Matador Network's Blog, page 2175
December 10, 2014
What not to say to a lesbian friend
Photo: Gretchen Ludwig
1. Can I watch?
2. You look just like Shane.
3. I’ll pray for you.
4. Ever hear that joke about the Uhaul?
5. A girl I went to high school with is gay; she lives in Boise. Do you know her?
6. I think lesbians are awesome. It’s dudes I have a problem with.
7. You remind me of Jenny Schechter.
8. What exactly is scissoring?
9. But you’re so pretty!
10. Do you have to dress like a guy?
11. You’d look better with longer hair.
12. I LOVE Ellen.
13. Are you a Melissa Etheridge fan? Coooommmeee tooo my windowwww!
14. If you’re gonna strap it on, why not just date a dude?
15. I hate cats.
16. If your girlfriend looks like a guy, why be gay?
17. Do your parents know?
18. You look like sisters!
19. Is it true that gay kids kill themselves?
20. Have you ever dated a guy though? You just haven’t met the right one.
21. Are you a virgin?
22. I’ve never been to a gay wedding, can I come?
23. Who’s the real mother?
24. When did you become gay?
25. I need some pointers for meeting women.
26. Why do you have to be so dykie?
27. I could turn you.
28. If you’ve never been with a guy, how can you be sure you’re a lesbian?
29. I’m a lesbian trapped inside a man’s body.
30. Who’s the kid’s dad?
31. Were you an athlete in college?
32. Do you think Tegan and Sara do it?
33. Have you ever had real sex?
34. I would have never guessed you were a lesbian, you seem so straight!
35. Is it true they use a turkey baster to inseminate?
36. I would never want my kid to be gay, ya know? Life would be so hard for them.
37. Boys are dumb, maybe I’ll be gay.
38. Can you fix this for me?
39. Everyone has a mother and a father. That’s just science.
40. I’m not homophobic. I just get uncomfortable.
41. What a waste.
42. You look so cute! No homo.
43. This is just a phase.
44. There aren’t any gay people where I’m from.
45. Why isn’t there a Straight Pride Parade?
46. All women are a little gay.
47. Wanna have a threesome with my boyfriend?
48. Are you gonna get gay-married now?
49. Which one of you is the dude?
50. Your lifestyle is your business. You don’t need to talk about it so much though.
51. Do you watch Glee?
52. OH EM GEEZ; I LOVE gay people.
53. Let me be your wingman. I love lesbian bars.
54. Are you attracted to me?
55. That’s so gay.
56. I KNEW IT!
57. Is _____ gay too?
58. Gays getting married is one thing, but having kids? No, just no.
59. I like you. You’re not like those other gays.
60. Are you a Macklemore fan?
61. My boyfriend wouldn’t care if we made out.
62. I cried when Whitney and Sada got married.
63. Would you have sex with yourself?
64. I wish I were gay. My life would be so much easier.
65. Have you ever met a tranny?
66. If I hang out with you, people might think I’m gay too.
67. Did you look at me in the locker room in high school?
68. Were you sexually abused as a child?
69. Why do lesbians hate men?
70. It’s not real sex.
71. Do you wear cherry chapstick?
72. Is your life really like The L Word? 
December 9, 2014
European stereotypes [video]
Post by Axtelera Ray.
If we have learned anything from the never-ending European crisis, it’s how much European countries dislike one another.
While many Americans may perceive Europeans as over-taxed, lazy, cultural snobs, the attitudes of many Europeans about their neighbors can be equally as harsh. And unfair.
Over the past five years there has been much name-calling and finger-pointing as the European Union, which is made up of 28 countries including Britain, sinks deeper and deeper into an economic quagmire.
The response to the crisis — or lack of — has exposed the deep cultural differences between the member states and, for many people, confirmed well-established stereotypes — many of them, not surprisingly, unfavorable — about particular countries.
It’s always helpful if you can blame someone else for your bad situation, particularly if you are a politician. Taking responsibility for a problem suggests you will fix it, and we haven’t seen much evidence of that in Europe.
“The prolonged economic crisis has created centrifugal forces that are pulling European public opinion apart, separating the French from the Germans and the Germans from everyone else,” Pew Research said in a global attitudes survey published last year.
“The southern nations of Spain, Italy and Greece are becoming ever more estranged as evidenced by their frustration with Brussels, Berlin and the perceived unfairness of the economic system.”
While seven out of the eight nations surveyed by Pew consider Germany, which has been leading the response to the crisis, as the “most trustworthy” country in Europe, it’s also perceived as being the least compassionate and most arrogant.
Greece ranked itself as the most trustworthy and Germany as the least trustworthy, which is laughable when you consider the tiny Mediterranean country’s significant role in triggering the crisis.
To better understand how Europeans perceive each other, cartoonist Aleix Salo created a hilarious animation that explains European and British stereotypes about countries in the north, south, east and west of the continent, as well as the UK.
According to Salo, Western Europe still associates Eastern Europe with its communist past. The economy is backward with decrepit infrastructure. The people are unemployed and alcoholics. Oh, and it’s cold.
Not surprisingly, Eastern Europeans have the polar-opposite view of their western neighbors, who they perceive as being over-sexed, under-worked and culturally elitist.
When Southern Europeans look north, they see over-controlling and excessively disciplined countries whose citizens behave like robots and are so bored they want to kill themselves. And they do.
The northern take on the south is pretty simple: A bunch of peasants sitting around yelling unintelligibly at each other.
When the UK looks across at Europe, it sees an over-taxed bureaucratic hell controlled by Brussels that is under the thumb of Russia.
Europeans see the UK as, well, complaining a lot as it threatens to exit the EU. And then doesn’t.
It doesn’t offer much hope for a quick resolution to the crisis.
By Allison Jackson, Global Post
This article is syndicated from GlobalPost.
December 7, 2014
9 of the best Airbnbs in Barcelona
Around the world, Airbnb has properties ranging from treehouses and small huts in Indonesia to mansions in England. As the company grows, it’s likely that the selection will continue to widen, both in variety of accommodations available and locations in which they can be found. As seen in Barcelona’s Airbnbs, this is occurring more rapidly than many people expected.
Now check out nine of our favorite Airbnbs in Catalonia’s capital.
1
Dream castle
When the listing reads “Property type: Castle”, your eyes might widen. Just a little though – until you see the pictures. With 12 bedrooms and 30 beds, this villa located in Serra de Collserola Natural Park is the optimal accommodation for a (very) large group traveling through Spain. Or someone who likes a lot of space – 150 hectares worth. Sleeping over 30 people, the Valldaura castle even includes a restaurant in its space. With a pool, 2 massive patios, and a terrace, it’s not such a bad place to have a wedding, either.
2
Rooftop pool
Found on Calle Balmes, not far from Rambla de Catalunya, this 300-square-meter duplex contains four bedrooms, three bedrooms, and two kitchens. Why two? Well, one happens to be poolside on the rooftop terrace, ideal for lunch or dinner after going for a swim in the middle of the city. With a modern interior clad in contrasting colors, the apartment makes for an impressive escape from the city’s hustle and bustle without having to leave the city. Imagine that.
3
El Born
Renovated in 2012, the building in which this apartment sits actually dates back to the 1850s. The 160-year-old ceilings, woodwork, and mosaics remain. Sitting in El Born, the apartment makes effective use of both artificial and natural light in combination with bright colors and numerous tones of wood to create a bright atmosphere. Not far from the famous Santa Maria del Mar and the Plaza Santa Maria, the apartment is in a prime location for evening strolls through the street.
4
Garden space
Located on the grounds of an 18th century palace, this apartment’s garden is home to a neoclassical fountain and several benches from which visitors can enjoy the constant sunlight. The eclectic interior, melding modern touches with the old mosaic floors, wooden beams, and frescos, is nothing short of impressive. With an open floor plan, visitors can cook and entertain guests at the same time. Just minutes from several of the city’s main attractions, the complimentary use of two bicycles might turn out to be quite beneficial.
5
Designer loft
Typically, when one uses the word unique, it’s a sort of exaggeration. With this apartment, well, not so much. Utilizing an interesting layout and architecture, the accommodations are sure to keep guests’ eyes wandering at all times. The loft’s “open” floor plan is unlike the typical open floor plans seen in the majority of apartments. The same can be said for the bathroom, which utilizes a large open space and contains a “big walk-in rainforest style shower room.” Staying for a while? A bottle of cava or wine might just be included.
6
Modern charm
Not far from the Plaça de Catalunya, this spacious apartment wouldn’t be out of place on a popular Instagram page or design blog (just look at the dining table and its backdrop if you’re unsure). Located in a Guadi-Modernist building in Eixample that dates back to the 19th century, many of old Barcelona’s features can be seen in the apartment. Recently renovated, the apartment gives off a clean, bright vibe that visitors are sure to enjoy. And a complimentary bottle of Spanish wine? Good thing so many attractions can be reached by walking.
7
Stylish city center
At first glance, this apartment appears to be well kept but plain (and the listing doesn’t state otherwise) – but the devil is in the details. The staircase in the 3-bedroom apartment appears to be suspended by thin metal bars, likely giving many a height-hating guest vertigo over time. With industrial lighting, “hidden” rooms, and several walls with textural patterns, the apartment teaches a lesson in subtlety. And in case you weren’t able to swing that cruise vacation that one year, you might find towel swans in the bedroom if you’re lucky.
8
Colorful escape
Between the art on the walls, backdrops, furniture, and plants, calling this apartment colorful is nothing short of an understatement. Not too far from the metro or bus stop, the apartment is a short walk from several restaurant and shopping options if you don’t feel like making a journey anywhere. The apartment contains 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, making it ideal for a big group. Just don’t throw any parties or make too much commotion after 11pm!
9
Terrace jacuzzi
This apartment contains several terraces, making it difficult for you to decide whether you want to lounge in the sun all day with a drink in hand, relax on the massage table (massage therapist not included), or kick back in the hot tub. Not far from the Gothic Quarter, the well-lit apartment isn’t far from Gaudi’s famous buildings, Casa Milà (also known as La Pedrera) and Casa Batllo. Both are great places to visit, if you ever decide to leave.
Ecuador's amazing flora and fauna
Two hours north of Quito, Ecuador’s capital, my partner Coen and I hit a dirt road, left civilization behind, and entered Ecuador’s cloud forest, an evergreen moist forest that characterizes a large part of the country’s landscape. A gate indicates the entrance to the 3,200-acre Mashpi Reserve, which protects an important part of the Choco Forest that stretches far into Colombia. Eighty percent of this incredible biodiverse forest has already been destroyed and as a result much of the endemic flora and fauna is on the verge of extinction.
Apart from an abundance of plant species, an estimated 500 species of birds (some 35 are endemic) share this home with animals such as monkeys, peccaries, ocelots and anteaters.
Coen and I came to the Mashpi Eco Lodge, which lies in the heart of this reserve, to see hummingbirds, butterflies, and orchids but soon discovered that this cloud forest is much richer than that.
Coen and Karin were guests of the Mashpi Eco Lodge. All photos by Coen Wubbles.
1
Plastic crates
These crates play an important role in the preservation of trails, which in rainforests are often muddy, slippery, and sometimes dangerous. In most cases they are repaired and reinforced using wood or bamboo. One of Mashpi's expedition managers concluded this was a never-ending battle and that having to cut so much wood wasn't, in fact, ecological at all. So he decided to use some 7,000 recycled beverage crates instead. It doesn't look particularly beautiful with edges sticking out, but it is very effective.
The crates will last 150 years, so there's no need to replace them any time soon, and they stop the trail from becoming slippery. But there is more to it. Because of the way the crates are stacked, the weight of each footstep is spread over a large surface, which minimizes the impact on the soil. Instead of the soil becoming so compacted that once the trail is abandoned it will need years to recover (as is the case with regular trails), these trails can recover—when abandoned and the crates dug up—within two or three months.
2
Jaboncillo
Of course, soaps and detergents were used long before technology enabled mankind to produce them synthetically. For example, in Asia the soap nut of the Sapindus is well-known, and during our visits to indigenous people in Brazil we learned they have their own plants that can be used as soap as well. Here, around Mashpi, people have traditionally used the berries of this plant, called jaboncillo, which are rich in saponin.
3
Elephant ear
Around Mashpi the plant is known as rascadera. It grows enormous leaves and is nicknamed 'elephant ear.' It is also called the 'poor man's umbrella' because the leaf hardly ever gets damaged and people in the countryside therefore effectively use it as an umbrella.
You can touch the leaf without a problem, but if it is damaged by you (or an insect), a white, toxic liquid will seep out. This liquid can burn your skin and itches so much that you will scratch your skin open. So, as our local guide José explained, in order to use a leaf as an umbrella you have to cut the stem low enough for the liquid to seep out below your hand.
4
Hummingbirds
Some thirty different hummingbirds have been identified within the reserve, among which endemics such as the Velvet-Purple Coronet and the Brown Inca. At the reserve's hummingbird observation station we admired about a dozen different ones, some with fairy-tale names, such as Purple-Crowned Fairy, Green-Crowned Wood Nymph, Violet-Tailed Sylph.
We struck it lucky and also got to spot a coati, toucans, and several types of tanagers.
5
Flor de campo
Locally they call this flor de campo, which belongs to the genus of Clusia. Flor means flower in Spanish but in fact this is a fruit. It is not edible for people, but it is for certain animals.
People use it as a stamp: when the fruit is cut open it reveals an incredible star-shaped pattern, which is used to decorate fabric.
6
Giant land snails
While hiking to a waterfall, the 85-foot-high observation tower, or the butterfly farm, we came across giant land snails. According to José, who has lived in this forest his entire life, its slime is used to make a facial lotion.
The meat of this snail can weigh up to a pound and is locally eaten as a ceviche. Ecuadorian ceviche typically is a cooked, soupy seafood dish with sliced onion, tomato, lemon, cilantro and salt, and is served with tostada (roasted corn kernels) and chifles (banana chips), but the main ingredient can vary. You can also have a mango ceviche, mushroom ceviche, or as here: a giant land snail ceviche.
7
Blue insect
Thanks to its tropical location, Ecuador has one of the richest insect varieties in the world. Hence we can't really blame our guides when they can't come up with the right names for every single crawling creature we are interested in.
Coen spotted this beautiful creature on his skybike ride and David suspects it may belong to the family of hemiptera, or true bugs.
8
Wasps
A beautiful sight while sky biking along a 655-foot cable among Mashpi Reserve's 100 to 130 foot high treetops: watching how wasps were building a new nest.
9
Red creepers
Another sight seen from the sky bike were these red creepers winding their way among trees, which belong to the Gesneriaceae family.
According to our naturalist guide David, in this reserve red and yellow flowers specifically attract hummingbirds, whereas other colors are more attractive to certain insects.
10
Nocturnal insects
Coen has an incredible eye for detail and spotted this insect with pincers at the end of our nocturnal walk before any of the guides did. David says it is one they don't see very often.
11
Strangler figs
This fig is a hemiephiphyte (URL6), meaning that it begins life as an epiphyte in another tree. Its roots find their way down into the ground, winding themselves around the trunk of its host. Over time the roots will engulf the host tree until the plant, now tree, can stand on its own.
12
Rain frogs
One of the lodge's activities is a nocturnal walk, during which we saw totally different animals than during the day. This little nocturnal frog belongs to the genus of pristimantis and sat dead quiet under the illusion—or in the hope—we wouldn't spot it even though Coen took minutes to properly light it with a lantern in order to take a photo of it.
13
Orchids
One of the reasons for Roque Sevilla, the owner of Mashpi's Eco Lodge and the Reserve, to preserve this area was to protect its abundance of orchids. The reserve is home to hundreds of orchid species, among which many newly discovered ones.
This is one of the tallest orchids in the world and can grow to up to 26 feet. Orchids are the only flowers that have no nectar. They attract the right animals needed for pollination in different ways, depending on the type of orchid.
While this is a nice-smelling orchid, others carry the stench of rotten garbage to attract certain insects. There are even orchids that produce a kind of drug that some insects are attracted to.
14
Animal or plant?
Initially we took this for a young plant, but it wasn't. The guides didn't know its name but José did know not to touch this caterpillar, as it stings.
15
Verbana
José explained that the leaf of this verbana plant has two important medical applications. First, by boiling two liters of water with these leaves down to one, you will get a liquid that you can drink to ward off a severe cough and a sore throat. Second, by extracting the juice from the leaves and drinking it, which is incredibly bitter, local people fight off paludismo—a type of malaria.
16
Quita calzon—paper wasps
While hiking down to the butterfly center, we came across this wasp nest. José calls them 'quita calzon', which can be translated as 'take off your clothes'.
It is a nickname used for these paper wasps because when a nest attacks you, the wasps will get into your clothes and sting all over. You have to remove all your clothes to get rid of them.
17
Army ants
These ants, belonging to the Eciton family, are also called soldier ants. They swarm in such large numbers, up to 200,000, that they can even kill and eat lizards and frogs. Having said that, scorpions, spiders, other ants and beetles are more common food for them.
Indigenous people use the ants to stitch wounds by holding the razor sharp pincers over a cut in the skin and when the ant bites, breaking off the head so the pincers keep the cut together.
18
Spider nest
Not too far from the paper wasp nest we noticed this rolled-up leaf. It looked as if it had naturally curled up until David pointed out that it hadn't.
The owner of this little home, a spider that belongs to the black widow family, had made a nifty nest by rolling up a leaf into a hollow, tube-like shape and keeping the leaf in place by using the strongest natural thread available: its own silk.
19
Walking palm trees
These trees, belonging to the Socratea family, are capable of moving three to four meters in their lifetime, which they do in order to get closer to sunlight.
The trunk is not anchored in the soil, but the tree stands on stilt roots. It can 'walk' by growing new roots on the side it wants to go to and letting the original roots rot away.
The roots are so coarse that people use them as graters.
20
Butterflies
One of the projects at the reserve is the Butterfly Life Center. Here the lodge's resident biologist does research in cooperation with the University of Sheffield to hopefully discover which gene governs the structural colors of a butterfly.
While this is going on behind the scenes (although you can see the biologist's work at the butterfly farm), most visitors focus on the 17 species that flutter freely in the center. The biggest is the owl-eye butterfly but we were most impressed by the glass-winged butterfly.
18 scenic places to teach ESL
Bangkok used to be called the “Venice of the East” thanks to its system of canals, or khlongs. Many have been filled in to create paved roads, but the Khlong Saen Saeb still twists through the city today, along with the Chao Phraya river.
Photo: Stuck in Customs
2. Salvador, Brazil
Rio and São Paolo are the two most popular Brazilian cities when it comes to teaching ESL, but I wouldn’t trade my year in Salvador for anything. According to my co-workers and students, this is the city where Cariocas (Rio natives) come to vacation — that’s how gorgeous the beaches are.
Photo: Danielle Pereira
3. Copán Ruinas, Honduras
Copán Ruinas is on the border of Guatemala close to the archaeological site of Copán. The area includes an acropolis with plazas, buildings, pyramids, staircases, and a ballcourt, along with a system of tunnels underneath.
Photo: Daniel Mennerich
4. Prague, Czech Republic
The Prague Castle, the Dancing House, the Astronomical Clock, and the Prague Metronome at Letná Park are some of my favorite monuments in this city. There are several language schools in Prague, but many ESL teachers choose to go the private-lesson route to avoid the high taxes that come with a school gig.
Photo: Miroslav Petrasko
5. Zanzibar, Tanzania
Hang out in Stone Town, go low-tide fishing, check out the wildlife, maybe hit up the “five-day music, culture, seafood, and booze-fueled party” known as Sauti Za Busara…oh, and teach a little, too.
Photo: Andrea Moroni
6. Jeju Island, Korea
While most hagwon-bound ESL teachers go for Seoul or Busan, Jeju Island has a much more laid-back vibe. Added bonus: sex theme park.
Photo: Iñaki Bolumburu
7. Lagos, Portugal
I’ve been told that many ESL teachers who head to the Algarve start out teaching part-time as a freelancer to gain experience before going for a full-time contract with a school. You might have an easier time finding a job in Lisbon or one of Portugal’s bigger cities, but the beaches in the south could convince you to give towns like Lagos a shot.
Photo: Blinking Idiot
8. Shanghai, China
Shanghai is the largest city proper in the world (by population), so ESL teaching positions are easy to find. The better-paying jobs usually require some sort of certification like the TESOL, but work is available for native English speakers with a bachelor’s degree in any subject.
Photo: Mike Behnken
9. Bali, Indonesia
Most of Indonesia’s Hindus live in this province, and it’s fairly popular with tourists and ESL teachers. Scenery in Bali includes several pilgrimage temples, including the one on Tanah Lot, a rock formation pictured below.
Photo: fabiogis50 AWAY
10. Casablanca, Morocco
Morocco’s largest and most famous city isn’t short on scenery, with miles of coastline, little islands, cathedrals, and mosques. Of course, you’ll have to endure tedious Bogart quotes when you tell your family and friends where you’re heading off to.
Photo: Laura0509
11. Stockholm, Sweden
ESL teaching jobs in Stockholm are competitive. While Stockholm is beautiful, the high cost of living makes it a challenge for most teachers to stay for long.
Photo: Kah-Wai Lin
12. Istanbul, Turkey
“For those seeking ESL teaching work in Istanbul, numerous jobs abound, and can be found simply by walking into the language schools themselves, or by applying with a resume, cover letter, photo, and scanned copy of qualifications and passport over the Internet,” says Matador contributor Emily Hansen. “For aspiring and seasoned travelers, there is no other city that quite captures the glamor of a martini glass, the pizzazz of a belly dancer, and the wild imagination of two continents.”
Photo: maistora
13. Uglich, Russia
Never mind that the name of the town doesn’t exactly sound beautiful in English. Located in western Russia on the Volga River, Uglich is known for its examples of traditional Russian architecture.
Photo: Aleksandr Zykov
14. Valparaiso, Chile
Valpo was named a world heritage site because of its public transportation system. The 16 funicular elevators will probably be a more convenient option for getting to class than the hilly cobblestone streets — and they add a colorful touch to the cityscape.
Photo: DGTX
15. Grand Port, Mauritius
Located over 500 miles east of Madagascar, Mauritius is part of the Mascarene Islands and was created by oceanic volcano eruptions, resulting in mountains, beaches, coral reefs, lagoons, and rivers.
Photo: Jean Marc Lim
16. Crete, Greece
Personally, my reason for teaching ESL in Greece would be the food, but the Byzantine ruins and beaches are probably good reasons, too.
Photo: Oliver Clarke
17. Oaxaca, Mexico
Several Matadorians have based out of Oaxaca over the last few years. There are language schools in Oaxaca City, and if you’re willing to dig in and be resourceful, you might be able to put together a gig in one of the smaller towns, several of which have world-class surf.
Photo: Carlos Adampol Galino
18. Reykjavik, Iceland
With Mount Esja dominating the view to the north and incredible examples of architecture like the Hallgrimskirkja church, Reykjavik is a beautiful (if chilly) place to teach phrasal verbs and idioms. 
Photo: Stuck in Customs
This article was originally published on September 3rd, 2012 as an updated version of a 2008 article by Matador contributor Athena Lamberis.
10 things you'll overhear in Dublin
Photo: Kris Krug
“Two for a tenner”
Whether on your way to Croke Park or strolling down Grafton Street, the cry of a 60+ year old Dublin woman is bound to attract your attention. No item is safe, with floozies, punnets of strawberries, and whatever else may have fallen from a delivery van all being offered in multiples of two at low, low prices!
You feel sorry for the amount of effort it took these ladies to convert from the Irish punt to the euro, as “Two for a pound” is still etched in your memory!
“I have a receipt”
You’re at the checkout of Centra, purchasing a much-needed chicken fillet roll, when you see a tracksuit-clad young man gingerly making his way towards the exit without any items visible. The shopkeeper becomes suspicious and confronts said person, but is quickly informed that he does, in fact, possess a receipt, which you know they most certainly do not. The chances of feeding the whole of Dublin with your chicken fillet roll is more probable than this guy having not robbed something!
“That Conor McGregor lad is some animal”
The 26-year-old Dublin native has created a lot of buzz throughout his home county of Dublin, and folks have jumped on the bandwagon. Up until last year the lads singing his praises barely knew what MMA stood for, and their knowledge of martial arts was seeing a few slaps thrown outside Coppers on a Saturday night. In the space of a few fights in the UFC, thousands of experts have emerged throughout Dublin, and they all offer deep insight into who they think McGregor should face next and how he should approach his training. All this while sporting the best Penny’s suit, and the finest haircut their dole money could buy!
“I can’t, I have a 9 o’clock”
The most heard excuse for not doing anything exciting across Dublin campuses. Having a dreaded 9 o’clock lecture, or worse, lab, means you’ve either missed the chance to carefully select your classes based on the preferable post-lunch timetable, or you’re taking a course other than Arts in UCD. Well, you’re only in college for as long as you can afford so hit up the Big Tree, chat up a few nurses, and battle through your death-like hangover the next day. 30-year-old you will thank you for it years later.
“Morto”
In making regrettable decisions, your young female friend is incredibly embarrassed. Rather than wasting extra breath on a word with three syllables (“mortified”), females of Dublin have found a way to save both the speaker and listener time and effort by shortening it down to “morto.” Dublin teenagers: innovating the English language since the advent of Bebo.
“Going for a cheeky Starbucks?”
First off, there’s very little cheekiness in having one of the most overrated coffees in the land. Nowadays the Starbucks to-go cup is treated like another fashion accessory for those walking down the shopping streets of the city. The image of a heavily coated young woman hunched over, clutching to every last degree of warmth evaporating from her chalice is a sight we are all too familiar seeing.
“I was trollied”
You’ve heard it from the lad suited up walking down Grafton Street on his way to work. On his iPhone 6, he informs the person on the end of the line that he is “trollied” from the night before! Still lives his life like a college student except now he’s making business deals instead of trying to get the shift on a Wednesday night. For the sake of this new business venture, alcohol was required to schmooze with the client and the result is an unforgiving hangover.
“Did ya see Love/Hate last night?!”
The most popular RTE show since The Angelus, Love/Hate is the talk of Dublin city every Monday morning. No matter what your social background is, it seems everyone is united in their love of the show. At least now you can tolerate what the scumbag at the back of the bus is talking about, especially as they’re probably more educated on gangland crime than you.
“Five euros, Pennies.”
Stating the price of your latest wardrobe addition and where you purchased said item is the norm in Dublin. With Pennies being the unheralded king of discount brands, it offers huge appeal to both genders of the capital. Lads frequent the store to prepare for holidays in the sun by buying as many offense-laden t-shirts they can afford on a 50 euro budget. Girls, on the other hand, can stretch every penny and have the ability to look like runway models upon exiting the premises. So the next time you see a lad wearing a shirt that stating that his penis is “a legend,” standing next to a bombshell model, you’ll know they’ve probably been to Pennies.
“Are you getting on or not?”
Dublin Bus has a strong belief in employing some of the most bitter and obnoxious people on the island. Impatience and dishing out ignorant remarks must be on their job description because they do it with ease. Any question asked of them is answered with a sigh of astonishment, wondering how someone like you could have been born ignorant of the exact stops of the 66 bus. Don’t dare hesitate in getting on a bus, as you will be angrily asked “Are you getting on or not?” No matter your decision, the doors are getting closed behind your arse or right in front of your face whether you like it or not!
December 6, 2014
20 epic wine countries
[Editor’s note: The expertise in this article comes from Sam Hovland, wine buyer at East End Wines in Austin, TX. I’ve been shopping East End since they opened last year; I typically pop in once a week for one of their free tastings. All quotes below are Sam’s.]
1. Mendoza, Argentina
This is where I got into wine beyond the $5 table red. They had my number, mixing biking with tastings, and prices are low enough that backpackers can get a bottle of the good stuff to take home.
The highness and dryness of Mendoza province combine with snowmelt irrigation tapped from the nearby Andes to create ideal growing conditions. Malbec — a grape originally produced (rather unsuccessfully) in France — is the signature varietal, while the lesser-known but also nationally iconic Torrontés is grown in provinces to the north.
Maipú, just southeast of the city of Mendoza, gets most of the tourists (and cyclists), but Luján de Cuyo, Valle de Uco, and Tupungato aren’t much farther out and are also major producers. Head there to avoid the crowds.
Side trip: Rent a car and drive west on Ruta 7 up to Parque Provincial Aconcagua and the highest peak outside the Himalayas.
2. Burgundy, France
Burgundy packs a high concentration of great wines into a small area, while subtle differences in the micro-climates of each vineyard allow in-depth study of how growing conditions affect output. It’s a complicated region in terms of tracing the ownership structure of the vineyards, which “makes seeing the storied vineyards in person so interesting and important to understanding them.”
Burgundy’s size means it’s possible to cover most of the region in a few days. Best to concentrate on the Cote d’Or (which includes the Cote de Beaune and Cote de Nuits), sleeping in Dijon and going by train to the medieval town of Beaune rather than paying much more to stay onsite.
Side trip: Find out how to work the Dijon mustard fields in 5 WWOOFing Opportunities in France.
3. Willamette Valley, Oregon
Many of my favorite domestic wines come from the Willamette Valley. The people there are very passionate about their wines…and work hard to improve the output of their vineyards and find the best spot to grow the most appropriate clones — my favorites here being Pinot Noir and Riesling, though there are also great Chardonnays and Pinot Gris.
There are [many] excellent wineries within a few hours of Portland in the Northern Willamette (from Portland south to Salem), and the entire Willamette Valley is 175 miles from end to end…. Great food wines poured alongside great local meals, full of individualistic young wineries. I try to visit as often as possible.
Side trip: Here’s our Green Guide to Portland for when you’re there.
4. Wellington/Wairarapa, New Zealand
This is one of the smaller of New Zealand’s 10 primary grape growing regions, but the quality of its wine surpasses the others’.
The most important varietals are Sauvignon Blanc, which put the country on the world wine map in the 1980s, and Pinot Noir, each accounting for a little over a third of the region’s production.
The subregion of Martinborough, focused on the village of the same name, has the oldest vines and is said to make the best product.
Side trip: I’d just rent a car and tour the whole country, having been inspired recently by Photo Gallery: 22 Natural Destinations in New Zealand.
5. La Rioja, Spain
Pretty much the whole of Spain is planted with grapes, but this is the classic Spanish wine-producing region, situated in the north of the country with its capital at Logroño. Its position, sheltered by the Cantabrian Mountains, gives it a more moderate climate than the rest of northern Spain.
Winemaking here is over 1,000 years old. Today the region is best known for its blends, with the primary red varietal used being Tempranillo and Viura the white. Traditionally, Rioja wines underwent extensive aging, with several years in oak barrels. This is slowly changing to meet increased demand, but you can expect strong vanilla flavors from a typical glass of Rioja.
Side trip: Just to the north are San Sebastián and Bilbao; farther west, the mountain region of Picos de Europa is probably my favorite spot in Spain.
6. Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany
Thought of more as a beer country, this seems to have made the wine production that does go on in Germany more serious, with a much higher percentage of it being quality wine. Great acidity and lower alcohols make Riesling one of the darlings of sommeliers for food pairing, and it’s often their personal mission to get patrons to appreciate the great wines and values of Germany.
Small amounts of red are produced…, but slate driven mineral whites from the Riesling grape in the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer are a great place to start. Don’t neglect the off dry styles in favor of the bone dry earlier harvest wines — these are unique and characterful wines.
Branch out into the Pfalz and Nahe later for other regions of note.
Side trip: Across the border, nearby Strasbourg is a Place to Experience La Belle France.
7. Northern California, USA
Napa is probably the best-known name among American drinkers, and at just an hour north of San Francisco is worth a visit — if you have specific wineries you want to hit. When I went, I was overwhelmed by the hundreds of options and the bumper-to-bumper along much of Highway 29 (they were working to widen this to four lanes, so hopefully traffic will improve).
Regusci Winery. Via
Instead, I’d recommend driving another ~80 miles up 128 to check out the much mellower offerings of Anderson Valley, where only a dozen or so mostly newcomer operations compete for visitors and Pinot Noir is the big dog. I stopped into Foursight Wines and was invited back to watch the punchdown underway on one of their two fermenting vats. You won’t get that in Napa.
As a bonus, there’s Anderson Vally Brewing when the wine gets old, and just up the highway at Indian Creek County Park you can camp in an old-growth redwood grove for $15.
Side trip: Up the coast in Fort Bragg is one beautifully bizarre beach, covered with perfectly smooth, multicolored glass.
8. Tuscany, Italy
Home of the “dry Chianti,” Tuscany is a hilly region on Italy’s Tyrrhenian coast. The hills both moderate the summertime heat and give the elevated vineyards more exposure to the sun, something that benefits the region’s signature Sangiovese grape.
Florence makes a good base of operations for tours of the different subregions, including Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, and Carmignano. Make sure to try the Vin Santo, Tuscany’s world-famous dessert wine.
Side trip: Just up the coast are the five villages of Cinque Terre and the national park of the same name.
9. Maipo, Chile
On the other side of the Andes from Mendoza is Chile’s Maipo Valley, a subregion of the larger Valle Central.
Cabernet is the big thing in Maipo, and the area is widely cultivated, helping Chile earn its spot as the fifth largest wine exporter in the world. Irrigation comes from the Maipo River, which flows straight from the mountains.
For something different, head north to arid Atacama region, where the Andean-centric brandy-like wine Pisco is produced.
Side trip: Not far from the vines, and also close to Santiago, is Cajón del Maipo.
10. Champagne, France
Chalky soils at the northern edge of where grapes can be grown give us sparkling wines that define the standards for the category but remain a mystery to too many.
Big Champagne houses do their best to make a product that varies little from year to year, defeating some of the magic of wine, so I look for the RM (Récoltant-Manipulant) code on the label for grower Champagnes that are more tied to vintage and place…. If you think that Champagne is only for celebrating, then celebrate more things.
Side trip: Paris is just an hour or so west by train.
11. Greece
Centuries of Ottoman rule did a lot to set back winemaking in a region that historically had been quite serious about it. But today, you can find wines made from indigenous Greek grapes that are unlike anything else out there.
Joining the EU was one of the best things that could have happened to the Greek wine industry, and now much more clean and zippy wines are emerging, with lots of my favorites coming from the island of Santorini.
Samos and the Peloponnese are two other spots to check out, the former focusing strongly on the Muscat grape.
Side trip: A tour of Santorini wineries is likely to be the side trip, not the other way around. Here’s some advice when visiting the island: What NOT to do in Santorini.
12. Texas Hill Country
Warning: this list was made by a Texan.
Our long, hot summers limit what Texas winemakers can produce, but there’s surprising variety coming out of the Hill Country, and a lot of it (to my tastes, at least) is damn good.
I’m a member of the wine club at Becker Vineyards and adore their Malbec; anything marked “Reserve” is also kick-ass without fail.
Most of the action happens on Highway 290 between Stonewall and the old German town of Fredericksburg. Lots of B&Bs in the latter, which make for a great weekend basecamp for wine tours.
Side trip: Check out Enchanted Rock State Natural Area for hiking/camping; Austin is about an hour and a half from Fredericksburg.
13. Sicily, Italy
Choosing a region to tour in Italy is a bit like picking a winery in Napa — the options are so numerous that it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Sicily has two things going for it: being an island its land area is limited, and in the Italian wine world it’s most definitely an “up and coming” destination — get there to see it arrive.
In the past, Sicily was mainly known for its fortified Marsala wine, but recently local winemakers have had international success producing Nero d’Avola, a varietal unique to the island.
Side trip: Get tips on seeing the whole island in Roadtripping the Sicilian Coast.
14. Stellenbosch, South Africa
Grapes have been grown in this part of what’s now known as the Cape Winelands since 1679, helping Stellenbosch become the center of wine production and study in South Africa.
Red varietals are the focus here, led by Cabernet and including Merlot and Shiraz. A number of Port-style fortified wines are also produced.
For information on how to put together a trip that hits all the region’s major players, check the website of the Stellenbosch Wine Routes.
Side trip: Down on the coast, you can get Face to Face with South Africa’s Great Whites.
15. McLaren Vale, Australia
Australia is the fourth largest wine exporter in the world, but the focus in McLaren Vale is on quality over quantity. Vines were first planted here in 1838, and many wineries are still family-run.
The Shiraz grape is the region’s mainstay, while Cabernet, Grenache, Sauvignon Blanc, and others are grown as well. McLaren Vale is a short drive south of Adelaide and in close proximity to beaches and Coorong National Park.
Side trip: Drive down the coast and cross into Victoria province to find the Great Ocean Walk.
16. Douro Valley, Portugal
The Douro Valley wine country is so incredibly beautiful that it has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And the wine’s not too shabby, too: the area is probably best known for its Port, but it also makes claret’s and Burgundy-style wines.
Aside from the gorgeous scenery and excellent wine, the Douro Valley has some first class restaurants and small hotels that make it a must on any trip to the Iberian peninsula.
Side Trip: Take a four-wheeler tour through the Coa Valley Archaelogical Museum and Park. The wine country is also only about an hour and a half drive from Porto, Portugal, and a three drive to Salamanca, Spain.
17. Tokaj-Hegyalja, Hungary
Hungary’s famous Tokaj-Hegyalja Wine Region is a little gem tucked away in Eastern Europe’s Carpathian foothills that has been making wine for at least 900 years.
The area produces Tokaji (in English, traditionally “Tokay”) sweet wines that are good enough to have earned a mention in the country’s national anthem.
Side Trip: Tokaj is about two and a half hours from Budapest – it’s actually closer to the Slovakian, Ukrainian, and Romanian borders – but instead of venturing out of the country, take a trip to Szilvasvarad an hour and a half away and see the world famous Lipizzaner stallions.
18. Bordeaux, France
Bordeaux is synonymous with good wine. The region is known for the red clarets that share its name (though about 11% of the wine produced in Bordeaux is white wine).
The area is home to the world’s largest wine fair, Vinexpo, which is only held every two years – and there’s one coming up in 2015.
Side Trip: I mean, come on, you’re in France – you can go anywhere and it’ll be pretty great. Bordeaux is in the Southwest of the country, so go to Europe’s longest beach, the Cote d’Argent, and get some surfing in.
19. Finger Lakes, New York
Upstate New York’s famous Finger Lakes are the home to the state’s largest wine-producing area, with over 100 wineries.
The area produces dozens of wines – cabernet sauvignons, malbecs, merlots, pinot noirs, and more – that usually sit on the hills overlooking the eponymous lakes.
Side Trip: It’s only two and a half hours to Niagara Falls – then a little further to Toronto – but instead of leaving, take a boat tour on the lakes.
20. Okanagan Valley, Canada
Canada’s second largest wine producer (behind the Niagara Peninsula in Ontario) is the beautiful Okanagan Valley in British Columbia. The area is host to 131 wineries that specialize in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, but produce dozens more.
Side Trip: This is British Columbia, so in the winter time, you want to go skiing, and in the summer time, watersports is the name of the game.
The first version of this article was first published on May 13, 2011.
12 ways to make the most of Big Sky
Standing in line at the coffee shop in Big Sky, the gentleman behind me recommended his favorite bagel sandwich to me. While out taking pictures people constantly stopped to point out all the best places to photograph. I’ve traveled all over the world, but this community in Montana is the friendliest I’ve encountered.
People come to Big Sky for the adventure and decide to stay for the lifestyle. Even after only three days here I understand why.
Greta’s trip to Montana was sponsored in part by Visit Big Sky.
All photos by the author.
1
Big Sky Resort
Big Sky Resort became the largest ski resort in the USA in 2013 when it consolidated with Moonlight Basin Resort. The resort has been open for summer activities since 2005, although summer typically brings in only about 50% of the visitors that come for the winter activities. That’s a shame because there are twice as many activities to do in the summer. The resort includes many family activities: a spa, ropes course, numerous hiking and mountain biking trails, and even an archery range for starters. In September, Big Sky Resort hosts ‘The Rut’—a 50K race that features 500 runners gunning straight up Lone Peak. The resort also has six options for housing, and several restaurants.
2
Lone Peak Expedition
Lone Peak Expedition is a 2.5 hour tour that takes you to the top of the mountain. The expedition starts by taking the chairlift to the summit, then transferring to an all-terrain vehicle that drives up a short, steep road with hairline turns to the Big Sky Tram, which continues the tour to the top. As we bumped our way up the steep, rocky road in our all-terrain vehicle the guide explained that “it took 300 helicopter flights back and forth to the peak in order to get the Big Sky Tram up and running.”
3
View from the top
The summit of Lone Peak is 11,166 feet high. On a clear day you can look out at three states and two national parks, plus look down on Big Sky and the exclusive Yellowstone Club. Each unique landscape has an information board describing the mountain range you’re viewing. Our guide explained the shape of Lone Peak, which is perfect for long ski runs, as a “Christmas Tree Laccolithic Volcano.” She further explained that “Lone Peak had wanted to be a volcano, lava seeped up through half of it but never erupted, instead seeping out the sides.” You can get to the summit of Lone Peak by hiking or by taking the Lone Peak Expedition Tour, which includes a ride to the top on the Big Sky Tram.
4
Private fly fishing tours
Fly fishing is a way of life for those that live along the rivers of Montana. The Gallatin River, where Brad Pitt was filmed in “A River Runs Through It,” is roughly 115 miles long and flows into the Missouri River. Hire one of the seven fly fishing outfitters to guide you in different fly fishing techniques, like the overhead cast or the roll cast. They also teach you how to read the water to find where the fish are hiding, from depth, to ripples, to temperature. For example, water temperature is a good indicator of when a fish will bite the fly nymph -- too cold or too warm and they become lethargic, which makes for a long day of fishing. My guide was a patient teacher and a cheerleader. When my casting left a lot to be desired he said, “The fish doesn’t care what the cast looks like, they only care about the drift.”
5
Horseback riding
Gallatin National Forest has 1,500 miles of trail systems for horseback riding, starting at the entrance of Gallatin Canyon, where Big Sky is located, to West Yellowstone. A 2.5 hour ride will take you up into the mountains for breathtaking views. Riding experience of all levels is welcome, although a shorter ride is recommended for beginners, as you’ll be feeling the burn the next day! Six horseback outfitter options exist, and all have all with access to unique trails and tours, including one by Jake's Horses, which includes a steak fry dinner in the middle of a 4-hour ride.
6
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park, America’s first national park, is well known for its Old Faithful Geyser, which erupts approximately every 88 minutes. It also includes the Yellowstone Caldera, the largest super-volcano in North America. Nearby the Yellowstone Grand Canyon is a spiritual ground for the Shoshone Indians; in the rocks of the canyon they see the faces of their ancestors. As our guide drove us through Firehole Canyon Drive I was struck by the diversity of the park’s scenery, from mountains, to grasslands, to waterfalls and steaming geysers, every turn in the road led to new wonders.
7
Yellowstone Old Faithful Inn
The Old Faithful Inn is the largest log structure in the world. Rooms that are located in the ‘Old House’ section of the inn maintain the log character and charm, and while they do have in-room sinks, you’ll need to share the marble and tiled bathroom facilities with other guests. There are even private bathtub rooms where you can relax after a hard day of hiking.
8
Private tours
Yellowstone Luxury Tours will customize a trip into Yellowstone National Park that will match your interests. Your tour includes a day-long trip with up to eight passengers, a picnic lunch, plus pick up and drop off at the your hotel for $799. Our tour guide, Randy, was a walking encyclopedia. He is a naturalist who worked for the national park service and who spent several winters living in Yellowstone in almost complete isolation. His unique perspective and knowledge was so vast that many other Yellowstone guests stopped to listen to his stories as we went along.
9
Wildlife
“People don’t realize how dangerous buffalo can be. They can jump 6-ft. in height from a single stance and reach 35 mph in just three strides (10-ft. long strides),” our naturalist guide explained when discussing the dangers of approaching a wild animal. From bald eagles to elk, from bears to coyotes, from moose to mouse, the opportunities to see wildlife in Big Sky are endless. While the rain kept most of the wildlife in hiding during my stay, I was fortunate enough to see bald eagles fly overhead, buffalo, and even a mother moose with her calf.
10
Dining
In the cooler months, restaurants like Lotus Pad Asian Cuisine are cozy places to retreat after a long day on the slopes. In the summer they offer outdoor seating and seasonal menus using fresh ingredients and a variety of flavors. Bucks T-4 Restaurant is recognized as one of the finest dining experiences in Montana. Excelling at wild game, they have plates ranging from red deer to a vegetarian cauliflower “steak." My entrée was duck “fixed seven ways,” including a confit and a yolk cured in sea salt, served on top of duck bacon.
11
Late night entertainment
Choppers Grub and Pub is an upscale sports bar with a penchant for fancy bikes, an extensive wine list, plus 100 types of beer. There is usually music or some form of entertainment. It is also a favorite hangout for locals. “A guy will walk in and yell ‘I just got an elk!’ grab a beer, and get a group together to help bring it down the mountain,” a patron told me as I sat next to her at the bar.
12
Lodging
An array of options for lodging—from hotels and condos to dude ranches to personal homes and luxury stays—are available in Big Sky.
River Rock Lodge is located in town center, with easy access to restaurants and shopping. Bring along your room key as you enjoy the town- River Rock Lodge has paired with many of them to get you deals and discounts. If you happen to be traveling with your dog, they have a few dog-friendly rooms for an additional $50/night. Book early as they go fast!
www.riverrocklodging.com
Lone Mountain Ranch or 320 Ranch are the rustic, guest dude ranches that offer the complete experience, from horseback riding to rustic BBQ meals to log cabin sleeping that you’d expect from a trip ‘Out West’. www.lonemountainranch.com or < a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Matado...
Big Sky Luxury Rentals will set you up in a high-end property based on your needs, pricing beginning at $199/night and going as high as $2,999/night.
www.bigskyluxuryrentals.com
Big Sky Resort has an extensive list of options for lodging; ranging from condos to cabins to hotel rooms.
www.bigskyresort.com
Holland's black face problem
Photo: Suzanna Koster/Global Post
The Dutch holiday season has one very weird — and to some people, racist — tradition. His name is Black Pete, and, love him or hate him, you’ll see him everywhere you go right now in the Netherlands.
Black Pete, or “Zwarte Piet” in Dutch, is the star of the annual feast of St. Nicholas (“Sinterklaas”). Every year in the weeks leading up to St. Nicholas Eve (“Sinterklaasavond”) on Dec. 5, Black Petes — thought of as St. Nick’s sidekicks, played most often by white Dutch people in blackface — parade through towns across the Netherlands, spreading merriment, giving presents, and unintentionally reenacting a history of racism, colonialism, and slavery. It’s, ya know, a tradition.
Similar legacies gave the United States its own performative traditions: blackface minstrelsy, characters like Sambo and Zip Coon, and a collection of black stereotypes still very much alive in America (see recent events in Ferguson, Mo., and reaction to them).
Americans, still struggling with blindness to structural racism and racist discourse, have more or less agreed that blackface is one tradition, like slavery, that’s not worth preserving.
But that’s not what you hear in the Netherlands when you ask people about the tradition of Black Pete. Dutch polls found that as much as 91% of the population thinks he’s worth preserving.
So what gives?
Suzanna Koster, from the Netherlands herself, explored the story for GlobalPost in Amsterdam. Her video shows how debates over Black Pete are bringing up race and identity issues many Dutch people didn’t think they had:
Debates over Black Pete are debates about tradition — what it is, how it evolves or should evolve, what it means. One thing is for sure: it’s hard to change something somebody else calls a tradition.
As far as actual history goes, Black Pete joined a much older tradition — Europeans have been celebrating St. Nicholas since the middle ages — sometime after 1850, when he first appeared in a children’s book by Jan Schenkman called St. Nicholas and His Servant (St. Nikolaas en Zijn Knecht). As you can probably guess, the servant was Black Pete.
And what was happening in 1850?
The Netherlands was still in the business of colonizing and enslaving brown and black people, even though its global empire had been eclipsed by Britain and France. The Dutch wouldn’t abolish slavery in its colonies of Surinam and the Antilles until 1863, and it held onto the Gold Coast of Africa, the seat of the Dutch slave trade in the 18th century, until 1870. Surinam didn’t achieve full independence until 1975, and while the Netherlands technically dissolved the Dutch Antilles in 2010, several islands remain part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
And yet there are those who insist the tradition of Black Pete has nothing to do with race.
GlobalPost’s Koster spoke to Alex Rüter, spokesperson for Pro Zwarte Pete, a group that advocates for keeping the blackface tradition.
“He’s black because he came through the chimney,” he said, a widely-made claim that doesn’t account for Pete’s stereotypically large red lips, his Afro, the total lack of soot on his clothing, and the fact that Black Pete performers once spoke with a Surinamese accent.
“Black Pete is black and that’s a tradition. We’ve always celebrated it like this and it should stay this way. … If I look at the history, Sinterklaas bought the slaves and set them free. He offered them work and they voluntarily accepted it. [Opponents] just connect it to racism. They make it personal.”
But it’s getting harder to make this argument as opponents speak out and organize into groups like Zwarte Piet is Racism, founded in 2011.
Of the nearly 17 million people in the Netherlands, about 79 percent are ethnically Dutch, according to national data. Ten percent of the population has a “non-Western foreign background,” says the Dutch bureau of statistics. Many ethnic minorities in the Netherlands are migrants from elsewhere in Europe as well as North Africa and Asia.
Most opponents aren’t saying Black Pete needs to disappear from Sinterklaas festivities. They just want to give Pete a makeover and the Dutch people a history lesson. People have in recent years showed up to parades dressed as a yellow-faced “Cheese Pete” and multicolored “Rainbow Petes.” There have been blue “Flower Petes” and even “Stroopwafel Petes,” after the national “syrup waffle” cookie.
“We are in favor of a character who has been stripped of all its racial added characteristics,” said Roelof Jan Minneboo, historian and founder of Zwarte Piet is Racism. “So no more wig, no more full black face and no red lips, but just someone whose face looks like [it’s covered in] chimney soot.”
It’s going to be hard to convince 91% of the population that Black Pete is racist and need to change. Protests this year suggest that progress is being made but there’s a lot left to do, and education is the key.
“We still do not acknowledge the fact that we share a history of colonialism and slavery,” Minneboo said. He explains:
“Factually [school teachings on the Dutch colonial past] are not wrong, but there’s more emphasis on the abolition than there is on the fact of slavery. If you ask an average Dutch person to tell you one detail about lives of slaves in the Dutch colony they won’t be able to give an answer. They will say there was slavery but we abolished this in 1863. But no one knows anything else about that. We tend to shy away from the darker pages of history. We still call a colonial war which we fought in Indonesia ‘police actions.'”
Debates over Black Pete are forcing Dutch people to reckon with their history, and that’s good news, because Dutch racism isn’t confined to the past.
There’s blatant racism among some of the fiercest defenders of Black Pete, like the right-wing, anti-immigrant Freedom Party, which has tried to pass a law that would make it illegal to change Black Pete’s appearance.
There are also systemic inequalities that Dutch people, accustomed to imagining themselves as progressive and tolerant, are less likely to perceive. Black Pete helps sustain that form of de-personalized racism, said one anti-Black Pete organizer, Anousha Nzume, who noted racial disparities in employment, education, and opportunity.
“My dream is that people make the connection,” she told GlobalPost. “That they realize there is a connection between how we view people and how we perpetuate the stereotype yearly.”
Suzanna Koster contributed reporting for this story from Amsterdam.
By Timothy McGrath, Global Post
This article is syndicated from Global Post.
December 5, 2014
Rural Russian lip-syncing video
TONS OF MUSIC VIDEOS are shot in New York City. Not too many are shot in Russia’s rural Ural Mountains. Canadian pop artist Kiesza’s “Hideaway” music video, a single-take dance routine set on the streets of Brooklyn, came out earlier this year, and it took off. It has everything you want from a music video: hipsters in ridiculous clothes, minor acrobatics, and vaguely confused onlookers. Kiesza’s video has 162 million views, so it’s only natural that it got parodied.
Russian comedy duo Julia “Bonya” Starostina and Michail “Kuzmich” Kuzminykh put together this send-up of Kiesza’s music video shot their own version of “Hideaway,” a single-take dance routine set in a small Russian village. It has everything you want from a music video: tractor rides, minor acrobatics, and chicken dunking.
Check out the parody video above. The original Kiesza video is below.
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