Susanne Servin of Herzerl Tours has just returned from Vienna and the festive Advent Markets. While Ms. Servin was in Vienna she revisited two great Viennese holiday cookies, Vanillekipferl (vanilla moon/crescent shaped) and Engel Augen (Angel Eyes), in which she has generously shared the recipes with our readers. History and Recipes Vanillekipferl are sugar cookies in the shape of crescents that originated in …
Christmas is upon us. If you're traveling and reading this while waiting for your next stop, safe travels to you. If you're at your designated home for the holidays, sipping your peppermint flavored hot cocoa, watch those calories. If you're sick with a virus, I pray it isn't too bad. If you're relaxing by chestnuts roasting on an open fire, enjoy your snuggle.
In September 21, 1897 an eight year old named Virginia O’Hanlon wrote a letter to the Sun (the leading New York newspaper of the day) asking if Santa Claus was real. One of the writer’s of the Sun reluctantly wrote a response in an article which arguably became the most reprinted newspaper article in the English language.
In Colonial America, Christmas was essentially a day of Spiritual observance. Carols were sung and church bells rang out to celebrate the commemoration of Christ's birth. Early Americans decorated evergreen trees with things from nature and homemade items. Christmas was a warm, family experience for Colonial America.
After staying in Iligan City (an industrial town in the Southern part of the Philippines) for 3 weeks, I could really appreciate the simple things we Americans take for granted. Things like clean beautiful architecture, cemented roads, clean air, reliable internet access, free movie channels, reliable phone service, etc. We're really spoiled here in the U.S..
I have one sister. I think when I was born my parents saw me and said they thought they could do better and so my sister was born and then they realized it was best if they stopped. Joking aside, my sister is amazing and funny. She worked for many years as an administrator for several doctors and when she came to visit she knew just what to bring. You have probably heard of Gummy Bears. She brought Gummy Organs. We put them in a bowl and doctors would come in just to get liver or kidney to munch on. She and her daughter came dressed as birds, feathers and all. It is a great story and I have written it for Traveling Boy in the past and you can read it. It is a fascinating story that started with a smashed bird.
The pastry chef aboard the Viking Vili had no fear of losing his job because of me. My pathetic attempt at making a gingerbread house during his lesson on board put my skills at the kindergarten level. His fanciful creations in the ship’s lounge looked like they were conjured up by a Christmas elf employing Santa’s magical powers.
There is a phrase in old Victorian slang, nantynarking, which denotes great fun. The beaches of a Florida island are blooming with the sounds of nantynarking on this warm December afternoon as I make my way around the Dickens on Centretheme festival that's rocking beneath the palm trees.
Zürich has a lot to offer and it’s not just a boring banking city. It has new areas like the industrial part (Zürich West), the Langstrasse, a lovely old town, nature very close and a great selection of restaurants, bars & clubs. You can swim in the middle of the city. And we have fountains with drinking water everywhere in the city.
It was Christmas and the judge was in a merry mood as she asked the prisoner, "What are you charged with?"