cultural travel - Pics - Tripatini2024-03-29T12:27:12Zhttps://tripatini.com/photo/feed/tag/cultural+travelA particularly Spanish New Year´s Eve tradition: 12 graèshttps://tripatini.com/photo/spain-twelve-grapes-new-year-traditions-culture2023-12-31T11:26:43.000Z2023-12-31T11:26:43.000ZJoseba Basabehttps://tripatini.com/members/JosebaBasabe<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12343186859?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>As midnight approaches on New Year’s Eve, many thousands of people across Spain will be clutching an important good-luck charm: 12 <em>uvas</em> (grapes) to bring fortune throughout the next 12 months. (LINK)</p>
<p>The idea is to pop one grape into your mouth as each stroke of midnight chimes. And it´s actually trickier than it sounds – chewing and swallowing one quickly in time to gulp the next one, and especially if you happen to be standing in a crowd surrounded by giggling friends or family. Supermarkets and shops cater to this by selling packages of a dozen seedless grapes to pop at a moment´s notice. <br /> <br /> (And an interesting historical note: this tradition dates back to 1882, when a Scrooge-like <strong>Madrid</strong> mayor imposed a tax (!) on holiday parties, discriminating against the less well off – so a bunch of workers staged a “protest” celebration in downtown´s <strong>Puerta del Sol</strong>, popping a grape at each ring of the bell to make fun of upper-crust dining customs.<br /> <br /> Also keep in mind that you´ll want to try to chew the grapes thoroughly to avoid choking, with old folks and young kids especially at risk)<br /><br /> Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/spain-new-years-eve-traditions" target="_blank">5 of Spain's Special New Year's Traditions</a>.</p>
<p> <br /><em><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Uvas_de_la_suerte_2012.jpg"><span style="font-size:8pt;">acinta lluch valero</span></a></em></p>
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<p> </p></div>Why red undergarments are a Spanish New Year's traditionhttps://tripatini.com/photo/spain-red-underwear-new-year-traditions-culture2023-12-31T11:24:22.000Z2023-12-31T11:24:22.000ZJoseba Basabehttps://tripatini.com/members/JosebaBasabe<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12343185687?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>For those looking for love in the coming year, the belief is that wearing red underwear will make it happen (though claim say that it only works if these undies are a gift, and others hold that you need to give them away before dawn – er, whatever).</p>
<p>Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/spain-new-years-eve-traditions" target="_blank">5 of Spain's Special New Year's Traditions</a>.</p>
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<p><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/wine-bottle-near-flowers-on-white-textile-h0dZX39mJRs"><span style="font-size:8pt;">Heather Ford</span></a></p>
<p> </p></div>A poopy Christmas in Catalonia, Spainhttps://tripatini.com/photo/caganer-catalonia-spain-christmas-tradition2023-12-20T07:21:12.000Z2023-12-20T07:21:12.000ZJosé Balidohttps://tripatini.com/members/JoseBalido<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12331483889?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Catalans are traditionally a bit scatological, and they’ve got not one but two traditions to prove it. First is a Christmas log called <strong>Tió de Nadal</strong> or <strong>Caga Tió</strong> (“pooping log”), a hollowed-out bit of rustic wood – usually around a foot long – with a smiley face and draped with a blanket. When kids smack it with sticks, they´re rewarded with candies, nuts, <em>turrón</em> (holiday nougat), and little gifts which get “pooped” out of its back end.<br /> <br /> More explicitly fecal-centered, the <strong><em>caganers</em></strong> (shitters) are small figurines which have adorned Nativity scenes and other holiday décor since at least the 18th century. They depict bare-assed peasants (inevitably dudes) in their traditional red caps, in the act of squatting and taking a dump. The idea is that they´re fertilizing the earth and thus bringing good luck. In recent years, variations have arisen of <em>caganers</em> depicting politicians and other celebrated figures both real and fictional – from Hollywood celebrities to the <strong>Pope</strong> to <strong>Darth Vader</strong> – meant as a satirical device to cut them down to size a bit.<br /><br />Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/unusual-christmas-traditions-of-the-world?edited=1" target="_blank">A Quirky Christmas tp All! 10 of the World´s Weirdest Yuletide Traditions</a>.</p>
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<p><span style="font-size:8pt;"><a href="https://www.istockphoto.com/es/foto/caganer-gm499399498-80205375?phrase=caganer" target="_blank">agafapaperiapunta</a></span></p>
<p> </p></div>For Ukrainian Christmas, itsy bitsy spidershttps://tripatini.com/photo/ukraine-christmas-tree-spider-web2023-12-20T07:05:38.000Z2023-12-20T07:05:38.000ZJosé Balidohttps://tripatini.com/members/JoseBalido<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12331481898?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Plenty of Ukrainian Christmas trees feature ornaments in the form of spider webs. This comes not just from the tradition of spiders bringing could luck, but more specifically from an old western Ukrainian folk tale. It seems a family too poor to decorate their tree woke up on Christmas morning to find it covered with cobwebs. Then when they opened the windows, the sun´s rays turned the webs into gold and silver. Yuletide wonder restored and bye-bye poverty! Now if there were only some magic that could make these invading Russians disappear.<br /><br />Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/unusual-christmas-traditions-of-the-world?edited=1" target="_blank">A Quirky Christmas tp All! 10 of the World´s Weirdest Yuletide Traditions</a>.</p>
<p><br /><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Christmas_spider_ornaments_ukraine.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:8pt;">Erika Smith</span></a></p>
<p> </p></div>Vallenato, the UNESCO World Heritage music of Colombiahttps://tripatini.com/photo/vallenato-music-colombia-unesco-intangible-world-heritage2023-12-05T11:43:24.000Z2023-12-05T11:43:24.000ZIberia Airlineshttps://tripatini.com/members/IberiaAirlines<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12309006071?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Along with <strong>cumbia</strong><span style="font-weight:400;">, the </span><strong>folk music</strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> form known as </span><strong>vallenato</strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> is a calling card of </span><strong>Colombian culture</strong><span style="font-weight:400;">, and its</span><a href="http://www.festivalvallenato.com/"> <strong>Vallenata Legend Festival</strong></a><span style="font-weight:400;"> is a particularly momentous one, marking its 52nd edition this year April 26-30 in the city of </span><strong>Valledupar</strong><span style="font-weight:400;">, in Colombia's northeast, about an hour and a half flight from </span><strong>Bogotá</strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> and just under four hours' drive from </span><strong>Cartagena</strong><span style="font-weight:400;">.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight:400;">Truth to tell, </span><strong>Colombian culture</strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> wouldn't be the same without this music, which goes back more than two centuries. With humble roots in rural troubadors mixing Spanish and African traditions, these days it's beloved enough among Colombians that </span><strong>UNESCO</strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> has classified it as an </span><strong>Intangible Cultural Heritage</strong><span style="font-weight:400;">, and it's even been extending its reach into neighbouring countries such as Ecuador and Venezuela.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;">Read more in our post</span><a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/celebrating-colombia-s-folksy-vallenato-music-1?edited=1"> <span style="font-weight:400;">Celebrating Colombia´s Folksy Vallenato Music</span></a><span style="font-weight:400;">.</span><span style="font-weight:400;"><br /> </span><span style="font-weight:400;"><br /> </span><span style="font-weight:400;"><br /> </span></p><h6><em><span style="font-weight:400;">ProColombia</span></em></h6><p> </p></div>The most important giants of ´world music´https://tripatini.com/photo/world-music-cultural-tourism-travel2023-12-05T10:35:21.000Z2023-12-05T10:35:21.000ZMax Peslinghttps://tripatini.com/members/MaxPesling<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12308983262?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Globalization has been a sometimes controversial mixed bag in different areas and different parts of the world, but I think we can all agree that on the plus side, one of its grooviest benefits has been to bring to spread many of the exciting cultural achievements of societies much different from our own.</p><p>Nowhere is this more exciting than in the field of “<strong>world music</strong>”, a term that came into vogue beginning in the 1980s to describe music both non-Western and non-mainstream Western. Initially referring to traditional music, it’s now rather broader, extending to all kinds of funky fusion, from pop to electronica and beyond.<span id="more-10426"></span></p><p>There are thousands upon thousands of talented world music artists out there, but here are a dozen of the most influential of the present and recent past which have done the most to popularize their sounds beyond their own cultures. Some you already know (and may even find a bit obvious), but others you may not. And yet others you may think I have perhaps unfairly left out; if so, please let us know in the comments!</p><p>Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/12-giants-of-world-music?edited=1" target="_blank">12 Giants of World Music</a>.</p><p> </p><p> </p></div>Memorable music in Memphis, Tennesseehttps://tripatini.com/photo/beale-street-memphis-tennessee-music-cultural-tourism-travel2023-11-28T22:04:16.000Z2023-11-28T22:04:16.000ZJosé Balidohttps://tripatini.com/members/JoseBalido<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12304912664?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><span style="font-weight:400;">With a population of around 633,000, <strong>Tennessse</strong>´s second largest city is best known for barbecue and music - home to <strong>Elvis Presley</strong>´s mansion <strong>Graceland</strong> and birthplace of blues, soul, and rock ´n´ roll (you can see this history laid out in the <strong>Rock ´n´ Soul Museum</strong> and hit the clubs on <strong>Beale Street</strong> (pictured here) and elsewhere for the current scene. </span><em><span style="font-weight:400;"><br /> </span></em><em><span style="font-weight:400;"><br /> </span></em></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight:400;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/whatcouldgowrong/3388981250" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:6pt;">Josh Walker</span></a></span></em></p></div>Graceland, the single biggest draw of Memphis, Tennesseehttps://tripatini.com/photo/graceland-memphis-tennessse-music-cultural-tourism-travel2023-11-28T22:02:29.000Z2023-11-28T22:02:29.000ZJosé Balidohttps://tripatini.com/members/JoseBalido<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12304911295?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><span style="font-weight:400;">On a 14-acre estate nine </span><span style="font-weight:400;">miles south of downtown, this 84-year-old, 23-room neo-colonial manse was famously lived in by Elvis Presley (from 1957-till he died here in 1977) as well as various family members, and he and various of them are buried out back. Visitors have been welcome since TK, and there´s also an exhibit complex on the grounds, including a car museum with star attractions like Elvis´ pink Jeep and Cadillac. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight:400;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Graceland_Memphis_Tennessee.jpg" target="_blank"><em><span style="font-size:6pt;">Joseph Novak</span></em></a></span></p></div>Nashville´s legendary Grand Ole Opryhttps://tripatini.com/photo/grand-ole-opry-nashville-tennessee-music-cultural-tourism-travel2023-11-28T21:59:44.000Z2023-11-28T21:59:44.000ZJosé Balidohttps://tripatini.com/members/JoseBalido<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12304911452?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><span style="font-weight:400;">I remember my first (and so far only) time visiting the Opry, back in 2014. The lineup included Carrie Underwood, the Charlie Daniels Band, and Riders in the Sky. Man, was that memorable. In a couple of years the Opry will celebrate its 100th birthday, and it´s still going strong as an institution of U.S. country music (and music in general, and it also includes bluegrass, folk, and gospel, along with comedy standups and skits).</span><em><span style="font-weight:400;"><br /> </span></em></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight:400;"><br /> </span></em><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joshbousel/140079213/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:6pt;">Joshua Bousel</span></a></p>
<p> </p></div>Community tourism in Ivory Coasthttps://tripatini.com/photo/akan-ethnic-group-community-tourism-ivory-coast-cote-divoire2023-10-16T12:21:27.000Z2023-10-16T12:21:27.000ZHelen Brownhttps://tripatini.com/members/HelenBrown<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12258108461?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>While the Akan (shown here) are by far the majority - more than 42 percent - there are around 60 other ethnic groups throughout this small country, such as the Ebrie, the Gur, the Krous, and the Mande. And a number of Abidjan-based tour operators can introduce visitors to their cultures and ways.</p><p>Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/ivory-coast-cote-d-ivoire" target="_blank">The Allures of Ivory Coast/Côte d´Ivoire</a>.</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jeunes_mari%C3%A9_en_tenue_tradionnel_akan_de_C%C3%B4te_d%27Ivoire_03.JPG"><em>Neverdie225</em></a></p><p> </p></div>Mindelo, the cultural heart of Cape Verdehttps://tripatini.com/photo/mindelo-sao-vicente-cape-verde-cultural-tourism-travel2023-10-02T10:53:08.000Z2023-10-02T10:53:08.000ZHelen Brownhttps://tripatini.com/members/HelenBrown<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12238028674?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>The largest settlement on the island of <strong>Sáo Vicente</strong>, Mindelo (pop. 70,000), is considered the cultural capital of Cape Verde, with a lively nightlife music scene (especially the traditional genre called <em>morna</em>, You can also explore its historic center, dating back to 1736, the colorful local markets and enjoy more great beaches such as <strong>Praia da Laginha</strong>. And try to come during its fantastic pre/Lenten Carnaval!<br /><br />Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/cape-verde-attractions-tourism-travel-culture-cuisine?edited=1" target="_blank">The Case for Cape Verde</a>.</p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size:8pt;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/21160385@N02/49304984546">Paul Arps</a></span></p><p> </p></div>The remarkable culture of Myanmar/Burma´s Inle Lakehttps://tripatini.com/photo/inle-lake-myanmar-burma2023-09-28T13:20:14.000Z2023-09-28T13:20:14.000ZJosé Balidohttps://tripatini.com/members/JoseBalido<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12234133077?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>In central Myanmar, located in the <strong>Shan Hills</strong> of southern Shan state, the country´s second largest lake is renowned for its scenic beauty and unique way of life. It´s surrounded by picturesque mountains and inhabited by the <strong>Intha</strong> people, known for their traditional leg-rowing technique, and floating gardens. Take a boat trip to floating villages, markets, and monasteries, and explore local crafts, including silk weaving and silverware. And don´t forget the very impressive <strong>Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda</strong>.</p>
<p>Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/myanmar-burma-attractions-tourism-travel?edited=1" target="_blank">Burmese, if You Please: 6 Musts in Myanmar/Burma</a>.</p>
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<p><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Inle_Lake_Burma_floating_village_4.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em>Thomas Schoch</em></span></a></p>
<p> </p></div>Fabled Mandalay, still the cultural heart of Myanmar/Burmahttps://tripatini.com/photo/mandalay-palace-myanmar-burma2023-09-28T13:18:25.000Z2023-09-28T13:18:25.000ZJosé Balidohttps://tripatini.com/members/JoseBalido<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12234132292?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>On the banks of the <strong>Irawaddy River</strong> a 6½-hour drive or 3½-hour flight north of Yangon, the second-largest city (pop. 1.5 million) has traditionally been considered the Burmese cultural capital. Visit the <strong>Mandalay Palace</strong> (pictured here, built in the 1850s and used by the last two kings of Burma), explore the intricate wood carvings of 145-year-old <strong>Shwenandaw Monastery</strong>, climb <strong>Mandalay Hill</strong> for panoramic views, marvel at <strong>U Bein Bridge</strong> (built in the mid-19th century and still the longest in the world made of teak wood), and explore traditional Burmese arts and crafts. The nearby ancient cities of <strong>Amarapura</strong>, <strong>Ava</strong>, and <strong>Sagaing</strong> are also worth exploring for their historical significance and serene landscapes.</p>
<p>Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/myanmar-burma-attractions-tourism-travel?edited=1" target="_blank">Burmese, if You Please: 6 Musts in Myanmar/Burma</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mandalay,_Palacio_08.jpg" target="_blank"><br />LBM1948</a></em></span></p>
<p> </p></div>Galway, Ireland is a charmer - and a cultural powerhousehttps://tripatini.com/photo/galway-ireland-culture-cultural-tourism-travel2023-09-17T08:37:09.000Z2023-09-17T08:37:09.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12225413889?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div>
<p><strong>Ireland</strong>‘s fourth largest city (pop. 80,000), located roughly midway along the country’s <strong>Atlantic</strong> coast – and a nearly straight shot of a bit over two hours west of <a href="https://megustavolar.iberia.com/2014/03/dublin-st-patricks-day/" target="_blank"><strong>Dublin</strong></a> – boasts a history stretching back nearly a thousand years. But today it’s best known for its lively, often boho social, cultural, and music scene (including plenty of outdoor buskers, like these on popular <strong>Quad Street</strong>) - turbo-charged by its youthful university population, a good 20 percent of all <strong>Galwegians</strong>, as locals are known), as well as its many festivals and events – some 175 in just a regular year.</p>
<p>It’s always been a popular destination for visitors – and never more so than after its turn in the limelight in Ed Sheeran’s 2017 hit <strong><em>Galway Girl</em></strong> (below). <strong>Galway</strong> is also known as “Ireland’s cultural heart”, and as it takes up the annual mantle of <a href="https://megustavolar.iberia.com/tag/european-capitals-of-culture/" target="_blank"><strong>European Capital of Culture</strong></a> (together with <strong>Rijeka</strong>, <strong>Croatia</strong>), those events and cultural ferment will be hurtling into overdrive. A great year indeed to pay a visit to the “<strong>City of the Tribes</strong>” (a reference to the 14 great merchant families which rule</p>
<p>d the city in the <strong>Middle Ages</strong>)!<br /><br />Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/galway-ireland-attractions-2020-european-capital-of-culture?edited=1" target="_blank">Galway Is an Irish Charmer - and a 2020 European Capital of Culture</a>.</p>
<p><br /><em><a href="https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/street-musician-performing-in-streets-of-galway-gm1044972356-279670191" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:8pt;">no_limit_pictures</span></a></em></p>
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</div>The traditional music pub scene of Galway, Irelandhttps://tripatini.com/photo/traditional-music-pubs-galway-ireland-cultural-tourism-travel2023-09-17T08:33:49.000Z2023-09-17T08:33:49.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12225412892?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>In centre city, its hub, several blocks in from the river, is <a href="https://www.eyresquaregalway.ie/" target="_blank"><strong>Eyre Square</strong></a>, whose green lawn is offset by a strikingly angular fountain sculpture mimicking the russet sails of the traditional “Galway hooker” fishing boat; one of the streets that run alongside is pedestrianised and lined with shops and cafés. The street life is lively, accentuated by buskers along <strong>Shop Street</strong> as well as <strong>High Street</strong> and <strong>Quay Street</strong> down near the riverfront. These include fiddlers and other traditional musicians, and in addition to that, there are plenty of Irish folk music performances (known as “trad sessions”) most every night in Latin Quarter pubs such as <a href="https://www.thekingshead.ie/" target="_blank"><strong>The King’s Head</strong></a>, housed in an 800-year-old building which among other things was the home of one of medieval Galway’s many Lynch family mayors.</p>
<p>Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/galway-ireland-attractions-2020-european-capital-of-culture?edited=1" target="_blank">Galway Is an Irish Charmer - and a 2020 European Capital of Culture</a>.</p>
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<h6><em><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Live_music_galway_pub.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:8pt;">Gabriele Zufetti</span></a></em></h6>
<p> </p></div>The Ghana National Museum in capital Accrahttps://tripatini.com/photo/ghana-national-museum-accra2023-09-13T07:06:09.000Z2023-09-13T07:06:09.000ZJosé Balidohttps://tripatini.com/members/JoseBalido<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12222963065?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Opened in 1957 and renovated 12 years ago, this repository of archaeological and ethnographic artifacts as well as some contemporary fine art has items dating back to the Stone Age and is an excellent place to get a grounding in Ghanian history and culture.</p>
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<p><span style="font-size:6pt;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Museum_Ground_floor_from_1st_floor.jpg" target="_blank">Sathyan Volumani</a></span></p>
<p> </p></div>Maine's 'Sculpture Trail' driving routehttps://tripatini.com/photo/maine-sculpture-trail-culture-art-cultural-tourism-travel2023-08-25T15:53:55.000Z2023-08-25T15:53:55.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12211914269?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Some people are traipsing through lovely landscapes as others explore history from days of <strong>North America</strong>'s earliest tribal peoples to the present. Avid birders use binoculars to spot colorful feathered friends in flight while canoers and kayakers dip paddles into the water. At the end of the day, many of these visitors to <strong>Panama City</strong>, <strong>Florida</strong>, belly up to an oyster bar to enjoy freshly shucked bivalves prepared in a variety of ways.</p>
<p>These seemingly disparate activities and attractions have one thing in common: they’re all taking place along designated trails that focus upon a single thing to do, see or eat. Countless trails around the country are available to people with a particular interest; from food to fashion, covered bridges to <strong>Kentucky</strong> bourbon, they offer something-for-everyone variety. No matter how esoteric someone’s passion, there may be a walking driving, biking, paddling, or other kind of trail somewhere that focuses on it.<br /> <br /> One example is <strong><a href="http://visitmaine.com" target="_blank">Maine</a></strong>´s ¨<strong><a href="https://www.schoodicsculpture.org/?page_id=25" target="_blank">Sculpture Trail</a></strong>,¨ a driving tour that leads to 34 outdoor sculptures (one of which is shown here) strung out along 273 miles of its coastline<br /> <br /> Read more in Tripatini contributor <a href="https://tripatini.com/members/VictorBlock">Victor Block</a>´s post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/usa-united-states-themed-itineraries" target="_blank">From Food to Fashion, Birdwatching to Bourbon, Themed Itineraries in the USA Satisfy Many People´s Interests</a>.</p>
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<p><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em>Alan Stubbs</em></span></p>
<p> </p></div>Houston´s Expansive Museum Districthttps://tripatini.com/photo/museum-district-houston-texas-cultural-tourism-travel2023-08-22T17:55:27.000Z2023-08-22T17:55:27.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12202161480?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><span style="font-weight:400;">By far the city´s most significant cultural asset - and indeed, one of the top in all of Texas, it´s divided into four walkable zones, is served by three METRORail stations, and boasts no fewer than 19 museums, with standouts including:: <br /> <br /> <strong> <a href="https://www.hmns.org/" target="_blank">Houston Museum of Natural Science</a></strong> - With more than 1.5 million items within its collection, the 114-year-old <strong>HMNS</strong> encompasses over 430,000 square feet, including a hall of gems and minerals with more than 750 specimens (one of which is among the world´s largest blue sapphires); more than 250 animals represented in the <strong>Farish Hall of Texas Wildlife</strong>; the world´s largest private collection of <strong>Fabergé</strong> (more than 600 items);. and a hall of ancient Egypt is an additional well-loved exhibit covering more than 4,000 years of this extraordinary civilization. <br /> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Read more in Tripatini contributor<a href="https://tripatini.com/members/LowestFlightFares">Lowest Flight Fares</a>´ post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/houston-texas-attractions-travel-tourism-museums" target="_blank">4 Musts in Houston</a>.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HoustonMuseumDistrictSign.JPG" target="_blank">WhisperToMe</a></em></span></span></p>
<p> </p></div>Introducing Namibia´s distinctive Herero peoplehttps://tripatini.com/photo/heroro-namibia-africa2023-08-20T17:42:37.000Z2023-08-20T17:42:37.000ZHelen Brownhttps://tripatini.com/members/HelenBrown<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12200514079?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><span style="font-weight:400;">These proud people are from ethnic Bantu group, most of whom live in this country, where they number around 270,000, mostly making their living tending cattle around the town of Okahandja in central Namibia, just 45 minutes or so north of Windhoek. For visitors, the most distinctive thing about them is their dress, especially that of the women, with traditional </span><em><span style="font-weight:400;">ekori </span></em><span style="font-weight:400;">headdresses (made of rolled up newspapers wrapped in fabric) symbolizing the horns of the cattle from which they make their livelihoods, and elaborate, colorful, floor-length dresses, a legacy of German colonial rule in the late 19th and early 20th century. </span><br /> <br /> <br /> <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Herero_ladies.jpg" target="_blank">Hans Hillewaert</a></p></div>The San of Namibia´s Kalahari Deserthttps://tripatini.com/photo/san-bushmen-kalahari-namibia2023-08-20T17:40:36.000Z2023-08-20T17:40:36.000ZHelen Brownhttps://tripatini.com/members/HelenBrown<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12200513690?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><span style="font-weight:400;">Also known as the ¨bushmen of the Kalahari,¨the San are an ancient hunter-gatherer people who can also be found in South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Angola, but are most often identified with Namibia - though the percentage is actually higher in Botswana, where they number more than 63,000 as opposed to Namibia´s 27,000 (and they actually don't have a collective term for themselves, just identifying with individual groupings such as the largest, the !Kung of the western Kalahari (that ! represents a click, by the way). Even though the San one of the oldest human cultures on earth, many still live a semi-nomadic subsistence lifestyle foraging for roots, berries, and nuts - though these days more have begun to work on farms, and those who are semi-nomads also get some income from a number of tour operators out of Windhoek which take visitors out to their camps to watch their dancing and storytelling (I did this a few years ago, and though of course I didn't understand a blessed word, I found the experience completely mesmerizing.</span></p><p><br /><br /><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/charlesfred/2129551464"><em><span style="font-weight:400;">CharlesFred</span></em></a></p><p> </p></div>Hong Kong´s fetching festivalshttps://tripatini.com/photo/hong-kong-festivals-chinese-sinic-culture-cultural-tourism-travel2023-08-08T06:49:49.000Z2023-08-08T06:49:49.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12178608093?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><span style="font-weight:400;">Festivals are a highlight of visiting HK</span><span style="font-weight:400;">. </span><span style="font-weight:400;">They take place throughout the year, and two of the major ones are Lunar New Year (the next one is around February 10, 2024, the Year of the Dragon) and the Mid-Autumn Festival (aka the Lantern Festival or Moon Festival, next held this September 30. Both are beautiful, bubbling with amazing sights and sounds. </span><span style="font-weight:400;"><br /> </span><span style="font-weight:400;"><br /> </span><span style="font-weight:400;">Read more in Tripatini contributor </span><a href="https://tripatini.com/members/AlexDragas"><span style="font-weight:400;">Alex Dragas</span></a><span style="font-weight:400;">´ post </span><a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/best-experiences-hong-kong"><span style="font-weight:400;">9 of the Best Experiences in Hong Kong</span></a><span style="font-weight:400;">.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;"><br /> </span><span style="font-size:8pt;"><a href="https://www.istockphoto.com/es/foto/drag%C3%B3n-de-las-linternas-chino-gm159756917-19223625"><em><span style="font-weight:400;">real444</span></em></a></span></p>
<p> </p></div>Oklahoma City´s National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museumhttps://tripatini.com/photo/national-cowboy-western-heritage-museum-oklahoma-city2023-08-03T05:51:28.000Z2023-08-03T05:51:28.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12176044453?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>This is the USA’s leading institution of Western history, art and culture and for good reason. Founded in 1955, the museum in Oklahoma City collects, preserves and exhibits an internationally renowned high end collection of Western art inspiring interest in the fascinating legacy of the American West. More than 10 million visitors from around the world have toured this unique museum to gain a better understanding of the West. Make sure you have at least four hours to explore this place and its 12 + themed galleries. You´ll get more out of a guided tour than on your own walkabout. You’ll be engaged and delighted by the rooms and rooms of beautiful paintings, bronzes, cowboy and Native American displays. Kudos go to the museum staff for making this such a delightful place to spend time in. This is a great place for singles, couples and families. And the gift shop gets huge thumbs up for its upscale creative and unique offerings.</p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Read more in Tripatini contributor</span><a href="https://tripatini.com/members/LindaKissam"> <span style="font-weight:400;">Linda Kissam</span></a><span style="font-weight:400;">´s post</span><a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/oklahoma-city-spirit-and-style?edited=1"> <span style="font-weight:400;">Oklahoma City Spirit and Style</span></a><span style="font-weight:400;">.</span></p>
<p> </p></div>Kyoto, Japan's cultural - and geisha - capitalhttps://tripatini.com/photo/geishas-kyoto-japan-traditional-japanese-culture2023-07-20T21:49:08.000Z2023-07-20T21:49:08.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12157648856?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><span style="font-size:10pt;">Tripatini contributor <a href="https://tripatini.com/members/LindaCooper764">Linda Cooper</a> writes: <br /><br />"...we journeyed to one of Japan's oldest cities (it was chosen as the imperial capital in the 8th century, and now has a population around 1½ million), a 2½-hour train ride or five hour drive southwest of <strong>Tokyo</strong>. And as the country's "cultural capital" it's also the center of the geisha world, and I was granted a rare interview with a <em>geiko</em> (geisha) and her <em>maiko</em> apprentice. Around dusk in the entertainment district <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gion" target="_blank">Gion</a>, we arrived at a little wooden building “boarding house” for mistresses of the classical arts, designated by black vertical plaques at their entrances; the blond wood sign above denotes the name of the g<em>eiko</em> and m<em>aiko</em> who live inside its quaint teahouse. Led upstairs by the “house mother” to a private room we were seated, and I soon was captivated as our geisha floated elegantly inside; red-lipped and doll-like dressed in elaborate kimonos and face artistically painted and powdered white. They are skilled in making conversation as well as practicing many of the traditional arts, including dance and playing instruments such as the lute and three-string <em>shamisen</em>. A trance-like tea ceremony and performance ensued, followed by a rare interview and even an impromptu dance lesson! Contrary to the prostitution myth about this profession, geishas are highly respected and bound to lead a single life “not allowed to consort with boys” and live with their house mothers under strict rules; should they choose to marry, they must retire from the profession</span>."<br /><br /><span style="font-size:10pt;">Read more in her post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/bespoke-journey-to-japan-tokyo-kyoto-nikko" target="_blank">A Beautiful Bespoke Journey to Japan</a>.</span></p>
<p> </p></div>A traditional koto musician at a Tokyo hotelhttps://tripatini.com/photo/koto-capitol-hotel-tokyu-tokyo-japan-music-culture2023-07-20T21:39:56.000Z2023-07-20T21:39:56.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12157645289?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><span style="font-size:10pt;">Tripatini contributor <a href="https://tripatini.com/members/LindaCooper764">Linda Cooper</a> writes: </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:10pt;">"My eye-opening appreciation of the Japanese way of life began the moment I arrived into Tokyo and stepped foot into the stunning lobby of The <strong><a href="https://www.tokyuhotelsjapan.com/global/capitol-h/" target="_blank">Capitol Hotel Tokyu</a></strong>. A country of contrasts that coexist at the intersection of <a href="https://tokyotokyo.jp/" target="_blank">old meets new</a>, I was greeted at check-in to find a lovely performer serenading us with the most recognizable traditional sounds of Japan from its zitherlike national instrument, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koto_(instrument)" target="_blank">koto</a>."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:10pt;">Read more in her post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/bespoke-journey-to-japan-tokyo-kyoto-nikko" target="_blank">A Beautiful Bespoke Journey to Japan</a>.</span></p>
<p> </p></div>Thrilling drumming at Tokyo´s Mangekyo showhttps://tripatini.com/photo/drum-tao-teamlab-mangekyo-tokyo-japan-music-culture2023-07-20T21:37:58.000Z2023-07-20T21:37:58.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12157644695?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><span style="font-size:10pt;">Since 2017, a dynamic group called <strong>Drum Tao</strong> has been treating audiences to <strong><a href="https://www.japan-guide.com/ad/tao-mangekyo/" target="_blank">Mangekyo</a></strong>, an hourlong spectacle electrifying, state-of-the-art <em>taiko</em> drumming in a dedicated theater. It's truly unique (and inevitably loud) entertainment mixing tradition with powerful avant-garde revolution that truly mesmerizes, brought to the stage with the collaborative of visionary digital masterminds at <a href="https://mangekyo-tokyo.com/en/about.php" target="_blank"><strong>TeamLab</strong></a>, an interdisciplinary group of “ultra-technologists” whose collaborative practice seeks to navigate the confluence of art, science, technology, design and the natural world..A feast for both eyes and ears, and creative beyond most people’s imagination.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:10pt;">Read more in her post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/bespoke-journey-to-japan-tokyo-kyoto-nikko" target="_blank">A Beautiful Bespoke Journey to Japan</a>.</span></p>
<p> </p></div>The Historic Dockyards Museum in Stanley, Falkland Islandshttps://tripatini.com/photo/historic-dockyards-museum-sstanley-falkland-islands2023-07-17T14:05:12.000Z2023-07-17T14:05:12.000ZJordan Simonhttps://tripatini.com/members/JordanSimon<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12150029052?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><span style="font-weight:400;">Founded in 1989 and at its current site since 2014, </span><a href="https://falklands-museum.com/historic-dockyard-museum" target="_blank">one of Falklands´ most popular visitor attractions</a><span style="font-weight:400;"> has more than 5,000 items in its collection focusing on the islands´ history, natural history, and society.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400;"><br /></span><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Falkland_Islands_Museum_(15693010410).jpg"><span style="font-weight:400;">David Stanley</span></a></p><p> </p></div>Cape Verde's immortal singer Cesária Évorahttps://tripatini.com/photo/cesaria-evora-cape-verde-africa-music-cultural-tourism-travel2023-07-15T08:02:20.000Z2023-07-15T08:02:20.000ZMax Peslinghttps://tripatini.com/members/MaxPesling<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12149088657?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p> <span style="color:#000000;">Books, reading, and literature are almost certainly not what comes to mind when you think of <strong><a href="https://www.tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/rio-de-janeiro-brazil" target="_blank">Rio</a></strong>, but this gem is well worth a stop when you're taking in the sights of downtown. Founded by Portuguese immigrants in 1837, its limestone façade inspired by <strong>Lisbon</strong>'s elaborately Gothic-Renaissance <strong>Jerônimos Monastery</strong>, the <strong><em>Real Gabinete Português de Leitura</em></strong> is handsome outside but downright amazing within, its main reading room not terribly large but soaring up to an iron skylight (the first of its kind in <strong>Brazil</strong>), with elegant blue-and-gold ornamentation along the walls, a striking chandelier, and a lovely monument of silver, ivory and marble celebrating the European age of discovery.</span></p><div class="dek"><span style="color:#000000;">Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/7-of-the-world-s-most-impressive-libraries" target="_blank">7 of the World's Most Impressive Libraries</a>.<br /> </span></div><div class="dek"> </div><div class="dek"><h6><em><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%E3%83%AA%E3%82%AA%E3%81%AE%E5%B9%BB%E6%83%B3%E5%9B%B3%E6%9B%B8%E9%A4%A8_Real_Gabinete_Portugues_de_Leitura_(8735773218).jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:8pt;">Mayumi Ishikawa</span></a></em></h6><p> </p></div></div>Rio de Janeiro's Royal Portuguese Reading Roomhttps://tripatini.com/photo/rio-de-janeiro-brazil-royal-portuguese-reading-room-real-gabinete2023-07-15T07:59:56.000Z2023-07-15T07:59:56.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12149087879?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p> <span style="color:#000000;">Books, reading, and literature are almost certainly not what comes to mind when you think of <strong><a href="https://www.tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/rio-de-janeiro-brazil" target="_blank">Rio</a></strong>, but this gem is well worth a stop when you're taking in the sights of downtown. Founded by Portuguese immigrants in 1837, its limestone façade inspired by <strong>Lisbon</strong>'s elaborately Gothic-Renaissance <strong>Jerônimos Monastery</strong>, the <strong><em>Real Gabinete Português de Leitura</em></strong> is handsome outside but downright amazing within, its main reading room not terribly large but soaring up to an iron skylight (the first of its kind in <strong>Brazil</strong>), with elegant blue-and-gold ornamentation along the walls, a striking chandelier, and a lovely monument of silver, ivory and marble celebrating the European age of discovery.</span></p>
<div class="dek"><span style="color:#000000;"> Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/7-of-the-world-s-most-impressive-libraries" target="_blank">7 of the World's Most Impressive Libraries</a>.<br /> </span></div>
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<h6><em><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%E3%83%AA%E3%82%AA%E3%81%AE%E5%B9%BB%E6%83%B3%E5%9B%B3%E6%9B%B8%E9%A4%A8_Real_Gabinete_Portugues_de_Leitura_(8735773218).jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:8pt;">Mayumi Ishikawa</span></a></em></h6>
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</div></div>Washington DC's Museum of the American Indianhttps://tripatini.com/photo/museum-of-the-american-indian-washington-dc-museums2023-06-14T14:53:18.000Z2023-06-14T14:53:18.000ZJosé Balidohttps://tripatini.com/members/JoseBalido<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11831483698?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>The <a href="https://americanindian.si.edu/visit/washington" target="_blank">main branch of the National Museum of the American Indian</a> is actually part of the <a href="https://love2fly.iberia.com/2015/07/washington-dc-district-of-columbia/" target="_blank">national capital</a>'s <strong>Smithsonian Institution</strong>, with more than 800,000 items and a native foods café. In addition to its amazing permanent collection, there are plenty of innovative temporary exhibitions showcasing some of today's top First Nations artists and a calendar of public programmes, including concerts, festivals, symposiums and theater.<br /> <br /> Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/united-states-usa-first-nations-indigenous-american-indians" target="_blank">Getting to Know the USA's Tribal Peoples</a>.</p>
<p><br /> <br /> <em><span style="font-size:6pt;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:National_Museum_of_the_American_Indian_with_Capitol_Dome.jpg" target="_blank">Ron Dicker</a></span></em></p></div>London's bustling Chinatownhttps://tripatini.com/photo/chinatown-london-england-great-britain-united-kingdom2023-06-12T10:05:06.000Z2023-06-12T10:05:06.000ZJosé Balidohttps://tripatini.com/members/JoseBalido<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11743427288?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><span style="font-weight:400;">The most vigorous of the Chinatowns in the U.K. is in London's SoHo, anchored by more than 80 Asian restaurants. Read about this and five other of the world's top such communities in my post "</span><a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/chinatowns-chinese-new-year"><span style="font-weight:400;">6 of the World's Choicest Chinatowns</span></a><span style="font-weight:400;">."</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:8pt;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chinatown,_London.jpg"><em><span style="font-weight:400;">Aurelien Guichard</span></em></a></span></p>
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