Learning Spanish: in Honduras

by Erik Olsen on

We’ve long been advocates here of learning new languages, even for those who are at an age when most dogs think they can’t learn new tricks. And so it was with a certain feeling of delight to read this Washington Post article about a family that heads to Honduras to beef up and pick up some Spanish skills.

In the story, two moms and four kids head to Copan, a dainty little village to pick up some Spanish skills from an intensive language course. The group finds in the locale the ideal place to immerse themselves not just in the language, but in the culture and surroundings of Latin America.

Country Sites: Virtual Finland

by Erik Olsen on

I’m going to start a series of posts on specific country Web sites, selecting one or two sites that really do a great job selling and explaining a particular country. And today, I am beginning the series today with a post on Finland:

Lots of countries have tourist sites that they use to provide information on the people, the places to see, the food and culture of a place. But few others I’ve seen are quite as well-designed and comprehensive as this site for Finland. Perhaps it’s the sleek, simple Scandinavian sensibilities at work, but I took some time looking around Virtual Finland site and found it wonderfully good. You can always visit Lonely Planet for information on a country, but sometimes it’s a good idea to go to the sites of the country itself. This is a perfect case in point.

From history to culture to food to travel to great photos, the folks at Virtual Finland have done a truly superb job on this site, for visitors and Web-lookie-loos alike.

Photo of the Day: (3/27/05)

by Erik Olsen on

Yeah, there are billions of photos of Angkor Wat out there…sure I could have chosen any of them and it would have
worked for our POTD. But there was something about the color in
this photo by flyingchair that I really liked, something
about the magical outline of the temple. A great photo.

All About Alabama Food

by Adrienne Wilson on

If the south is anywhere on your radar or on your taste buds, think specifically Alabama.  Down
home southern comfort is at best from what I’ve experienced in Alabama and the food is even
more spectacular.  Tour Alabama, the official web site for
the state’s tourism industry has announced 2005 as “The Year of Alabama Food” and from North to South it’s very easy to
see why. 

Alabama foods are packed with as much diversity as the people that reside in the various
regions.  For instance, you’ll find delicious dishes like soft-shell crab Po-Boys, gumbo, apple cheese
casserole all in the Gulf Coast with fried rabbit and jerked pork tenderloin & peach papaya salsa in
metro regions. 

The web site is full of restaurant information,
food festivals, and even the story behind
fried green tomatoes which people really do eat.  I haven’t
had my share to date, but I’m hoping someone will send a care package my way.  I’d sure appreciate
it!

Limited Time: Abbey Road Film Festival

by Adrienne Wilson on

Here’s a bit of news bound
to get somebody all frazzled, excited, juiced, or down off clicking their
heels to Abbey Road.  The old recording studio for the
legendary Beatles has been a fan site, tourist spot and closed to the public for over 20 years.  Somewhere over
the past two decades someone finally thought to open those doors and let the people in now until April 3.  Yup,
you better get moving.  The doors are being opened to celebrate 25 years of movie scoring and the films to be
shown will all have music recorded at Abbey Road.  Sounds like good times.