Author: Tricia A. Mitchell
-
Mingling Over Macedonian Wines: A Wine Tasting & Lecture in Skopje
North Macedonia’s legacy of winemaking goes back to the 13th Century BCE, and today the southeast European nation’s industry is witnessing a rebirth. On our first night in the country’s capital, Skopje, we were lucky to be taken under the wing of Ivana Simjanovska, one of the country’s foremost wine experts, as we attended a wine…
-
Honoring the “Greatest Generation” at D-Day Commemorations in Normandy
Today, we commemorated the 69th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy. In the village of Arromanches, we met a witty British veteran in his nineties with a love of Louis Armstrong and the foxtrot. He was an extraordinary conversationalist. On this day designated to pay tribute to him, he took time to ask questions…
-
The Perfect Skopje Excursion: Exploring North Macedonia’s Matka Canyon
Though I love the energy and cultural offerings characteristic of large cities, I’m most at home in natural settings. During my childhood, I’d go “on safari” in my backyard, passing away hours hiking and hunting for fossils and critters. It comes as no surprise, then, that during our travels to North Macedonia’s capital city, Skopje, I…
-
Santorini in Black & White
A mere mention of the name Santorini conjures images of turquoise domes, crisply-painted white walls, and a sparkling azure sea. Perhaps it is a sin to present this Greek gem in black and white, yet I appreciate how it opens the eyes to lines and textures often overlooked when the island is otherwise presented in…
-
Exploring the Mysticism of Greece’s Byzantine Icons: Profiling Iconographer Dimitrios Moulas
In a two-room workshop dwarfed by the massive Meteora rock formations that surround it, 38 year-old Greek iconographer Dimitrios Moulas demonstrates admirable focus towards his subject — an icon that will soon represent Jesus Christ. With a delicate paintbrush in hand, Dimitrios carefully draws fine facial hairs. After a few moments have passed, the hairs…
-
Culinary Diplomacy Through Spanakopita in Meteora, Greece
For the past five nights, we’ve been staying at a quaint guesthouse overlooking the mystical Meteora rock formations in northern Greece. Six mighty monasteries sit atop the unusual rocks. Some of the structures date back to the 14th century. As if things couldn’t get any better, our hostess and Greek mother for the week has been surprising…
