Post Tagged with "blogsherpa"

It’s Not Summer Till You Camp

Canada is the second largest country in the world, but there’s a relatively small population.  What does this mean? A whole lot of empty space to go camping!  Many of us do not consider it summer until we have been surrounded by trees, we smell like smoke, and we have eaten a s’more -or two.

The vast space, wilderness, and endless forests are definitely taken for granted here in Western Canada.  I would recommend trying a night camping on a different continent, so one can come home and truly know what it means to be Canadian. (more…)

Midsummer Night Eve in Finland: photo essay

Finland, the land of the midnight sun, celebrates the arrival of Summer after a long, dark winter. Our Flickr group contributor Irmeli Armo, aka Connectlrmeli, shared some stunning photos of Midsummer’s Night Eve in that Nordic country. Thank you, Irmeli!

View of Helsinki right after midnight. The sun sets at 10.50 PM and rises at 3.56 AM in the southern coast. It goes from dusk into dawn.

Credit

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The man who saved 30,000 refugees

On May 7, 1945 the German troops surrendered in Western Europe. It was considered the end of World War II in this part of the globe. During the Holocaust, a Portuguese consul saved 30,000 lives. His name was Aristides Sousa Mendes.

Aristides Sousa Mendes (Credits)

Aristides Sousa Mendes: the Portuguese Refugee Saviour in World War II

Aristides Sousa Mendes, a Portuguese aristocrat and diplomat, saved 30,000 refugees -12,000 of them Jews-, during World War II. Aristides was, at the time, the Portuguese consul in Bordeaux (France). Against the orders of the Portuguese cabinet’s president, António de Oliveira Salazar, Aristides decided to help those people in trouble, attending to his catholic beliefs and conscience. These were his words: “I would rather stand with God against man, than with man against God.” (more…)

Seasons around the world

Our contributors describe the different seasons in their countries and how people prepare for and celebrate them.

Northern California - Planting the garden in spring (by Jason)

Spring in Northern California means that sunny days return after a few months of intermittent winter rain.  Usually towards the end of April or beginning of May we’ll go to the local nursery and buy vegetable plants (“starts”) for our raised garden plot that sits in the middle of our patio.  We’ll buy several kinds of tomatoes, basil, peppers, zucchini, cucumbers, lettuce, cilantro, pole beans, chili peppers, melons and whatever else looks good.

Cucumber plot

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Picture Postcards: Street scene in Ottawa, Canada

This week’s street scene picture postcard has been sent in by or contributor, Ana, who spotted these vendors in Ottawa.

See more picture Postcards:
Street Scene in Peru
Funny Photo from the Channel Islands, UK
Flowers from Costa Rica

Folar: a Portuguese Easter Tradition

Easter in Portugal is a very special occasion for godparents and their godchildren.

The tradition says the goddaughter or the godson should visit their godparents and ask for the Folar.

The Folar da Páscoa is a kind of bread or cake, salty or sweet, depending on the region of the country. If it is from the North (the most popular is the Folar de Chaves,) it is salty. If it is from the South (Algarve,) it is sweet.

The Folar da Páscoa is a symbol of brotherhood, friendship and reconciliation, and when covered with eggs, as in the South, it is also a symbol of fertility, rebirth and resurrection.

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