Have you ever thought about the small actions we take can greatly impact the earth or contribute to animal cruelty? When looking to update our wardrobe for winter, how many of us think down jackets are a great idea? I myself was definitely accused of this. Growing up, I was taught by my parents that a down jacket is one of the best to help you combat the cold.

Not until recent years had I started researching the practices behind the production of down jackets, which is extremely cruel to animals but not enough people are talking about them.

If the source of production is not regulated, the manufacturing of down jackets can mean:

“Live-plucking” — a practice that the feathers of geese and ducks are pulled off their skin while they are still alive.

Other than the unspeakable pain the animals need to endure, they are also left without their feathers and coats, while still needing to live in the cold without their feathers. These ducks are usually kept alive so that they grow back fluffier feathers, and be plucked again and again. Now that’s never-ending torture!

Let’s be honest, our society has evolved enough that many new technologies and resources can provide us with plenty of warmth, without the need to torture animals. I trust that the majority of us will not be okay to associate ourselves with animal cruelty. It’s important to be aware of this issue and think clearly about our actions.

In 2019, I bought my husband Adam a Save The Duck jacket in preparation for our trip to Boston. I was completely new to this brand at the time and only picked it because of the sleek design of the jacket. Boston in February was really cold and snowing. Yet Adam said he was feeling warm except for the body parts that were exposed, like his nose.

I was really impressed by this jacket. So I bought another Save The Duck jacket this year for our trip to Utah. Utah was cold, some days the temperature was in the 30s while we were hiking.

• The jacket did a great job keeping me warm. It even made me sweat a few times.
• The design is super cute and feels high quality. I picked the pink-color jacket with faux sheepskin inside.
  

Shop Save The Duck jackets (Save up to 50% with their Mid-Season sale)

Christmas in Europe is a very big event. Whether it’s the dazzling decorations, or the month-long Christmas markets with seasonal food and drinks, a Christmas vacation in Europe will be an unforgettable experience for many of us.

Before Covid hit, my husband and I were lucky enough to visit Budapest, Vienna, Prague and Paris for our Christmas and New Year’s celebration. We just got married in September and really wanted a European Christmas for our honeymoon. This journey turned out just as we expected, enchanting and eye-opening.

Here are a few fun things we experienced during our Christmas vacation:

Christmas Markets

Christmas markets are definitely the highlight of our trip! Many big European cities have Christmas markets starting in November. In Prague, they even have Christmas markets open till early January.

We had a chance to visit Christmas markets in four different cities. My favorite is the Budapest Christmas market because of the large variety of food they offered there!

Hungarian food is just amazing. They are super hearty and rich in flavor! The portion is quite big so I do recommend sharing.

Here are a few dishes that you must try in Budapest:

• Goulash (beef stew)
• Stuffed cabbage
• Lángos (flat bread top with cheese, potato or meat. Heavy in carbs. Ladies, just eat it and exercise later! ? )  
• Sausages (thanks to the special spices, they are extremely flavorful!)
• Duck leg and red cabbage
• Chimney cake

The best thing about visiting Christmas markets is that I can try a large variety of food from different cultures! In Vienna for example, I realize their food is very similar to American but less heavy.

Convenience Near Major Attractions

You know what else is great about Christmas markets? It's that you can always find them near major attractions! You know you will visit the Rathausplatz and Belvedere Palace when visiting Vienna. Guess what? They set up Christmas markets at both of these places! In Prague, you can also find Christmas markets at major attractions such as the Old Town Square and Prague Castle.

Keep in mind that many European cultures enjoy taking their time to people-watch and chatting with friends while dining. One day we sat down at a cafe in downtown Vienna for lunch, and the event took us three hours! While it was relaxing and enjoyable, I'm sure many tourists are on a tight schedule to check out as many attractions as possible. That's why Christmas markets are so valuable in this situation. The service is closer to American fast food culture. You just need to pay cash, then grab and go.

Unconventional Christmas in Budapest

Instead of staying in for family gathering, what are the other activities for Christmas? How about soaking in a public bath the whole day? That was exactly what we did on Christmas day in Budapest!

Most of Budapest was actually closed on Christmas, including many businesses and restaurants, so do research ahead of time to check what remains open. It is also interesting to see the vast difference between Buda and Pest, despite the proximity. Buda is basically a ghost town around Christmas time with almost nothing open, whereas Pest remains a party town. We were super excited to find out that the Széchenyi Bath was open on Christmas day! Budapest is a city known for its many public bath houses, and Széchenyi is the most-visited out of all. On Christmas day, it was packed but we had a great time, enjoying some refreshment while soaking in warm water.

After the bath, check out the nearby Széchenyi Fürdő Előtti Park and Heroes Square. They are both in walking distance from the bath house and a magnificent sight that no one should miss.

Christmas Dinner at New York Cafe

You might find it strange why it's called New York Cafe, but this is one of the best restaurants in Budapest. With its high ceiling and renaissance-style interior, this place is luxurious and full of history. CNN called it the most beautiful cafe in the world. It was definitely a treat to dine here for our Christmas dinner! We were also pleasantly surprised that the costs weren't outrageous. My husband and I both ordered a 3-course meal and spent $110 USD for both of us.

Where to Stay

If you are planning a trip to Budapest, Vienna and Prague, below are places we stayed at and our comments.

Budapest - Hotel Clark Budapest

We absolutely adored this hotel! When we first arrived in Budapest, the airline actually lost all of our luggage (small plane and they didn't allow any carry-ons). We were distraught even though the airline crew assured us the luggage would be delivered to us in 24 hours. Somehow this hotel and their beautiful hotel room made our first day more tolerable.

Check out Hotel Clark's official site here for more info and booking.

Pros:

• Large window overlooking the famous Széchenyi Chain Bridge (connecting Buda and Pest)
• Spacious room and stylish decorations that remind me of 5-star hotels in the U.S.
• Conveniently located near the Buda Castle and Fisherman's Bastion.

Cons:

• We do wish the hotel staff could be more knowledgeable about their city. On Christmas day, we asked the front desk where we could go for dinner without a reservation. The staff said the only thing opened would be McDonald’s... we ended up finding plenty of restaurants opened on the Pest side!

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