Topics of the World

Laguiole, a prestigious folding Knife

The Laguiole knife, an object-tool whose reputation is second to none

Laguiole is the capital of cutlery in Aubrac, a region of central France. Most people think that knife manufacturing in Laguiole is an ancient tradition that has adapted and been mastered over the centuries! Surprisingly, it is not!

The Bee, one of the distinctive signs of a true Laguiole Knife

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Picture Postcards: Food van in Toronto, Canada

We are taking a fun look at food vans around the world this month. This week we kick off with a photo of a van in Nathan Phillips Square in downtown Toronto, Canada. Our photographer, Ana, says, “They sell ice cream, burgers, hot dogs, fries and poutine. ”

Read more:
We really do dogsled in Canada
A Wedding on Yukon Time
How to be a Canadian

The 4-Way Stop Courtesy

This traffic pattern was never something I had considered before. I grew up with it. We learn how to take advantage of the situation practically as soon as you learn to drive. Then, I had some friends visit from Australia who just had to know how this amazing display of courtesy actually worked. I also heard, recently, that this may be a purely Canadian phenomenon, not North American as I assumed. Maybe someone can chime in.

All streets have their own stop signs.

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The Bouquinistes-Book Sellers along the Seine River

Bouquinistes, a trade that goes back to the Middle-Ages and is unique to Paris

The story has it that a boat transporting loads of books sunk near Notre-Dame Cathedral.

The sailors swam ashore taking with them as many books as they could and sold them to the passersby to make up for the wages they had lost. They certainly found the sale lucrative enough to start making a regular living from it.

Bouquinistes' stalls near Notre-Dame Cathedral

Since then, we are used to seeing the booksellers along the Seine and they have become one of the many iconic symbols of Paris.

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Picture Postcards: Point Reyes, California Emporium

Here’s an interesting looking place spotted by our contributing editor, Ana, in California, USA. It’s the Point Reyes Emporium from 1898, now housing a bookshop and a saddlery.

Read more:
Jason: Working hard in Marin County California
A Taiwanese Student in the USA
Sean Oliver: What surprises you most about the US?

5 interesting facts about the UK

Continuing our series of fun facts from different countries, today we’re looking at the UK.

Fish and chips (credit Ines Saraiva on Flickr)

1. Many of us Brits use the terms ‘Great Britain’ and ‘United Kingdom’ interchangeably, but we are wrong to do so. Great Britain consists of three countries – England, Scotland and Wales, whereas the full definition of the UK is ‘The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’. So the UK includes England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The rest of Ireland is a separate country.

So when we talk about ‘Britain’ or ‘Great Britain’ we are including Scotland and Wales. Many English don’t mind whether they are referred to as British or English, but people from other parts of Britain feel differently. For example, Scottish people tend to consider themselves Scottish and not British. (Of course I cannot speak for the whole of Britain so please feel free to disagree in the comments!)

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