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Delft Blauw, Chinese Porcelain: Reading ‘Vermeer’s Hat, Indra’s Net and the Dawn of Globalisation’
The book is in many ways a joint effort by a Delftman and a Canadian, separated by centuries. Through painting and prose, Vermeer and Brook weave a multifaceted narrative, connecting 17th century Europe to the world.
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The Best Hummus in Amsterdam
What’s better on a rainy day than a warm bowl of tangy hummus accompanied with some real crisp pieces of pita and a secret sauce so delicious it’ll leave you wanting more? I am guessing nothing much. Luckily for me, on my last trip to the Netherlands, I found the best hummus in Amsterdam. On a cold rainy day in Amsterdam, after a morning at the Albert Cuyp Market, shopping and munching on some delicious fries with cheese sauce, the stomach was ready for more. Hungry and desperate, the two of us dragged our feet through Amsterdam’s glitzy De Pijp district, known for its top-notch restaurants and brewries. And Sir…
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Out and About Aarhus on a Boat
For ten days at the end of August/beginning of September every year, Aarhus turns host to one of Scandinavia’s biggest cultural fests: the Aarhus Festuge or the Aarhus Festival. As a newbie to the city I had to check it out. Except I had one teeny problem – a busted foot that has been a hindrance to any social and most daily activities. With the last few days of the festival, I threw caution – and my temporary cast – to the wind to explore what the Aarhus Festuge was all about. I mean YOLO, right? [But also I only have one right foot đ ] I had scanned all…
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Florence’s Cenacolo di Sant’Apollonia
In a city whose narrow streets are bustling with clueless tourists, presumptuous art aficionados and history buffs, the Cenacolo di Sant’Apollonia offers a much needed “off-beat” respite. Located close to the Piazza San Marco, this unassuming and nondescript building seems to blend into the surroundings. Only the stone signboard outside its door gives any indication of hiding one of Florence’s most underrated Christian art pieces. On any average day, the cenacolo (Italian for The Last Supper) is devoid of any lines or crowds that frequent other sites such as the Uffizi Gallery or the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore and is just the kind of hidden gem that guidebooks fail…
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Budapest’s SzĂ©chenyi Baths: Hungary’s Coolest
If you are in Budapest, a day at the SzĂ©chenyi Baths is an absolute must. Built in 1913, the baths are the biggest of their kind in Europe with 21 indoor and outdoor pools of varying temperatures, along with various therapeutic saunas and steam baths. It is named after the Hungarian minister Count IstvĂĄn SzĂ©chenyi de SĂĄrvĂĄr-FelsĆvidĂ©k and housed in a very Wes Anderson-style old neo-baroque styled palace. Back in the early 20th century just before the World Wars had scarred this beautiful nation, Hungary was known (it still is) as the country of baths; the very first baths were built by – surprise surprise! – Roman settlers. Later Turkish settlers added to…
