See the tower, find the tower!

Instead of reading your way through a great culture ride, this week i want you to see it! After the video i will give you a crepe recipe, for you to experience france in your own home. Enjoy!

Basic Crepes

• 3/4 cup unbleached, all-purpose flour
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 3 lg. eggs
• 1 1/3 cups whole milk
• 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter; melted

1. Briefly whisk the flour and salt in a blender.
2. Blend in eggs, milk, and melted butter blend on high speed for 1 minute. Scrape down sides and blend 30 seconds longer.
3. If the batter is lumpy, strain it through a sieve. Cover and allow to rest at room temperature for at least one hour.
(At this point, the batter can be covered and refrigerated for up to 1 day. Bring it to room temperature before continuing with recipe.)
4. Heat an 8-inch crepe pan or skillet over med-high heat. Sprinkle a few drops of water on the pan; if they sizzle, the pan is ready to use. Brush with a little melted butter - about 1/2 teaspoon.
5. Using a 1/4 cup measure, scoop out batter and pour it into the skillet.
6. Immediately pick up the pan and tilt and swirl it so that the batter covers the entire bottom of the pan.
7. Cook for about 1 1/2 minutes, then loosen the edges of the crepe with a very thin spatula.
8. Use the spatula to turn the crepe. Cook on the other side until lightly golden (usually less than a minute) and slide it out onto a plate. Cover with waxed paper. Repeat with the remaining batter. (Note: The first one or two crepes probably won’t turn out well.)

Travel through your own computer!

It's Not Airplane Food is a blog that delivers a new experience every week. No money or time to travel? Or maybe you do, but you don't know exactly where to go. This blog has all the answers.

Each week you will embark in a new adventure to a different city. Learning all about the great activities and travel clues of your desired destination. Don't see a city of your interest on the list, just request it! It's Not Airplane Food also delivers great culinary advice and information about the best traditional plates of each city or country.

The answers to last weeks culture questions:

1. Argentina (Buenos Aires) Brazil (Brasilia) Columbia (Bogota) Italy (Rome) Portugal (Lisbon) Spain (Madrid) England (London) and China (Hong Kong).

2. Name 7 countries in Europe.
- Here are several: Italy, Portugal, Spain, Greece, England, France, Switzerland, Ireland, Croatia, Germany, Bosnia, Iceland, Netherlands, Poland and Turkey.

3. What are the two main languages spoken in South America?
- Spanish and Portuguese

4. What is the only country in the world that is also a continent?
- Australia

5. What are the three largest countries in the world?
- Russia, Canada, and The United States

6. Name three out of the top five largest cities in the world.
- New York City,
- Tokyo
- Sao Paulo

Rise Above the Stereotypes!

This week i am challenging all of you to rise above the American stereotype. What is the stereotype you ask? Well the stereotype is that Americans are not educated in world culture.

To test this, below i have set up several different questions involving other countries in the world. The challenge is to answer those questions without looking the answers up in the internet or asking another for help. Test yourself and see how much knowledge you have of the rest of the world.

1. Name the capitals of the following countries: Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, Italy, Portugal, Spain, England, and China.
2. Name 7 countries in Europe.
3. What are the two main languages spoken in South America?
4. What is the only country in the world that is also a continent?
5. What are the three largest countries in the world?
6. Name three out of the top five largest cities in the world.

The answers will be posted with next weeks blog. Remember to only use your brain as a resource for these questions, CHALLENGE YOURSELF! Good luck.

Bucket List!

This week we have been given an assignment to create a bucket list for our blog, a list of things we want to do before we die. But to make it more relevant to the type of blog i have been writing i will make a list of 15 places i want to see/visit before i die. 

The Iguazu Falls
Picture Source:  www.goparoo.com

BUCKET LIST:

1. Iguazu Waterfalls 
(between Brazil and Argentina)

2. Aurora Borealis
(Alaska)

3. Colosseum
(Italy)

4. Polar Ice Caps
(The Arctic)

Aurora Borealis
Picture Source:  www.flickr.com

5. Machu Picchu
(Peru)

6. Mayan Ruins
(Mexico)

The caves of Carlsbad
Picture Source: www.sharenator.com

7. Great Wall of China
(China)

8. Great Barrier Reef
(Australia)

9. The pyramids and the sphinx
(Egypt)

10. The Halong Bay
(Vietnam)

11. Fjords and Preikestolen cliff
(Norway)

12. The caves of Carlsbad
(New Mexico)

13. The mont Saint-Michel
(France)

14. The Burj al Arab hotel
(Dubai)

15. The Plitvice Park and its waterfalls
(Croatia)

A Trip Down Under

Today's cyber journey destination - Sydney, Australia!
Australia is usually warm and dry year round. Winters do not last long, mkaing it the perfect vacation destination Completely surrounded by water, it is the world's smallest continent. The size does not affect its attractions, for they are endless! With an average of only 17 inches of rainfall a year, it's a great trip to experience outdoors.

Outdoor Visit:

• Sydney's Great Coastal Walk - 94Km (8 days)
• Learn to surf at Bondi
• Surf in Tamarama, Bronte or Maroubra
• Take a cultural cruise around the Sydney Harbor
• Kayak in the Harbor
• Visit Palm Beach

Places To See/ Things To Do:

• Sydney Film Festival - June
• Sydney Writer's Festival - May
• Sydney Festival - January
• Royal National Park
• Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras

Shopping:

• Pitt Street Mall and The Strand
• Market Street
• The Rocks Market
• Sydney Chinatown
• The Broadway
• NO. 1 Martin Place

Place To Eat:

• Spice I Am - Thai
• Bills - Cafe
• Bodhi - Chinese, Vegan
• Bungalow 8 - Seafood

Typical Autralian Dish:

Australian Meat Pie
Ingredients:

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1 cup onion, chopped
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk
• ⅔ cup bread crumbs
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
• 2 prepared pie shells, 8-inch

Procedure:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Combine ground beef, ketchup, onion, salt, milk, breadcrumbs, oregano, and pepper in a bowl.
3. Mix well.
4. Divide mixture into 2 pie shells and bake for about 45 minutes.
5. While the pies are baking, mix together Worcestershire sauce and cheese in another bowl.
6. After about 45 minutes, remove pies from oven.
7. Spread Worcestershire sauce and cheese mixture on top of pie shells.
8. Bake for about 10 more minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Boat ride through Venice canals.

Gondola Ride

The Basilica

Carpaccio

Venice, Italy is one of the most beautiful and intriguing cities in the world. The city is built on water in the middle of a lagoon. It has museums, palaces and churches spread across the city, just to name a few. The tourists are attracted to the incredible architecture that accentuate the city's ancient history.

What to do in Venice

The first and most well known attraction in Venice is the gondola rides. A gondola is the small boat (more like a canoe) that carries up to 6 persons through the canals that intertwine in the beautiful city. The fares are high but are at a set rate. The ride lasts 40 minutes costing its passengers 80 Euros - this rate applies only during the day, at night it is a more expensive price. Yara Murphy - a Brazilian blogger and world traveler said "riding in the gondolas through the city, while seeing the beautiful architecture was unbelievable." This peaceful journey through the canals are well worth their price and a must do for tourist. After taking a gondola ride, i advice anyone visiting. To find out more about gondola rides visit Gondolia rides. Venice to spend an afternoon walking and discovering The Piazza San Marco. It is the heart of the city, providing its residents and tourists with incredible cites. The Piazza is home to the Doge Palace and the Basilica (cathedral). It also provides a great diversity of restaurants and shops that are very popular attractions. Murphy states "the palaces and Piazza San Marco were extraordinary to visit. Each restaurant has a live orchestra that plays while you lunch outside. It is very beautiful." When asked what one of her favorite activities was she answered "the boat ride to Murano Island where they have the famous Murano glass factory was exquisite. This trip was one of the greatest i have ever made."

Cuisine

Italy is known around the world for its cuisine, but i wanted to give readers a less touristic view of where to go. Murphy said "Harry's Bar is one of the best restaurants in the world. It is not a place you can bump into. A person has to know how to get there, and make reservations very much in advance." When asked what her favorite dish there was, she answered "there is no way to choose only one dish, but i do have a favorite desert. The chef at the restaurant taught me how to make it. I don't remember the name of the plate, but it is a very simple recipe involving strawberries, sugar and white wine. It is fabulous." In a CNN article Harry's Bar is rated very highly. Famous stars such as Ernet Hemmingway and Woody Allen were regulars in this hidden wonder. Founded in 1931, this bar has become a common meeting ground for international society and European aristocracy. Common dishes include hot sandwhiches, shrimp sandwiches, egg pasta with ham au gratin, risotti and Carpaccio (the most popular dish served). Carpaccio consists of paper-thin sheets of raw filet mignon, seasoned with a light white sauce comprised of mayonisse and mustard. Inside Harry's Bar everything is carefully calculated to be able to create the perfect atmosphere, which they make available online - Harry's Bar.

Now you have seen some beautiful places to visit in Venice and even found a hidden restaurant known only to those aware of the mysteries hidden throughout the city. Stay tuned for our next cyber journey!

Choose Brazil

Parque Ibirapuera

Of course our first cyber "stop" is going to be in Brazil, being as I was born there! The city in which we will embark this journey on is called Sao Paulo. With a population of 20 million people, it is the third largest city in the world. Sao Paulo, although a great city with amazing cites and attractions is very high in crime. Without knowing you're way around or having a tour guide, you're trip could be a great disaster. Today I will be your tour guide - our first stop is Parque do Ibirapuera (Ibirapuera Park). 

Kaa Restaurant

Municipal Theater

This gigantic park is home to thousands of tourists and local citizens every day. It hosts free open air concerts, has an auditorium, a planetarium, several museums, as well as many other activities. The most famous attraction of this park is the Sao Paulo Art Biennial. Founded in 1951 it is one of the oldest art biennials in the world, second only to the Venice Biennial (founded in 1895). After spending a few hours walking around and enjoying some great conversation with local Brazilians I'm sure you are famished! As we make our way further into the city to find a restaurant, we pass many beautiful foundations of the city such as: The Cathedral, the Municipal Market and Liberty Neighborhood. We now have arrived at the beautiful and sophisticated Kaa restaurant. Yes, a very expensive choice but after reading several reviews and asking many family members i can safely say it's worth every dime. After lunch we take a taxi to the Teatro Municipal (Municipal Theater). One of the most beautiful buildings in Sao Paulo, this theater is a cite worth seeing during the day as much as at night. We will end the journey at any local restaurant on a Saturday night, enjoying a few beers and the country's main dish Feijoada. This splendid and savory dish includes white rice, beans, pork meat, collard greens and a local ingredient called farofa. Often times this plate is served with fresh chopped oranges. If you are interested in attempting a famous Brazilian dish here is what you should do:

Ingredients:

1 lb. black beans

1 lb. smoked ham hocks

1 of each: pork foot, ear, tail, tongue

(optional)

1 lb. Mexican "chorizo," "pepperoni" or

Brazilian "linguica"

1/2 lb. Chunk of lean Canadian bacon or

Brazilian "carne seca"

1/2 lb. Smoked pork or beef ribs

3-4 strips of smoked bacon

1/2 lb. lean pork

1/2 lb. lean beef

1 large onion

4 garlic cloves

2 tablespoons of olive or vegetable oil

1 tablespoon vinegar

salt to taste

black pepper

hot sauce (optional)

How to prepare feijoada:

Soak beans overnight in large container. Next morning, cook beans for 4-5 hours at low heat. Place ham hocks, chorizo, ribs and Canadian bacon in deep pan with plenty of water and bring to a boil. Change water and bring to a new boil, repeating the procedure at least three times to tenderize cured meats and remove excess fat.

In a large frying pan saut‚ onion and garlic using either vegetable or olive oil (smoked bacon strips optional) for two or three minutes. Toss in cubed pork and beef. Saut‚ an additional two-three minutes.

Mash 5-l0 tablespoons of beans and add to large pot. The resulting paste will thicken sauce. Add two tablespoons of olive oil, three garlic cloves all chopped-up or mashed, along with a tablespoon of white vinegar and a teaspoon of red-hot pepper. Stir, heat over medium fire for two-three minutes, then transfer to contents of frying pan. (You may use two frying pans, if necessary)

Let simmer for l0-l5 minutes. Add contents of frying pan(s) to the beans and let boil at medium heat for 1-2 hours.

Serve over rice, with additional red-hot sauce, if desired.

This has concluded our cyber trip to Sao Paulo, Brazil. Stay tuned for next week's choice of travel in It's Not Airplane Food.