TravelswithCharie

Asamkirche or St. John Nepomuk Church, 1733-1746 The Church is divided into three levels. The first level which is dimly lit is where ordinary worshippers sit for the service. The second level with the balcony is for the Emperor. The top level which benefits from light emanating from the windows, is dedicated to God. So there is an established hierarchy in the church - ordinary people, the Emperor and God. Above the lower altar are the figures of the Holy Spirit, God the Father, and Jesus on the cross. The ceiling fresco depicts the life of St. John Nepomuk, a martyr of the Catholic church. It was painted by Cosmas Damian Asam who was schooled in Rome. Notice the beautiful gallery reserved for the Emperor. Check out one of the confessionals with cherubs. View of the left side of the church from the main portal. The golden sun symbolizes eternal love. This is found in the vestibule of the church. One of the core themes of Asamkirche is the sanctity of the seal of confession which is why...

Candombe, Carlos Páez Vilaró  Uruguay's Carnaval is a spellbinding experience that showcases the country's rich Afro-Uruguayan cultural heritage. While it may not be as widely known as its Brazilian or Argentine counterparts, Uruguay's Carnaval has its own distinct flavor and charm. What is also not widely known is that Uruguay’s Carnaval is the longest celebration of its kind in the world. It starts in late January and continues to March every year. The Carnaval celebrated in Uruguay has deep Afro-Uruguayan roots dating back to the 18th century when enslaved Africans brought their musical and dance traditions to the country. These traditions live on in the annual celebration of Carnaval  featuring impassioned drumming, engaging dance performances and dazzling costumes. The pulse of Uruguay's Carnaval is the Candombe rhythm, a style of music and dance that originated in the African diaspora. The pulsating beat of the Candombe drums echoes through the streets, inspiring ...

Dinner is served I heard a lot about Din Tai Fung through friends who had the chance to eat at one of their restaurants worldwide. Then when I was in Taiwan, I found out that Din Tai Fung has its roots in Taipei. First there was a cooking oil business which later expanded in 1972 to include a small shop with four tables serving noodles and dumpling soup. The birth of Xiao Long Bao drew many more diners to their shop.  One evening while in Vegas, I finally had the chance to try some of Din Tai Fung’s menu offerings, thanks to my sister who invited me to dine there. We ordered cucumber salad, shrimp fried rice, chicken wonton soup, string beans with garlic and red bean xiao long bao for dessert. This spread fed three people. It was plenty. Everything was delish but the best tasting dish of the lot was the garlic string beans.  This is the entrance to Din Tai Fung Vegas where you can observe the dumpling makers at work. The art of making Xiao Long Bao is like this: it is handcraf...

Masaganang Ani (Bountiful Harvest), oil on canvas, 1962 The International Rice Institute of the Philippines (IRRI) was founded in the Philippines in 1960 by the Ford and Rockefeller foundations with the support of the Philippines government. The goal of IRRI is “to improve livelihoods, abolish poverty, hunger and malnutrition among those who depend on rice based agri-food systems”. Their headquarters is in Los Baños, Laguna. These two Manansala large scale paintings were commissioned by IRRI in 1962 to depict Filipino life, labor and leisure activities. The paintings were hung on the walls of the dining room and cafeteria  at its headquarters. These weren’t ideal places to hang the canvasses because the smoke from the kitchen and the cleaning solutions used by the staff threatened the paintings. They are now on loan to the National Museum of the Philippines which declared these two masterpieces as National Cultural Treasures. In Masaganang Ani, Manansala chose themes celebrating th...

 Viru Gate Though Tallinn is over seven centuries old, it wears its age well.   Remnants of its past such as the defensive walls and a few of the towers are still standing and have become part of the urban landscape. It is an enchanting place that opens up to reveal itself when you spend more time getting acquainted with it. Fortunately, you can still stroll around town without the crowds that beset other European cities. Flower Market When my Uber driver dropped me off at Viru Gate, I was immediately captivated by the colorful flower market that leads up to the Old Town. The floral varieties for late fall were astonishing. The sight of these flowers brightened my mood immediately as I passed the gate.  Pikk Jalg (Long Leg) Street  This is the path I chose to go up to Toompea Hill. It is one of the oldest streets in Tallinn and is sandwiched between two walls. The other way up is through the Luhike Jalg or Short Leg street which is a shorter route but much steeper....