Our first trip of 2010 was to the enchanting north of Spain where we were able to indulge in all our favorite past times, gourmet eating, wine tasting and golfing. The first stop on our trip was the modernista city of Barcelona. We stayed in the funky and functional Casa Camper hotel in el Raval just a few blocks off of la Rambla which is the main pedestrian stroll in the city.
La Rambla is lined with interesting vendors selling everything from food and flowers to canaries. The stroll is also host to a multitude of street buskers all vying for a place amongst the vendor stalls and hoping to attract tourists, their camera and more importantly their euros! It makes for a colorful afternoon to simply stroll along pop into food markets and eye up all the intriguing characters.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Maastricht - Carnival 2010
The city of Maastricht is quite different than other Dutch cities and we found the architecture is more French inspired. The city really gets into the spirit of Carnival with festivities kicking off Sunday at noon with a grand ceremony in the square. The Prince of Carnival arrives and raises a large Dutch marionette lady as a symbolic gesture accompanied by much pomp and circumstance with the city major and policticans.
After the official kick off, there is much drinking of beer and a major 3 hour parade through the main streets. Groups respresenting different interests, marching bands and individuals parade in costume drinking and cavorting along the way. It is quite entertaining although since our toes were freezing we had to escape before the end into a little heated area of an outdoor patio to warm up.
Wij dranken bierjes (We drank small beers) and visited many rowdy crowded establishments. We finally gave into the cold at about 6 and went back to the hotel. We decided to go for dinner and managed to find an open restaurant (many are closed). We ended our night with a bottle of wine (cause we just couldn't drink anymore beer) then made our way back to our hotel to fall in bed. Very fun! Next year we hope to convince a group to go and also that the weather is much better!
After the official kick off, there is much drinking of beer and a major 3 hour parade through the main streets. Groups respresenting different interests, marching bands and individuals parade in costume drinking and cavorting along the way. It is quite entertaining although since our toes were freezing we had to escape before the end into a little heated area of an outdoor patio to warm up.
Wij dranken bierjes (We drank small beers) and visited many rowdy crowded establishments. We finally gave into the cold at about 6 and went back to the hotel. We decided to go for dinner and managed to find an open restaurant (many are closed). We ended our night with a bottle of wine (cause we just couldn't drink anymore beer) then made our way back to our hotel to fall in bed. Very fun! Next year we hope to convince a group to go and also that the weather is much better!
Monday, February 15, 2010
The Massai & Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
Dec 23, 2009
On route to the Ngorongoro Crater, we made a stop to visit the Massai people. The Massai are a nomadic tribe known for their bright red, blue and purple tartan wraps. They live as an extended family in smaller communities between 50 and 100 people in huts built from cow dung and earth. They are a meat eating people who raise cattle as their source of food although their culinary choice of milk mixed with blood didn’t entice us.
On route to the Ngorongoro Crater, we made a stop to visit the Massai people. The Massai are a nomadic tribe known for their bright red, blue and purple tartan wraps. They live as an extended family in smaller communities between 50 and 100 people in huts built from cow dung and earth. They are a meat eating people who raise cattle as their source of food although their culinary choice of milk mixed with blood didn’t entice us.
The men are known to be fearsome warriors and a young man’s right of passage from boy to manhood use to involve killing a lion although now the Tanazian government discourages them. The women raise the children and run the house. The tribes are only recently beginning to be educated which will hopefully help to improve their standard of living.
The village we visited has been set up for tourists and the families rotate in an out of the village taking turns earning fees for entrance. We were treated to a traditional dance performed with “some” enthusiasm and then we entered the village. The women had made masses of beaded jewelry that were on display in the center of the huts.
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