The VII Feria y Exposición Artesanal y Cultural de los Pueblos Originarios (Fair and Exposition of Crafts and Culture from the Original Pueblos) opens today and will run until November 9th.The fair and exposition demonstrate the many beautiful and valuable aspects of these “original,” indigenous cultures, uniting them in one place and celebrating their complex and vital role in Latin America.According to the government website, groups from Cusco and the Amazon in Peru will attend the event, as well as groups from all regions of Argentina.In addition to crafts, there will be indigenous music and dancing, indigenous costumes, and traditional food for all to sample.The event takes place at the Museo de Arte Popular José Hernández on Libertador 2372 and costs only one peso to enter (it is free on Sunday).

Read the rest of this entry »

A video podcast just released by Current called “Beef is Bueno” gives a fun, quick overview of Argentine beef eating and cattle raising culture.Taking viewers from the choripan stands on the Constañera del Sur to the Pampas in Argentina where the cows begin, the video takes the viewer through the life cycle of a piece of meat.During the video, the reporters interview a gaucho who argues that there is no substitute for animals who have been raised on grass instead of fed grain in an enclosed environment; he is proud of Argentine, grass fed cattle.The video is not for the squeamish, as it does go into a little detail on the preparation of cows for the market and the plate.However, the video is informative and shows that the world is continuing to take note of the high quality of beef produced in Argentina.

Read the rest of this entry »

The return of Berlusconi to power in Italy with the help of a controversial ally, the Northern League, has led some to ask “Should Italy be broken up into two countries?”

The discussion centers around the prosperous north subsidizing the poorer southern regions.

Now, Veronica Lario, Berlusconi’s wife has made a statement on breaking Italy in two. In an interview with La Stampa, she said: “Italy has never been well-suited to being a single country, and has never matured enough to become one. There is no longer any value in a unified Italy."

Read the rest of this entry »

The main train station in Florence, Italy is also known as Santa Maria Novella, I am assuming this is because it is located right behind the church of the same name.

The train station is located on the fringe of the historic center of the city. It is an easy walk to many of the hotels, however, if you are staying in a hotel near the Duomo, the Uffizi or the Ponte Vecchio and have luggage you may need to take a taxi. Without luggage you can easily walk to the Duomo and Uffizi. I find it difficult to roll luggage for a long distance on cobblestone streets.

Read the rest of this entry »

Italians like their drinks warmer than Americans like theirs. So, if you want ice you will have to ask for ice.

Several years ago I was eating dinner by myself in a small outdoor café on the Via Veneto in Rome. I entertained myself by watching the other diners. Since it was early to be eating dinner by Italian standards, most of the Italians were enjoying a drink and a snack.

I happened to be sitting next to a table of four elderly women and one elderly man. They were all dressed extremely well in their suits and hats. One of the women had a bright green drink that had been delivered to her full of ice. After much discussion with the waiter and much complaining to her friends she meticulously picked out each and every sliver of ice and put it on her plate.

Read the rest of this entry »

Meetings & congresses in Italy: Italy has to confirm itself as a point of attraction of the world, cultural and tourism place and congress pole. This is the country imagined

by the Minister of Cultural Means & Events Mr. Francesco Rutelli in a recent meeting in Rome that outlined the birth of a congress district in Rome. Travel Mall gives to DMC and private companies the possibility of organizing meetings, congresses and special events alla over Italy by asking a personalized quotation through the group page or sending an e-mail to info@travel-mall.net.

Read the rest of this entry »