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Where to eat the best hummus in Tel Aviv
Even though hummus doesn´t come from Israel but Lebanon instead, being consumed especially in countries like Palestine, Turkey, Greece, Syria, Armenia and Cyprus, the truth is that it´s a big part of the Israeli gastronomy and lifestly. It´s as commonplace to find this dish on the dinner table as it is to find your children sitting at it. In other words, it´s like a salad would be in western Europe. It can be used as a side dish, to share or as a main course. It´s made from chick peas (which is actually what hummus means), sesame seed paste, a few drops of lemon juice and garlic. However, the recipe varies depending on where you are. You will have probably tried hummus at some point in your life, whether it´s in your corner kebab shop or at your hippy friend´s dinner gathering. However, the clear thing is that good food gets exported and that´s how hummus reached us. Even so, as you probably know, nothing is as good as it is in its country of origin. If you don´t believe that, ask the Italians who makes the best pasta, the Japanese who makes the best sushi or the people from Valencia who makes the best paella. It´s the same thing: if you want to eat the proper hummus, you have to do so in one of the aforementioned countries. In this case, we´re going to talk about Tel Aviv. And not just talk about it but in fact give you the three best places where you can eat all the hummus you want. Hummus Abu Adham In this place,...
The castle and Old Town of Riga
Northeastern Europe awaits us, on the shores of the Baltic Sea. Latvian capital Riga is a city that rises very close tot he mouth of the Daugava river in the Gulf of Riga. The old town of Riga, Vecrïga, combines a medieval aspect in this tangled web of streets with restored houses in Dutch Renaissance style, religious monuments and modernist buildings, containing the best collection of Art Nouveau buildings in the whole of Europe. For this reason, it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. In the old town, between the Daugava and the Pilsetas kanals, three towers rise above the rest of the buildings: St Peter´s, St Jacob´s and the Cathedral (Dome). Riga is a cosmopolitan city and the biggest one among all the ones in the Baltic states. It was also chosen as the European Capital of Culture for 2014. Among the main buildings we´ll find Riga Castle, built in the 14th century, St Peter´s Church made in wood and Gothic style, St James´ Catholic Cathedral, St Mary´s Lutheran Cathedral, St John´s Church, the art galleries and museums located in medieval craft workshops, Mencendorf Mansion and Doma Lukims square. All in all, it´s an elegant city with exotic balconies, sculptures of humans, animals and mythological beings and spectacular facades with carvings and frescos. It´s a city with a great cultural, historical and architectonical offer. Riga Castle, Rïgas pils in Latvian, was built on the banks of the Daugava river in 1330, where the first fortresses of this city were built. Today, it´s the symbol of Riga and home to two museums as well as the...
10 places to visit in Dubrovnik (part I, 1-5)
One of the most important tourist points on the Adriatic Sea is Dubrovnik, the old Ragusa. Located on the coastline and at the foot of the SAN Sergio mountain in the Dalmatian region, what is modern-day Croatia today, it´s also known as the Pearl of the Adriatic and the Dalmatian Athens. It´s a small city surrounded by walls and fortresses, which are the main attractions for visitors. Here is a small guide of Dubrovnik´s main attractions. Each chapter will have 5 attractions, so let´s start the first one with a route around this beautiful city: The walls of Dubrovnik (Dubrovačke gradske zidine): They represent the main attraction for tourists. It was one of the main fortresses during the Middle Ages since during this period of time, what used to be the old Ragusa, was never invaded. It´s one of the best-preserved fortresses in Europe, and that´s why it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979. Measuring 4600ft and 82ft in height, most of the wall shows the same aspect as it did when it was built in the 12th and 17th centuries. Forming an irregular shape, it´s made up of five fortresses: Minčeta Tower (in the north part), Revelin Fortress (east of the port), Bokar Fortress and Lovjenac Fortress (in the western part) and lastly, St John Fortress (southeast of the port). Lovjenac Fortress (or St Lawrence´s Fortress): Located on the peak of a rock that is over 120ft tall, it´s also called the Gibraltar of Dubrovnik and has a spectacular view of the sea. How to get there? Through drawbridges, in which door there´s an inscription: “NON BENE PRO TOTO LIBERTAS VENDITUR AURO” (Freedom is not for sale not for all the gold in the world)....
Barcelona’s cuisine in autumn
When there is a change of season, we often also change our habits in every way, including our clothes, shoes, accessories and even the colors we wear. The transition from summer to autumn forces us to change our travel destinations and pay a visit to museums, instead of spending time at the beach or the countryside. When it comes to food, autumn offers new experiences for our taste sense; more intense flavors and delicious meals with a little more calories. You’ll be able to try a wide range of local dishes during autumn. This gastronomy tour through the capital of Catalunya will take you to every corner of the city. An autumn breakfast in Barcelona will bring you to various cafes and bars in el Raval. All these cafes have their doors open from the early morning and serve foaming coffees with milk, and various breakfast snacks. You can find omelets or Spanish tortillas among the most popular, as well as various cheeses and hams. Coffee is always fresh at any of these charming places. Also, you’ll discover that many locals enjoy a beer with breakfast, even before the first coffee of the day. There is nothing like these delights to raise the body temperature during a cold autumn morning. If it comes to food, you can also get lost on the streets of the Gothic quarter to find International food including: Catalan, Italian, Japanese, Chinese and Latin American cuisines, as well as Pakistani and Indian. There are many options according to your budget: you can actually eat very well with an average of 7 or 8 Euros....
Forces of Light Festival in Helsinki
The festival of lights known as the Forces of Light Festival in Helsinki begins in November. For the last 10 years, this festival has been attracting international tourists and local visitors to experience the beginning of a new season on the calendar. This fantastic party, which usually lasts about 15 days, reflects a lifestyle and culture of people who live a long while with almost no sunlight. The celebration involves art and cutting-edge design that make the city a true work of light and color. The blackness of the dark is offset by the brightness of the lights and fires that fascinate everyone. This festival has transformed the city into an attraction for many tourists who travel to get to know the world´s northernmost capital and a city whose motto is attractive design. They enjoy this carnival of light and creativity that is performed in streets and parks. Despite the low temperatures that are normal in autumn, the beauty of this city is magnified by the joy of the people who set the pace of the party. Afterwards, you can savor good salmon soup to warm the body, a custom that is very Finnish. You can find it at some of the many good restaurants in the city. The lack of sunlight can affect many aspects of daily life and health. This is why countries where the people live part of the year practically without sunlight usually have treatments to avoid the stress. This festival is a cultural form of accepting that the people will have to start using artificial lights. One of...
Nice with Children: Lunapark
The French Riviera is synonymous with luxury, beautiful people, car rallies, casinos, millionaires and nights of debauchery. While there is that side, you can also find another more suitable to the needs of traveling families: one that’s more peaceful and where the traditional way of life of this ancient Mediterranean city reigns. Nice is full of artistic spots and great places to go with children. Let´s begin! The French Riviera: Nice A favored destination of the European elite of the early twentieth century, Nice is more than its fifteen beaches with flashy names, the boardwalk adorned by more than five hundred palm trees (known as the Promenade des Anglais), its harbor and luxury shops. There is a hidden side of Nice that unfolds through the old town which is laden with the memory of the artists from the past, who once found it a very good place to place their easels and typewriters. Chagall, Matisse and Picasso created much of their work here, which is reflected in the art scene with spaces such as the Matisse Museum and the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (Mamac) with works by Warhol and other international Pop Art artists. Traveling with children: Lunapark A colorful carnival, hidden palaces (Valrose or Mont Boron) and somewhat secret gardens are part of the charm of Nice. These are places that traveling families will enjoy with little ones. You won’t want to miss visiting the Phoenix Park and especially the Green Diamond, a large glass greenhouse located inside the park. But the one place every young child will request to...
Cannabis Cup 2012 in Amsterdam
Amsterdam, the interesting capital of the Netherlands, full of museums, art in every corner, flowers, beautiful bike trails, beautiful sunsets in their channels and of course, its cafes licensed to sell marijuana ofthe best quality in the world. Perhaps this last point is the one that most tourists and everyone else, have in mind when visiting the city or at least is in the top positions in the ranking of reasons to visit Amsterdam. In all honesty, for fans and consumers of marijuana, Amsterdam is one of the paradises on earth and this grows even more in the days when they celebrate the “Cannabis Cup”. What is the Cannabis Cup?, Well, this is a contest, the largest worldwide contest where you choose Cannabis and taste the best sprouts of the season. As many may know, marijuana is harvested in autumn, like many other plants, including some famous wine grape strains. Thus, in the Netherlands this harvest period is celebrated in the capital with a great contest where all varieties are tested and also you find crop management courses, fertilizers, such as testing and other, basically its a festival on how to become a specialist in the subject, The 2012 version of the Cannabis Cup will be held from the18 to the 22 of November and do not forget that it is also a festival, the largest in the world, so you can share experiences with marijuana lovers worldwide and spend days without feeling guilty or any kind of remorse because everything is legal, spreading peace and security to enjoy such a special event without any police disturbance Remember that...
Jason Mraz in Barcelona
Traveling music fans should mark their calendars on November 16 in order not to miss the concert by singer Jason Mraz at the Badalona Olympic Hall that will be held as part of the tour to promote their new album, Love Is A Four Letter Word. This will certainly be one of the most interesting events on the music scene this autumn in Barcelona, so don’t miss out! But who is Jason Mraz? This thirty-something native of Virginia, avowed vegetarian, environmentalist and civil rights activist belongs to the new generation of artists who promote a more committed and environmentally responsible lifestyle. He has received several awards for his humanitarian work, and has even created his own foundation. Playing with styles as diverse as hip-hop, folk and jazz, Mraz released his first album in 2002 under the title Waiting for my rocket to home. While not a huge success, it did bring him into the spotlight enough to perform as the opening act for Tracy Chapman a year later. His definitive breakthrough came in 2005, with his second album, Mr. AZ, with which he went on tour with Alanis Morissette and the Rolling Stones. His song The beauty in ugly was also included on the soundtrack of the television series Ugly Betty. To crown this rapid rise to success, two participants of the talent scout shows American Idol and Canadian Idol performed his song Geek in the pink in 2007, turning it into a sales phenomenon on the Internet. It’s no wonder that his third studio album, released in 2008, entered directly into the bestseller lists in...
Carnival in Cologne – The Opening Ceremony
On Sunday, November 11, 2012, at 11:11 am, or to put it more succinctly on 11/11 at 11:11, the Cologne Carnival, one of the most popular carnivals in Europe, will be officially opened. It is considered by some people to be Europe´s answer to the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. Many think that carnival is usually celebrated in February. While that’s true, in this beautiful city on the Rhine it officially opens a few months earlier, gives way to the Christmas holidays and then returns in full force in February. The opening ceremony will be held in the Heumarkt, which can be considered the main square of Cologne, at 9:00 am and will be led by a trio of characters: the prince, the farmer and the maiden, also known as the Dreigestirn, the triumvirate. These three characters are indigenous people who pay a large sum of money to have this privilege and be the stars of the biggest event in the city. It should also be noted that the character of the maiden is always played by a man disguised as a woman, which gives a touch of comedy to the event. The Dreigestirn are accompanied by an orchestra and the square is full of carnival revelers who are ready to party. Each year about 70,000 people attend this event. At 1:30 pm, the traditional play Jan un Griet is performed in the Severinstor. It’s a story of unrequited love between the gentleman Jan and the maid Griet. It is followed by a procession in honor of Jan (whose real name was Johann von Werth, a German army general...
