Gastronomy is a key attraction for tourists, and part of what makes their visit feel authentic. Culinary souvenirs are also important, allowing visitors to continue enjoying gastronomic traditions and products once they have returned home. Let's take a look at what this brochure from 1964 has to offer us.
This is a plentiful, delicious buffet, with origins dating back to the 17th century and the reign of the House of Vasa. At the time, powerful families would serve buffets that were known as Brännvinsbords or Akvavit tables.
They became popular in the 19th century, when hotels would serve them as an appetizer called SOS. The letters stand for the Swedish words for butter, cheese, and herring. At the 1939 New York World's Fair, they gained international exposure, becoming known as smorgasbords.
The idea is to eat a lot of protein, which is why accompaniments such as potatoes, rice, and salads tend not to be included. Diners help themselves and might have up to five helpings. They are usually enjoyed with Akvavit liquor and beer.
Akvavit (40% ABV) is a drink traditionally consumed at celebrations and parties. Commonly known as schnapps, it is served in small glasses (between one and two fluid ounces). Another traditional alcoholic drink is Punsch, a very sweet liqueur that is served very hot, at around 104ºF (40°C).
Lutefɪsk is a traditional dish made from dried white fish pickled in lye. Find out which country we're talking about and hurry there to try it—it sounds really delicious!
Most good menus will include two or three kinds of cheese as a key ingredient in a smorgasbord. There must be at least one soft cheese and one hard cheese. Olives, radishes, and celery are the perfect garnish.
Culinary tourism is a way of reviving a region's traditional cuisine. In the mid-20th century, a structural shift occurred, with tourists starting to enjoy food from other places.
We've left Pegman somewhere in the city. We're sure it won't take you long to figure out where you are. Have a nice trip, and send us a postcard if you get the chance!
We’re flying, up high above the clouds, covering distance, but also rewinding time.
Let’s glide a bit lower, to where the clouds disperse. We’re in Kyoto, the capital of Japan in the 17th century.
The golden clouds adorning this folding screen isolate the various scenes, but they also have a practical purpose: in a world without electricity, their large golden surfaces had the virtue of reflecting candlelight and lighting rooms.
Under the clouds, the city teems with life, animated by around 1800 figures belonging to all ages and social classes. Each one is painted in a simple style, but retains a unique character. How did these people live their daily lives in Kyoto during the Edo period?
Some of the pictured activities still take place today, such as the parade of traditional floats at the Gion Festival.
Or Sumo wrestling.
While others are a sign of the 17th Century times. Here, a group of people attend the show of a trained monkey.
Then as now, the city was a destination for western visitors. The members of this delegation are depicted with lengthened noses, exotic animals, and showy garments. Travellers from the West, who stirred the inhabitants' and artist’s curiosity.
Alongside these events, the life of the residents flows through its daily routine. Traders display their wares in their stalls along a market street.
And fishermen pursue their catch of the day along the river.
There's much, much more to see! Have you spotted the furyu-odori dance? Visited the Nijo castle? Carry on flying over Kyoto and let yourselves be captured by the life of this tiny, great ancient world, by zooming into the work for yourself.
This obsidian sculpture reminds us of the importance of the skull in Mesoamerican art. Often carved in stone and painted, they tell us about the different rituals and ceremonies that incorporated images of skulls in this part of the world.
The practice of fashioning skulls is based on the idea of preservation. The skull maybe a representation of an ancestor or a person important to the community, so, far from being macabre, they are an act of veneration.
The skull or head also had huge importance in battle. Taking the head of a defeated enemy or wearing it as a trophy demonstrated that something had been acquired or conquered. The skull, displayed as a memento, also becomes an offering.
We are still unsure about the precise manufacturing techniques involved in creating this obsidian skull. The eye sockets are made of shell and the teeth of bone but further investigation is needed to determine the exact deposit from which the obsidian came.
Obsidian is a volcanic material, a type of glass, that forms when lava cools rapidly. Depending on the place of origin, different chemical compositions allow us to establish the exact geological source.
There are several obsidian deposits in the region from where the skull originates. For example in Nayarit, in the State of Mexico and in the State of Puebla. Some of the great Mesoamerican cities were founded near these deposits.
Obsidian a very important raw material for the ancient Mesoamericans because of its adaptable physical qualities and spiritual status. As a result, it was used to create artifacts and tools used for a huge variety of purposes.
Small points were used for hunting, and larger blades fashioned into cutting tools, some used for blood-letting rituals. Obsidian was seen by some Central American cultures as being the blood of the earth.
The image of the skull has many meanings highlighting the physical and spiritual qualities of the human head.
If you would like to know more about the historical importance and varied use of obsidian, you can find more information here.