-
Travel writing: 10 books to read
The Sherborne Travel Writing Festival, curated by the renowned British-Canadian travel writer Rory MacLean, took place from 14 to 16 April 2023. I was in Greece then, celebrating Easter, so I did not attend the festival. I have to admit here that I am yet to read any books by MacLean. Or, as a matter of fact, the writings of the ancient Greek geographer Pausanias, widely considered the first travel writer. But, what exactly constitutes travel writing? According to the Auckland-based travel writer Petrina Darrah, travel writing is defined as “writing that describes places the author has visited and the experiences they had while travelling”. Most agree that travel writing has…
-
A short stay in Milan
I recently wrote about my skiing holiday in Madonna di Campiglio, a village and ski resort in Northern Italy. I combined my holiday with a few days in Trento and Milan. Trento, the gateway to Madonna di Campiglio, is an hour and a half by train from Verona, and two hours and a half from Milan, the second-largest city in Italy and capital of Lombardy. Since I’d been to Verona before, and considering that there are far fewer international flights to Verona than to Milan, I decided to fly to Milan and spent the night there. The following day, I took the train to Trento, where I spend another night.…
-
Skiing in Madonna di Campiglio, Trentino
I recently went on a skiing holiday in Madonna di Campiglio, a village and ski resort in Trentino, in Northern Italy. This was my second skiing holiday in Italy. I had previously gone skiing in Cortina d’Ampezzo, a town and ski resort in Veneto, due to co-host the 2026 Winter Olympics (together with Milan). Trentino is renowned for its mountains, such as the Dolomites, which are part of the Alps. It is one of the two autonomous provinces of Italy. The other one is the neighbouring South Tyrol, officially the Autonomous Province of Bolzano. The Trentino and South Tyrol constitute the region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol (South Tyrol), an autonomous region…
-
23 Japanese books to read in 2023
World Book Day 2023 will be on 2 March 2023. To mark the occasion, I have compiled this list of 23 Japanese books to read in 2023. A fan of Japan (a country that I am yet to visit) and literature, I have read quite a few Japanese books in the recent years. A year ago, I joined the Virtual Book Club: Japanese Literature on Meetup. This is a book discussion club that meets online once a month. Before each meeting, a Japanese book (that has been translated into English) has been selected for the attendees to read, whereas during the 90-minute meeting the attendees share their thoughts, impressions and reflections…
-
Top 7 tips for a winter visit to Reykjavik
It all started a few months ago, when I attended an Icelandair-sponsored event in London. Iceland had already been on my bucket list for quite some time, but remained the only Nordic country (excluding the autonomous Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland Islands) I was yet to set foot to. In fact, I wanted (and still do) to visit the Land of Fire and Ice in the summer and go on a road trip around the country. Tempted, however, by an Icelandair promotional deal, I booked a 3-night round-trip to Reykjavik for mid-January, an ideal time to see the Northern Lights. The Northern Lights were spectacular – and my photos do…
-
Beyond K-pop: the culture of South Korea
The recent surge in the global popularity of South Korean culture is often referred to as the K-wave, Korean Wave, or Hallyu. It has been almost three years since Parasite, directed by Bong Joon-ho, won the Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay—a historic moment that marked the first time a South Korean film had been nominated in these categories, as well as the first non-English-language film ever to win Best Picture. Since then, I have watched many more films from South Korea—a country I have yet to visit—and have found myself gradually swept up in the Korean Wave. Today, I’d like to reflect on some…
-
7 international films I’ve watched in 2022
I have previously written about international films — including those nominated for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film (known as Best Foreign Language Film before 2020), my favourite Oscar category — as well as about films I’ve seen at various festivals. As another year draws to a close, I’ve been reflecting on the films I’ve watched over the past twelve months. Of these, seven were international. Before I discuss them further, I should clarify that I’m borrowing the terminology used by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (best known for its annual Academy Awards, a.k.a. “The Oscars”): international refers to films made primarily in a language…
-
20 + 1 Greek sweets and desserts
I’ve always had a sweet tooth. Having grown up in Northern Greece, I’ve become an expert in (savouring) Greek sweets and desserts. In the last few years, I have often re-created those sweets and desserts from my homeland, though I am yet to become an expert in baking/making Greeks sweets and desserts. Here are some of the most iconic Greek sweets and desserts, with links to the recipes. Some of these recipes are mine, whereas some are by Akis Petretzikis, a Greek chef that I trust and follow. Μπουγάτσα (Bougatsa) Bougatsa is a pie made with phyllo pastry and typically served in the morning (breakfast or brunch). It is very…
-
Italian cuisine: books and TV shows
As much as I love travelling to Italy, I love Italian cuisine. A tote bag that I bought in Rome says it all: ‘spritz, carbonara, tiramisu & amore’. Well… perhaps not all. There’s also pizza, gelato, panettone, pannacotta, coffee (un caffe shakerato per favore), wine, vitello tonnato (my new favourite), cacio e pepe, maritozzi, canolli… Just don’t let me get started… My love, as well as my knowledge of Italian cuisine, has grown not only through travelling and eating out, but also thanks to books and TV shows I’ve come across in the last few years. Italian cuisine: Fatto in casa da Benedetta Rossi It was when I visited Verona…
-
Where to eat and drink in Rome
When I recently visited Rome, I spent most of my mornings following in Robert Langdon’s footsteps and visiting notable churches around the city. In the afternoon, I slowed down. I would first have a coffee, then a light lunch (followed by yet another coffee), whereas in the evening I had an aperitivo (a pre-meal drink) followed by dinner and gelato to end the day on a high note. Here are my recommendations about where to eat and drink in Rome: Breakfast Although I mostly had breakfast at the hotel where I stayed, I also had to try the maritozzi (cream-filled buns that Romans have for breakfast). The Pasticceria Regoli (on Via…