Culinary Adventures in Europe

By Violet Hume

Tourists choose travel destinations based many different things: certain events, historical sites, or the opportunity to see where their ancestors came from - to name a few.Not quite as often, travelers explore areas to experience different cuisines. There are people, however, who base their vacation destinations solely on food. This article will act as a guide for those adventurers who are considering such a trip!

The Ukraine is home to a slew of unusual foods, notably salo. Simply put, salo is fat from the underskin of pork. It is typically eaten raw as a condiment for borscht. It is also consumed in thin slices on rye bread and accompanied by horilka, Ukrainian vodka.

One enterprising man created "Ukrainian Snickers" which are bits of salo dipped in chocolate, an interesting combination to say the least! After traveling so far from home, it would be a shame not to explore a bit of history this amazing country has to offer. Don't leave without heading to Kiev to visit the fascinating Chernobyl Museum and some of the enchanting churches and cathedrals.

A trip to Iceland will provide many stunning sights. Blue lagoons, hotels made completely out of ice, imposing glaciers, and geothermal hotspots are just a few of the interesting things you will see and encounter. As far as strange cuisine is concerned? Don't worry, there's plenty of it here! One of the more fascinating delicacies offered here is hakarl.

This interesting dish is actually fermented shark that has been buried in the ground for 6-12 weeks to press the poison out of the beast and then hung to dry for up to five months. Those brave souls trying this dish for the first time often gag due to the high ammonia content in the meat.

More often than not, it is paired with a shot of brennivin, a local spirit that is flavored with caraway seeds. If you're wondering why anyone would eat something that practically requires a chaser, maybe you should head to Iceland and find out for yourself!

Rumored to be more palatable than the dishes mentioned above is smalahove, found in nearby Norway. Smalahove is a traditional Norwegian dish consumed primarily around the Christmas holidays. This supposedly tasty meal is comprised of a sheep's head with skin and fleece scorched off, the brain removed and the head salted. At this point, the flesh is smoked or dried.

Once in a Norwegian kitchen there are a few methods that can be used to prepare, one example is to boil the head for approximately three hours and then mash with rutabaga and potatoes. Traditionally, however, the head is eaten while intact starting with the ears and eyes.

Park Full of Wonders - Alaska and Canada

By Leroy C. Calstard

One can read the tourist brochures, but nothing can compare to an actual excursion to the snowy-capped regions of Alaska and Canada. The idea of a vacation spent in the icy cold would seem an uninviting time to some, but they are overlooking the value of a trip to a region that has so much to offer but so little known about it.

Its wildlife is as diverse as any region's with elk and salmon aplenty while activities such as kayaking can be done on the region's pristine waters. That is only the beginning of this area's gifts to those who brave its climate.

Those who travel to Alaska and Canada can get an introduction to a culture very indigenous to the region. Acadian and Eskimo people in their opposite regions are intriguing in their customs and foods. Festivals and native music are par for the course back dropped by panoramic coastal views of both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. The finest views, some may argue, are of the Rocky Mountains.

And the adventure travel activities in Alaska and Canada do not stop there. Bicyclists can ride through untouched natural wilderness in a park that seemingly goes on forever.
Or travelers can tackle the roughest rapids and finest rivers of the Alaska and Canadian area.

Nowhere abroad could possibly offer the distinct gifts of this region because of the years that have gone in creating its unique and natural geography. Nowhere else in the world exists side by side glacier ice and regular wilderness. And the photo opportunities abound with native wildlife against a back drop of colossal mountains and glaciers.

For very inexpensive costs, lodging can easily be found in this region as there are several options. The cheapest route to go is to set up a tent at a campsite. Campsites are very prevalent across Alaska's landscape and so are RVs. Most of the time, people drive their RVs to specially equipped parks. For about a hundred dollars per night, there are also lodges, bed and breakfast inns and hotels.

For a space all to yourself, many travelers would probably be interested to know that cabins can be rented to them for a weekend to longer. Although these cabins are usually located far into the forests, they have all of the comforts of a hotel plus the basics such as: cable television, wireless Internet, microwaves and plumbing. And these cabins are not small by any means; in fact, some of them are large enough to house a family.

So, office workers who want to add a little thrill to their live should definitely look into Adventure travel in Alaska and Canada. But the packages are great for those going on their honeymoon or a family outing. These guided tours get city folk back to nature to rejuvenate. Nowhere is as unspoiled and pristine as the Alaskan and Canadian regions. So, the next time you are planning a vacation, instead of doing the conventional thing of "fun-in-the-sun", think of the incredible privacy but amazing sights and activities offered in the Alaskan and Canadian regions.