Cultural Heritage
The Asturias region is often dubbed ‘Green Spain’ thanks to the diverse wilderness of the region. It is one of the most charming areas which still remain in the shade of southern beaches and cities like Madrid or Barcelona.
Traveling has made me a coffee lover. I’ve enjoyed the perfect espresso in Italy, strong traditional brews made in copper pots in Albania, cortados in Uruguay, and learned to take my coffee with coconut milk in Vietnam. Throughout my adventures, I’ve visited coffee plantations in India, Indonesia, and Vietnam. I thought I’d collected an abundance of knowledge about the caffeinated beverage but it wasn’t until I took a tour of the organic Finca Rosa Blanca coffee plantation in Santa Bárbara de Heredia, Costa Rica, that I realized I knew absolutely nothing about the cultivation of coffee.
Back in 1890, when much of New York's northernmost borough, the Bronx, remained undeveloped, a French immigrant was charged with laying out the then rural area's street grid.
With its cobbled streets, wrought iron balconies, and eclectic architecture, San Telmo is Buenos Aires’ oldest and most historic neighborhood. And, although it is the smallest one with an area of half a square mile, it is packed with fascinating local history and culture.
Where can you wake up in the morning to the pitter-patter of raindrops falling onto the lush, green mountainside while the bagpipes play in the distance? Scotland seems the obvious answer, but if you trade the kilts and haggis for jamón (ham) and bulls, you might be surprised to find the same scene in Asturias, Spain.
The Let the World See exhibit tells both Emmett’s story but also illuminates the courage of his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, who insisted on an open casket funeral for her son so that the world could see the brutality of his senseless murder. Her act fueled a movement that changed the nation.
St. Simons Island in Glynn County, Georgia is filled with history. Its newest museum, the World War II Home Front Museum, gives a different view of the war from typical accounts.
It is no secret to anyone that tourism is a major industry and draw for Charleston, South Carolina. However, on my most recent visit, I became a fan of their county parks because of one particular experience. I visited MacLeod Plantation Historic Site.
Before Europeans landed on North America, the continent was filled with a plethora of different native groups, with one of these being the Blackfoot Confederacy. The Confederacy consists of three First Nations bands in Canada, as well as one Native American tribe in the United States. Historically, the Blackfoot roamed across the Northern Plains, between British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Montana.
Designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the old Wieliczka Salt Mine is the most popular tourist attractions in Poland and offers a unique experience into the underworld civilization and local culture.
Before your wildlife safari or self-drive adventure, take a day or two to discover Windhoek’s history, particularly the township of Katutura, where the city’s black population was forcefully moved under Apartheid.
Portugal lies in the southwest corner of Europe on the Iberian peninsula. Its mostly Mediterranean climate, flavorful cuisine, and the charm and friendliness of its people make it a place to visit again and again. As we dream of the days when we can travel again, I am treasuring my memories from its capital city.
