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7 places in the Cotswolds and Gloucestershire
I recently went on a road trip to Cornwall and visited some of the places where the G7 Summit is currently taking place. I combined this road trip with a visit to the Cotswolds and Gloucestershire. Gloucestershire is a county located in South West England. The county town and the only city in Gloucestershire is Gloucester, whereas Cheltenham is the second-largest town of the county. Both have a population of just over 100,000 (each). The Cotswolds is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that lies across the boundaries of several English counties: mainly Gloucestershire, but also Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Worcestershire, and Warwickshire. The beautiful landscape is not the only…
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The G7 summit and 7 places in Cornwall
The G7 Summit will take place on 11-13 June 2021; it will be held in Carbis Bay, a seaside resort and village located in west Cornwall. Other parts of the region will also play a key role in the Summit, including Falmouth and neighbouring St Ives. Carbis Bay lies one mile southeast of St Ives, on the western coast of St Ives Bay, on the Atlantic coast. Having recently visited Cornwall myself and in light of the current international travel restrictions, I’d like to share my tips for a road trip to the westernmost part of the South West Peninsula of the island of Great Britain. I would recommend following…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Best International Feature Film goes to…
The Oscars are due in just two days, on 26 April. Last year, a few weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic hit Europe and the Americas, the South Korean film ‘Parasite’, directed by Bong Joon-ho, won the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, but also the Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. This was a historical moment: ‘Parasite’ was the first South Korean film to have been nominated in these categories, as well as the first non-English language film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. This year, there will be a total of 23 Academy Awards. Of those, the one I’m most excited about…
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6 French and Italian crime series to watch
Bonjour! Or, should I say Buongiorno? A couple of months ago, I published two posts about Greek covers of French and Italian songs respectively. Then, earlier this month, I published two posts about some of my favourite French and Italian films. Today, I discuss some of the French and Italian crime series I’ve recently watched. 3 French crime series to watch The Mantis (La Mante) ‘The Mantis’ is a French crime series available on Netflix. There are a total of six 50-to-60-minute-long episodes, where a convicted serial killer, known as the Mantis, helps the Police track down the perpetrator of copy-cat murders. The Other Mother (Maman a tort) Based on…