Sweets and Treats Around the World (Part 2)

Hard at work!

Eva here.

Hi everyone! I know you all have been waiting for the second part of ice cream around the world, so I am writing this.

Finding Santa

Originally published in Alternatives Journal blog, Think Global

It’s December 6, and we are on the island of Kos in Greece. The stores are closed for the celebration of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors, but the sun is out and the cafes are doing a brisk trade. A band approaches and then a procession bearing the icon of St. Nicholas sweeps through the square on its way to the church where the service is being held. The procession passes, and the square is empty again, save for the Christmas tree and Santa Claus display.

The Italian Economy

After having arrived in Milan, Italy, we started to notice that the people weren’t too happy. How, you may ask? Just a hunch.
 

Rome Wasn’t Seen in a Day…

Strikes and protests greet us in the eternal city. We cannot take public transit from the airport to our apartment as there is a one day strike. We take a private shuttle. We settle in. We go to get groceries and stand in amazement observing the traffic chaos. The next morning we head out on a walking tour of the city and are stopped by a massive protest. Welcome to Rome!

Italian Plastic

During our time in Italy, we started to notice a strange subculture of everyday Italian life. When we went to buy things at supermarkets, we started to notice the large amount of plastic that was used.

The Fine Art of Tuscany

Taking it all in!

The last time I was in Florence I remember the swarms of pigeons, some suggestive statues, the leather market, the crusty bread that left your mouth raw, and my fear of being discovered after having dropped a stale end of bread over the balcony and then, two minutes later, peering over to see a riotous street scene below.

These are the memories of a ten year old and it makes me wonder what Eva will remember of our trip in years to come. I shouldn’t worry because she is often the one who makes the connections between what we are seeing today and what we saw a month ago. And there are a lot of recurring themes in art, architecture, history, and ice cream.

Pasta in Italy

Hi, Eva here. Today I saw how pasta is made in a factory from scratch.

This is the place… La Pasta dei Martelli.

The Merchandising of Venice

The carnival masks are everywhere, from the street vendors to the stores. They are the enduring symbol of Venice, the playful city.

Malls to Meals in Northern Italy

Two nights in Milan … was just about enough.

A Swiss Swoosh

The Valere Basilica in Sion

We spent one full day in Switzerland and would have liked to have spent more but the budget could not support it.