

  • How to Beat the Paris Shell Game Scam: A Tourist Safety Guide

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    How tourists lose money in seconds in Paris and how to walk away untouched. A real cautionary tale about the Paris shell game scam, where it happens, why smart travelers fall for it, and the only reliable way to avoid losing cash on the streets of Paris. How to beat the shell game.

    Written by

    Karen Lanzetta
    The Eiffel Tower in my hands. How tourists lose money in seconds in Paris and how to walk away untouched. A real cautionary tale about the Paris shell game scam, where it happens, why smart travelers fall for it, and the only reliable way to avoid losing cash on the streets of Paris. How to beat the shell game.

  • How to See Monet’s Water Lilies for Free at l’Orangerie Paris

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    This guide explains how to visit the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris for free, including first Sunday access and eligibility for young and disabled visitors. It highlights Monet’s Water Lilies, permanent and temporary exhibitions, and practical tips for enjoying one of Paris’s most peaceful museums on a budget.

    Written by

    Karen Lanzetta
    This guide explains how to visit the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris for free, including first Sunday access and eligibility for young and disabled visitors. It highlights Monet’s Water Lilies, permanent and temporary exhibitions, and practical tips for enjoying one of Paris’s most peaceful museums on a budget.

  • EU Flight Delay Compensation: How a Cancelled Flight Earned Us $1,600

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    Important: Award flights absolutely count. Being delayed on a flight is never fun. However, if it happens in Europe, there is a silver lining. Thanks to a European regulation called EC261/2004, airlines may owe you cash or travel vouchers when flights are significantly delayed or cancelled. We learned this the hard way — after a…

    Written by

    Karen Lanzetta
    Pool with palms

  • All You Always Wanted to Know about Transatlantic Cruises

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    Have you ever wondered how it would be to travel slowly? Not taking the fast road (or flight) but relaxing and having lots of time to yourself? Let me tell you all about Transatlantic cruises and why you should consider one. Intro to Transatlantic Cruises After we took our first cruise, it didn’t take long…

    Written by

    Karen Lanzetta
    Cruiseship on the ocean, all you need to know about transatlantic cruises

  • Cheap Eats In Paris: Michelin Bib Gourmand Restaurants You’ll Love

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    When you travel to Paris, you would love to eat at a Michelin restaurant, but we all know that they are very expensive. This article will introduce you to Bib Gourmand restaurants in Paris, a way to get an affordable haute cuisine meal for a good price. Find out what this bib gourmand means and…

    Written by

    Karen Lanzetta
    When you travel to Paris, you would love to eat at a Michelin restaurant, but we all know that they are very expensive. This article will introduce you to Bib Gourmand restaurants in Paris, a way to get an affordable haute cuisine meal for a good price. Find out what this bib gourmand means and where to find these upscale restaurants. Make your choice from the best restaurants in Paris! #travel #france #paris #OurCarpeDiem #savemoney #budget #traveltips

  • How to Rock Paris on a Budget

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    A family’s budget-friendly trip to Paris involved staying in an Airbnb close to the metro and enjoying mostly free attractions, such as the Eiffel Tower, Musee de l’Orangerie, boat trips on the Seine, and visits to iconic landmarks like Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris. The girls also enjoyed thrift shopping and affordable fine dining, making the…

    Written by

    Karen Lanzetta

  • What Are the Most Amazing Experiences in Matera?

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    If you are looking for an off-the-beaten path destination in Italy, go visit Matera. Here are a few things to see and do in Italy’s interesting ‘City of Caves’. The Cultural Capital of Europe for 2019 and a UNESCO World Heritage site, you need to put this on your bucket list! Carpe Diem!

    Written by

    Karen Lanzetta
    Top Things To Do in Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Southern Italy. The City of Caves, once considered The Shame of Italy, Matera reinvented itself and now is the 2019 European Capital of Culture. Explore the sassi, learn the fascinating history of Matera. Where to stay and what to eat. Did you know that there is a large colony of falcons protecting the city? #birdwatching #travelguide #Matera #Italy #OffTheBeatenPath #BucketList #Destinations #OurCarpeDiem #ThingsToDo #Europe

  • Dutch Golden Age Luxury At The Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam

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    The fascinating history of the Dutch Golden Age merchants who ruled the seven seas and built canal houses to match their status.. Now you can stay right where the Russian Emperor Alexander I and Dutch kings visited! Even if you can’t afford to stay, enjoy the award winning restaurants and soak up the long history…

    Written by

    Karen Lanzetta
    Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam Fascinating history of the Dutch Golden Age which culminated in the construction of luxury mansions right at the Amsterdam canals. The Waldorf is at the Herengracht (Gentlemen’s Canal) and is a #bucketlist destination for sure. Explore the award winning restaurants, find out how we managed to stay for free and travel back in time with all the modern comforts. #OurCarpeDiem #WaldorfAstoria #HiltonHotels #Travelguide #AmsterdamNetherlands

  • How to Explore Passau (Pittsburgh of Germany) with Ease and Enjoyment

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    Passau Top Things To Do | The Pittsburgh of Germany | An UNESCO World History Site; Learn more about this interesting city and why it is just like Pittsburgh. Take a walk along the river or attend an organ concert. Visit St Stephen’s Cathedral

    Written by

    Karen Lanzetta
    Passau Top Things To Do when you visit | The Pittsburgh of Germany | A brand new UNESCO World Heritage Site! Top Things to do in Passau. From salty towers to executioners. From the world's largest organ to the road to hell... Learn more about this interesting city and why it is just like Pittsburgh. Take a walk along the river or attend an organ concert. Visit St Stephen’s Cathedral | HollGasse | Largest organ in Europe #OurCarpeDiem #Germany #Passau #UNESCOWorldHeritage

  • Is the Goldfinch Painting Real? Where Is It Now?

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    Where can you find the Goldinch painting that inspired the Donna Tartt book?

    Written by

    Karen Lanzetta
    Where is The Goldfinch painting now? After you read The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. Naturally so you wonder what happened to the painting? Where do you go and admire it? Did you ever see the painting? Does it look like a goldfinch or more like a different bird? Read and find out where you can go to see The Goldfinch by ​Fabritius (and The Girl with The Pearl Earring by Vermeer) #OurCarpeDiem #art #TheGoldfinch #booklover #museums