Matador Network's Blog, page 976

Nutella Hotel in Napa Valley

It’s the stuff of both dreams and dietary nightmares — a pop-up Nutella hotel is opening in Napa Valley, California, this January. Hotella Nutella will allow fans of Nutella to have a fully immersive experience based entirely around the delicious hazelnut spread.

The decor will, of course, be over-the-top and nutella-packed with huge jars of the spread featured on the wallpaper, the curtains, the flooring, etc.

Photo: Hotella Nutella

Nutella-fueled activities for the weekend include a Nutella breakfast dinner with Iron Chef and Food Network celebrity judge Geoffrey Zakarian; a savory soul food brunch with chef and TV personality Tanya Holland; and a pancake art session with Dancakes, the world-famous pancake artist team.

Photo: Hotella Nutella

To snag a reservation at the Nutella Hotel, you need to submit a 60-second video showing why Nutella makes your morning special. Applications can be submitted from November 13 to December 8. Three grand prize winners (and their guests) will be selected, each receiving round-trip airfare, accommodation for a three-day and two-night stay, and transport to and from the hotel.

The hotel itself will only be open for one weekend, January 10-12, so you’d better put some serious thought into that application video.


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The post A Nutella Hotel is opening in Napa Valley appeared first on Matador Network.

How to have safe sex while traveling

For a lot of people, traveling is about letting their hair down. And there’s just something about being far, far away from home that makes us feel carefree and confident. Throw swaying palm trees and a boozy cocktail or two into the mix, and romance is never far behind.

Leaving home to see the world is an opportunity to reinvent yourself and discover what you like — and part of that experimentation could take place between the sheets. So whether you’re about to set off on a year-long trip or are just heading off on a short vacation, here’s how to plan for better and safer sex while traveling.

1. Get tested for STDs before you go.

Maybe it’s the cocktails, or maybe it’s the lack of responsibility, but for some reason, many travelers let their guard down and forget all about risk on the road. STIs are on the rise, and they are everywhere, so get tested before you go to see where you stand. Getting a thumbs up from the clinic isn’t a green light to go protection-free, though: You might be fine, but you can’t vouch for your partner, and several early-stage STDs — including HIV, hepatitis, and chlamydia — don’t show symptoms. What it does mean is that if you do suddenly find yourself with an issue down there, you can narrow your timeframe to a shorter period, which makes it easy to work out who you need to tell. As in, warn other people who you’ve slept with — not tell everyone who you think you caught it from.

2. Don’t be shy in front of the nurse.

Planning on hooking up with strangers? Own it. The nurse doesn’t care if you want to get down ‘n’ dirty with everyone you meet. What they do care about is doing their job and preventing you from catching Hepatitis A and B, both of which can be caught via sex. When they ask if you’ll have a romantic rendezvous or two while traveling (and let’s be honest, who isn’t?) just say yes — even if you’re not sure. And not to be a downer or anything, but you should consider getting this even if you’re going with your partner, especially if you’re a new couple heading off for a long time. People break up, so if you do find yourself unexpectedly back on the dating scene, you’ll be much happier (and safer) knowing you have some protection. Plus, you can catch hepatitis from contaminated water, shared utensils, and unscrupulous tattoo studios, so better to err on the side of caution.

3. Protect yourself from pregnancy and STIs.

Don’t rely on local pharmacies. Not only is the language barrier a potential issue, but they also might not stock what you need. The pill works best when it’s taken at the same time every day, so remember to adjust your schedule when traveling over different time zones and double-up on protection in case of any errors or upset stomach incidents. Bring your own condoms, even if you’re on the pill or coil. You can also use them over toys for easy cleanup, or as an extra layer of protection if you’re sharing or using someone else’s items.

If you’re an LGBTQ+ traveler using PrEP (Truvada) for HIV prevention, make sure you’re stocked up before you travel, especially to a country where it might not be available and/or you’re visiting a part of the world where infection rates are higher. It protects you if you come into contact with HIV-1, but it should be taken before you have sex and is only effective if you don’t already have it. Talk to your doctor to find out more.

4. Bring toys and lube.

If you can’t do without your toys at home, then bring your stash (or a few star players) along for the trip. You can take most sex toys and lube on planes. Just be careful to do your research about how to transport your items safely and hygienically, and make sure the country you’re heading to allows adult accessories through customs because they are illegal in some countries.

A word of advice for the ladies: Research shows hetero women are around 50 percent less likely than men to orgasm during casual sex, so to level out the playing field and close what’s known as the orgasm gap, bring a vibrator along. Just do it. Lelo stocks a range of toys that look more like body massagers than adult items, so you don’t need to worry about any questionable shapes showing up on the scanner. And if you want to go all-out stealth mode, there’s always the one that looks like a necklace. If James Bond was a woman, this is the one she’d choose.

5. Be crystal clear about consent.

It’s important to be able to give and get consent before any kind of touching takes place. And just because someone’s given you the green light to get naked with them, it doesn’t mean you don’t need additional consent when introducing a new element, like a sex toy, bondage or anal play. And remember, nakedness/an erection/wetness is not consent in itself; you need to hear it from them clearly and unequivocally. If they’re drunk, it’s a no. If a language barrier leaves you unsure, then it’s a no. If their body language seems off, then that yes is now a possible no.

Giving and getting consent doesn’t need to be a vibe-killer, and it doesn’t have to sound like a job interview or doctor’s visit. Incorporate it into your foreplay session and ask questions like, “Can I touch you here?”, “Can I take this off?”, and “Do you want me to keep going?” Foreplay is important because it helps build trust with the person you’re with — something that’s especially important during a one-night stand — so don’t neglect it.

6. Book a private room.

Not many travelers seem to know this, but a sheet pinned up around the bottom bunk is not soundproof. Who knew! Don’t be that person who keeps everyone awake with their squeaky bunkbed grunts unless you’re ok with mid-sex heckling and glares at breakfast. And even then, just don’t. It’s gross and tacky. If you do find yourself in an unexpected hookup situation, either head back to theirs (if they have a solo room) or wait until you’re able to book more private sleeping arrangements — which shouldn’t set you back too much more than a dorm bed. Failing that, there’s always the shower. Just make sure you clean up after yourself and keep the noise down. Oh, and we advise against beach sex. Sand is not a sexy texture, and you might get arrested.

7. Look after yourself.

When you’re relaxed and having fun, it’s easy to let your guard down — but it’s important to treat abroad hook-up situations with the same vigilance you would back at home, if not more so. Tell people where you’re going or, if you’re traveling solo, text someone to let them know what you’re up to — even if it’s just a person you went on a day trip with (you don’t have to give them all the details). Always insist on a condom and/or dental dam, and keep your phone charged and cash on hand. If you do find yourself in a difficult situation or you become a victim of sexual harassment, first make sure you get to safety, then report the incident to the local authorities. If you’re an LGBTQ traveler in a country that doesn’t have a great rights record, you may need to bypass the local police and head straight to your embassy. They can take it from there.

8. Get to know your local healthcare services.

So, you think you’ve caught an STD or need the morning-after pill. Now what? Don’t panic. Many cities have free walk-in testing clinics that you can use without having to book an appointment. In some parts of the world, sexual health resources might not be so readily available, in which case you may need to take a trip to the hospital — so make sure you sort out travel insurance before you go.

If you’re LGBTQ+ and in a place that’s not especially welcoming to all orientations and genders, you can check local rights and legislation on Equaldex so you have a better idea of what to expect before you go and whether you should wait until you’re home or take a trip to a neighboring region. Gynopedia is another amazing resource full of sexual health information on everything from abortion access, menstrual products, trans-friendly gynecologists, prenatal care, crisis support, and more on a city-by-city basis. And despite its name, it has information for everyone — not just women.

9. Embrace your wild side.

No one knows you. You can be anyone you want. Embrace this liberating anonymity and use it as an opportunity to try something new — whether that’s a hook up with someone who doesn’t reflect your usual sexual orientation or a good ol’ threesome. If you’re bringing sex toys along, why not add some light bondage toys to the mix if it’s something you’ve always wanted to try? Just remember to ask for consent before you whip out the handcuffs, and if you’re dead set on getting frisky somewhere not-so-private, for the love of God, don’t get caught. Unless you’ve always wanted to see what the inside of an international jail looks like.

10. Make a graceful exit.

Just because you slept together doesn’t mean they want to hang with you the next day — or even see you again, for that matter. If they’re awake, have a light conversation with them to try to gauge the mood. If it looks and sounds like they want some alone time, then tell them it was nice to meet them and make a beeline for the door. And if you’re not sure (hangovers can make people pretty grouchy-sounding), just ask them outright if they’d like you to stick around or not. If you think you’d like to stay in contact, feel free to leave your phone number or social media contact details on a bit of paper for them — but don’t pressure them into putting it into their phone. Especially if they’re trying to sleep off that Full Moon Party cocktail bucket.


More like this: How to deal with sexual harassment abroad

The post How to plan for better and safer sex while traveling appeared first on Matador Network.

Official NYC neighborhood map

New York City is more like a conglomeration of closely connected countries than a single uniform city. Each neighborhood has its own distinct culture, and residents will defend their little slice of the city as fiercely as they would a close family member. Exactly where the lines are drawn for each neighborhood, however, can be a point of contention. A new interactive map on the NYC Census 2020 website has officially set the boundaries, with the division of the city into 245 sections.

The map is intended to make it easier to get an accurate count in the upcoming 2020 census. The goal of the US census, which happens every 10 years, is to count every person, and it has occurred every decade since 1790. Data from the census is used to evenly distribute $650 billion in federal funds earmarked for public services like education, housing, congressional seats, and infrastructure. New York City residents don’t have the best track record of responses, though. Less than 62 percent of people self-responded, according to the NYC Census 2020 committee. The national average is 76 percent.

Despite the intention to improve count accuracy, some are taking issue with how the boundary lines have been drawn.

Kathleen Daniel, the NYC Census 2020’s field director, told Patch that reaching an agreement on the boundaries was no easy task. “Did we come to 100 percent consensus? No, because we’re New Yorkers,” Daniel said. “Nobody agrees on everything here. What we reasonably tried to do was label the neighborhoods in a manner that was most familiar to people.”

Ultimately, however, Daniel does not believe that the boundary lines will deter people from participating. After all, high census participation could lead to hundreds of billions of dollars in federal aid across the state.

Regardless of how the boundaries are set for this count, it joins one of many attempts to define where in the city you’re at. And whether you agree with the NYC Census map, the New York City map, whatever Google tells you, or any other map, there’s a good chance you can find someone who will disagree with you.


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Where to try Peace Pie

The proverbial running to the neighbor’s house to ask for a cup of sugar isn’t too far from the truth for many of us after we forget an essential ingredient. But when we’re in a pinch, we may tweak recipes or create something entirely new with what we have on hand. Sometimes that new creation ends up being an instant classic. Such was the case with Jerry Klause, founder and creator of Peace Pie.

In Woodstock, New York, on Thanksgiving night in 2010, Klause found himself tasked with making pecan pie, a family favorite. He prepared the filling, but realized he had forgotten to make a pie crust. Klause had to think quickly. He turned pie a la mode into what he calls “pecan pie lasagna.” He baked two huge shortbread cookies and layered vanilla ice cream and pecan pie filling between them.

As a serial entrepreneur, Klause knew that he had stumbled upon a genius dessert and founded Peace Pie the following summer. He and his family began selling their creations at farmers markets and local events throughout their home area of southern New Jersey. The ice cream sandwiches offered an ingenious twist on a classic treat, and the shop quickly gained a loyal following. The sudden popularity of his ice cream sandwiches pushed him to open a brick-and-mortar store in Cape May, New Jersey, on Memorial Day in 2015.

The flagship shop was just two blocks from the beach, and customers regularly rolled in. He soon had the funds to open even more locations of Peace Pie in Charleston, South Carolina; St. Augustine, Florida; and Ventor, New Jersey. Each shop is run by a member of Klause’s family.

Klause’s original plan was to name the business “Pie Scream,” but it was already trademarked. One day, as Klause was driving through Woodstock, which had been his home for 10 years, the name Peace Pie struck him. After all, Woodstock is known for peace signs and all things hippie. Yet — once again — Peace Pie was already trademarked by Ben and Jerry’s. They hadn’t used the term, so Klause shrewdly kept an eye on when the trademark would lapse, and he filed for the name the day it became available.

Photo: Peace Pie/Facebook

On a recent trip to St. Augustine, I came across Peace Pie on Aviles Street. The windows and walls are hand-painted in vibrant colors by Klause’s daughter, Maryrose LaCavera. She manages the Florida store and paints colorful murals at each of the Peace Pie locations. Cases of neatly arranged, pie-inspired ice cream sandwiches are organized according to flavor.

The sandwich cookies are stamped with the Peace Pie logo. Ice cream is scooped onto a cookie that serves as a base, and the top cookie is slathered with filling. Flavors inspired by classic pies include Banana Cream (vanilla ice cream, banana butter, vanilla custard, and graham cracker cookies), American Pie (blueberry ice cream, tart cherry pie filling, vanilla mousse, and shortbread cookies), and the original Pecan Pie (vanilla ice cream, pecan pie filling, and shortbread cookies).

For those who want to go the traditional ice cream sandwich route, there are other selections available like Chocolate Covered Strawberry (strawberry ice cream, chocolate mousse, chocolate chips, and chocolate cookies), Caramel Coffee Toffee (coffee ice cream, caramel, toffee, and chocolate cookies), and S’mores (chocolate ice cream, chocolate mousse, marshmallows, and chocolate cookies).

All in all, there are more than 40 types of ice cream sandwiches available at Peace Pie that rotate seasonally, and, as a die-hard mint chocolate chip fan, my palate craved the Chocolate Mint, which is made using mint chocolate chip ice cream paired with chocolate mousse and chocolate cookies. It truly didn’t disappoint.

As of now, the Peace Pie stores are all located on the East Coast, but it does ship to a variety of locations in quantities of 12 or 24 ice cream sandwiches in flavors of your choosing.

Ice cream and pie are two of America’s favorite treats. They’re often combined on a plate, but it took a twist of ingredients and some Thanksgiving inspiration to create what is quickly becoming a regional favorite.


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The post A New Jersey shop is upgrading the ice cream sandwich with pie appeared first on Matador Network.

Venice worst flood in 50 years

Venice is used to floods, especially during very high tides, but the water levels that the lagoon city has been experiencing since Tuesday are highly abnormal — they have risen to their highest point in over 50 years, killing two people and causing millions of dollars in damages.

Water levels reached 6.1 feet on Wednesday after heavy rain on Tuesday night. Eighty-five percent of Venice is flooded, including St. Mark’s Square (under over three feet of water) and St. Mark’s Basilica. Both are located at the lowest point in Venice. The water inside the basilica is said to have already created irreparable damage.

As reported by The Guardian, Luigi Brugnaro, the mayor of Venice, said, “We ask the government to help us. This is the result of climate change.” He also announced his intention to declare a state of emergency. Dario Franceschini, Italy’s minister of culture, promised that the government would provide funding to help preserve the city, though an exact number has not been revealed.

Brugnaro promised that the Mose project, conceived in 1984 to defend Venice against high tides, would finally be completed.


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How to visit the British Museum

The British Museum is immense. You could spend months trying to see and learn about the 80,000 objects displayed, but if you’re not a Londoner and can’t pop in daily during your lunch break to have a stroll in the galleries, you’ll need a plan to make your one-day visit worth it. To ensure you get to see the most significant pieces in the museum without getting a serious case of museum fatigue, we’ve asked British Museum expert Michael Raymond and Londoner and art expert Luci Stephens to give us some hot tips on how to crush this massive museum in just one day.

Michael Raymond is an assistant curator at the Tate Modern. After studying history at the University of Sheffield, he moved to London to work as the project coordinator for the Asahi Shimbun Displays at the British Museum. For two years he worked in the exhibitions department, organizing temporary exhibitions with objects from across the collection, whether Japanese paintings or ancient cuneiform tablets.

Luci Stephens is the head of 20th-century art at Clarendon Fine Art, a contemporary art gallery located in Mayfair, London. Luci has a BA and MA in Art History from Kingston University and University College London and has worked at the National Gallery. Every chance she gets, she explores the nooks and crannies of the British Museum in search of a piece she has not yet seen.

Before you go: the #1 piece of advice for visiting the British Museum
The best times to visit the British Museum
Free tours and audio guides
Where to start your visit
Five must-see pieces and why they matter
Most underrated pieces to check out
What you can skip
What you did not know



Before you go: the #1 piece of advice for visiting the British Museum

Photo: douglasmack/Shutterstock

Michael knows the museum like his back pocket and has not one but two pieces of advice he believes are essential for visitors to remember.

First, he urges you to use the back entrance on Montague Place to get in faster. This entrance is not as fancy as the Great Russell Street entrance with its stairs, colonnade, and pediment, but you can always go back around the building to snap a picture later. And don’t worry, no matter what entrance you choose, you’ll be able to access the Great Court and admire its magnificent glass ceiling.

Second, do yourself a favor and don’t bring large bags — you’ll have made a trip to the British Museum for nothing since they are not allowed inside. Leave your big items at the hotel and check out the galleries freely without being encumbered.

The best times to visit the British Museum

The museum opens at 10:00 AM daily and is usually busy from the get-go. A great option to avoid the crowds and get an early start is to book one of the special morning tours that start at 9:00 AM. The tours last one hour, don’t exceed 20 people, and cost 30 British pounds ($37). No matter what tours you choose, from a general introduction to the British Museum to a more specific presentation of Ancient Egypt artifacts, you’ll get a well-rounded, almost-private history lesson while everyone else lines up outside. Note that if you take a special morning tour, you need to use the main entrance on Great Russell Street.

If you want to see the collection freely, both Michael and Luci recommend Friday as the best day of the week to visit. Instead of closing at 5:30 PM, the museum stays open until 8:30 PM on Fridays, giving you the opportunity to see it in a different atmosphere. Friday is also the day when the museum hosts two free demonstrations of the Japanese tea ceremony every second week, as well as other cool evening events like introductions to Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs for beginners.

Although popular all year long, a visit in January or February will certainly be quieter than one in July or August.

Free tours and audio guides

Walking around to check out pieces at your own pace is a chill way to see the British Museum, but there are so many tours available that it’d be a shame to pass on trying one or two out — you’ll learn a ton, and it won’t cost you a penny.

The Eye-Opener tours are free, last 30 to 40 minutes, and take place daily, every 15 minutes from 11:00 AM to 3:45 PM. They are led by volunteers who will take you through the most popular parts of the museum to give you the lowdown on this particular part of the collection. There’s no need to book in advance — just be in the relevant gallery when it starts.

If you’ve followed our advice and decided to visit on a Friday, take one of the free, 20-minute Spotlight tours. Those tours focus on one topic (Death in Egypt, for example) or object (like the Rosetta Stone) to give visitors a brief but knowledge-packed talk.

If you’d rather remain independent during your museum visit, or if English is not your first language and you’re afraid you may not understand everything a guide would say on a tour, get yourself an audio guide in the Great Court. The audio guides provide expert commentary in 10 languages and allow you to access detailed descriptions of the most significant objects in the collection for just £7 ($8.60).

Where to start your visit

Photo: Matphotography/Shutterstock

If you’re not too far down the line to enter the museum in the morning, don’t waste any time and get yourself to rooms 62 and 63 on the third level to see the most famous objects in the museum: the Egyptian mummies. The museum has over 120 human mummies in its collection, as well as 300 animal mummies. While they are not all displayed, it’s very much worth hurrying up to those rooms to see the few that are there while the rest of the visitors are still on the main floor trying to figure out their way around.

Five must-see pieces and why they matter

Although we could easily include 10 more pieces on this list, if you want to get the highlights out of the way before you wander around freely to check out more niche objects, or take off to do something else entirely, Luci and Michael have selected five pieces that you cannot miss during your visit. (Luci recommends that you locate them on the museum map before your visit to save some precious time and beat the crowds.)

Note: All the pieces mentioned below appear in Neil MacGregor’s “A History of the World in 100 objects.” Neil MacGregor was the director of the British Museum between 2002 and 2015.

1. The Rosetta Stone

Photo: Jaroslav Moravcik/Shutterstock

Aside from the aforementioned Egyptian mummies, the Rosetta Stone is the most iconic object in the British Museum and the most-viewed item in any museum or gallery in the UK, according to our expert, Michael. There’s no right time to see the stone without the crowds unless you book a spot in the Introduction to Ancient Egypt special morning tour, which is greatly recommended.

The Rosetta Stone is a large grey stela with rough edges with the same text carved on it in Classical Greek, Demotic, and Hieroglyphics. Described as such, it does not sound like the most alluring object in the collection, but because it’s worked as the key to the understanding of the Ancient Egyptian civilization, it’s hugely important. Dating back to 196 BC, the stone’s inscriptions (which are the same decree in three different languages) led French Scholar François Champollion to crack the code of the Hieroglyphics language in the early 19th century. Thanks to his decipherment, the Hieroglyphics on other objects, in temples, on mummies, etc. were finally decoded, as were the mysterious rituals and traditions of a fascinating civilization.

Where to find it: In room four, in the Ancient Egyptian sculpture department right off the Great Court (on your right if you enter via Montague Place, on your left if you enter from Great Russell Street).

2. Parthenon sculptures, or Elgin Marbles

Photo: Giannis Papanikos/Shutterstock

The Parthenon sculptures, also known as the Elgin Marbles for Lord Elgin, the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire who brought some of the sculptures from the Parthenon in Athens back to England, are a beautiful display of marble reliefs created around 440 BC.

Originally, the pieces you’ll see in the British Museum were placed on the outside of the Parthenon, a temple dedicated to Athena the Virgin located on the Acropolis, and were colored in red, gold, and blue. The reliefs, meant to present passages of Greek mythology, are large and intricately carved to create life-like characters and scenes — the facial expressions, body shapes, and drapery details are nothing short of mind-blowing. Michael adds, “They look so soft, luscious, and realistic, it’s difficult to believe it was hand-carved from cold, hard marble.”

Having been taken from Greece in the early 1800s, there is a lot of debate as to whether the Parthenon sculptures belong to the British Museum or they should go back to Athens. Wherever you land on this issue, the sculptures should be at the top of your must-see list.

Where to find them: In room 18, on the ground floor, in the Ancient Greece and Rome department.

3. The Lewis Chessmen

Photo: British Museum/Facebook

If you’ve watched Ron and Harry play wizards chess and thought the pieces they used were “wicked,” you’re in for a treat. The real-life chess pieces that inspired those you can see in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone are on display at the British Museum.

Called the Lewis Chessmen because they were found on the island of Lewis in Scotland, the pieces date back from between 1150 to 1200 AD and were found in 1831. The pieces were made of walrus ivory and whales’ teeth in Norway, but not all of them are intricately shaped — the pawns, the least powerful pieces in a set, are just simple slabs, while the bishops, rooks, knights, kings, and queens are detailed and unique characters. It is believed that some pieces were painted red to distinguish the two sides. Eighty-two chessmen from several sets are at the British Museum and 11 are at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.

In June 2019, a family in Edinburgh found a piece that they had purchased in 1964 for fewer than $10 at an auction in a drawer at their home. The rare, long-lost chessman, the missing piece of a precious set, was sold in July for nearly one million USD.

Where to find them: In room 40 in the Sir Paul and Lady Ruddock Gallery: Medieval Europe 1050–1500, on level three.

4. Hoa Hakananai’a (“Lost or Stolen Friend”) Moai statue

Photo: Jaroslav Moravcik/Shutterstock

For centuries, the people of Rapa Nui (also known as Easter Island) built and erected colossal statues out of basalt on the coastline of their island to house the spirits of ancestors. Hoa Hakananai’a, built between 1000 and 1200 AD, is one of those monoliths, and it’s been on display in the British Museum since 1869. About seven feet tall, the statue is a simple yet extremely impressive carving. Visitors should make sure to check out the back of the statue, which bears symbols significant to the birdman religion, the cult that used to dominate the island.

Allegedly given to the officers of the British Ship Topaze by the people of Rapa Nui in the 19th century, “Hoa Hakananai’a” is today the center of much controversy. Spiritually important to the traditional inhabitants of Rapa Nui, they are now imploring the British government for its return.

Where to find it: In room 24 in the Africa, Oceania, and the Americas department on the ground floor. Straight ahead if you enter via Montague Place, straight on and just beyond the Great Court if you enter from Great Russell Street.

5. The double-headed serpent

Photo: British Museum/Facebook

Before the invasion of the Spaniards in the 16th century, Mexico was part of the huge Aztec Empire that stretched all the way from Texas to Guatemala. For the Aztecs, turquoise was a profoundly prized stone believed to used during ritual ceremonies and worn by Aztec rulers to show off their greatness. Serpents motifs were highly symbolic in Aztec culture; double-headed serpents were thought to be the bearers of bad omens. This intimidating double-headed serpent, carved from a single piece of cedar between 1400 and 1600 in Mexico, is inlaid with 2000 pieces of that very stone to create a gorgeous effect of shimmering scales. A piece of jewelry, the turquoise mosaic was meant to be worn on the chess of its owner, likely an Aztec ruler, like a brooch.

The Aztec empire was destroyed by the Spaniards soon after their arrival, but remains of the great civilization like this piece provide proof of the incredible talent of its people.

Where to find it: In room 27, on the ground floor, in the Americas department.

Most underrated pieces to check out

If you still have time and energy after you’ve had a good look at the five must-see pieces mentioned above, take your time to meander the galleries in search of the three following pieces recommended by Michael. They may not be well known, but they are certainly worth a few minutes of your time — or more.

1. The “Mermaid”

Photo: British Museum/Facebook

Although it looks like something that belongs to a cabinet of curiosity, this spooky-looking creature that looks very much like a mermaid is a piece of trickery. Said to have been caught in Japan in the 18th century and gifted to Prince Arthur of Connaught as the real deal, the mermaid is nothing more than a creepy piece of taxidermy of a monkey’s upper body and a fish’s tail. Still, it’s worth a stop since its display in Europe in the early 19th century likely convinced a lot of people that mythical creatures like mermaids in fact existed in faraway lands like Asia.

Where to find it: In room one in the Enlightenment department, right off the Great Court (on your left if you enter via Montague Place, on your right if you enter from Great Russell Street).

2. Map of Venice

Photo: British Museum/Facebook

Map lovers will have a field day with this detailed print of Venice. Nine-feet wide and three-feet high, this bird’s-eye view of the city was made well before drones existed — in 1500. According to Michael, “every roof, spire, street, and canal is mapped out in extraordinary detail. It’s as if the artist has memorized every detail from every street and building in the entire city.” There is a bench located right in front of the piece for visitors to take their time to scrutinize the map and admire the talent of the artist who created it, Jacopo de’ Barbari.

Where to find it: In room 90a, on level four, an area of the museum often neglected by visitors.

3. Ravi Shankar’s sitar

Because the world of music is so much more than guitars, pianos, and the oh-so-ubiquitous recorders, go check out the intricately decorated sitar that once belonged to world-renowned musician Ravi Shankar displayed at the British Museum since 2017. Michael reminds us, “Shankar was famous for teaching George Harrison to play the sitar and helping to introduce an Indian flavor to the Beatles music,” so whether you are a huge Beatles fan, a music fan, or just a lover of beautiful things, this large stringed instrument is an underestimated must-see.

Made of teak and two gourds, it is beautifully adorned with stained and inlaid bones and botanical carvings. The instrument was gifted to the museum by Ravi Shankar’s widow. To know what it sounds like, click the video above and watch Ravi Shankar’s daughter Anoushka Shankar, herself a musician, play it beautifully.

What you can skip

We said it for the Louvre, and we’ll say it again for the British Museum: Every single piece displayed is worth your attention as it is the result of extraordinary talent and historical significance. That said, visitors who are not experts in art history or rarely frequent museums may find themselves fatigued by certain sections.

For Michael, if you don’t have a clue what the difference is between Doric and Ionic, and don’t feel like practicing your Latin and Ancient Greek, it’s room 77 (“Greek and Roman architecture”) and room 78 (“Classical inscriptions”), both located in the basement, that you should skip. It’s a niche section of the museum that those uninterested in the topic can skip without guilt.

What you did not know

Not everyone can take a trip to London and spend a day leisurely walking the wonderful galleries of the British Museum. The British Museum understands this perfectly, and that’s why it has partnered with Google Streetview and Google Art and Culture — so anyone in the world with an internet connection can access its collection and see iconic objects. So, for an armchair cultural experience, just click and be transported by the beauty of art and history.


More like this: The ultimate rainy day tour of London’s museums

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Italian schools teach climate change

Italy is becoming the first country in the world to require climate change and sustainable development to be taught as part of the curriculum for every grade. It will mainly be taught in civics classes but will also play a role in mathematics, physics, and geography classes.

Lorenzo Fioramonti, Italy’s education minister, told Reuters, “I want to make the Italian education system the first education system that puts the environment and society at the core of everything we learn in school.”

To get the curriculum and the teachers ready, the government is working with experts like Jeffrey Sachs, the director of the Harvard Institute for International Development.

Lessons will vary depending on age group, with elementary school students learning about the role of the environment through storybooks and older students through the actual science and the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

According to Fioramonti, 33 hours per year — one hour per school week — will be dedicated to addressing climate change issues, starting next September. “The entire ministry is being changed,” he said, “to make sustainability and climate change the center of the education model.”


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Australia bushfires reach Sydney

Some of the worst bushfires Australia has ever seen have been raging across the country’s east coast since September, destroying homes, closing hundreds of schools, and sparking the evacuations of entire towns. On Tuesday, some bushfires reached the northern suburbs of Sydney, the most populous city in the country, and got only nine miles away from its city center.

So far, the fires have killed three people, destroyed more than 170 properties, and burned around 2.5 million acres of land in New South Wales.

Photo: Google Maps

Conditions are not expected to improve with gusty winds and hot temperatures in the forecast. Fire danger will remain extreme for the rest of the week.

There are also fires in Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia.

Although bushfires are common during dry Australia summers, the intensity and timing of this particular series of fires is unusual and raises questions about the link between these extreme bushfires and climate change. Some believe the fires are a direct result of climate change and the current Australian government’s failure to properly address it.


More like this: Experts prove that planting trees is our best chance at fighting climate change

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Japan's culinary-themed taxi tours

Japan is a land filled with culinary wonders, from straight-from-the-ocean seafood to springy noodles doused in spicy broth. If you’re a voracious eater, a visit will inevitably include food tours and excursions to multiple restaurants. But trying to hit every spot on your itinerary can be overwhelming. One of the best ways to see restaurants is with a guide — especially one that can both make suggestions and get you there. For that, there’s the Japan Local Taxi Association’s genius system: a series of taxis based in regions around the country that specialize in food and hospitality.

In Hakodate City in Hokkaido, for instance, you’ll find the ramen taxi. In Hirosaki City, part of the Tohoku region, you’ll find the apple pie taxi. There is a candy taxi in Gifu City, a sushi taxi in Kanazawa, and a hot spring taxi in Sakae City, among others (you can find the full list of food-themed taxis on the Japan Local Taxi Association website). Helmed by an experienced tour guide, these food-themed taxis shuttle guests from shop to shop so that you can sample the best cuisine the region has to offer. Here’s how to experience a guided culinary tour from the back of a taxi.

How Japan’s food taxis work

Photo: Japan Local Taxi Association

The Japan Local Taxi Association partnered with several taxi and tour companies around the country to provide tourists with easy transportation to each city’s best restaurants. But the drivers are much more than mere chauffeurs — they’re experts in the region’s specialty cuisine, as well.

For instance, in Hirosaki City, becoming an “apple pie concierge,” also known as the Sakura Komachi, requires passing four tests: First, candidates must learn about the region’s different apple varieties, visit all 50 apple pie shops in Hirosaki City, learn how to make an apple pie from a chef, and then take a written exam.

Tours can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour and a half, and the type of tour varies depending on the region. Hirosaki City is Japan’s largest apple producer, and at the apple park near Mt. Iwaki, guests can learn more about apple harvesting and visit a cider factory.

There are 50 apple pie shops in Hirosaki City, and the 120-minute apple pie taxi tour will take you to as many as five (depending on your appetite). The concierge will enquire about your tastes before choosing which shops to visit.

Photo: Japan Local Taxi Association

The Hakodate ramen taxi offers the “Gourmet light meal tour” where a taxi will take you to three ramen restaurants (you can choose for yourself from a list on the website or let the driver choose their favorites). You’ll be served a half-size meal at each shop so you don’t lose your appetite along the way. Hakodate specializes in shio, or salt ramen, which has a clear broth flavored with kelp, and straight noodles rather than the typically curly variety.

The Kagawa Prefecture, in the Shikoku region, is known for another type of noodle: udon. With more than 800 udon restaurants in Kagawa, you’ll undoubtedly need help choosing where to eat. The region’s udon taxi offers a two-hour tour to three udon restaurants. You can pick the restaurants or let the guide decide for you.

Kotobus, which operates the udon taxi, promises to deliver you to both the region’s most famous udon restaurants, as well as local favorites that don’t appear in any guidebooks. The driver of the Udon taxi may even eat with you, dispensing knowledge about local culture and coaching you through how to order and eat udon the traditional way.

However, you should be aware that you may have some trouble communicating because there’s no guarantee that your driver will speak English — so brush on your basic Japanese or bring a friend that can translate along for the ride. The driver will likely talk about your preferences and experience with Japanese cuisine, offering options including Shikoku region’s most famous variety, sanuki udon. You’ll likely also receive a booklet or a map with pictures of restaurants in the area. If you don’t know much about udon, you can ask for an osusume — a recommendation.

How to make a reservation

Photo: Japan Local Taxi Association

The Japan Local Taxi Association keeps a directory of the websites for each taxi company it has partnered with to offer guided culinary tours. You’ll need to make your reservation directly through the taxi company’s website.

While some companies require email reservations, others offer a convenient form to fill out or even a calendar to choose your preferred date. Before making a reservation, you’ll need to gather some basic information: the date and time of your tour of choice, how many people in your party, and where to pick you up. Options for pick up locations typically include your hotel, the airport, or the train station. You can also request a driver who speaks English though there are no guarantees you’ll be accommodated.

Some reservation forms might be in Japanese (like the one for the Udon taxi) so you may need help translating. You can also try calling on the phone to make your reservation if you have an interpreter or ask at your hotel for assistance.


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The post See the best of Japanese cuisine in these official food-themed taxis appeared first on Matador Network.

How pie crust was invented

Pie is revered in the modern American household. Juicy apples mixed with sugar and cinnamon make much-anticipated appearances in the kitchen throughout fall and winter. Rich, creamy spiced pumpkin and sweet potato pies are delivered on Thanksgiving. Deep burgundy red cherry pies are served on Christmas.

Despite their differences, all these pies have one thing in common: crust. Without flakey, buttery crust to cradle the fillings, pie would hardly be the jewel of the dessert table. But the origin of modern pie crust — the workhouse of the dessert world — is just as tied to funerals than festivities. In fact, at the very beginning of the life of pie, the crust wasn’t even edible.

To understand how pie crust became what it is today, we have to go back to the Ancient Greeks. Not only did those crafty Mediterranean-dwellers write the first epic poems and invent both geometry and the Olympics, but their bakers were also likely responsible for the original pastry shell.

The Greeks made their pastry shell from a simple mixture of water and flour to form a kind of paste to swaddle meat (fruit pie wouldn’t arrive on the scene until the 16th century). The conquering Romans adored these delicacies and were the first to record pie recipes and spread them throughout Europe. Perhaps the most well known of these, written down by Cato the Elder, is placenta — thin strips of wheat flour pastry layered with honey, ricotta, and bay leaves to create a dish slightly reminiscent of lasagna.

By the mid-16th century, pie crust developed a more solid definition. One recipe published around 1545, from the Proper New Booke of Cookery, offers the following instructions: “To make short paest for tarte. Take fyne floure and a cursey of fayre water and a dysche of swete butter and a lyttel saffron, and the yolckes of two egges and make it thynne and as tender as ye maye.”

Photo: vita pakhai/Shutterstock

It’s at this point in history that pie crust takes a funerary turn. In 16th century Europe, pie crust became known as the “coffin” or “coffyn” surrounding the meat inside — peacock, pigeon, boar, duck, and even tortoise were among the popular offerings at the time. The fillings were the meal, not the crust, which was several inches thick to withstand many hours of baking. The thick crust, which became inedible and rock hard during the baking process, trapped all the delicious juices from the meat inside the “coffin” casing. This new cooking method turned out to be a big improvement from the days when cooks produced hunks of tough, dried-out meat from clay ovens.

The term coffin might sound off-putting when applied to your dinner, but it simply described the pie as a basket or box. This dining method proved popular throughout medieval Europe. For one, it required no additional dishes and could be eaten by hand, no utensils needed. And that’s not the coffin pie’s only practical purpose.

In Janet Clarkson’s book, Pie: A Global History, she writes that this hefty pastry case served as a container similar to a lunch box. It was a way for people to both transport their food and preserve it (especially important before refrigeration when people needed a way to make their food last). Sometimes, the baker carved a hole in the top of the crust and poured melted fat into the hole to act as a seal against intruding air, thus keeping it fresh for an extended period.

Noblemen and women might have considered coffin pastry inedible, opting instead to dine on the decadent fillings inside, but Clarkson is convinced that doesn’t tell the whole story. During this time, growing and harvesting grain and turning it into flour had to be done by hand — a process that without any machinery or technology would have been incredibly labor-intensive.

“It is surely not likely that such a hard-won resource was simply discarded after the contents were eaten even in the great houses,” Clarkson writes. “The crust may not have been intended for lords and ladies, but the well-to-do were obliged to feed their servants and were also expected to feed the local poor.”

Incredibly, the story of coffin pie gets even weirder. In the 16th century, culinary trends included the so-called surprise pie, meant to entertain guests at a banquet. A book called The Italian Banquet, published in 1598, describes a surprise pie filled with live birds, ala the Purple Wedding in Game of Thrones.

Photo: HBO

To make this magic trick work, the coffin pastry is baked with a hole “as big as your fist, or bigger if you will,” in the bottom of the pastry. It’s then stuffed with “as many small live birds as the empty coffin will hold,” and the bird-filled coffin pastry is placed in front of the unwitting guests. Once the pie is cut (taking care to avoid the creatures inside, probably) the birds were released from their pastry cage, “which is to delight and pleasure shew to the company.” The instructions also encourage the host serving this surprise pie to be sure to bake another edible pie filled with cooked meat so the guests don’t go hungry.

“Pie That the Birds May Be Alive In” does raise some questions: Did the birds fight their entrapment, breaking open the pastry? Did they squawk inside the pie, giving away the surprise? The mysteries of the surprise pie will have to lie in the past, but one thing is certain: Today’s buttery, flaky, tender pie crust is a far cry from the utilitarian pie crusts of the past — and for that, we should be thankful.

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