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Is it safe to travel to Johannesburg

While much of the world has a blanket term for those born between about 1981 and 2000 — Millenials — in South Africa, they have an unyielding line in 1994 stratifying them further: those born-free, or after the fall of Apartheid. Born-frees frequently have disparate and more progressive views than their generationally older counterparts, trending more toward the left politically, and are known for more holistically embracing South Africa’s diversity.

In the wake of the riots that plagued Johannesburg in 2019, born-frees became the face of South African anti-xenophobia, as they are already seen as the group that trends away from the anti-foreigner sentiments that are still prevalent in South Africa. Though many older South Africans share the younger generation’s views, born-frees, in particular, are expected to be vocal about decrying racism and othering. Unfortunately, these anti-xenophobic conversations were not the ones highlighted in the media, and as local news became international, would-be tourists and immigrants began to wonder if they should remove Johannesburg from their itineraries.

If you’re still concerned about visiting Johannesburg, here’s everything you need to know about the current state of affairs and the people striving hardest to change the world’s perception of South Africa.

What were the 2019 xenophobic attacks?

Photo: Mark Atkins/Shutterstock

In Johannesburg, a men’s hostel is a far cry from a youth or travelers hostel. An Apartheid-era holdover, the tenement-style men’s hostels were built in specific, black-allowed locales to house the cheap laborers needed for the white economy. Now, 25 years after the fall of apartheid, many of them have been left to deteriorate though the numbers of residents have tripled. Though the Gauteng Provincial Government has been promising to relocate its residents and renovate the dilapidated tenements for 20 years, windows remain broken, electricity flickers on and off, and raw sewage leaks from their showers.

In late August 2019, a flyer began to appear, plastered to walls in Johannesburg men’s hostels. For those tired of the squalid conditions and empty promises supplied by their government, the flyer indicated some relief could be earned with a labor shutdown scheduled for September 2 and ended with the incendiary cry, translated from isiZulu: “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, ON SELLING OF DRUGS, ON PROPERTY THEFT, AND ON OUR WORK TAKEN BY FOREIGN NATIONALS.”

Sizathu Mkhize, who is the treasurer-general of Sisonke Peoples Forum of KwaMai-Mai Hostel who wrote and distributed the flyer, said of it, “Even in our letter we say that this is not xenophobia but the concrete truth.” But in a clear misunderstanding of what xenophobia is, he continued, “When we wrote that letter we were calling for people to peacefully take back their country; go to the streets and [get the] government to do something about the criminals from outside the country who have taken over our country.”

Unfortunately, when a building on Karl Street in Jeppestown caught fire on the night of September 1, many in the nearby Wolhuter men’s hostel saw the blaze and assumed it was the beginning of what they had been promised by the flyer: the “South African Shutdown.”

Men poured from the hostels and took to the streets, but without organized leadership, looting started almost immediately. Shops were ransacked and hundreds of cars were lit on fire. The Johannesburg CBD was practically shuttered as shops closed fearing for their safety. People were attacked, killed, and burned. The violence continued for over a week, and as it spread throughout Gauteng and beyond, there was one central rallying cry: “Awahambe amakwerekwere, awabuyele emuva, or “Foreigners must go, they must go back.”

Collectively, the outbreak of violence in Johannesburg was dubbed the “2019 xenophobic attacks.” By the end of the unrest, almost 700 people had been arrested, numerous businesses had been burned to the ground, and at least seven people had died.

Is Johannesburg xenophobic?

Photo: View Apart/Shutterstock

A lot, maybe most of the country is staunchly anti-xenophobic. Though they didn’t get much coverage internationally, several large protests occurred in Gauteng in the wake of September’s attacks, all denouncing xenophobia, violence, and femicide.

The largest of these was one organized by the People’s Coalition Against Xenophobia, an umbrella organization whose underwriters include civil service, migrant, and community organizations, as well as individual activists. On September 16, 2019, just days after the attacks, hundreds of anti-xenophobia activists marched through Braamfontein, their protest signs reading “We stand against xenophobia” and “Migrants are not a threat.” Their collective chant rang into the streets: Mayibuye iAfrika, or “Africa, may it return.”

“I am definitely not xenophobic,” says Thato Masilo, a native South African born-free who has worked in the hospitality industry in Johannesburg for two years, currently at the front desk of the 12 Decades Hotel, a boutique art hotel in Johannesburg’s Maboneng precinct, “and there are more here like me than there are like them.”

On September 3, minister of police Bheki Cele said to a crowd of Jeppe Hostel residents at a nearby recreational park “The main vehicle of this problem is criminality, and we are dealing with it as the police.” (At the time of publication, Cele is still the current minister of police, though he was fired from his previous position as the National Police Chief after his involvement in a nearly two billion rand real-estate scam involving government funds).

Masilo, and many other born-frees, disagrees.

“It’s not criminals, it’s poverty,” says Masilo. “Most of the crimes that we have here in Johannesburg — they’re petty crime. Like theft. But these people have had no opportunities, they are out of options. And the police are not the ones who protect us.”

Tourist safety in Johannesburg

Photo: View Apart/Shutterstock

Like in many countries, police in Johannesburg are more adept at protecting property than people, which is why many businesses in the hospitality sector hire private security. A loose business association in Maboneng contributes to providing security guards within their properties and along a few blocks of Fox street that houses a large number of restaurants and bars so that tourists can be secure.

During the attacks, Masilo worked at a traveler’s hostel down the street from where he works now. He outlined the precautions they took to keep guests safe: The bar was closed, and only registered guests were allowed in or out through an electromagnetically locked gate. If there were enough staff available, they would escort guests to nearby stores or to an awaiting taxi.

“It was really bad,” he admits, recalling the events of the xenophobic attacks, “but it’s quite better now. It’s gone down. Everybody is back in business, as you can see,” he remarks, gesturing broadly about to the lobby of the hotel. “I just hope that we don’t go through that same scene in 2020, I mean, we have to move forward as people.”

While Masilo concedes that a repeat is possible, he thinks it unlikely in the near future, and assures me that 2019 has only better-prepared people like himself who work in hospitality. Their responses to possible conflict are now carefully honed; he and his cohort are now only better armed to keep their guests safe.

“Almost every guest that comes in now asks me, ‘How’s the neighborhood here?’ and ‘How’s the safety?’ Since September, everyone has been cautious,” Masilo says, shaking his head. But he realizes the responsibility that he has working at a hotel: When guests arrive, they may have concerns. “They need advice on where to go, when to go. Some people are still unsettled. But it’s our job to settle them in. That’s what we’re here for.”

Born-frees want tourism to increase

Photo: Rich T Photo/Shutterstock

When asked if tourists should still come to Johannesburg, Masilo says, “Yes. definitely.” He continues, “I still want people to come and see what we have here in South Africa. I mean, what happened last September is not what’s happening [here] now. It’s not representative of what South Africa, and Johannesburg, is like.”

“I would love people to come to our country and feel safe,” says Mammetja Mogotlane, another born-free native South African. “As a tourist, I wouldn’t think people should fear xenophobia. I would love for more people to come to South Africa. Then we get to meet different people, engage with different people — then we are all able to learn about where different people come from.”

Mogotlane works at the United Nations World Food Programme as a Business Support Assistant to the Regional Director, where about 60 percent of its clients are immigrants. She has, unfortunately, become all too familiar with the sobering reality of what immigrants can face upon arriving in South Africa but is also optimistic about how the country is changing as the born-frees come of age.

“And if you want to stay? You can,” Mogotlane says. “We have a huge brain-drain in South Africa. People get an education, they see they’re not getting employed, and they leave. And then those skills are gone. But we welcome your skills in South Africa.”

What should you expect when visiting Johannesburg

Photo: Subodh Agnihotri/Shutterstock

Mogotlane is aware of how Johannesburg is portrayed in the international media. She knows how so much of the world purely associates Johannesburg with crime, but she is intimately aware of what life in Johannesburg is actually like.

“In as much as we’ve experienced turmoil in our history, and we are a relatively new democracy, we are a kind people. There are people who will treat you genuinely, there are people who will open their homes to you, that will help you when you are in need,” Mogotlane explains, “and we have a great time. Everything is always a party. Even in struggle, we sing. We are a joyous nation, and you are welcome here.”

Even Manyathela Mvelase, an Induna supervisor/chief at Wolhuter hostel in Jeppe, thinks the Sisonke People’s Forum was, at the very least, irresponsible in their use of language on the flyer. “Real leaders use the truth to lead,” Mvelase said, “The people who wrote that letter must stop hiding behind the scenes. They must come out and take responsibility for helping incite the violence.”

If you’re looking to educate yourself more on the history and current social state in South Africa before visiting, Mogotlane suggests “reading genuine South African Literature by South African authors, that way you can have a richer understanding of where South Africa comes from. Like the different freedom fighters, the people behind the scenes [of the anti-apartheid movement], all of those characters that weren’t highlighted in mainstream history.”

Mogotlane’s personal suggestion is The Yearning, by Mohale Mashigo. When you’ve sped through that one, Mashigo, a South African author, conveniently has recommendations of her own.

You can find all of these titles at Bridge Books online, or even better, in person once you make it to Johannesburg. They also host events you may be interested in, and even an Underground Booksellers of Johannesburg tour, where visitors can be led to all the secret booksellers in Johannesburg’s Literary District.


More like this: 8 essential dishes that show the diversity of South Africa

The post These are the born-frees welcoming you to Johannesburg appeared first on Matador Network.

California’s Temecula Valley wine

Anyone seeking the perfect weekend wine trip from California’s southern coast simply has to look inland. The fairytale pink clouds and chateau wineries of Temecula sit in Riverside County just over an hour north from San Diego and one-and-a-half hours south from Los Angeles. Temecula Valley’s modern wine production roots date back more than 50 years, and it became an American Viticultural Area in 1984. Today, the region is home to more than 40 wineries, and there are plenty of tasting rooms to make it worthy of a weekend trip from coastal Southern California. While you should come for the rolling vineyards and castle-like estates, the contemporary cuisine, the casino, and the Wild West Old Town round out the experience.

Where to sample the valley’s best wines

Photo: ekam/Shutterstock

It’s fairly simple to make it to a number of Temecula Valley’s wineries thanks to the main wine trail, Rancho California. Companies like Destination Temecula and Grapeline Wine Tours can escort your crew down the trail, or you can navigate the trail yourself if you have a designated driver.

Historically, the primary varieties grown in the Temecula area include chardonnay, merlot, and sauvignon blanc. Viognier, syrah, and pinot gris are increasing in popularity. Around 90 percent of the region’s wine is sold directly from the wineries because, locals say, the area can’t produce enough to keep up with the demands of distribution. Though wine-of-the-month clubs from the region abound, Temecula, which means “land where the sun shines through the mist,” is best seen and experienced in person where you can also learn about the story of the indigenous people of the region and ride horses or a hot-air balloon.

The Rancho California is made up of two sections, east and west, with the latter being the initial section where you’ll likely begin.

The stately South Coast Winery Resort and Spa is the place to kick off your tasting tour, with indoor tasting under rustic, vaulted beamed ceilings. The resort’s vintners are the only in the valley to have earned four Golden Bear awards, signifying recognition at the California State Fair for agricultural excellence. The resort’s classical styled Vineyard Rose Restaurant has vintage Tuscan design and overlooks the coveted seating on its vineyard-laced stucco patio. The food is classic European-American and highly recommended with a pairing of the popular gewürztraminer.

Photo: David Tonelson/Shutterstock

Just a quick three minutes away is South Coast Winery’s sister property. Carter Estate Winery and Resort is the larger, albeit more rustic, property with even more views of the valley’s hilly vineyards. Carters is known for its sparkling wine produced in the méthode champenoise, the traditional French method for crafting Champagne, and can be savored in the gardens for full effect.

Another three-minute drive down the trail is Avensole Winery, one of the most picturesque on the block. It has a luxury floral interior designed by one half of the husband-and-wife owners. Situated on a hilltop, Avensole catches the cool ocean breezes but has wind windows to block too much gust. The wines, all from on-site grapes except for the Brut Sparkling, have won 99 points at the California State Fair. The food is farm to table and Instagram-friendly, with dishes like baked brie and roasted salmon plated next to signature pink roses.

Leave time for the region’s smaller De Portola Wine Trail

Photo: David Tonelson/Shutterstock

De Portola Wine Trail is a 20-minute drive from Rancho California. Two wineries stand apart here. First, there’s Fazeli Cellars Winery, which has modern Moorish architecture. The estate is described — rather accurately — by its owners as “the ancient traditions of Persia rooted in the modern expression of California.” The estate produces more than 20 varieties for its blends and varietal wines, including cabernet sauvignon, mourvèdre, petite verdot, syrah, and viognier. Also try the traditional Persian food at Baba Joon’s kitchen.

Away from the old-world wine row staples is the hip Peltzer Family Cellars, a winery that offers excellent wine in a rustic-chic “crush house.” Tastings cost $20, and neighborhood taco trucks complete the vibe.

The Old West lives on in Old Town Temecula

Photo: Michael Vi/Shutterstock

Collecting bottles of wine in a box as you move down the trail is common practice among visitors and, due to limited distribution, the best way to stock up on Temecula wines. But leave some room in said box for anything that catches your eye in Old Town Temecula. The spoils of the pioneers live on here, where a brass sign welcomes you to the period of the 1880s. Stroll and pop into quaint boutiques and award-winning restaurants that serve everything from haute cuisine to food truck grub. Stop by local favorite Temecula Olive Oil Company, which sells fresh-pressed concoctions from the nearby actual olive ranch (which you can also visit and meet the owner as it’s only 20 minutes away) and offers samples. The lemongrass extra virgin can be used as a seasoning for your salads and meals, or as a scented moisturizer for your face, hair, and body.

Old Town Spice and Tea Merchant is one place where the area’s chefs get their international seasonings. Down the street is Temecula Lavender Company, where you can find variations of the calming herb if you need a sensory sedative after all that wine and food.

The food is just as good off-vineyard

Photo: David Tonelson/Shutterstock

Go slow at E.A.T. Marketplace, an open space popular with locals. Chef Leah Di Bernardo and her sister serve healthy and fresh food, including foraged options. Try the yam cake and freshly baked doughnuts for dessert. The Vail HQ is a market and a sort of historic stage set up to resemble the Old West, with food and drink available on site and a farmers market, evening dinners, and live performances.

Viewers of Food Network’s Great American Food Truck Race may recognize Devilicious, which won the show. Now it is a full-on restaurant. Known for butter-poached lobster grilled cheese, there’s also, of course, an extensive wine list along with a large beer menu with trivia and music nights.

Other ways to explore the region

Photo: theLaurenPhotos/Shutterstock

Exploring the outdoors is an easy task in Temecula. One way to do this from above is in a hot-air balloon, and there are two options for taking off. California Dreamin’ flies an average of 1,500 feet over panoramic views. The flight culminates with a large European breakfast of freshly baked bread and a Champagne toast served in a private rose garden. A Grape Escape also takes off early mornings over the gorgeous lowlands and ends with a continental breakfast, Irish prayer toast, and a certificate of flight.

Back on the ground, you can also ride horseback to the wineries. Saddle Up Wine Tours meets you at Leoness Cellars on the De Portola trail, heading to two additional wineries and back to Leoness. Each tasting is about one glass of wine. Each horse at The Saddle Up Ranch is a rescue, so feel good about supporting their efforts. You can also do goat yoga twice daily there by appointment. Their Trail Riding Tours, where you can see famous ranches and learn about Temecula Valley’s bronco history is on the ranch, and camping is available onsite. Bonfire Tours takes riders on a sunset trail ride followed by dinner cooked over an open fire (think: sweet corn, meats or veggies, and s’mores).

The oldest ranch in town lets you ride across 50 lush acres on the scenic working Green Acres Ranch. They are known for crafting their tours for families. Keep on eye on Groupon as Green Acres occasionally offers specials to visit nearby wineries after you take a ride at the homestead.

Where to sleep in Temecula

Photo: The Inn At Europa Village/Facebook

The Pechanga Reservation Casino, a Native-run property with a luxurious four-star hotel, is the most popular option for lodging in and around Temecula. It offers a luxury spa, genuine American Indian culture, and the largest casino floor on the West Coast. The resort has 12 restaurants and four bars along with seven pools, cabanas, a fire pit, and a relaxation deck facing the surrounding mountains.

The spa features divine rituals using native botanicals. You can also tour the history of the Pechanga Reservation and learn the inspirational story of the land and sacred tree. The Lobby Bar & Grill has a wellness menu in addition to the surf and turf, as well as thoughtful touches like banana paste replacing sugar in the caramel sauce. If you’re a golfer, play a round on the onsite golf course designed by Arthur Hill.

For posh, old-world digs head back to South Coast Winery for a five-star, Tuscany-inspired resort with a spa, restaurant, tasting room, and pool. To really feel like you’re in Italy, book a villa that overlooks the vineyards. The Inn at Europa Village is a charming, hilltop bed and breakfast. A stay includes a two-course gourmet breakfast “experience” prepared slow-food style by their in-house chef. Just want to be in the Valley? The brand new Best Western Plus or Home2Suites are both walking distance to Old Town Temecula.


More like this: How to bike the Fruit & Wine Byway in Palisade, Colorado

The post For an epic Southern California wine weekend, look to the Inland Empire appeared first on Matador Network.

Traveling with a romantic partner

Traveling can be great for couples. Not only will you share some amazing experiences with your other half, but you’ll also get to know each other extremely intimately. Sometimes too much so. The secret to finding a balance and making it work? Drawing boundaries.

Of course, this is easier said than done: When suitcase space comes at a premium, it can be tempting to share rather than double up. And all that together time means you’ll end up experiencing things you’d perhaps prefer they kept to themselves — like snoring and bathroom habits. To help you draw the line, here are 10 things you should never share with your partner while traveling.

1. Toothbrushes

Losing your toothbrush and using your partner’s might seem like no big deal. After all, you share spit when you kiss, so how’s a toothbrush any different? Bad news — it is.

Your toothbrush harbors all kinds of unique bacteria. When it’s from your own mouth, it’s fine because your body’s used to it — but when you swirl someone else’s bristles around your teeth, you introduce new germs, which might not work well with your immune system. According to the American Dental Association, doing this leaves you vulnerable to all kinds of viral infections, including colds and cold sores. Team this with traveling exhaustion and an unfamiliar diet, and you’ve created the perfect storm for bugs and sickness.

2. Big secrets

When you spend loads of time with someone, you get to know them pretty intimately. It may be tempting to jump on this new feeling of openness by baring all. But here’s the thing: Don’t do it. Or at the very least, think about your motives. Is it because you think it’ll make them feel good — or because it’ll make you feel better at the expense of their own happiness?

If it’s the latter, reconsider. Learning about things like past infidelity, sexual baggage, or serious money problems can be extremely painful. Tearfully blurting it all out while you’re both in an unfamiliar place and living in close quarters with each other isn’t just irresponsible — it’s cruel because it’s harder for your other half to get some space. If you think the relationship can be salvaged and want to come clean about something, wait until you’re home and work through it together with the help of a therapist.

3. Earbuds

Ever asked to borrow earbuds off someone and looked down to see a blob of earwax looking back at you? If you answered yes, then you’ll know the dilemma that follows: return immediately and embarrass the owner or hold onto them for a bit (without inserting) before handing them back and risk them thinking you produced said blob. Long story short: Don’t borrow someone else’s earbuds. Aside from the awkwardness, it’s also unhygienic. Just like borrowing a toothbrush, sharing anything you put in an orifice without thoroughly disinfecting beforehand could result in an infection because you’re introducing unfamiliar bacteria into your body.

4. Solo masturbation habits

Regular masturbation is a normal part of enjoying a healthy sex life — and just because you’re traveling with someone, it doesn’t mean you should stop enjoying a bit of you time. Yet despite the physical and emotional benefits, many partners feel uncomfortable when confronted with their OH’s self-love schedule. It’s easy to see why: Knowing the person you love is finding gratification alone, rather than with you, could be upsetting. But in reality, rather than it being cause for concern, masturbation might actually be a sign that things are going well and be a complement to an already active sex life.

Whichever side you’re on, try not to stress out about it. Openness is an important part of having a healthy relationship, but that doesn’t mean you need to disclose everything. Some partners get off on the idea of their OH indulging, but if you think it’s more likely to bother them, you’re perfectly within your rights to masturbate and not tell them. It’s only ever a problem if one person is doing it to the point it’s detrimental to the relationship.

5. Prescription medicines

It can be tempting to share prescription meds while traveling to save on time and money and to relieve symptoms fast, but the consequences could be serious — even fatal. When you pop someone else’s pills, you’re not accounting for the meticulous consideration a trained medical professional has put into that prescription. You might not fully understand the drug’s use, side effects, and withdrawal symptoms. You might not know whether you have to take it with food, or avoid mixing with alcohol or other drugs. It might mask an underlying medical condition that you should get checked out. It could also be the wrong dose for your body size and weight. In short, taking someone else’s pills is a big health risk — something you probably don’t want to do while in an unfamiliar country.

6. Bathroom stuff

There are two types of couples: those who are unaware their sweetie has a digestive system and those who poop and fart in front of each other. There are pros and cons to both: According to marriage counselors, couples who fart together stay together because they’re more open and relaxed in each other’s company. Then there are other couples who think letting rip means the romance is dead.

Depending on your own stance, it’s considerate to err on the side of caution and keep toots and poops held in until you’re somewhere it won’t bother your partner. This is especially important when traveling. Speaking to HuffPost, Kurt Smith, a therapist who specializes in counseling men, said that passing gas in front of each other can also be a selfish or inconsiderate act. “If your partner is not making an effort to control it, move away from you, or say ‘excuse me,’ then it’s an example of disrespect that could be evident in other areas of the relationship.” So don’t stink up a tiny hotel room, and let your other half know if they should wait a minute or 10 before going into the bathroom after you.

7. Razors and nail clippers

Giving your legs a quick going-over with your partner’s razor isn’t just irritating because you’ve blunted the blades — you also risk catching something off each other. Razors can spread germs, fungal infections and most worryingly, blood-borne bacteria including Hepatitis B and C. The same goes for nail clippers, tweezers and any other objects that could come into contact with your partner’s skin or body fluids. If you absolutely must use their kit, then wipe it down with antibacterial wipes or douse it in boiling water before use.

8. Detailed information about your exes

This one applies to couples whether they’re traveling or not, but it’s especially important to abide by this rule while on the road. If you used to travel with your ex, now is not the time to compare every experience to that — especially if you’re visiting the same destination. When you bring up your ex, even if it’s negatively, you’re forcing your partner to think about them, which is never fun. The same goes for talking about past sexual experiences. If you had mind-blowing sex with an ex, you don’t need to tell the person you’re with right now. If there are things you’d like to recreate, or you’d like to spice up your sex life in general, then that’s definitely a conversation worth having. Just leave comparisons or criticisms out of it. And while it is important to detail any baggage (emotional or sexual) you may have, you don’t need to go into a play-by-play run through so they can picture every detail.

9. Devices and passwords

Every couple is different. Some are happy sharing passwords and devices — and if that’s you, then carry on. If you don’t, then traveling is no reason to start.

Everyone is entitled to their privacy, and just because your partner doesn’t want to give you their passwords or share their device with you, it doesn’t mean they’re cheating or up to something shady. They may just be a private person. Or perhaps they’ve been googling embarrassing medical things and don’t want you to see. Or maybe they write Dungeons & Dragons fanfiction and want to keep it quiet. Either way, it’s not up to you to decide if you get unfettered access just because you don’t feel like packing two laptops.

Another reason not to share devices while traveling is that things like battery life and accidental damage can cause arguments when you’re in a place where charging/repairs/replacement might not be easy. So where possible, keep to your own.

10. Insecurities and annoying habits

One of the great things about traveling with someone is you get to know them extremely well. This isn’t always plain sailing: Endearing quirks and bad habits rise to the surface alike. The difference between turning this into a positive experience rather than a negative one is how you deal with it.

If they’re being an inconsiderate jerk, then by all means, sit down and have a conversation with them. But for other things they can’t help — like a clicky jaw or a need to have lots of personal space, then you need to compromise, find a solution, or keep quiet. The same goes for bringing up things they might be insecure about — like their weight, snoring, or clumsiness. Be extra considerate when it comes to taking photos and comments you make about how the photos come out. When in doubt, be kind. And if you really just can’t deal with their habits or keep your thoughts to yourself, then hey — maybe it’s just not meant to be.


More like this: 7 unique adventures to strengthen your relationship

The post 10 things you should never share with your partner while traveling appeared first on Matador Network.

Tokyo’s Irish parties

Editor’s note: Tokyo’s 2020 I Love Ireland Festival and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade are canceled due to the coronavirus, but Matador Network is continuing to publish this article in hopes that you’ll be able to make the annual celebrations in 2021.

St. Patrick’s Day may seem to be fairly limited to Europe and the United States, but Tokyo’s Irish (and Irish-loving) contingent would beg to differ. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade and I Love Ireland Festival that fall side by side over a mid-March weekend in Tokyo every year claim to be the largest collective St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Asia. Over the past few years, they’ve also gained traction as some of Tokyo’s most popular and indulgent spring fetes. Among Japan’s manifold idiosyncratic behaviors, the seriousness with which it treats festivals is near the top; the St. Patrick’s Day parties are no different, receiving the full kitchen sink of Irish celebratory trimmings and Japan’s irreverent penchant for spectacle.

How Tokyo celebrates St. Patrick’s Day

Photo: アイ・ラブ・アイルランド・フェスティバル – I Love Ireland Festival/Facebook

Tokyo’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations take place over a weekend close to March 17 (it varies each year depending on when the day falls). Saturday and Sunday see the I Love Ireland Festival consume the event square at Yoyogi Park, and the two-hour Sunday St. Patrick’s Day Parade runs along Omotesando’s glamorous high street, just a short stroll away. Well over 100,000 people flock to the events annually, which to me, is a striking curiosity. I hail from Belfast, and the thought of a yearly Japanese celebration attracting crowds in Ireland of such numbers is unimaginable — the disagreeable Northern Irish weather notwithstanding. But in Japan, festivals are treated with near reverential respect, regardless of whom is being honored, and St. Patrick and his trusty band of Tokyo-based followers are the beneficiaries.

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Photo: PrestonKaleMiller/Shutterstock

Tokyo’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, organized by volunteers at the Irish Network Japan, far outweighs the gravitas or attention to detail of commemorative saintly festivals in Ireland. The procession features marching musical troupes, dancers costumed like warrior princesses, Miss World contestants from Ireland and Japan, and the Tokyo Pipe Band belting out an accomplished rendition of the Irish national anthem, “Amhrán na bhFiann” (The Soldiers’ Song). The band delivers its performance clad in kilts and puffing into bagpipes, which, although commonly associated with Scotland, also have historical links to Ireland.

Photo: アイ・ラブ・アイルランド・フェスティバル – I Love Ireland Festival/Facebook

Being Japan, there are elements of wackiness that seep into the parade: a pack of red setters dressed in garish green hats, people wearing blow-up pint costumes standing 20 feet tall, and something that could only be accurately described as improvised Japanese-Irish-samba in high heels. This unique combination of Irish cultural underpinnings with Japanese choreography is arguably the parade’s most endearing quality.

The I Love Ireland Festival

Photo: アイ・ラブ・アイルランド・フェスティバル – I Love Ireland Festival/Facebook

The I Love Ireland Festival, underwritten by the Tokyo-based Irish Chamber of Commerce, is as scrupulous as the parade in its attention to detail. In a plaza surrounded by parkland near Harajuku Station, pop-up pubs pour hearty pints of the “black stuff” (Guinness) and emerald green beer, the meaty smell of Irish grub wafts from a colorful riot of food stalls, a host of traditional instruments fill the air with Celtic folk sound, and there are more ginger-bearded costumes on display than you could shake a shillelagh at. Marquee guest musicians also take to the main stage over the course of the weekend, with past performers including Irish singer-songwriter Mundy and the Lady Chieftains (a Japanese-Irish traditional band).

The festival is also not without its Japanization however, serving as an introduction to some hybrid forms of Japanese-Irish culture. You may be partial to a pint of Guinness, have devoured more than your fair share of stew, maybe you could even say what fairies, bodhrans, and potato bread are, but, have you ever had the pleasure of leprechaun hair food sticks, tri-colored candy floss, or shamrock-printed kimonos?

Always expect the unexpected at the I Love Ireland Festival.

The future is green

Photo: アイ・ラブ・アイルランド・フェスティバル – I Love Ireland Festival/Facebook

In 2018, then Ambassador of Ireland to Japan, Anne Barrington, said, “From small beginnings, the I Love Ireland Festival has grown to become the biggest forum for Irish and Japanese people to mingle and celebrate everything that is best about Irish music, food, and dance.” Together with the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, it makes Tokyo a highly entertaining place to be in mid-March. And as Tokyo’s tourism numbers and expat population continue to grow, the Irish celebrations are set to do so too.


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White giraffes killed by poachers

White giraffes might sound like something out of a “through the looking glass”-type fantasy movie, but these rare giraffes do exist. Unfortunately, that might not be for long. White giraffes were first spotted in Kenya and Tanzania in 2016, and now two of them have reportedly been killed by poachers in northeastern Kenya. Rangers discovered the carcasses of a female and her calf in Kenya’s Garissa County. It’s believed that only one white giraffe remains in the world.

Mohammed Ahmednoor, the manager of the Ishaqbini Hirola Community Conservancy, said, “This is a very sad day for the community of Ijara and Kenya as a whole. We are the only community in the world who are custodians of the white giraffe. Its killing is a blow to the tremendous steps taken by the community to conserve rare and unique species and a wake-up call for continued support to conservation efforts.”

The poachers responsible for the white giraffes’ deaths are unknown, and their motive is still unclear. The Kenya Wildlife Society is investigating the killings and hopes to identify those responsible soon.

The unique appearance of the white giraffes is due to a condition called leucism, which causes skin cells to lose their pigmentation.


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Biscayne National Park day trip

Lost in the music video glamor of South Beach is the natural beauty of South Florida. Not so much the parades of statuesque people you see parading around, because most of that’s not natural anyway. But more the nature you find beyond the sea of neon lights and glass towers, home to some stunningly unique ecosystems.

You’re probably familiar with the Everglades, or have at least heard of them. But further south you’ll find a purely Floridian take on a national park, full of turquoise waters, colorful reefs, majestic mangroves, and historic shipwrecks. It’s Biscayne National Park, covered almost entirely by water and a little-known national treasure. It’s only about an hour from Miami by car, and the ideal day trip to escape the city’s feverish pace.

Natural immersion literally within sight of the skyline

Photo: Andrea Raetegui

One wouldn’t expect the county with the most densely populated neighborhood south of Manhattan to also be the only one in America with two national parks. But it’s precisely because Miami-Dade County has so much protected space that people are packed so tightly. Drive outside the city, and you’re magically in old Florida, a swampy wonderland of black water and soaring birds.

This juxtaposition is no more obvious than when you’re on the waters of Biscayne National Park, a park that is 95 percent water and fully traversable by boat. Emerging from the mangrove channels near the visitors center, you’ll see the towering skyline of Miami not far off in the distance. Though you may feel submerged in Floridian nature, it’s a stark reminder that the city is alarmingly close.

The park is quickly reached by taking State Route 836 east, also known as the Dolphin Expressway. Take that until it meets Florida’s Turnpike and drive south for about half an hour until you get to the city of Homestead.

From Homestead, it’s a short drive east along country roads to a nondescript sign pointing you to the entrance of Biscayne National Park. Like the park itself, you could almost forget it was there if you weren’t looking, and then a mile down Sir Lancelot Jones Way you’ll come to a small marina and visitors center, which is effectively the park entrance.

Admission is free, though you won’t find much to do inside aside from touring the museum at the Dante Fascell Visitors Center. It’s an interesting look at the history of the area, where you’ll quickly learn that the park was only established in 1968 as a national monument and then in 1980 became a national park. Prior to that, plans existed to dredge the area and create the largest port on the East Coast, the beginnings of which can be seen at Turkey Point power plant just outside the park’s borders. It’s an odd eyesore on the emerald green skyline, but once out on the water, it’s easy to forget.

The best way to see the park is by boat, and assuming you don’t have one you’ll want to book a tour through the Biscayne National Park Institute. This non-profit organization runs virtually all of the aquatic tours in the park and employs guides with extensive knowledge of the park’s history and natural environment. So while you’re face-down in the water looking at colorful fish, they’ll be able to explain not only what you’re seeing but also why you’re seeing so many.

Snorkel your way through a rare ecosystem

Photo: Andrea Raetegui

The small islands inside the park are actually part of the Florida Keys. But because Key Largo offered the easiest connection for the Overseas Highway, these keys aren’t connected by road to the others. Still, as part of the keys, the islands share access to Florida’s Barrier Reef and all the undersea beauty that comes with it.

The park shares a border with John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo, but because it sees a fraction of the visitors, the Elkhorn Coral here is in far better condition. Take a snorkeling expedition, and you’ll find yourself smack in some of the clearest waters in America, swimming past sharks, parrotfish, lobster, and quite often bottlenose dolphins. It’s the odd part of the reef where the snorkeling is almost as good as the diving, so you can fully enjoy the reefs without any kind of certification.

Beyond the reefs, Biscayne also offers the unusual opportunity to snorkel among mangroves. The bays off Elliot Key allow your boat to pull up in shallow water, where you can snorkel along the coastline and see the eerie undersea forest the mangroves create. Their long arms stretch deep into the ground while fish swim between them and larger animals hide in the distance. It’s not a site to fear, necessarily, but one even a seasoned Floridian snorkeler probably hasn’t seen.

Further out beyond the keys and into Biscayne Bay you’ll find a string of shipwrecks dating back to the 1800s. This is the Maritime Heritage Trail, a collection of shallow-water wrecks that can easily be viewed without SCUBA equipment. The ships ran aground from 1878 to the 1960s, and most tours stop at as many as weather conditions will allow. While some are better viewed from far below the surface, wrecks like the Arratoon Apcar and the Mandalay are easy for snorkelers.

Further along the Maritime Heritage Trail you’ll find the Fowey Rocks Lighthouse, an 1878 lighthouse in the middle of the bay that’s guided ships away from the shore for decades. It is still in operation today, though completely automated.

If you are inclined to dive the park, it’s not as simple as taking a tour from the visitors center. Only a couple of private dive outfits are licensed to run tours in Biscayne, and those are only private charter trips that cost about $200 per person if you can round up a crew. You can also find private fishing charters who operate in the park, as fishing and lobstering are allowed here in accordance with Florida Fish and Wildlife regulations.

Paddle through Florida history under a canopy of mangroves

Photo: Andrea Raetegui

The five percent of Biscayne National Park that’s on land tells a fascinating story as well. Much of the park’s land once belonged to the Jones family, early African-American farmers who grew pineapples and key limes in the 19th century, As your guide steers you through the islands, they’ll tell you of the family who lived on Porgy Key and managed what became some of the most valuable land in America. The last Jones to live there — known locally as Lancelot — used to take his boat from his home to the old visitors center on Adams Key and regularly visit with guests.

Driving past Adams Key, you’ll hear of the fishing club that once stood there and how it drew movie stars, athletes, and even a couple of presidents for weekend getaways. You’ll still find buildings on the island — though they don’t serve much purpose anymore, it’s a good place to stop for an afternoon picnic.

Some tours will also take you on paddleboards through the narrow channels inside the keys. The water is so clear you’ll see fish swimming all the way to the bottom. At some hours they’ll even jump right up onto your board. You might also see eels and even the occasional shark swimming around. Under the mangrove canopy you’ll feel a world away from Miami, even though you’re only minutes from seeing the skyline.

Further up the keys you can stop at a couple of historic lighthouses too. Boca Chita is the most popular, a small island about an hour’s boat ride from Miami that’s big among recreational boaters. The island is a fantastic place for an overnight camping trip if you’re inclined to spend more than a day of your vacation in the park.

Venture closer to the city and you’ll see Stiltsville, a technically-off-limits collection of homes built in the middle of the bay. They’re curious relics that have survived numerous hurricanes, and though no tour from the park will take you there, they’re an unusual sight from a distance.

A full-day tour will generally start around 10:00 AM and finish around 4-4:30 PM, just before the visitors center closes. After a long day on the water and in the mangroves, you’ll likely call it an early night once you get back to Miami. A trip to Biscayne National Park will be a long one, to be sure. But as far as natural, tropical escapes from a busy city vacation, you won’t find a better one.


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Nighttime safari in South Africa

From capturing footage of rarely seen species to documenting unique, new, or never-before-seen behaviors, nature documentaries offer glimpses into the lives of animals around the world, allowing us to better understand and learn about them. But due to technology and access, their nocturnal activities have largely remained a mystery to us.

Netflix has shined a light — literally and metaphorically — on what animals do in the shadows with its new nature series, Night on Earth. Using advanced thermal imaging and low-light technology, Netflix’s crew was able to capture unprecedented footage of the nocturnal behaviors of wildlife all over the world.

The first episode, “Moonlit Plains,” started with a classic nature documentary mainstay: life on the African savanna. With the use of low-light night-vision cameras, the crews documented how lions hunt under the light of a full moon and how other animals stay safe until daybreak.

And now it’s not just documentary film crews who can see what goes on at night on the African plains — at safari lodges on the Phinda Private Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, there’s a new nighttime safari experience that utilizes similar technology so guests can observe animals and their habits at night. As Africa’s first infrared nighttime excursion, it’s changing the way humans and animals interact on safari.

Photo: &BEYOND

With the help of a professional videographer, a guide, and a tracker, guests on the Night Eye Experience spend an evening driving around the roads of the reserve in a specially equipped vehicle that’s rigged with an infrared camera and three monitors. Most of Phinda’s trackers are of the Zulu tribe, a local ethnic group that’s called the area home for thousands of years and are intimately familiar with the land and the habits of the animals. Using this knowledge, the tracker looks for trails and listens for noise to find different animals. When an animal or group is spotted, the cameraman zooms in to give the guests sitting in the vehicle front-row seats to hunts and other nocturnal behaviors.

Night is an especially great time to observe hunts by Africa’s great cats like lions, cheetahs, and leopards. The darkness gives them the perfect cover to get even closer to their prey and have the surprise advantage, so most successful hunts take place at night.

Photo: &BEYOND

Night safaris are also ideal for seeing more nocturnal animals like bat-eared foxes, honey badgers, and springhares.

“The primary focus is to actually enhance the onboard safari experience by providing guests with better visuals than they would ordinarily be seeing,” says Scott Dyson, the founder of the Safari Film Crew that developed the experience.

One of the main benefits of using infrared technology during night safaris is that it doesn’t disturb the wildlife; flashing headlights or flashlights are disruptive to the animals, so using non-intrusive cameras provides for more ethical observation. Also, some animals aren’t accustomed to the safari vehicles and are likely to run away from the unfamiliar noise and lights before guests can get a good look at them. Using zoom-in cameras, guests are able to observe from a distance, leaving the animals in peace.

Photo: &BEYOND

“Over the last 30 years, the photographic safari experience hasn’t transformed until recently, with the introduction of innovative infrared technology at Phinda,” says Sunit Sanghrajka, the founder and CEO of bespoke tour operator Alluring Africa, which partners with Phinda and the travel company that operates its lodges and programs, andBeyond. Sanghrajka continues, “If your tracker or guide spots something far off such as a genet, the camera zooms in and you can see its features in full detail without needing to struggle to point and adjust your binoculars… I especially valued the ability to observe wildlife completely undisturbed.”

Since the nighttime safari takes place in Phinda, guests are almost guaranteed wildlife sightings. The Phinda Game Reserve encompasses 28,555 hectares (70,560 acres) of diverse African habitat ranging from forest to grasslands. The reserve has a reputation for up-close sightings of rarer, harder-to-find wildlife like cheetahs and black rhinos and is also home to Africa’s Big Five: lions, elephants, buffalos, leopards, and rhinos.

Photo: &BEYOND

At the end of the safari, as a souvenir, guests also receive a two- to three-minute video compilation of the animals seen during the experience so they can sit back, relax, and be thoroughly in the moment with the animals.

The Night Eye Experience is, for now, only available at lodges in Phinda, with the possibility of expansion to other properties around South Africa and other countries like Botswana and Kenya in the future. And, if you can’t get to South Africa anytime soon, watch Night on Earth on Netflix for the next best thing.


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5 ways to celebrate Irish culture

Listen up people, because I have an important announcement to make: There are better things to do on St. Patrick’s Day than drink. Please, pick your jaw up off the floor and hear me out. Did you know that Ireland is home to an ancient and complex culture, which offers quite a bit more than Guinness and leprechauns? In fact, from here on out, any talk of leprechauns is banned.

Ireland has produced James Joyce, U2, and Saorise Ronan and Colin Farrell, to name a few. It’s informed almost all of our culturally ubiquitous ideas about magic (in the West at least), from the druid Merlin to Samhain, the celebration we now know as Halloween. Irish mythology even inspired the majority of Enya’s musical catalogue, which should be enough to earn our respect. So why do so many Americans think that the best way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day is to get absolutely hammered, run through the streets in a ridiculous green costume, and puke on a stranger’s porch? We need to course correct. The Irish deserve better.

On March 17, you can read Ireland’s iconic authors, blast tunes written by its musicians, and cook Irish-inspired dishes for dinner (sorry, you won’t find any corned beef and cabbage here). Here is a brief primer on the wonders of Irish culture that have nothing to do with alcoholic beverages, and how you can integrate each one into your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

1. Eat your heart out.

Photo: Kevin George/Shutterstock

Irish cuisine is unfairly maligned. Soggy cabbage and bland potatoes hardly capture the breadth of ingredients grown in Ireland’s fertile terrain. The country’s lush farmland, home to free-range sheep and cattle, produces creamy, rich cheeses and butters. Proximity to the ocean affords Ireland with some of the highest quality salmon in the world, and the country has a special proclivity for smoked salmon. Irish salmon start their lives in the clear, clean waters of the country’s rivers, and then migrate out into the open ocean to mature. (Sidenote: The salmon has been an essential part of Irish culture for so long that the fish figures prominently in Celtic mythology as a source of power).

Traditional Irish dishes are far from dull and flavorless. Consider the full Irish fry, which is a combination of sausage fried in butter, baked beans, black pudding (blood sausage), sunny-side-up eggs, sliced tomatoes, and toast. Or the shepherd’s pie: ground lamb seasoned with rosemary and thyme and topped with a creamy layer of mashed potatoes.

On St. Patrick’s Day, host a dinner party instead of a house party. Prepare a feast. Start with a charcuterie plate with cured meat, smoked salmon, and Irish cheese. Bake your own loaf of soda bread. Serve shepherd’s pie with a side of colcannon (buttery mashed potatoes mixed with cabbage) and boxty (potato pancakes) for dinner.

2. Read a book.

Photo: lensmen/Shutterstock

This tiny green isle is home to just over 4 million people (for comparison, the population of New York City 8.6 million), yet it has produced four Nobel laureates in literature: Samuel Beckett, William Butler Yeats, George Bernard Shaw, and Seamus Heaney. James Joyce never won a Nobel Prize but he is still counted among the best novelists to ever live. If you want to understand the Irish attitude toward life, reading their literature is a good place to start.

How Ireland has produced so much moving, insightful, experimental, and revolutionary literature is up for debate: It could be that the romantic, pastoral landscape inspires a longing to understand life’s purpose. The country’s long history of war, famine, and colonization might have fostered a rebellious, indomitable spirit in the Irish people — and perhaps even furnished their culture with a dark sense of humor — all traits reflected in their stories. Not to mention the fact that a constant deluge of rain might give an aspiring writer ample time to reflect on what, exactly, humans are doing with their short, sad lives on Earth. Their outlook is by turns hysterically funny, bleak, and hopeful.

Grab your library card or head to the local bookstore, and grab a few books by these masters. Recite Heaney’s poems to your cat. Stage a scene from a Shaw play in your living room. Better yet, make yourself a pot of tea and spend a quiet day immersing yourself in the transformative powers of Irish literature.

3. Binge watch television.

Photo: Channel 4

Irish television is predictably moody and dark. It’s also totally binge-worthy. Streaming services are currently playing a host of Irish series which are bound to become your new favorites: Dublin Murders (Hulu), based on the mysteries series by Irish writer Tana French; The Fall (Amazon Prime) in which Gillian Anderson plays a sexy and epically badass detective tracking down a serial killer; and Derry Girls (Netflix), which follows a group of friends navigating high school at the tail-end of the Troubles. If you’re a fan of a spine-tinglingly creepy Jaime Dornan or a black comedy interpretation of Catholic school, you need to grab a couple of bags of popcorn and park yourself on the couch.

Brooding detectives and teenage girls trying to find common ground with their Protestant neighbors is just the beginning. Father Ted is also streaming on Amazon Prime. The classic and beloved Irish sitcom follows three priests living on a tiny island on Ireland’s western coast. I truly cannot think of a more Irish concept. There is excessive tea, traumatized nuns, alcoholism, and angry swearing. Cancel your plans to go on that St. Patrick’s Day bar crawl, and just watch it, trust me.

4. Turn up the music.

Photo: JStone/Shutterstock

When I was in middle school, I came across a CD in my mother’s collection that looked intriguing and mysterious. This was in 2001, so I popped the disc into my portable CD player and pressed play. The rhythmic drumming that emitted from the speakers sounded ancient and mystical. Sometimes the singers chanted in a beautiful but foreign language (Gaelic, I would later learn) and the (English) lyrics referenced mythology, long-ago wars, and the fight against their British oppressors. That album was Long Black Veil by The Chieftains, and it’s still one of my all-time favorites.

In Ireland, folk music can be a form of oral history, a way to remember and honor the country’s troubled past. It’s also a musical tradition that is innately cheerful and high-spirited, featuring upbeat fiddles, whistles, and pipes. It will inevitably make you want to dance or kiss your crush, but beware: There is also haunting sadness to most Irish folk music that will make you cry in public.

But wait, there’s more! The Irish have also left their mark on modern rock, indie, and punk music. Perhaps their disposition is especially attuned to a little angst. We already know about U2, Enya, and Sting. The Cranberries are also Irish! So are The Pogues, My Bloody Valentine, and Snow Patrol. No matter what you’re doing on St. Paddy’s — vacuuming, exercising, cooking dinner — do it to a soundtrack of Irish bands.

5. Try a new sport.

Photo: D. Ribeiro/Shutterstock

If you can’t make it to Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day to experience its many natural wonders, there’s still good news: Ireland also goes nuts for sports. If you’re of an athletic persuasion, organize a friendly game of football (soccer to us Americans) or rugby at your local park. More the type to watch than get out on the field yourself? Fox Sports is airing UEFA games all day on March 17.

Now that the basics are out of the way, here’s one for my true die-hard fans of the Irish way of life: This St. Patrick’s Day, skip the traditional football and learn how to play Gaelic football. Gaelic football combines elements of rugby and soccer — most of the rules are the same as the latter but you can hold the ball in your hands.

Gaelic football is an all-amateur league, meaning there are no paid players on any team. It’s a game designed for people who are truly passionate about sports, teamwork, and athleticism. I will allow one (1) Guinness to any person who goes the extra mile on St. Patrick’s by learning an entire sport invented by and for the Irish. Everyone else, skip the booze and remember: Drinking is about the 10th most interesting thing about Irish culture.


More like this: 7 best traditional Irish dishes that aren’t just corned beef and cabbage

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Coachella might be postponed

As more and more events are canceled due to the coronavirus, organizers of the Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals are looking into ways to salvage the popular events. Coachella, which was slated for April 10-12 and 17-19 in Indio, California, might be moved the weekends of October 9 and 16th. Stagecoach, which is scheduled for April 24-26, would potentially be moved to October 23.

Organizers are concerned that Riverside County officials will pull their permit that allows them to host over 250,000 festivalgoers, which led to talks about moving the festivals to October. The feat of postponing these major festivals would not be easily accomplished. Each festival involved hundreds of vendors, thousands of employees, and artists with various scheduling conflicts.

Frank Ocean, Rage Against the Machine, and Travis Scott were scheduled to headline this year’s Coachella, all of whom would have to be rebooked or replaced should the festival move to the fall.

There have been a few confirmed cases of the virus in Riverside County — where the festivals are held. As new cases continue to emerge, the festivals’ prospects grow pretty grim. Organizers will reportedly know within the next 48 hours if the move will take place. Otherwise, it’s likely that the events will be canceled altogether.


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Italy is under strict quarantine

Italy is attempting to crack down on the spread of the coronavirus by issuing strict new quarantine procedures for its residents, including a nationwide ban on public gatherings. According to Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, people will now only be allowed to travel for work or family emergencies, and sporting events are being canceled nationwide. The goal is to encourage people to stay home and minimize the risk of infection.

The new measures will go into effect on Tuesday, March 10, and are similar in nature to those previously applied to the region of Lombardy. On Sunday, the government effectively shut down Lombardy until at least April 3, closing museums, theaters, and schools, and suspending weddings and funerals. Restaurants and bars were also ordered to keep customers at a safe distance from one another.

When news of the Lombardy plan leaked, thousands panicked and tried to flee the region before the measures went into effect. The exodus from Lombardy prompted authorities in other regions to check for travelers coming from the north, with Puglia even requiring any new arrivals from the north to quarantine themselves.

On Facebook, the president of Puglia Michele Emiliano encouraged people from the north to refrain from potentially spreading the virus, saying, “You are carrying into the lungs of your brothers and sisters, your grandparents, uncles, cousins, parents the virus that folded the health system of Northern Italy.”


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