The History of London’s Covent Garden

Posted on February 21, 2012 by kredman

At some point during a trip, many visitors to London, England end up at Covent Garden.  However, modern visitors may not be aware of all the interesting history they are standing on as they explore the current day attractions there.

The land had formerly belonged to Westminster Abbey and was known as ‘Convent Garden’ because it supplied food for the Convent and Abbey of St Peter at Westminster.   Henry VIII seized it during his grab of the Church’s assets when he fought with the Roman Catholic Church and granted it to the Earls of Bedford.  The fourth Earl commissioned the well-known architect Inigo Jones to develop the land by building fashionable houses to attract rich tenants.   Jones decided to experiment and build a piazza similar to those he had seen during his travels to Italy.  The surrounding straight grid of streets stood out from the jumbled roads of London at this time.

Spend time at Covent Garden and you might see pineapples adorning the lights or buildings.  Fruit and vegetable markets were held regularly in the piazza. When the Great Fire of London destroyed other markets, Covent Garden became the most important vegetable and flower market in the country.   In the late seventeenth century greenhouses began to grow pineapples which were exotic and expensive and they became a symbol of wealth and hospitality similar to the South of the United States – the pineapple symbolizes the market’s history.

The Lamb and Flag pub is the oldest in Covent Garden; its license was granted in 1623.  Many parts of the original building are still intact.  The pub has a colorful history owing to the boxing fights that took place in the back room and earned it the title ‘the Bucket of Blood.’  People who visit Covent Garden today may not realize that Theatre Royal on Drury Lane is the oldest functioning London theatre dating to 1663.

An area as bustling as Covent Garden attracted all types of people.  In 1740 a local tavern owner published a list of the names and addresses of prostitutes in Covent Garden – he allegedly sold thousands of copies.  In the 1960’s Covent Garden served as the location for the scene where the Cockney flower girl, Eliza Doolittle is introduced to Professor Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady.

Whether you are interested in history, grabbing a quick pint or street and theatre entertainment, Covent Garden today offers something for everyone on a visit to London.

Posted in History & Traditions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Belgian vs. Swiss Chocolate

Posted on February 14, 2012 by kredman

Belgian vs. Swiss chocolate….I know what you’re thinking, does it really matter?   Chocolate is chocolate after all!    However, it turns out that there really is a difference when it comes to what is produced by these two chocolate powerhouses.    But first a little history about chocolate….we have the Aztecs to thank for figuring out that chocolate was consumable as well as owing Spain some gratitude for her conquistadores bringing it to Europe.  Spain kept the secret of this magical elixir secret for many years.  Interestingly enough, other European countries such as France, England and Italy next adopted this treat getting into the chocolate culture much sooner than the two countries which have become the most strongly associated with it.

Although Switzerland is synonymous today with chocolate, there was a time when it was banned there because it had a reputation as being an aphrodisiac.  Also, chocolate was only available in cocoa or liquid form until the late 19th century. It was the Swiss who came up with the idea to add cocoa butter back into the chocolate and the method to do so, as well as being the creators of milk chocolate.  However, it was the Belgians who invented the praline and chocolate truffles with all their various exotic fillings.

  • Beans – In order to find its own chocolate supply, Belgium acquired the Congo, this gave the country easy access to the cocoa fields there and they still source their beans mainly from Africa.   Switzerland sources beans not just from Africa, but from South America as well.
  • Texture – Swiss chocolate has a smoother texture.   Rudolph Lindt invented the process of conching, refining the texture of chocolate by warming it and then grinding it between rollers.  This is in contrast to other chocolatiers who use artificial emulsifiers to create a smooth chocolate.
  • Storage – Most chocolate companies received their chocolate in solid form.   The chocolate must then be reheated to use it.  Belgian companies often receive their chocolate in heated tanker trucks, which since the chocolate has not cooled after the tempering process; it keeps more of the flavors and aromas.
  • Milk vs. Dark – The Swiss are masters of milk chocolate; over 80% of the chocolate consumed in the country is milk chocolate.  When Swiss milk chocolate is compared to milk chocolate from other countries, the Swiss chocolate is creamier due to its higher milk content and it contains less cocoa and more sugar.   By contrast, those who prefer dark chocolate, appreciate the higher cocoa content of Belgian chocolate.
  • Chocolate consumption – The Swiss hold the record here, it is said that each person eats the equivalent of one chocolate bar per day!  However, the Belgians are right behind them enjoying an average of 24 pounds per year.

Now you’ve been educated about the differences between Swiss and Belgian chocolate.   However when it comes to concluding which is better, there really is only one way to decide, isn’t there?

Posted in Taste of Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Top Ten Romantic Spots in Europe

Posted on February 7, 2012 by kredman

Whether you are in a new relationship, or keeping the fires burning in an established one, Europe has the destinations guaranteed to up the romance quotient:

  • Paris, France – The ‘City of Light’ becomes the ‘City of Love’ when you kiss someone at the top of the Eiffel Tower…
  • Santorini, Greece – Sit shoulders brushing on a white stone wall gazing at one of the most famous sunsets in the world…
  • Savonlinna, Finland – Light a fire in your quiet lakeside cabin and enjoy views of soft white snow and birch trees.
  • Venice, Italy – Climb onboard a gondola and sink back into the arms of your lover as you glide past Renaissance architecture…
  • Bruges, Belgium – Hold hands admiring medieval buildings as you stroll the dreamlike and peaceful canals…
  • Reikjavik, Iceland – Get steamy at the Blue Lagoon geothermal springs…
  • Paxos, Greece – Hold onto to your sweetheart as you zoom past terraced olive groves and crystal clear seas on a motorbike…
  • Rome, Italy – Make a wish that your relationship will last forever as you toss a coin into the Trevi fountain together…
  • Keukenhof Gardens, Netherlands – Admire the symbols of romance as you stroll the beautiful flower gardens together…
  • Connemara, Ireland – Rent a horse and hold tight to your partner as you canter across the beach…

What is your most romantic spot in Europe?

 

 

Posted in Travel Explorations | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

My Travel Bucket List

Posted on January 31, 2012 by kredman

Watching the movie The Bucket List with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson got me thinking.  The film, about two terminally ill men who make wish lists of things they want to do before ‘kicking the bucket’ inspired me.  Although I have been fortunate to have traveled a lot (over thirty countries), there are still so many places I want to visit or travel experiences I want to have.  So I created my own ‘Travel Bucket List.’

  • Spend a day learning the art of making cheese from a Swiss cheese maker
  • Stay on a houseboat on one of the canals in the Netherlands
  • Dress in a floor length gown and waltz at one of the balls in Vienna during the Imperial ball season
  • Attend the historic and famous Italian horse race, the Palio di Siena, in Italy
  • Stay in a French chateau
  • Attend a masked ball in Venice during Carnival season
  • Enjoy the steam and the architecture in the Gellért Baths in Budapest
  • Attend a polo match in Argentina
  • Stay the weekend in a cabin among birch trees at one of Finland’s almost 200,000 lakes
  • Rent a boat and sail from island to island in Greece
  • Take a horseback riding trip through northern Portugal
  • Audit a class at Oxford University
  • View the colorful processions, floats and costumes of Semana Santa (Holy Week) in Chile
  • Watch the Northern Lights in Norway

What’s on your Travel Bucket List?

Posted in Travel Explorations | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

European Coffeehouse Culture

Posted on January 24, 2012 by kredman

Long before there was Starbucks, Europe had an established coffee culture.  Coffeehouses in Europe date back to the 14th century in Turkey and then spread throughout Europe via Italian merchants and traders from Venice in the 17th century.     Friends met at coffeehouses to socialize gossip and play cards.  Later coffee houses also quickly became meeting places for intellectuals, writers and artists to discuss their work and politics giving rise to the café culture.

Unlike today’s U.S. coffee culture where the beverage is consumed mostly as fuel for the workday, coffee in Europe is still chiefly approached as a social experience.  Compare the social atmosphere of a European coffeehouse with modern U.S. coffee shops where individuals sit solo studying or staring into laptops.   When you see people interacting in U.S. coffee shops it’s often because business is being conducted as opposed to a group of friends leisurely chatting.

Contrast strolling through the streets of any European city to U.S. cities where everyone seems to have a cup of coffee in hand as they stride along.     There is even a difference in how each consumes their coffee.  Instead of being served coffee to go in a paper cup, Europeans consume their beverage in a bar or café sipping from a proper ceramic or china cup.

In the end, the consumption of coffee is a lifestyle in Europe and a routine in the United States.  Rather than a jolt of energy Europeans ironically enough use coffee as an opportunity to slow down and enjoy life a little.

European Coffee Trivia

  • Italians only drink cappuccinos in the morning, ordering one in the afternoon or evening marks you as a tourist
  • In 15th century Turkey, there was a law that a woman could divorce a man if he didn’t provide enough coffee to last her through the day
  • Decaf coffee was first produced in Germany
  • Seventeenth century Londoners augmented their coffee with butter, ale or mustard
  • Traditionally in France coffee is served after dessert, not with dessert
  • Coffeehouses in 18th century England were called ‘penny universities’ as it cost a penny to enter.   Patrons had access not only to coffee, but sometimes lectures, pamphlets and runners who went to various coffeehouses announcing the news.
Posted in Taste of Travel | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New DOT Rules

Posted on January 20, 2012 by kredman

Have you heard about the new DOT price advertising rules?  The Department of Transportation has created a new federal rule which goes into effect on January 26th that all airline and travel business prices will show the total price including all airline and government related taxes and fuel surcharges.  Optional fees such as baggage fees, meals and entertainment are not included in the fare as they are at the discretion of the traveler.

Consumers should be aware that fares have not increased; they simply reflect a difference in how pricing is displayed.  The new full fare advertising is meant to assist consumers with comparison shopping.

Posted in Did You Know? | Tagged , | 1 Comment

The History Behind Irish Handknit Sweaters

Posted on January 17, 2012 by kredman

Many visitors to Ireland fall in love with the cozy qualities of Aran handknit sweaters and end up taking one home, yet many don’t know the history of these popular souvenirs.

The Aran Islands are located in the west of Ireland off Galway Bay.  The islands are very traditional and popular with visitors, but in winter the climate can be challenging for locals who make their living from outdoor pursuits such as fishing and farming.  The original sweaters were made from untreated sheep’s wool which had not had its oils stripped; the natural greases made them waterproof.  The original Aran sweaters were cream colored as they were made from undyed yarn.  The sweaters first started to become really popular outside of Ireland in the 1940’s and 1950’s.  The Aran handknit sweaters really took off when the beloved Kennedy brothers, who are of Irish descent, were photographed playing football in them.

There are two schools of thought about the patterns on the sweaters.   Some describe the patterns as being a way to identify what clan the wearer belonged to in order to make identification of drowned fishermen easier.  If you have Irish blood and want to buy a sweater traditional to your clan, visit:  http://www.clanarans.com/clan-aran-sweaters

There are some people who dismiss as myth the idea that the patterns served to identify fishermen and instead describe the patterns as symbolic.    One of the most common patterns, the honeycomb pattern, is supposed to symbolize the hardworking bee.  The cable design, inferring ropes,  represent the profession of fishing.  A diamond pattern is meant to signify the hope for success and wealth and amusingly a double zig zag is supposed to depict the ups and downs of married life.  Whatever the reason for the various patterns in Irish sweaters, they are very pleasing to the eye, and are part of what makes shopping for one so much fun.

Aran handknit sweaters are the perfect souvenir because they are both attractive and functional.  Whenever you pull one on during a chilly day you will remember the history, landscapes and friendly people of Ireland.

 

Posted in History & Traditions | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

I Could Have Danced All Night

Posted on January 12, 2012 by kredman

Do you dream of formally dressed dancers waltzing gracefully across a ballroom floor? If so, consider visiting Vienna, Austria during Vienna’s Ball Season. Vienna’s balls are an enchanting part of Austrian history and an opportunity to experience the elegance and traditions of the  former Imperial city of Vienna. In 1773, Emperor Joseph, part of the Habsburg dynasty,  made the ballrooms of the Hofburg palace available for public balls for the non-nobility and and the dance known as the Viennese waltz, became the Austrian way of celebrating the yearly carnival season.

The ball season kicks off in Vienna on December 31st  with the Imperial Ball and continues until the end of March with over 150 public balls as well as numerous private ones. The balls are hosted by various organizations including the city of Vienna, churches and several balls sponsored by occupations including the Pharmacist’s Ball, the Lawyer’s Ball and the Coffee-Maker’s Ball, though it is not necessary to be associated with the profession to attend these public balls.

Each ball begins with an opening ceremony and dance show before the open dancing starts. Although the Viennese waltz is the traditional dance, other ballroom dances such as the foxtrot, polka, cha cha and tango are performed.

The Vienna Tourist Office http://www.wien.info/en produces a ball calendar and it’s recommended to book tickets for the ball you wish to attend well in advance if you plan to attend one of the most famous balls, though it certainly is possible to buy tickets upon arrival in Vienna for all but the most well-known balls. Ticket prices vary according to how popular and lavish a ball is, and whether you wish to attend the dance show that occurs prior to the attendees heading to the dance floor or simply arrive later for the dancing.

Most balls have dress codes with black tie being the most common although the most lavish balls are white tie. So if you are feeling like Cinderella with nothing to wear to the ball, you can rent a gown from some of Vienna’s boutiques such as Art for ART, Flossmann and Kleiderverleigh Rottenberg. Worried about your partner having two left feet? There are dance schools in Vienna,  such as Tanzschule Elmayer: http://www.elmayer.com/  where you can take a Viennese waltz lesson to prepare before your ball.

The Imperial Ball season in Vienna happens to occur during the off travel season, so you can have a less expensive trip as well as  a once-in-a-lifetime memory of  experiencing the magic of the Vienna Ball Season.

Posted in Events, History & Traditions | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment