About

Hi, I'm Alex from Edinburgh, and welcome to 14 Degrees East. Here you'll find travel writing that covers the length and breadth of Europe, looking at the best (and worst) of the continent through the eyes of someone who's spent a decade seeking out its unexplored corners. If you're interested in seeing more of Europe through its culture, history, nature, art or daily life, then chances are you'll find writing here that's for you.

Why 14 Degrees East?

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In short, a geographical twist of fate. Without planning it, I've lived in Berlin, Prague, and Ljubljana—three cities lying more or less in a straight line along the 14th meridian east of Greenwich. Or, put another way, lying 14 degrees east.

It's a line that's been at the heart of Europe and European identity for centuries, and once upon time even split the world in two. After all, when Churchill described the Iron Curtain descending from Stettin to Trieste, he was describing the 14th meridian.

Many of the stories you'll find on 14 Degrees East will come from my time shuttling north and south along this line, but don't be surprised to find articles straying further east and west. Europe's a big place: there's a lot to explore.