Jorge Luis Borges was an Argentine national treasure as well as an important figure in world literature. He’s most well known for his short stories and essays, but he was also an accomplished poet. Borges’ works are often quite philosophical as well as marvelously inventive, and even, at times, strange. See what you think of […]
Cultural Tidbit: Valparaiso Street Artist
The artsy city of Valparaiso, Chile has definitely earned its status as a UNESCO World Heritage site. After all, what other small town boasts the opportunity to literally stumble upon artworks by major international artists on your morning stroll to Spanish class? While Valparaiso is full of public art, it bears no similarity to the […]
Cultural Tidbit: Carnival in Cajamarca
Regional tourism experts for northern Peru estimate that about 30,000 tourists will visit the highlands city of Cajamarca this February. The attraction? Carnival! As in cities around the world, Carnival season in Cajamarca means time to party. What makes Cajamarca’s Carnival so attractive to tourists is the unique local traditions, many of which are infused […]
Cultural Tidbit: New Use for Subte Cars
On January 11, the 100-year-old wooden cars on the A line of the Buenos Aires subte made their final run through the city. Porteños will not set foot in them again until March 8, when a few of them are set to reopen as tiny community libraries. According to the Ministerio de Cultura Porteño, the […]
Cultural Tidbit: 5 Apps for Buenos Aires
If you’re going to be learning Spanish in Buenos Aires, consider getting one of the these 5 apps for your phone to help you make the most of your time in this amazing city. Porteño Spanish App – This handy app will help you learn lunfardo, the unique slang used by Buenos Aires residents, aka […]
Cultural Tidbit: Traditional Peruvian Dress
Peru has a rich tradition of folk art, which often combines indigenous and colonial methods and themes. One great example of the artistic fusion of old and new can be found in the clothing commonly worn by Peruvian women of indigenous descent. Their colorful, petticoat-stuffed dresses are a fusion of the traditional Incan anacu and […]
Cultural Tidbit: Peruvian Retablos
Though it is a Catholic country, Peru’s own particular brand of Catholicism is an interesting fusion of indigenous and Christian traditions. One example is their Christmas decorations. Traditional Christmas trees are virtually unheard of in Peru. Instead, the main Christmas decoration for a Peruvian home is the retablo, or nativity scene. Retablos carry a special […]
Cultural Tidbit: Argentine Christmas Traditions
Most South American countries are predominately Catholic, so Christmas is a very important cultural and religious affair. Here are some of the key Christmas traditions in Argentina, some of which are quite different from what goes on in other countries. Household decorations. In addition to the traditional Christmas tree, many Argentineans also decorate their homes […]
Cultural Tidbit: Pan de Pascua
No Chilean Christmas celebration is complete without a glass of cola de mono and a slice of pan de pascua. Yes, the name literally means Easter bread, but it is in fact a Christmas tradition! Many Chileans actually use “Pascua” interchangeably with “Navidad” to mean Christmas. This sweet bread is similar to the fruitcakes common […]
Cultural Tidbit: Cola de Mono
Christmas is coming! In sunny Santiago, Christmas calls for cold drinks, not hot ones. Cola de Mono, aka colemono or monkey’s tail, is an extremely popular Christmas drink in Chile that you simply must try. We’re not quite sure how the drink came by its unusual name…one popular tale holds that the drink was invented […]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- …
- 14
- Next Page »