YORK, ENGLAND – We asked the old man sweeping the stoop outside his medieval shop on one of this city’s famed narrow streets what the area was called. “Shamble." he replies.

CHAGFORD, ENGLAND – The ancient wooden doors of St. Michael the Archangel Church were left wide open the day we stopped to tour this former tin mining town. So we poked our heads inside but recoiled almost immediately.

LONDON – Bond, James Bond. So many people come to England each year looking for anything associated with the suave super spy known to millions of adoring fans simply as 007. And with each new episode and each new Bond (currently it’s heartthrob Daniel Craig who’s playing 007 and still beating off evil agents and beautiful women) more new fans are born and more new film locations emerge for Bond tourists to discover.

PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC – The only thing standing between me and classical music heaven is a crowd of soccer fans – over 2,000 drunken Scottish soccer fans to be exact.

PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC – There are two stories circulating about why this city suffered little damage during World War II, despite being occupied by Hitler’s Nazi army almost from the outset.

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – This is not just the capital of the European Union and Belgium, it’s also the fun capital of Europe. And that’s thanks mainly to the city’s cartoon culture.

SPA, BELGIUM – My heart begins to race as our driver points his mini-van in the direction of a long, narrow tunnel that separates reality from the fast-paced, romantic world of Formula 1 Grand Prix auto racing.

WATERLOO, BELGIUM – The intermittent rain and icy wind doesn’t seem to be dampening the spirit of the thousands marching toward one of history’s greatest battlefields. Souad Mimouni, the Belgian friend who has driven me to this quaint town just 12 kilometres from downtown Brussels to view a reenactment of the Battle of Waterloo, parks her car and we join the march.

VIENNA, AUSTRIA – Austria's glittering capital is a treasure chest of hidden historic gems - but, you may need some help finding them. Enter Hebe Jeffrey.

SALZBURG, AUSTRIA – You don't have to look hard to find traces of Mozart in this city that gets its name from the salt mountains that surround it. The musical genius' image can be found in Salzburg's parks, city squares, public buildings and on thousands of chocolate boxes.