Mar

Memorable Moments: Key Ingredients

by Your friends at OIC on March 26, 2018

Just some of the foods we flip for.
© iStock

One of the many delights of exploring new places and experiencing different cultures is exploring and experiencing new and different foods, or even well know foods in new and different ways! Whatever your reaction, there is no denying that the very act of tasting something for the first time is an “Oh, I see!” moment maker. So while we let our bloggers catch their breath and enjoy a home-cooked meal before they head out on their next batch of adventures, we thought it would be deliciously fun to stir up some of our favorite food posts from the past.

Today’s menu of posts explores some exotic, nutritious, and versatile eats that have hit the spot over the years. Whether this is your first taste, or you’re coming back for seconds as we are, get ready to feed your mind, and more. Bon appétit!

Kale . . . as far as the eye can see.
© Tom Brakefield/Stockbyte

The Kale Project

Kristen Beddard’s Kale Project brought the “forgotten vegetable” back to Paris proving that one person’s life-changing experiences CAN make a difference. This post also includes a free download of recipes! Go to the post.

Spread out on the floor, a pile of indigenous corn is ready for use in making corn tortillas, a food connected to Mexico's cultural heritage and traditions. (Image © Gabriela Díaz Cortez)

Ears of corn, soon to become tasty tortillas
© Gabriela Díaz Cortez

The Corn Tortilla: A Mexican Superhero

Corn tortillas play an invaluable role, like a food superhero, in Mexico’s cultural heritage and tradition. They enrich cuisine, community, history, homeland, and daily existence. Go to the post.

a single banana, representing cultural encounters and uses of bananas around the world (Photo © Meredith Mullins)

The multi-talented banana
© Meredith Mullins

Going Bananas: Uses for Bananas Around the World

Cultural encounters with bananas are frequent, since this fruit is one of the most consumed foods in the world and the uses of bananas are far reaching. Go to the post.

For more tasty treats, try entering “food” in the search bar to the left!. And to find a new “Oh, I see!” moment every week in your inbox, take this opportunity to subscribe.

Comment on this post below, or inspire insight with your own OIC Moment here.

Your friends at OIC Comments

The World's Chefs

Mar

Resting in Peace at the Paris Pet Cemetery

by Meredith Mullins on March 12, 2018

Tombstone for Keisha, filled with flowers and trinkets, showing the cultural traditions of pet lovers in the Paris pet cemetery. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Lamenting an irreplaceable love
© Meredith Mullins

Cultural Traditions that Honor our Best Friends . . . in Surprising Ways

From a distance, this peaceful resting place by the Seine near Paris looks like any other cemetery—a sea of tombstones, some polished and new and some devoured by time.

Paris Pet Cemetery, showing cultural traditions of pet lovers. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

A resting place to honor our friends
© Meredith Mullins

There are flowers of remembrance (plastic, ceramic, and real), pictures of loved ones, and heartfelt tributes.

Trinkets on the grave of Moustique at the Paris pet cemetery, showing cultural traditions of saying farewell to pets. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Many ways to say I love you
© Meredith Mullins

It is only when you move closer that the hints of another world appear.

Dora, Panache, Elvis, Milou, Fleur, Sweety, DouDou, Bijou, Oscar, Spikey, Mitsy, Kiki (lots of Kiki’s), Nanette, Tootsie, Whisky, Faust, Drac, and Poupette.

Tombstone for Elvis at the Paris pet cemetery, showing cultural traditions for pet lovers who have lost their pets. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Elvis . . . “Your mother will never forget you.”
© Meredith Mullins

They are all gathered here . . . in one of the oldest pet cemeteries in the world. The Paris Cemetery of Dogs (and other domestic animals) is a dramatic reminder of the cultural traditions that honor our furry, hairy, wooly, and feathered friends—often named our “best friends.”

A carved cat on a tombstone in the Paris pet cemetery, showing cultural traditions of saying farewell to pets. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Sleeping in peace
© Meredith Mullins

Oh, I see. The depth of love for pets knows no bounds. This is not news, especially to animal lovers. But the joy of having had a loyal friend and the pain of losing that friend make a visit to this cemetery especially touching. The tributes are consistently emotional. These pets will be remembered forever.

Tombstone for Argos in the Paris pet cemetery, showing cultural traditions for remembering your pets. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Argos seems to live on.
© Meredith Mullins

Cimitière des Chiens

The name Cimitière des Chiens is a bit of a misnomer, since the cemetery houses cats, horses, a sheep, a chicken, birds, mice, fish, hamsters, rabbits, and a monkey.

The unofficial “And Other Domestic Animals” was added as a nod to animal equality. The well-kept grounds by the Seine are the final resting place for more than 40,000 pets.

Tombstone with a horseshoe at the Paris pet cemetery, showing cultural traditions for saying farewell to pets. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

An equal opportunity cemetery
© Meredith Mullins

The land was acquired by journalist Marguerite Durand and attorney Georges Harmois, and the grounds opened in 1899, after a law was introduced in France that prohibited throwing dead animals into the river (or into the trash).

Tombstone with large carved dog at the Paris pet cemetery, showing cultural traditions for saying farewell to pets. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

A proud history
© Meredith Mullins

Aside from that kind of tragic farewell, pet owners were allowed to bury their pets as long as the grave was 100 meters from the nearest dwelling. But animal advocates Harmois and Durand wanted something more. They wanted a scenic place that would honor pets—such an important part of people’s lives.

Carved dog on tombstone in the Paris pet cemetery, showing cultural traditions for pet lovers. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Carved in memory
© Meredith Mullins

Stories of Compassion

The words of the epitaphs, as well as the visuals and objects selected to grace the tombstones, tell the stories of these loyal companions.

Tennis balls on tombstone in the Paris pet cemetery, showing cultural traditions for saying farewell to pets. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Arry . . . Enough said
© Meredith Mullins

Tales of love . . .

To our dear adored Emjie, our great love, who gave us joy and happiness with her intelligence, sensibility, and affection. She was a heart covered with fur. Six kilograms of pure love. We will never forget you.

To my affectionate hen, who lived 16 years, faithful inseparable companion mourned by your mistress who remains inconsolable. To you I was attached. You will never be forgotten. Regretfully, R.O.C.

Carved poodle on a tombstone in the Paris pet cemetery, showing cultural traditions for saying farewell to pets. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Beloved Bibi—13 years of intimate tenderness
© Meredith Mullins

Poetry and philosophy . . .

For the regal collie, Rigadin de Pechinecha—You have beauty without vanity, strength without insolence, courage without ferocity, intelligence without arrogance, and all the virtues of men without their perversions.

Tombstone for a collie at the Paris pet cemetery, showing cultural traditions for saying farewell to pets. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

None of the perversions of man
© Meredith Mullins

Practicality and truth . . .

Bijou was not very large but he had good teeth.

Here rests Brother Bill. A true friend. He has many blue ribbons to his credit.

Tombstone with flowers in the Paris pet cemetery, showing cultural traditions for saying farewell to pets. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

“He loved only me.”
© Meredith Mullins

The pain of death . . .

Here lies Dick, faithful companion in the trenches who was always my only friend. He lived a model life and his leaving plunges me into sadness . . . And so I am all alone, no longer believing in anything.

And a final farewell to Kiki the monkey—Sleep my dear. You were the joy of my life.

Tombstone for Kiki the monkey at the Paris Pet Cemetery, showing cultural traditions for saying farewell to pets. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Farewell Kiki
© Meredith Mullins

Some of the stories challenge the far edges of the imagination.

Kinshasa de Cabotcove Coon was a cat with the intelligence of a primate. She could drink with her paw. If you find this hard to believe, there are photos on the tombstone to prove her evolved nature.

Grave of Kinshasa de Cabotcove Coon at the Paris pet cemetery, showing cultural traditions of saying farewell to pets. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

The intelligence of Kinshasa de Cabotcove Coon
© Meredith Mullins

The celebrities of the cemetery include

the original Rin Tin Tin, who was found by an American soldier during WW I in France and who went on to become an American film star (the dog, not the soldier)
Celebrity sighting: the tomb of film star Rin Tin Tin
© Meredith Mullins
the racehorse Troy Town
honored police dogs and military dogs
Napoleon’s dog Moustache
Drac, the dog of the Princess of Romania from 1941–1953 (Loyal companion during tragic times. Precious friend in exile.)
a white horse and a lion (named Tiger) belonging to the founder Marguerite Durand. (Tiger’s naming convention perhaps mirrors the dog named Kitty found a few rows over.)

Statue to Barry the St Bernard at the Paris Pet Cemetery, showing cultural traditions for saying farewell to pets. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Barry, the St Bernard hero
© Meredith Mullins

The imposing statue at the cemetery entrance portrays the legendary mountain rescue dog Barry, who, over the period of his life, saved 40 people from blizzards near the St Bernard pass in the Alps of Switzerland.

The memorial says Barry was killed saving the 41^st person to be rescued. Although this plotline is a film-worthy story, it is apparently untrue. Barry died a natural death at age 14 . . . always a hero.

Gates to the Paris pet cemetery, showing cultural traditions for saying farewell to pets. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Art Nouveau entrance gates to the Paris pet cemetery
© Meredith Mullins

The Art of the Cemetery

The emotional impact of this cemetery is powerful. For me, also, there are several “Oh, I see” artistic moments.

From the Art Nouveau entrance gates to the artfully sculpted likenesses of those buried, leaning in and peering closely at the detail is rewarding.

Two sculpted dogs on a grave in the Paris pet cemetery, showing cultural traditions of saying farewell to pets. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Russian royalty dogs—Marquise and Tony
© Meredith Mullins

Many of the tombs are stone doghouses or free-form sculptures.

Doghouse tombstone with cat sculpture at the Paris pet cemetery, showing cultural traditions of saying farewell to pets. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Cathouse or doghouse—you be the judge.
© Meredith Mullins

And, as with all art subject to the elements, nature adds some beautiful touches. Names embossed in moss, mosaic deterioration, and carvings changing with time like rocks washed by an ocean.

Cat deteriorating by the elements at the Paris pet cemetery, showing cultural traditions of saying farewell to pets. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Worn by time
© Meredith Mullins

After spending a few hours in the emotional arc of this poignant setting, the cultural traditions surrounding pet lovers give good insight into the idea of love.

And it becomes clear that love lives beyond death.

Tombstone honoring Love at the Paris pet cemetery, showing cultural traditions related to pet lovers' farewell to their pets. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Love lives on in memory.
© Meredith Mullins

The Cimitière des Chiens is at 4, pont de Clichy, Asnières-sur-Seine.

Comment on this post below, or inspire insight with your own OIC Moment here.

Meredith Mullins 8 Comments

Cultural Heritage & Traditions/France (Paris)

Mar

Street “Seen”!

by Joyce McGreevy on March 6, 2018

A mural in a street in Glasgow, Scotland shows why walking is a great way of seeing the world close up. (Image @ Joyce McGreevy)

Street art is big in Glasgow, Scotland.
© Joyce McGreevy

Seeing the World One Step at a Time

When was the last time you took a walk just to see what you could see? What discoveries did you make? Sometimes seeing the world comes down to a stroll around the corner.

French photographer Robert Doisneau wrote, “The marvels of daily life are exciting; no movie director can arrange the unexpected that you find in the street.”

So, put on your favorite walking shoes. Let’s meander from street to street.

Footfall and Snowfall

Here we are in Malta on a sunny Mediterranean spring day. As we wander the narrow, baroque streets of Valletta, we turn a corner onto St. Paul’s Street and . . . What’s this? A snowstorm?

Why, the entire street is covered in—oh I see: confetti! Everyone has come out to play.

A festive street scene in Valletta, Malta shows why walking is a great way of seeing the world close up. (Image @ Joyce McGreevy)

Confetti—and time—fly in St. Paul Street, Valletta, Malta.
© Joyce McGreevy

We wade in up to our knees. A marching band plays, crowds cheer and sing, children lark about, and confetti cascades from balconies. A young man graciously explains what the heck is going on.

This is the grand finale to the Festival of St. Paul—a street-centric celebration. Beyond this street, all is business as usual, so most visitors to Valletta never notice this happy hoopla.

Oh, I see: Wandering leads to wonders.

Perhaps you’d prefer to walk somewhere quiet? I know just the place: the Bath.

Bath, England, that is.

A street sign in Bath, England shows why walking is a great way of seeing the world close up. (Image @ Joyce McGreevy)

Animal Tracks

Now then, how do you feel about cats? Wherever we wander, we’ll see many a feline local.

Street cats in Greece and Turkey show why walking is a great way of seeing the world close up. (Image @ Joyce McGreevy)

An inquisitive cat in Howth, Ireland has a way of seeing the world close up. (Image @ Joyce McGreevy)

Look out for lions—they’re the “pride” of many major cities.

Statues of lions in cities show why walking is a great way of seeing the world close up.(Image @ Joyce McGreevy)

And on some streets “here be dragons”!

Dragon statues in Aarhus, Denmark and Santa Fe, New Mexico show why walking is a great way of seeing the world close up. (Image @ Joyce McGreevy)

It’s a Mystery

In beautiful Budapest, we walk from the Jewish Quarter and then cross the River Danube to Margaret Island. Along the way, we admire Art Nouveau architecture and statues of famous poets and politicians. Then, we turn a corner and see…

American TV detective Columbo.

Wait, whaaat?

A statue of Peter Falk as Columbo in Budapest Hungary shows why walking is a great way of seeing the world close up. (Image @ Joyce McGreevy)

Sure enough, a life-size bronze statue of actor Peter Falk stands before us, complete with rumpled trench coat and cigar. Columbo’s basset hound, “Dog,” is here, too.

Suddenly we’re on the case, Columbo-like, with “just one more question.”

But our best clue turns out to be a red herring. Yes, the street is also named after a Falk. But that Falk was a 19th-century Hungarian author, and no evidence exists that he and Peter Falk are related.

Nevertheless, in 2014 a statue of Falk as Columbo was unveiled to great fuss and fanfare. We question a local witness, who proudly informs us that the canine model for the basset hound attended this event “in person.”

As for Peter Falk? Alas, he was a no-show, having passed away in 2011.

Hmm…Maybe the Columbo and Dog statues should set out for the Big TV in Santa Fe, New Mexico.