Germany
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Celebrating Dubai Christmas | Dining In, Dining Out, Cooking or Mall Hopping?
This time we are again going to celebrate Christmas at home. The decorations are complete (above). Why is Christmas so big in a non-Christian family like ours? It’s because I have grown up believing in Santa and I still believe in him. Religious fundamentalists would probably find me preposterous but well, I blame it on my genes. Growing up in Kolkata, I have learnt to carve for the festive Semaiya Kheer/Vermicelli Pudding during Eid, search for traditional Halim and Firni during Ramadan in the various Muslim restaurants in the crowded Park Circus area of Kolkata, even taking the Z-Sisters to one such journey during our summer vacation this year. I’ve…
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The Magic of Christmas!
Snowflakes & Santa, strawberries & shortcakes, marzipans and muffins, bon-bons & candies, scented candles and hand-crafted wooden musical boxes and finally everything dipped in chocolate – that’s what dreams are made up of. ALSO the Weihnachtsmarkt or Christmas markets in Germany… Christmas markets originated in Germany, Austria and Alsace in France, particularly in a few places in Europe where people spoke in German. These street markets bestowed with all kind of magic and mystery during the festive season of Christmas dates back to the middle ages. And we sure are fortunate that the tradition still continues, unlike many other traditional faits which have died a natural death with advancement of…
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The Unlikely Twins – Oberammergau in Germany & Kolkata
Kolkata Konnektion – My Soul Konnektion! Kolkata is my city, my home. It stirs up my emotions, it stirs up my soul. The city at dusk through the heavy dark thunder clouds, the incessant noise from the crowded streets, the familiar faces, the multiple options of local savouries, the hurting riot of colours – all these rejuvenate me. I get confused when my non-Bengali Indian/Foreign friends ask me what they can do in Kolkata. Can I ask them to just experience a city in its own chaos? Wherever I go, whichever city I live in and call that my home, there is always a reference to something or someplace…
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Rainbows, Violins & Disney Castle | Bavaria, Germany
Mittenwald: Mittenwald is voted as one of the 10 most beautiful villages in Europe. Situated on the northern foothills of the Bavarian Alps in the valley of the River Isar, it is indeed beautiful. And almost surreal… Rainbows sliding down straight from the sky onto the greenest meadows and painted houses where in fairy-tales seem to unfold by themselves. Mittenwald also manufactures the world’s best Violins, Violas & Cellos. One can almost hear someone playing them when the breeze touches you by… ‘We are going to a village?’ asked my little guest. He had come all the way from Kolkata for his European vacation. And taking him back to a…
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Lorelei, My Ship Has Passed You By | Germany
Image Source: IshitaPhotoIdeas Suggested Starter: Click below to listen to the beautiful ‘Lorelei’ sung by the Scorpions… Lorelei, the mystical rock, soaring more than 120m above the Rhine still stands in the midst of the swirling currents, near St. Goarhausen, Germany. The mystery & the myth still float in the mist. Lorelei, the maiden singing the most beautiful song may perhaps lure the hapless sailor to his death, even now. And so goes the German folklore… The legendary Lorelei still captivates & intrigues the minds of the the thousands of visitors who visit this place everyday. The Rhine is well known for its romantic interludes. But, it is here that…
