Introductions happen at the door, a host presses a warm drink into your hands before you have found a chair, and the kitchen table is where most plans get made. People gather in courtyards, on park benches and around long family meals.
The climate is mostly continental, with cold winters, warm summers and a milder, drier stretch along the southern coast, so pack layers for the cold months. A Local Friend walks beside you instead of ahead, sharing their streets, their stories and the people they love.