Young

        One of Copenhagen's well-preserved secrets is right there in the open: a public lake which used to be a moat around the city in the early 17th century. That fortification was only recently developed into a park which we can now frolic around. The plant life is painstakingly maintained through the walkways, grassy turfs and bridgeways that map the area.  Although it is only 4m long, it actually connects underground with another artificially maintained lake known as Pebling Sø, which I also had the chance to ride a swan boat on. Both water bodies carry their own quirks and birds, sometimes quite loud and clear despite their sizes!

Imagine being Belgium in 1830, a country fresh out of political control from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, and in search of a ruling class which will be free of sociopolitical influences like the Catholics and socialists. This is one part of the nation's history which goes unseen, but effectively dictated how the leaders of the noble aristocracy met the new-age industrialists who were already expanding and growing their businesses. In short, certain circles of intellectuals like lawyers, scientists and philosophers established a safe space for networking, and today, the same space doubles as a trusted hub for diplomats to visit and meet people from different walks of life. This circle is additionally granted the title of royalty by the Belgian monarch, and if you happen to walk around the Royal Park of Brussels, you're already at the core of Le Cercle Royal Gaulois.