| Glimpses of World Cultures |
Masked figures perform an ancient ritual on the Island of Sardinia, a smiling Tunisian girl peers out from the folds of her abbayah, an intricate labyrinth built by a beneficent Indian nawab -- these are the glimpses from cultures around the world that are captured by our writers and passed along to you.
The mask of the Mamuthone, part of
an ancient ritual in Mamoiada,
Sardinia |
Angela Corrias travels to Mamoiada, Sardinia, to witness the parade of primeval spirits represented by the Mamuthones, wearing black sheepskin and masks of darkened pear wood. Paul Shoul visits Tunisia and explains that while the country has many fine Roman and Phoenician ruins, they are also very much part of the modern world. And, yes, they drive cars.
Mridula Dwivedi takes us on a tour of the Bara Imambara and the Chota Imambara in Lucknow, India, two architecural masterpieces built by the legendary Asaf-Ud-Daula. And speaking of architectural masterpieces, David Rich says the architecture in Uzbekistan is so spectacular that "eyes glaze in wonder."
GoNOMAD Editor Max Hartshorne tours a WWII US battleship in Mobile Bay, and Senior Travel Editor Kent St. John samples the exquisite wines of Burgundy and bikes through the vineyards in the countryside.
Barbara Zaragoza takes her children on a family excursion to the Gates of Hell in the Phlegraean Fields near Naples, Isadora Dunne takes in the sights in the Estonian capital of Tallinn, and Olga Volobuyeva spends three sunny days in Kiev in the Ukraine.
Steven Bochenek introduces us to a sport known in Wales as 'coasteering,' which involves climbing cliffs and jumping into the sea, and Sony Stark makes a death-defying torchlight descent down L'Espace Killy in the French Alps.
All in all it's just another month of top-notch travel writing on GoNOMAD.com! |
New stories recently published on GoNOMAD:
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Sardinia’s Mamuthones: An Ancient Carnival
I was about to share fears and hopes with my ancestors. I journeyed to Sardinia through the oldest Carnival I had ever seen, or experienced, because, let’s face it, you can’t just see a 2000-year-old ritual, you need to experience it. Undisputed stars of this local version of the Carnival are the Mamuthones, pre-Christian traditional masquerades dating back more than 2,000 years. The mystery wafting around their origins makes them even more respected and loved... |
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Uzbekistan: Police State Jewel
Uzbekistan, hapless heroic Uzbekistan, bedeviled by one of the world’s most regimented police states, offers Central Asia’s most incredible and truly astounding sites so dazzling that eyes glaze in wonder. These marvels span the country, World Heritage cities strung seriatim to form three great jewels of antiquity, names that reek of historical opulence: Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva. The jewel of jewels is Samarkand with four mind-boggling World Heritage sites... |
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Traveling Tunisia: Exotic Souks, Ancient Ruins and Fabulous Food
I loved Tunisia. Yes, they have cars, really nice Italian ones, but they also ride camels and so can you. There are beautiful beaches and plush five-star hotel resorts, but there are also ancient walled cities incredible souks (markets) and a wealth of ancient Roman and Phoenician ruins. The seemingly endless groves of olive trees and vineyards are abundant, green and rich, but the Sahara desert, roamed by nomads, also covers one fourth of this little country... |
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The Phlegraean Fields: A Family Excursion to the Gates of Hell
The Sibyl uttered her trance-induced predictions, Charon ferried souls across the swampy Styx, and Romans bathed in hydrothermal spas, all within an eight square mile area west of Naples, Italy, known as the Phlegraean Fields. For my three girls (ages 3, 7, and 10) the wonders here include exploring active volcanoes, the Sibyl’s cave, the entrance to Hades, and ancient Roman villas. Escaping the bustle of downtown Naples, this region has fewer tourists and more eye-popping sites... |
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'Coasteering' in Wales: It Only Sounds Dangerous!
Imagine climbing and leaping from cliffs into the Atlantic surf, then being buffeted helplessly about by whirlpools and tidal currents. Now imagine doing it safely and laughing yourself breathless. Invented in Wales, coasteering combines extreme sport and environmental consciousness-raising amidst the cliffs of the achingly beautiful Pembrokeshire coast. Death-defying alone, it’s perfectly safe with protective equipment and a local guide who reads the ecologically sensitive coast like a big-print hymnbook... |
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Spring Skiing in the French Alps: Adrenaline with Dividends
The credit crunch got you down? Need a break from bailouts? Spring skiing should do the trick. It’s the same rush as playing the stock market but much safer. My favorite picks: Val d’Isere and Chamonix, two of the best resorts in the world, both that stay open long after the closing bell. There are no losers at Val d’Isere, only winners. This mountain is built on the backs of a long list of champions like Jean Claude Killy, Goitschel, Bozzetto and more recently, Bode Miller and Lindsey Vonn of the US... |
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Ukraine: A Three-Day Adventure in Sunny Kiev
Ukraine is a former USSR Republic; now an independent state, situated in southeastern Europe. Its capital, Kiev is one of the oldest (founded in the 5th century) and most significant cities of this region with a very rich and fascinating history. Kiev is located on both sides of the beautiful Dnepr River, which flows into the Black Sea. By the way, if you want to see how black the Black Sea really is, you can easily get to Odessa from Kiev, for example, by bus, train or car... |
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Alabama Attractions: A WWII Battleship and A Movie Classic
A chill went through my spine as I strode up the gangway to the USS Alabama, anchored just off the coast in the Mobile. It was a cool morning on Mobile Bay, where in the 1960s this 680' long grey piece of historical steel was towed from a West Coast shipyard to the state it was named for. The legend has it that Alabama schoolchildren sent in their ice cream money in order to raise the million or so to pay for the relocation... |
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France's Burgundy Region: Wining, Dining and Biking in Beaune
In France, and indeed worldwide, Burgundy has some of the best wine available; Romanee-Conti, Pommard and Corton-Charlemagne can bring tears to practiced taste buds. In the center of Beaune is the Hotel-Dieu (Hospices de Beaune) where a yearly auction of Burgundy wines is offered. This ancient hospital also offers an astounding view into past healing practices, and there are many artistic masterpieces on display... |
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Tallinn, Estonia: The Medieval Capital City in 24 Hours
Estonia’s capital city is located on the Gulf of Finland, a mere 50 miles south of Helsinki. It is a tradition for Finns to make the trip to Tallinn for its inexpensive prices -- on clothing, food and liquor -- as Finland is notoriously pricey. Since Estonia’s independence from the U.S.S.R. in 1991, transport between Tallinn and Western Europe has become increasingly easy, and with its induction into the European Union in 2004 and a vow to adopt the Euro by 2011, Estonia is looking to attract international tourism... |
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Uttar Pradesh, India: A Whirlwind Tour of Lucknow
Twelve of us boarded an air-conditioned bus (temperatures soar in March in India) and met our tour guide. Lucknow is known for its politeness and the guide was an epitome of it. But little did we know what was in store for us later. He told us a little about the city which was known as Avadh in the times gone by and was ruled by colorful kings and noblemen. Our first stop was the Bara (big) Imambara, built around 1783 by the ruler Asaf-Ud-Daula in a time of famine to provide employment and relief to the people... |
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The Andes Trail Expedition: Biking to the End of the World
In 2008, twenty steadfast biking enthusiasts traveled 6,875 miles from Quito, Ecuador to Ushuaia, Argentina, known as “the end of the world.” The expedition was put together by Bike Dreams, a long-distance cycling company based in the Netherlands. The cyclists endured 107 different stages through high altitudes and rocky terrain from August to December for 2008. On an average day, they biked four to six hours, though some particularly agonizing stretches of the trail took up to eleven hours... |
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Puerto Vallarta, Mexico: Plenty of Peace and Quiet
Surely there are dangerous areas in Mexico, but when I visited the west coast city of Puerto Vallarta and its surrounding towns, I felt safer than I’ve felt in many American cities. A charming city located on the Banderas Bay, Puerto Vallarta hasn’t gone unnoticed by world travelers. It has slowly expanded to accomodate three million visitors a year. Resorts have sprung up and tourist traps do exist, but at the core of it all lies a hidden, authentic Mexican experience with a contemporary twist... |
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Glaciers, Lattés and Stupid Salmon: A Family Cruise in Alaska
This was the first vacation we’ve had together where our kids felt comfortable abandoning us for their own pursuits. This is a godsend if you are looking for a family vacation where the adults can actually spend some quality time alone without worrying about the kids getting bored or into mischief. Our quality time consisted of playing craps in the Casino Royale and working out on the ellipticals in the Fitness Center while staring out at glaciers and other magnificent snow-capped vistas.. |
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Jasper, Alberta: A Great Girlfriend Getaway
Darkness was falling as I inched my truck through the gate of Jasper National Park. As I resumed highway speed, I commented to my friends, Dawn and Carrie, “It’s too bad we’ll be driving the most scenic part of the highway at night.” But as our truck followed the curves of the highway through the mountain valleys, I realized how wrong I’d been. A full moon hung low in the sky, casting its silver glow over the snow-capped mountains, wide rocky riverbeds, and smooth ice-bound lakes... |
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