Andalusia, land of Spain

Andalusia is a region in southern Spain and one of the hottest regions in Europe. The capital of the region is Seville and some of the major towns include Almeria, Cadiz, Cordoba, Granada, and Huelva.

The region’s culture is rich with many things which seem synonymous with Spain evolving from the region including flamenco dancing and bullfighting. Culture is very important to the region and some of Spain’s most influential painters including Pablo Picasso and Daniel Vazquez Diaz hail from Andalucia.

The Moors who once inhabited the region had heavy influence on the architecture. One of the main sights of the region is the Alhambra in the city of Cordoba. Also interesting is the Great Mosque of Cordoba. Other sites include the Gran Teatro Falla, the Jaen Cathedral, Cathedral of Malaga, and the centres of Ubeda and Baez which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Festivals in Andalusia include the Malaga Film Festival, Seville Fair, and the Festival of Corpus Christi in Granada.

Food in the region is centred on olives, fish, nuts, and meat. Some dishes include ham, gazpacho. Some places to try Andalusian cuisine include Ofelia’s Restaurant, De Locos Tapas in Ronda, and La Parrala Paella Resto Bar in Granada.


Athens, home of histor


Athens is the capital of Greece in southern Europe and is known as the birthplace of modern Europe. It is one of the oldest cities in the world and is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

These are the Acropolis and the Daphni Monastery. Athens is the home of the original Olympians and was the birthplace of the modern Olympic Games in 1896.

Athens is so full of history that there are numerous sites that are worthy of visiting. Some of the more prominent ones include the AcropolisHellenic ParliamentAcropolis Museum, andMonastiraki Square, the Temple of HephaestusTemple of Olympian ZeusAgora, and theNational Archaeological Museum.

Athens has more theatrical stages than any other city in the world and the Athens Festival is staged there annually.

Greek food is very important to the culture of the city and seafood is special to the isles. Among the specialties are the Horiatiki SaladLambYogurtCapari Salata or caper saladOlives, and eggplant salad.

Among the places to try Greek cuisine in Athens are the MakaloMelilotosTo Kati Anno, and Klimatario.


Budapest for you

Budapest is one of the oldest and largest cities in Europe and is the capital of Hungary. It was formed from the combination of two former cities – Buda and Pest which lie on both banks of the Danube River.

The city was once the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire which was dissolved after World War I and has since been ranked the .second best city to live in by Conde Nast Traveler.

Several UNESCO World Heritage Sites lie in the city including the banks of the Danube River itself, the Buda Castle, Andrassy Avenue, and Heroes Square.

Other sites in the city include the second largest synagogue in the world, an underground system of thermal springs, Gresham Palace, and the Aquincum Museum which is a relic of Roman times.

The city boasts the second oldest underground railway system in the world behind that of London.

Hungarian cuisine relies heavily on meats and stews with goulash being a staple of the diet. Paprika and pork and casseroles are also important to the diet.

Places in which you can enjoy Hungarian cuisine include Gerbeaud Café, and the Százéves, Biarritz, Fortuna, Alabárdos, Arany Szarvas, Kárpátia as well as the world famous Mátyás Pince Restaurants.


Genova, city of history









Garbanzo Bean and Tripe soup

Buseca or Garbanzo Bean and Tripe soup is one of those special tastes of Milan visitors can enjoy. There are several varieties from parts of Europe and Spanish South America.

To make the soup you will need 1 pound honeycomb tripe, 1 cup white vinegar, 7 bay leaves, 1 tablespoon red-pepper flakes, 1 tablespoon dried thyme, 1 tablespoon dried oregano, 1/4 cup olive oil, 2 onions, diced, 4 plum tomatoes, diced, 6 cloves garlic, minced, 1/4 cup chopped parsley leaves, 1 gallon beef stock, 1/2 cup dried garbanzo beans,1 c up dried white navy beans, 2 turnips, diced, 4 carrots, sliced, 1/2 head white cabbage, shredded, 1 cup long-grain rice, 12 ounces chorizo sausage, thinly sliced, 12 ounces morcilla sausage, thinly sliced, 1 cup grated queso blanco, 5 sprigs basil.

Rinse the tripe under cold running water and fill a large bowl with ice water and add vinegar. Place the tripe in the bowl and soak for 30 minutes. Remove from the water and cut into small cubes.

In a large pot combine the tripe, bay leaves, pepper flakes, thyme, oregano, 1 gallon water and the remaining vinegar. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook at a full boil for 1 hour. Drain the tripe and rinse. In another pot over a high flame, combine the oil, onions, tomatoes, garlic, parsley and remaining bay leaves and cook for 5 minutes. Add the stock, reserved tripe, garbanzo beans, white navy beans and turnips, and boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 1 hour. Add the carrots, cabbage and rice and simmer for another hour. Add the chorizo, morcilla, cheese and basil. Stir and simmer 10 minutes.


Atkins and Von Oswald keeping the beat alive in Berlin

Electronic Dance Music or EDM is here to stay. House music developed in the black night clubs of Chicago and Detroit in the United States in the mid-1980’s and has evolved since taking a whole new generation and countries, especially in Europe by storm.

In Germany, the band Juan Atkins and Moritz Von Oswald have been helping to link the beats of Detroit with the capital Berlin.

According to Moritz Von Oswald, in an interview with Electronic Beats, the idea of playing electronic music in the German capital was a brain storm of Dimitri from Tresor who got the idea to link the music being played in the USA in Berlin.

“He really pushed things forward. He was really into getting Berlin and Detroit to connect. Tresor worked on getting [music] well spread, and over boundaries,” said Von Oswald.

Moritz doesn’t necessarily describe himself as a techno person but as a “rhythmically interested” person and he wants to put a lot of things into his music such chords and harmony into his rhythms.

Juan Atkins came onto the season in the 1980s and started the association with Von Oswald in the 1990s. One of their most important collaborations is the album Borderland.


Amir Alexander on the move


Amir Alexander is one of the leading names in US house music in the last few years.

The Chicago-based house music producer has won for himself fans all across Europe with his Vanguard Sound label.

Alexander will play at ADE along with the likes of John DalyYouandeman,Roman FlugelGiles Smith, and James Preistley.

Alexander came onto the scene after starting an association with the Secretsundaze label which has backed Midwestern US artists such as Smith, Patrice Scott, and Chez Damier.

After spending many years as a starving artist, the now 40-year-old Alexander, who first became exposed to electronic music at age 7, is glad for the opportunity to ply his trade, develop his skills, and further his discipline.

And he says while his mentality hasn’t changed it has certainly evolved and being able to play out regularly enables him to see what works and what doesn’t and in what context.

He notes that his life changed forever after he heard the full version of ‘Planet Rock’ played on the radio for the first time.