Tag: culture
In Basel, Switzerland, the antics of Vogel Gryff
A resounding boom from a raft on the Rhine, and the “only in (Klein)basel” ritual known as Vogel Gryff is underway. When Tom and...
Tasting the Colheitas of Graham’s
"Isn't that cool?!" exclaimed our host, raising a goblet of amber-hued liquid and gesturing with it to the distant corners of Palacio do Bolsa's...
Sweden’s coffee tradition – Do you fika?
I am a coffee fan. Not just any coffee, mind you. Good coffee--dark, robust, served in a nifty cup or mug, and with something...
Super Zampone: Over the Top in Emilia Romagna
Emilia Romagna is a gastronome's paradise, its culinary bounty celebrated with great fanfare through the autumn harvest season. Wine, fish, meats and cheeses--all kinds...
Prayer flags, prayer wheels & mani stones in Nepal
On my first trip to Nepal many years ago, I was struck by symbols of Buddhism almost everywhere. Following the lead of my Sherpa...
Alphorns at 2,200 meters–A Swiss summer tradition
Several years ago, on a weekend excursion to the mountains near Lucerne, my husband and I met a troupe of alphorn players from Canton...
Going head to head: Switzerland’s fighting cows
“Huit, evacuée!” “Number eight, you’re out of there!”
Spectators cheer as cows with names like Papillon and Surplice face off in an outdoor ring...
Zibelmärit offers a taste of Switzerland
Onions, in all their garlanded glory, are the basis for Bern’s Zibelmärit. They are colorful and pretty to look at in your kitchen, dangling...
“Golden hands” produce Kyrgyz shyrdaks
Shyrdaks are Kyrgyz felt carpets, handmade made using patterns and sewing techniques handed down through generations. Always produced by a community of women, they...
The art of Uzbek flatbread
Non, the round bread of Uzbekistan, is as ubiquitous as the pot of green tea that accompanies every meal of the day. Inspired by...