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Author: John

Copenhagen – City of Spires

Copenhagen – City of Spires

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Copenhagen, the beautiful capitol city of Denmark lies on the northeastern edge of the island of Zealand (Sjaelland in Danish).  Sparkling clean, the architecture and sights of Copenhagen are strongly represented by both the old and the new, the quaint and the dramatic, transporting the visitor both to the past and to the future. Copenhagen offers something for everyone and is a fun and fascinating city to explore. Originally a Viking fishing village (I guess most cities on islands were…

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The Vikings of Denmark

The Vikings of Denmark

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Denmark has a very long and colorful history. The region was inhabited as early as 10,000 BC by hunters and fishermen and continued to flourish when farming was introduced around 4,000 BC. The earliest inscriptions date back to 200 AD and the earliest known trading settlements of  Hedeby and Ribe date from the 8th Century. The Viking Age lasted from the 8th to 11th Centuries, during which time the Danes, united to one kingdom in the 10th Century, became notorious…

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Zealand and the Islands of Denmark

Zealand and the Islands of Denmark

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This month we visit the Scandinavian country of Denmark. Although the entire country is not an island, its capitol city, Copenhagen, is located on the island of Zealand.  Other large islands include Funen, the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen, Lolland-Falster and Bornholm. There are approximately 400 islands in total, with over 4500 miles of coastline.   Denmark is the southernmost of the Scandinavian countries and is one of the world’s oldest monarchies dating back to the Viking Age around 1000AD….

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The Music of Jamaica

The Music of Jamaica

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Jamaica is the land of Bob Marley and reggae music. A world wide sensation, Marley won a Grammy lifetime  achievement award and his album Exodus was called the best album of the 20th century by Time Magazine. Many of his songs are familiar and “One Love” pops up every now and then in Jamaica travel commercials. Reggae is relatively new as far as Jamaican music goes, coming to prominence in the late 60s and 70s with artists such as Marley,…

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Coffee, Spices and a Cocktail – The Flavors of Jamaica

Coffee, Spices and a Cocktail – The Flavors of Jamaica

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Jamaican cuisine, as you can imagine, has a long list of influences from other cultures and continents.  The early Spanish settlers, the African slaves, the Chinese and Indian workers who replaced them after emancipation and various European visitors have all left their mark on this island countries varied but distinctive cuisine. Let’s start with the Jamaican national dish, Ackee and Salt Fish.  Ackee is the pear shaped fruit of an evergreen tree imported from West Africa in the 1700s.  When…

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What to do in Jamaica – Beaches, Mountains, Rivers and Towns

What to do in Jamaica – Beaches, Mountains, Rivers and Towns

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Jamaica is an island that is famous the world over. It is a name almost everyone has heard, and for good reason. Reggae music,  Jamaican rum, Blue Mountain coffee and jerk spice all come to mind when Jamaica is mentioned. But what is there to do and see if you go there?  The many television commercials likely give the impression that sitting in a chair on a beautiful white sand beach with a cold drink as you stare at shimmering…

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Jamaica History – Pirates, Maroons and the City Under the Sea

Jamaica History – Pirates, Maroons and the City Under the Sea

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Christopher Columbus is credited with the discovery of the island of Jamaica. The year was 1494 and it was his second voyage to the New World. He is said to have exclaimed that Jamaica was the “fairest island eyes have beheld”.  Later, on his fourth voyage, Columbus was given the opportunity to become better acquainted with the island when his ships were damaged by storms and he was stranded there for an entire year. The Spanish soon settled in and…

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Jamaica – The Gem of the Tropics

Jamaica – The Gem of the Tropics

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This month we visit the Caribbean island of Jamaica.  Jamaica is the 3rd largest island of the Greater Antilles and the 3rd largest English-speaking country in the Americas.  It is an island of lush tropical greenery, mountains reaching as high as 7,402 feet, plains, valleys, rivers, gorges and world class white sand beaches. The name Jamaica comes from the Arawak Indian word Xaymaca, meaning “land of wood and rivers”.  It has perhaps the most spectacular scenery in the Caribbean and…

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Singapore Things

Singapore Things

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Time to celebrate a month of exploring Singapore.  The cocktail I have created is called the ‘Singapore Thing’, a delicious variation on the famous Singapore Sling, created at the Long Bar of the Raffles Hotel. I thought it might be a good idea to explore 2 other Singapore things that have intrigued me over the last month. Merlion The Merlion is a marketing icon trademarked in 1966 as a logo of the Singapore Tourism Board.  On the 15th of September,…

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Singapore Food – Hawker Centres, Food Festivals and a Rib Recipe

Singapore Food – Hawker Centres, Food Festivals and a Rib Recipe

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Singapore Food The cuisine of Singapore is influenced by the cultural diversity of its population.  Chinese, Malay, Indian and western influences have all converged to create a wide range of options as well as an actual Singaporean cuisine. A search for Singapore recipes on any of my food apps would give the impression that the most famous dish from Singapore would be Singapore-Style Noodles- rice noodles with various meats, vegetables, curry, chili, lime and maybe chopped peanuts. There are endless…

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