Absinthe Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

by Erik Olsen on

The New York Times had
this piece about
Switzerland where recently makers of Absinthe, the drink made famous by artists and, well, drunks. What’s happening is
that a new law is taking effect in January that allows underground absinthe makers to begin producing again the drink
legally after many years. The distillation, distribution and sale of the stuff was banned in Switzerland, says the
article, “after an absinthe-besotted factory worker killed his wife and children nearly a century ago”.

Aside from lots of good old alcohol, absinthe has thujone, a toxic chemical found in wormwood that was used as a magic
elixir and to treat stomach ailments in the old old days. Absinthe with a low level of thujone is already sold legally
in countries including Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Austria, Japan, Sweden, Italy and Britain, but not the United
States (what a surprise). If you’re eager to learn more (or even try to make some yourself), I found a nice little
FAQ here.

Curious of anyone has ever tried it? If so, the hard stuff or the soft stuff? And what’s it like? Inquiring minds want
to know.

Road Scholar Programs

by Erik Olsen on

Here is an idea for the truly engaged traveler.
The Road Scholar program takes people to places like
Patagonia, New Zealand, Angkor Wat and Varanasi, India, where:

You’ll trace the footsteps of Krishna, Buddha and the Mughal emperors on this journey into the heart of India’s
spiritual heritage. Hindu holy men, Buddhist monks and Islamic scholars will be your guides into the Eastern mind and
soul.

Sounds a little hokey, maybe. But when you think about it, this could be a really cool way to visit a country as
complex and interesting as India. If they get some bona fide Sadhus (holy men) to take you around, versus some cheesy
American guide, that’d be cool. This program has you start in Delhi, where “you’ll examine the rise of Islam in
India. Learn about the Mughals, who introduced Islam and built some of India’s most striking monuments: the Taj Mahal,
Agra Fort and Akbar’s capital Fatehpur Sikri. During a full day at the Taj Mahal, watch the sun rise over this
remarkable building, study its history and meet artisans descended from the Taj’s builders who still practice the
ancient Indian arts. Scholars describe the impact of Islam today and the complexity of Hindu-Muslim relations.”
 

 

Michael Palin is God

by Erik Olsen on

There are only a few true comedic gods out there…everyone has their own pantheon, as it were. Sitting atop the
throne of my pantheon…or at least in a comfy chair thereabouts…is Michael Palin. I love Palin not only for his work
with Monty Python, but also for his travel series Pole to Pole, Full Circle, Around the World in 80 Days, etc. I met
Palin in Thailand several years ago, and he’s a downright cool dude. And so it was great to see that
he’s filmed a new series on the Himalayas that goes from the Khyber Pass
to the mouth of the Ganges River in six shows. The travelogues aired in England on BBC1, and DVDs can be ordered from
Amazon UK starting November
22.  No word yet on when/if they’ll be aired in the US, although I would imagine they MUST be. Either way, I’m
keeping my eye out and might just buy the DVD.

What Happens in Prague Stays in Prague

by Erik Olsen on

An article in the Telegraph asks: Is the Party over for Prague?
The question is a good one. Once considered one of Europe’s most charming cities, and a haven for Hemingway wannabees
who saw it as the new Paris, Prague is now almost critically overrun with tourists. Interestingly, as the article
points out, the culprits are not obese Americans, but British stag parties, making Prague in a way the Vegas of
Europe.

Before the era of cheap flights an estimated 50 or so stag parties a year visited Prague. Last year that had grown
to a whopping 1,200, and this year the figure may well be twice that, bringing 30,000 young male Britons bent on
having a good time to this refined city.

One question: How much for a lap dance in Prague?

Modern Antiquarian Tourism

by None on

Possibly sounds, dull, but isn’t. The Modern Antiquitarian website is a guide based on
the book of the same name, a carefully researched and
indexed compendium of the best pre-historic sites in the UK and Ireland.

Since launching in March 2000ce, the site has grown to be a massive resource for news, information, images,
folklore & weblinks on the ancient sites across the UK & Ireland, thanks to the remarkable efforts of all
those who contribute.

This means that if you’re interested in sites like Stonehenge, you can use the interactive map to locate carefully
documented prehistoric sites pretty much anywhere you’re headed. Mazes, follies, ancient stones and
legendary henges are everywhere, but are easy to pass by if you don’t know where to look. And the “remarkable
effort,” by the way, includes thousands of photos of these epic sites.