• Austria,  Nutrition

    Marillenkuchen: Austrian Apricot Cake

    Last weekend, Italy won the Eurovision Song Contest with the rock song ‘Zitti e buoni’, performed by Måneskin. This was Italy’s third victory in the contest, following their wins in 1964 and 1990. Neighbouring Austria, however, did not do as well, even failing to qualify to the final. Nonetheless, when I received an invitation to attend a Eurovision party hosted by a friend of mine, I decided to bake an Austrian dessert called marillenkuchen (apricot cake, in German). Not only because apricots are currently in season, but also because my friend had loved another apricot cake I’d previously baked. I am not sure why, but apricots are rather prominent in…

  • Culture

    My favourite Eurovision songs

    I first watched the Eurovision Song Contest in 1993, and I have watched it almost every year since then. Sadly, last year it was cancelled due to the pandemic. However, even though the pandemic is far from over, the contest has not been cancelled this year and the final is due to take place tonight. Today, I’d like to take this opportunity to look back to the last two decades and share my favourite Eurovision songs from 40(ish) participating countries (as well as some interesting facts and trivia). I have to admit that choosing my favourite song from each participating country proved quite a challenge; some countries have participated with…

  • Norway & Scandinavia

    17 tips for 5 Norwegian cities

    On the 17th of May 1814, the Constitution of Norway was signed, declaring the country as an independent kingdom. On the 17th of May 2000, an elderly assassin positioned himself at the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel in Oslo in an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate Norway’s Crown Prince. Of course, this only happened in Jo Nesbø’s crime novel ‘Rødstrupe’ (‘The Redbreast’). The 17th of May, known as Syttende Mai (Seventeenth May) or Nasjonaldagen (National Day), is a day of national pride and festivities. Across the country, the streets are filled with people of all ages dressed in festive attire and celebrating. Having travelled to Norway many times in the last few…

    Comments Off on 17 tips for 5 Norwegian cities
  • Reading,  Wellbeing

    A Cure For Darkness (book review)

    Hosted by the Mental Health Foundation, the Mental Health Awareness Week is taking place from 10 to 16 May 2021. As a Psychiatrist, I simply had to share a post about mental health (rather than travelling) today. Being an avid reader, I’m sharing my thoughts on the recently-published book ‘A Cure for Darkness: The Story of Depression and How We Treat It’, by Alex Riley. I’m also discussing about bibliotherapy and the beneficial effects that reading has on the mind and the brain. A Cure For Darkness ‘A Cure For Darkness’ is a blend of scientific theory and personal memoir. Written by Alex Riley, a science writer who’s struggled with depression…

    Comments Off on A Cure For Darkness (book review)
  • Culture,  Norway & Scandinavia

    10 Finnish & Icelandic TV series to watch

    According to the ninth World Happiness Report, published in March 2021, Finland is once again on the top of the happiness rankings (for a fourth year running). It is closely followed by another Nordic country, Iceland. To gain a deeper understanding of the Finnish and Icelandic psyche respectively, I have been reading books and watching films and TV series from both these countries. Today, I discuss some of the Finnish and Icelandic TV series I’ve recently watched. 5 Finnish TV series to watch All The Sins ‘All The Sins’ (‘Kaikki synnit’) is a crime series set in a rural community in Northern Finland. There are two seasons, with six 45-minute-long…

    Comments Off on 10 Finnish & Icelandic TV series to watch
  • Greece,  Nutrition

    The best recipe for tsoureki (Greek sweet bread)

    This year, Greek Orthodox Easter (Pascha in Greek) is celebrated tomorrow, a month later than Easter observances in the Western Church. Although I am not religious, Easter is one of my favourite holidays, a time of the year that’s all about customs, rituals and traditions (some of which are personal that I religiously follow nonetheless). Sadly, once again they have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. To find some solace, I am baking a tsoureki, a sweet bread made by Greeks during Easter (as well as all year round). But before I share the best recipe for tsoureki I’ve come across (in fact, the best tsoureki I’ve ever tasted), I’d…

    Comments Off on The best recipe for tsoureki (Greek sweet bread)