Matador Network's Blog, page 754

Virtual Santa for 2020

Of all the jobs that look very different in 2020, Santa Claus might be the most dramatically changed. Having children sit on a stranger’s lap while they whisper their Christmas wish in their ear isn’t a great look in the era of masks and social distancing. That’s why one Toronto company is looking for people to work as a virtual Santa Claus this year and visit with children in the US and Canada over Zoom.

Live Calls With Santa is a new site created by parents in light of the pandemic. It needs “professional” Santas to chat with children online and give them a holiday experience that feels like the real thing. It only pays $25 an hour, but the extra benefit of good karma makes up for the low pay.

According to the job posting, “You will be expected to embody Santa’s appearance, cheery persona, upbeat energy, and of course, the endearing ‘ho, ho, ho’. The accurate portrayal of Santa Claus will be instrumental in delivering live, personalized experiences through Zoom video conferencing.”

If chosen, you must remain in character throughout the duration of your calls, handle tough questions, and provide an immersive experience for children. You’ll also be expected to provide your own Santa costume, have a strong internet connection, submit to a background check, and have a dedicated quiet space. A backdrop, microphone, and webcam will be given to you.

Parents can choose from three experience packages: a basic video chat for five minutes for $19.95, a premium package with story time and a recording of the conversation for $29.95, and a platinum package with an edited highlight reel and $10 credit toward a future call for $49.95.

To apply for the Santa role, send a resume and headshot to hr@livecallswithsanta.com, and if you’re lucky you may be contacted for an interview.

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This 750-mile trail will take you from New York City all the way to Canada

Americans might not be able to cross the Canadian border right now, but at least they can walk and bike right up to the edge thanks to this new trail. The Empire State Trail is a 750-mile-long hiking and cycling path across New York, going all the way from New York City to the Canadian border, and from Lake Erie to the Capital District.

Photo: Empire State Trail

The project, which was announced in 2017, is set to be completed by the end of 2020. It builds on two existing but previously disconnected trails with 350 miles of new paths connecting near Albany. It will consist of three sections called the Hudson Valley Greenway (linking NYC to Albany), the Erie Canalway Trail (between Buffalo and Albany), and the Champlain Valley Trail (between the Capital District and the Canadian border south of Montreal). Nearly nine million residents and tourists are projected to visit the trail each year.

Photo: Empire State Trail

When New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the trail’s construction in 2017, he said, “The Empire State Trail, once completed, will be the nation’s largest state multi-use trail network, providing residents and visitors alike unprecedented access to New York’s outdoor treasures, driving tourism and economic activity to communities across the state and helping to protect our environmental resources for generations to come.”

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Machu Picchu light show

Machu Picchu reopened its doors to visitors on November 2, but the government of Peru organized quite the show the previous night to celebrate the event.

On Sunday night, a grand reopening ceremony took place, complete with a spectacular light show. A select group of tourists entered the UNESCO World Heritage site under an array of dazzling lights, and 45 local artists were on hand for special performances. Even more moving, messages from people all over the world were projected onto the citadel.

Photo: Gobierno del Peru/Flickr

Rocio Barrios, Peru’s tourism minister, presented Machu Picchu with the “Safe Travels” seal, certifying that the site and its surrounding hotels and restaurants meet the required safety standards for COVID-19.

Photo: Gobierno del Peru/Flickr

Minister of Culture Alejandro Neyra added, “Next year, millennial Peru will commemorate the Bicentennial of Independence, and I believe that we must find Peruvians more united than ever, resisting and opening our doors to the world.”

Photo: Gobierno del Peru/Flickr

Capacity for Machu Picchu has been reduced to 30 percent for now, with only 675 people allowed to enter each day. On October 15, other archaeological sites and museums reopened nationwide, and flights to Peru are resuming this month, including from the US.

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Whales rescued in Sri Lanka

Against all odds, over 100 stranded whales have been rescued from a dire fate. Between 100 and 120 short-finned pilot whales washed up on the shore at Panadura, Sri Lanka, 15 miles south of the capital of Colombo on Monday afternoon. Luckily, the country’s navy and volunteer population were quick to act.

Sailors from the navy and coast guard, joined by passionate local volunteers who defied the COVID-19 curfew, managed to rescue most whales by dawn on Tuesday after an overnight rescue operation.

Indika de Silva, a navy spokesman, told AFP, “We used our small inshore patrol craft to pull the whales one by one back into deeper waters.” Sadly, four whales have died during the rescue operation, Reuters reports.

Prior to the rescue local authorities had been prepared for mass deaths — especially after an incident in September in Tasmania that saw 470 pilot whales stranded, with only 110 surviving.

The cause of mass stranding events — and this event in particular — is still unknown.

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Prosecco vineyard for sale in Italy

Visiting a winery is great, but it’s a fleeting experience. The way to remedy that is to buy your own prosecco vineyard in Italy. The Friuli wine estate, located in the province of Pordenone near Venice, is for sale for $13.6 million. It might sound steep, but when you consider that it has almost 50 acres of vineyard, an outdoor pool, a dozen dwellings including an 18th-century manor villa, it may be worth the expense. Also, you’ll never run to the liquor store for prosecco ever again.

Photo: ROMOLINI CHRISTIE’S Luxury Real Estate

The 267-acre estate is composed of several historic buildings and, of course, comes with a prosecco vineyard that produces DOC Prosecco (DOC means “designation of controlled origin”). As the new owner of the estate, you will be responsible for overseeing production of the prosecco. Since the vineyards produce about 400 tons of grapes each year, this is quite a task.

Photo: ROMOLINI CHRISTIE’S Luxury Real Estate

When you’re not knee-deep in grapes, you can enjoy any of the property’s 10 habitable houses, some of which date back to the 15th century. The largest house, the Gastaldia, has 13 bedrooms and 15 bathrooms. There’s also a landscaped garden, chapel, two-story bar, 16th-century watermill, and three stables. It’d be like buying a small village full of good wine.

Photo: ROMOLINI CHRISTIE’S Luxury Real Estate

The estate is currently being used as an accommodation business and events venue, though as the new owner, you’d be free to use it however you wish.

More details about the property can be found on the official Christie’s listing.

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Classic New England Thanksgiving

Folks in New England celebrate Thanksgiving just like much of the United States: They roast a turkey for the main dish and slice up pumpkin pie for dessert. But for all its similarities, Thanksgiving dinner in the upper northeast US differentiates itself with heaps of seafood.

You might be surprised to learn that in the pantheon of Thanksgiving dishes, seafood for Thanksgiving dinner is actually more traditional than the turkey you’re used to eating every year. Oceana, an environmental nonprofit committed to advocacy for our oceans, writes that, “While we can’t prove that seafood graced the first Thanksgiving table, there’s evidence aplenty to suggest that the Wampanoag and English heartily enjoyed the fruits of the sea.” The Smithsonian surmises that because both colonists and indigenous people regularly feasted on “eels and shellfish, such as lobster, clams and mussels,” it’s not a stretch to suggest the first Thanksgiving probably included these creatures.

Of the bounty of his home in Plymouth Colony, a pilgrim named Edward Winslow offered more proof that seafood took centerstage at the first Thanksgiving: “Our bay is full of lobsters all the summer and affordeth variety of other fish; in September we can take a hogshead of eels in a night, with small labor, and can dig them out of their beds all the winter. We have mussels … at our doors. Oysters we have none near, but we can have them brought by the Indians when we will.”

Coastal states, like Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, all still have strong fishing communities, which prize shellfish like clams, oysters, and lobster. So it shouldn’t be surprising that each of these oceanic delicacies appears on the Thanksgiving dinner spread. From soups to stuffing, here are six classic New England dishes that incorporate seafood to try at Thanksgiving this year.

Oyster dressing

Photo: Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock

Oyster dressing (also widely known as oyster stuffing) is legendary in New England. Some accounts say that New Englanders have been stuffing poultry (including turkey) and fish with oysters and breadcrumbs for at least 330 years — especially since shellfish once crowded the shores of the eastern coast of the US.

A 1954 press release dispersed by United States Department of the Interior reinforced oysters as integral to the American Thanksgiving tradition, writing that, “There is little doubt that oysters were included among the food items on that original Thanksgiving…While many connoisseurs will prefer theirs in the natural state as the first course of the holiday meal, many others hold that the only proper stuffing for the Thanksgiving bird…is oyster stuffing.”

Oyster stuffing might have first appeared while this succulent shellfish was still abundant along the eastern coast of the US, especially since around the late 1800s, railroads brought oysters inland, creating what the The Celebrated Oysterhouse Cookbook called a “great oyster crave,” around the country.

“At the beginning of the 20th century, the American Northeast was absolutely teeming with oysters,” Caroline Lange writes in Food52. “The rich ate them, the poor ate them, the corner bar of the time was an oyster stand…Adding oysters to anything — stuffing, for example — would have been a ‘why not!’ move.”

Oyster stuffing endures as a classic Thanksgiving dish, and not just in New England, but in the South and the Pacific Northwest, as well.

Stuffed clams

Photo: vm2002/Shutterstock

In Rhode Island, stuffed quahog clams are affectionately nicknamed stuffies. Stuffies are one of the state’s signature culinary claims to fame, and a must-have appetizer at Ocean State Thanksgiving celebrations. Breaded chopped clams, celery, onions, peppers, parsley, lemon, and garlic are baked into the extra large quahog clam shells. Stuffies are typically served as a snack during cocktail hour before the real feast begins.

Some cooks add an additional ingredient that transforms stuffies into a masterpiece: Portuguese sausage, either linguiça and chourico. The added sausage is a nod to southern New England’s Portuguese immigrants, who likely had a big role in shaping the dish, according to Food52 writer William Holt.

Seafood bisque and chowder

Photo: Foodio/Shutterstock

Thanksgiving menus as far back as 1870 and 1877 describe a dish called “oyster soup,” which is perhaps a precursor to what we now know as seafood chowder. Nearly a hundred years later, a 1973 cookbook listed a menu for a “New England Thanksgiving” with corn and clam chowder. These cold-weather dishes still frequently appear at the holiday dinner table.

Creamy, decadent soups that combine autumnal vegetables like carrots and butternut squash are a mainstay during the holiday season, too. The New England twist is of course the addition of shellfish. In Maine, for instance, some folks like to combine buttery pumpkin with briny shrimp in a bisque. Another go-to is a more classic option: lobster bisque. Maine is of course obsessed with lobster, and this hearty appetizer is a guaranteed crowd-pleasing opener before the turkey lands on the table.

Boiled lobster

Photo: Anastasia Tveretinova/Shutterstock

Appetizers aren’t the only place you’ll see lobster appear on the Thanksgiving table in New England. On her blog Maine-ly Lobster, Christina Lemieux writes that, “Because I grew up in a lobster fishing community, lobster has almost always featured in my Thanksgiving celebrations. In my hometown, lobster and clams are often steamed prior to the Thanksgiving dinner and served as part of a communal meal…Other friends of mine plate up boiled lobster as the focal point of their Thanksgiving feast, skipping the turkey all together.”

Whole boiled lobster drenched in butter can replace the turkey, as Lemieux specifies, but it can also be a “sidecar,” as the Boston Globe puts it, accompanying your turkey, depending on the number of guests you’re hosting and their appetite. Stuffed lobster tails make for an indulgent alternative to more traditional turkey and stuffing.

Clam dip

Photo: Fanfo/Shutterstock

Clam dip has long been a staple at family gatherings in New England, where clams are an abundant natural resource. One 2017 report from the NOAA found that Maine produces 1.6 million pounds of soft clam meats annually, followed closely by Massachusetts. Fried clams might be a more widely known clam-based snack, but this creamy, herbaceous appetizer has a well-established presence at cocktail parties, family gatherings, and Thanksgiving dinners alike.

For instance, In the Newfoundland and Labrador Seafood Cookbook, Joan Over writes that she keeps canned clams on hand just in case she has “unexpected guests,” for whom she can quickly whip up a batch of clam dip.

According to Fashionable Food: Seven Decades of Food Fads, clam dip might have hit the height of its popularity in the early fifties. After the Kraft Music Hall featured the recipe in a segment, canned clams sold out around New York City in 24 hours. In The New York Times, Sam Sifton makes reference to clam dip as perhaps a relic of any earlier age, writing, “Here is a taste of New England game days circa the time when televisions had dials…and if you couldn’t get fresh clams…a can or two would do just fine.”

Bacon wrapped scallops

Photo: Africa Studio/Shutterstock

One perhaps apocryphal story contends that bacon wrapped scallops might have originated in New Bedford, MA, where this bountiful gift from the sea arrives by the boatload at the city’s bustling docks. It’s also possible British colonists might have influenced the invention of bacon wrapped scallops; an appetizer called angels on horseback — oysters wrapped in bacon — is popular in England. Today, this finger food is still wildly popular in Massachusetts, and a common Thanksgiving dinner appetizer. Mainers like their sweeter scallops wrapped in bacon too, while Boston-based chef Matt King seasons his version with garlic butter.

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What to know before winter camping

The camping craze that we’ve seen this summer has made its way to winter. Winter camping is not only a relaxing way to get into nature, but it also gives you easy access to activities like backcountry skiing or snowboarding, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. Winter camping comes with its own set of challenges, but with proper planning and cooperative weather, it can be an unexpected new way to practice your newfound love of sleeping outside. Here’s everything you need to know to prepare for your first winter camping experience.

Prepare for the cold

Photo: Vitalii_Mamchuk/Shutterstock

Two primary factors present themselves in campsite selection that aren’t there in the summer: avalanche danger and frigid temperatures, both worsened when high winds are present. The best locations for winter camping are in a flat valley or open space a safe distance from steep slopes. That way, if snow does slide, it won’t reach the campsite.

Weather forecasts should always play a role in camping decisions, particularly in winter when the risk of hypothermia and winter storms are present. Have a backup camping location picked out in case the forecast where you hope to camp looks dismal. In general, even most winter-optimized sleeping bags won’t do much to keep you warm in sub-zero (Fahrenheit) weather, and that includes windchill. If heavy winds or snow are in the forecast, consider camping another time or at your backup location.

Any winter camping exposes you to the elements, however. A heat lamp or heater stove can keep a compact campsite warmer. Some heat lamps like the Mr. Buddy Little Buddy Heater can be used inside tarps and tents, but avoid fully enclosed spaces (such as a zipped tent) due to potential condensation and carbon monoxide poisoning.

Keep in mind that cloudy weather doesn’t inherently signal that a location will be colder. Thick cloud cover can trap heat, actually keeping an area slightly warmer than clear skies. Just be mindful of the potential for heavy snow or winds.

Pitch your tent up on top of the snow

Photo: Gavayec/Shutterstock

Before anchoring your tent, clear a layer of snow from the area where you plan to set it up. Pile that snow up on the side of the tent where any wind is most likely to come in from. This gives you a bit of a buffer on top of the fly and tent itself. A group of trees or small convex like a hill can also help this cause if available.

Then, pack down the remaining snow into a square significantly larger than your tent. Avoid bulges of snow by flattening the area with your boots or a shovel. Your body heat will melt loose snow overnight, meaning your sleeping position is likely to shift, which is both annoying and uncomfortable. Line bags and other larger, dry items inside the tent for added insulation (just don’t forget to leave room for moving around and sleeping).

Angle your tent in a way that lets light to creep in as the sun rises. This allows heat in and helps you avoid oversleeping. To anchor the tent, winter-specific snow stakes are your best bet, though you can also support normal stakes by placing dry gear items along the inside corners of the tent.

For more on setting up a tent, check out Matador’s complete guide.

Set up your camp kitchen

Photo: trek6500/Shutterstock

A liquid fuel stove such as a JetBoil or even a basic campfire will work for cooking at your campsite. Canister stoves can work but tend to have a weaker flame in cold temperatures. Be sure to have a way to light the stove and a backup in case that method fails.

Starting a fire in winter is similar to doing so in warmer months. Use a fire ring if established or dig a small circular hole in the snow. Stack thin logs in a “teepee” form above a layer of kindling, and then light the kindling. Monitor its progress, and once the fire has spread to the logs themselves, poke them down onto the kindling. Of course, check to see if the area where you are camping has any fire restrictions in place before building a fire, and be sure to properly put out the fire before going to sleep.

Stack your firewood in a pile in order to keep the logs on top dry. Otherwise, you may have a tougher time getting that fire going in the morning when the breakfast bell rings. Placing a piece of plywood underneath the stove can prevent moisture caused by melting snow from impacting its performance. Here’s how to start a campfire, regardless of the conditions.

With some added effort, snow can make for near-extravagant camp kitchens. Construct a flat table using your shovel and those snowman-building skills you developed as a kid. If you don’t have camp chairs, employ that same skill set to craft a bench or two for sitting around the table. For more on campsite cooking, check out what professional chefs recommend.

Have a plan for cold temperatures and moisture

Photo: PRESSLAB/Shutterstock

When planning for and executing a winter camping trip, keep these two words top of mind: stay dry. A wet tent, sleeping bag, clothes, or touring gear is the fastest way to ruin the experience.

One trick for staying dry is to follow the “reverse layer” approach. Rather than starting your experience heavily layered for warmth, do the opposite — start with a single layer and add on as you get cold. Not only does this get your body better accustomed to the weather ahead, it prevents you from sweating through your clothes, a surefire way to be wet and miserable.

If a clothing item does become wet, do what you can to dry it with your body heat. Placing gloves or base layers around your shoulders or on top of your head won’t dry them completely, but will help until you get to camp and can place the item by the fire.

The most important piece of gear you need for a comfortable winter camping experience is a zero-degree, cold-weather sleeping bag like the Marmot Trestles 0. An insulated bag like this one keeps you protected against the outside cold and optimizes your body heat for overnight warmth. A down-insulated bag such as the Nemo Sonic 0 is the ultimate sleeping bag for winter camping, but you’ll have to shell out $400 or more — though you could simply double up on thinner, cheaper ground pads that are easier to carry.

A sleeping pad is also critical to staying warm and dry. There’s no need to shell out big bucks. A classic Thermarest Ridgerest runs about $20 and will work just fine. If conditions look harsh and your budget allows, a thicker pad such as the Edped DeepSleep keeps you elevated from the wet ground.

Pack all the gear you’ll need

Photo: frantic00/Shutterstock

Tent. Unless you’re heading into a storm or other adverse conditions, a normal three-person tent will work provided you have the proper stakes and other gear to keep warm. If you do opt for a winter-specific tent, buy one that is spacious and insulated like the Crua Cocoon Maxx ($399).
Warm clothes. Don’t forget that puffy jacket, or anything else made with down. Think layers: a base layer including long underwear and moisture-wicking merino wool, a secondary layer including a puffy jacket or fleece and warm pants, and an outer layer including a jacket shell and ski pants or overalls. Insulated winter gloves, thick socks, and snow-appropriate boots are a necessity, as is a warm beanie and face covering. Make sure your layers are breathable to prevent moisture from sticking around on the inside.
Backpack. If skiing, snowboarding, or snowshoeing, a winter-sports-specific backpack such as the Spindrift 32L from Mammut is your best bet for a backpack because these are designed for use while ski touring or otherwise being out in the cold. Look for a pack that can hold a CamelBak or other water bladder without the line freezing and that has space for your clothes and avalanche safety equipment.
Sun protection. Sunscreen may conjure images of summer days at the beach, but it’s as important as any piece of gear in snowy climates as the sun’s rays reflect straight off the snow. Sunglasses will be your other best friend, as will goggles with light-colored lenses that better reflect the sun’s light and help you make out contours in flat light conditions.
Thermos. For soup, hot water, and any other liquids you wish to keep warm for hours on end, an insulated thermos like those from Hydroflask or Yeti will do the trick. When at camp, keep your thermos stored upside down to prevent the lid from freezing on, since water freezes from top to bottom.
Keep these safety measures top of mind

Photo: Jens Ottoson/Shutterstock

Bring plenty of fuel and fire starter. Bring extra fire starter — and even an extra stove — in case your primary stove malfunctions or you have a tough time getting wood lit. Keep your fuel canister somewhere where it won’t freeze, like packed between clothes or in water.
When packing food, think fats and calories. No, not french fries — but healthy fats high in Omega-3s and/or protein like nuts and nut butter, cured meats and cheeses, and protein bars. High-calorie and high-protein foods keep your body fueled for adverse conditions as well as adventure. Where in summer you might error on the side of under-eating to keep your load light, do the opposite in winter. Stock up on food, and eat that food. You’ll have a heavy jacket on to hide the food baby.
Bring avalanche safety equipment. This includes a beacon, shovel, and probe, and you should know how to use them. Everyone in your party should have their own avalanche gear and be comfortable using it. This does not apply if you there are no mountains nearby, of course — like snow camping by a frozen lake in Minnesota. There, you might want to bring gear to go ice fishing, but know the risks there as well.
Stay warm and loose. Consistent stretching and quick-hit exercises like running in place or jumping jacks prevent you from tightening up and ensure you’ll be warm when you crawl into a cold tent at the end of the night.

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Most beautiful small towns in Brazil

Most people imagine Brazil in terms of its vibrant big cities, like Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo; its inimitable wild areas, like the Amazon or the Pantanal; and its renowned beaches. But Brazil’s complex, sometimes brutal, history of colonialism — combined with lush jungles, mountains, and endless sandy coves — has gifted the country with small towns unlike anywhere else in the world. The unique combination of architectural influences and sublime landscapes can be seen in colorful towns located in island-filled bays to Bavarian hamlets in semi-tropical mountainsides. Here are just some of the most stunning small towns in Brazil.

1. Paraty, Rio de Janeiro

Photo: Catarina Belova/Shutterstock

Alternately spelled Parati or Paraty, this cobblestoned town founded in 1531 in a bay south of Rio de Janeiro couldn’t be more picturesque. Whitewashed, centuries-old buildings with colorful trim compete for your attention with views of dozens of lush islands, sailboats, and the towering, sylvan mountainside behind the town. Paraty was busiest during the Brazilian Gold Rush, which predated the US one by two centuries.

After that, the port of Paraty was dedicated to the export of sugar cane, then the cachaça liquor made from that sugar cane, and later coffee. What is less appreciated is that many of the African people brought in as slaves to mine the gold and later to work the sugar cane fields and coffee plantations entered through Paraty. Today, the town’s difficult history is obscured by Paraty’s elegant inns, chic restaurants, and attractive boutiques.

2. Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais

Photo: Fred S. Pinheiro/Shutterstock

Ouro Preto means black gold, but the city’s name does not refer to oil — it is actually all about yellow gold. Ouro Preto became a center of the Brazilian thirst for gold, as the precious metal was found in the nearby mountains of what would eventually come to be called the state of Minas Gerais, which literally translates to “general mines.” Founded at the start of the 1700s on the hills of the Vila Rica, or Rich Valley, Ouro Preto soon reflected the wealth the area was producing — with hundreds of tons of gold exported to Portugal during this time.

The Church of São Francisco of Assisi is a gilded tribute to Brazil’s ornate baroque architecture of the time and is one of the most celebrated of the country’s colonial churches. Today, the UNESCO World Heritage city, with a population of 70,000, is also a university town and still a popular tourist center. Located at 3,868 feet in Brazil’s high plateau, Ouro Preto also enjoys a relatively cooler climate, making it a welcome escape from the hot coastal cities.

3. Tiradentes, Minas Gerais

Photo: Antonio Salaverry/Shutterstock

Located in the same state as Ouro Preto, about three hours away along a winding road, this mountainside hamlet is named for a Brazilian hero born nearby: Joaquim José da Silva Xavier, who was more commonly called Tiradentes. Inspired by the US Revolutionary War and facing a depletion of gold after a century of mining, Tiradentes led a pro-independence movement in the late 1700s. The Portuguese eventually prevailed, hanging Tiradentes and then displaying his body parts around the Vila Rica area to dissuade any other would-be rebels. Independence would have to wait another hundred years.

Today, a walk through the stone-paved streets of the town wouldn’t reveal much of that particular history, although the gold-leafed altar at the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary gives an indication of the wealth this area once knew. Although the mines have been closed for two centuries, Tiradentes is a protected historical area, so opportunities for photographs are aplenty. It’s also a lovely place for short hikes in the hillsides.

4. Morretes, Paraná

Photo: Everson Mayer/Shutterstock

The Serra Verde Express is a train ride departing from the city of Curitiba that in and of itself is worth doing. The locomotive winds alongside the steep, lush mountainside of the Mata Atlantica, Brazil’s precious Atlantic Forest. The train slowly descends down to almost sea level, arriving at one of the loveliest towns in the region. Dating to the early 1700s, Morretes lies along the Nhundiaquara River as it works its way down to Paranagua Bay. Morretes is a great place to stop for lunch before exploring the area and taking the afternoon train back to Curitiba. The dish the area is known for is a meat-stew called barreado. But since Brazil’s forests are threatened by destructive cattle ranching practices, feel free to opt for a vegetarian option.

5. Buzios, Rio de Janeiro

Photo: SvetlanaTestova/Shutterstock

This upscale weekend beach town on a cove-filled peninsula jutting out into the Atlantic is today full of trendy pousadas, or inns, and outdoor bars. Bikini and surf shops abound, as well as a varied collection of beaches to try out the purchased beachwear and surf equipment. French pirates used to smuggle out Brazilian woods and purportedly had a working relationship with the local Tupinambá people. Buzios was also a big whaling center and one of its many beaches is still called Praia dos Ossos, Beach of the Bones.

The colonial-era buildings here aren’t as grand as those of Ouro Preto, since this was more of a smuggling port, but the lowkey historic structures lend themselves better to the town’s present-day surfer vibe. That said, head up into the hillsides overlooking the beach coves and the modern-day houses of Rio’s rich and famous are an architectural sight of their own.

6. Olinda, Pernambuco

Photo: GiannakisPhoto/Shutterstock

As throughout Brazil’s northeast, Olinda showcases a centuries-old wealth built from exploiting the country’s natural resources. It’s one of the oldest European-built cities in Brazil, dating to 1537. Just north of Recife on the easternmost bulge of the South American continent, Olinda was a site of exportation of sugarcane and the importation of forced African labor to work on those plantations. The cultural contribution of that African immigration is evident throughout Brazil, and most especially in northeastern states like Bahia and Pernambuco, where the annual Carnival is a tribute as much to deities brought over from western Africa — disguised under the names of Catholic saints — as it is a Christian celebration. Here, as in the state of Bahia, you can enjoy African-enhanced flavors made with dendê oil.

7. Gramado, Rio Grande do Sul

Photo: Diego Grandi/Shutterstock

Brazil is a very diverse country, encompassing much more than immigrants from Portugal and the Indigenous people they encountered. Five million people were brought against their will from Africa to Brazil’s northeast or the states of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro. Immigrants from Italy, Lebanon, and Japan were among those who went to São Paulo a century ago. And beginning in the late 1800s, German immigrants went to Brazil’s cooler, southern regions.

In Brazil’s southernmost state, in the Serra Gaúcha mountains, the town Gramado looks like a Bavarian village. It’s popular with tourists who come for its displays of Christmas lights, which feel somewhat incongruous in the height of the southern hemisphere summer, as well as locally brewed beer and housemade chocolates.

8. Campos de Jordão, São Paulo

Photo: Gregorio Koji/Shutterstock

For people who can’t get as far as Rio Grande do Sul, a day trip from São Paulo also offers a glimpse into Brazil’s German heritage. Brazilians who come for a visit appreciate the German architecture, some of which seems too perfect to be a real town — unless you’ve been to similar small towns in Germany and you know it’s possible. Visitors from afar will be impressed with the juxtaposition of said Germanic architecture and the semi-tropical mountain landscape. So after washing down your bratwurst with a rich golden lager, go for some hikes in the area. Take in the waterfalls, the rock formations, and the lush green views.

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Slovakia tests half its population

To prevent a second wave of the novel coronavirus, the Slovakian government ran a two-day testing drive this weekend, encouraging as many Slovaks to get tested as possible. The result was that half of the country’s entire population got tested for COVID-19 in a single day.

About 2.58 million Slovaks got tested on Saturday, with only 25,850 (or one percent) testing positive. The country’s total population is 5.5 million, and the government hopes to test as many people as possible this fall. By identifying positive cases early, and in one fell swoop, it may prevent further outbreaks from occurring.

The massive weekend testing operation was manned by over 40,000 medics and support teams of soldiers, police, administrative workers, and volunteers staffing about 5,000 sites. The antigen swab tests were free and voluntary, but the government has vowed to impose movement restrictions on those who refuse to participate.

A second round of testing is being planned for next weekend, when the government hopes to test the remainder of the population.

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Remote work has Americans moving

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a work revolution. Employers are finally realizing the benefits of remote work, and in many cases, working from home seems likely to remain in place even after the pandemic has passed. Facebook and Twitter, for example, have announced plans for employees to work from home for the foreseeable future and, in some cases, permanently. A new study released by Upwork, a freelancing platform, surveyed 20,490 Americans last month and found that between 14 and 23 million people plan to relocate to a different city as a result of remote work.

Adam Ozimek, the chief economist at Upwork, said in a press release, “As our survey shows, many people see remote work as an opportunity to relocate to where they want and where they can afford to live. This is an early indicator of the much larger impacts that remote work could have in increasing economic efficiency and spreading opportunity.”

According to the survey, about 20 percent of respondents planning to move currently live in a major city while 12 percent live in the suburbs. This potentially indicates a shift away from urban living toward a more rural, low-key lifestyle. People are also looking for less expensive housing, with 52.5 percent planning to move to cheaper accommodation than their current place of residence. People seem reluctant to stay local, with 54.7 percent indicating that they would move over two hours away from their current location.

Only time will tell how the pandemic affects housing trends long-term, but it makes sense that given the devastating financial impact of COVID-19, people would be looking for cheaper housing in less densely populated areas. Travel restrictions and restlessness may also be playing a role in motivating people to venture out of their local area.

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