Delights
The day the circuses came to town
When the steamship Queen Victoria sailed into Charlottetown Harbour on Sept. 1, 1864, she was the last to arrive at the party, bringing the delegation from the Province of Canada to one of the most significant events in Canada’s history. One would expect that the ship’s arrival would have been cause for a certain amount […]
O! Canada
We often say a particularly mature young person is “not as old as he or she seems.” Canada, on the other hand, is not, by several important measures, nearly as young as it is often thought to be. Every July, we celebrate Canada Day, marking the confederation of the British North American provinces into Canada […]
The logo of a civilisation
As I write this, Greece remains the poor boy of the European Union and democracy teeters drunkenly in various places around the world. These facts draw me to remember the Parthenon in Athens — these plus Joan Breton Connelly’s new book, The Parthenon Enigma: A New Understanding of the World’s Most Iconic Building and the […]
Non-stop joys of Lima
Peru, often seen as the swatch of land that surrounds Machu Picchu, has a cosmopolitan and fascinating capital city. Lima, for its diverse history, innovation, arts and lively culture, deserves a standalone visit. Or, at least, it calls for several dedicated days before you move on to the country’s other national treasures. Much in its […]
Argentina: A land of diversity and culture
Argentina is a country of many cultural, social and natural attractions, all of which will amaze visitors. Diversity is a characteristic that makes Argentina a unique choice. This includes its landscapes, climate and population. Argentina is usually described as a land of impressive contrasts, thanks to its varied geography. From the Andes to the west, […]
New Zealand’s official home away from home
In winter, you might notice a snowman at the front door of a new, contemporary home on a modest street in Rockcliffe Park. Next to it is an official-looking flagpole, proudly bearing the flag of New Zealand. The message: a family lives here — and so does the country’s head of mission. The high commissioner, […]
Swiss cuisine: cheese, chocolate and beyond
Switzerland has existed for centuries as a small, compact, alpine country nestled amongst France, Germany, Austria and Italy. As Ambassador Ulrich Lehner notes: Originally Switzerland was a poor country of farmers who were employed as soldiers beyond their borders by foreign powers. The Vatican’s Swiss guard was one such force and remains the only one dating […]
Warning: This column contains sulphites
We often romanticize wine. We think of it as a product made when humans gently coax nature into making drinkable art. While true, that image contrasts with that of wine production as a business. Whether a winery is family-run or a multinational giant, grapes are the raw material and wine the finished product. Though less […]
The birth of a nation
Among Canada’s defining events, the Battle of Vimy Ridge in the First World War ranks high. It was a triumph — a major victory for the Allied side after a long, bloody stalemate — and a tragedy. In the four-day battle, 3,598 Canadians died and another 7,004 were wounded. In the near-century since it ended, […]
Slaying the Dragon Lady
The “Dragon Lady” was the name of a sexy Asian “villainess” in Terry and the Pirates, a popular newspaper comic strip of the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. In the 1960s, however, people in the U.S. often applied the decidedly unflattering nickname to Tran Le Xuan, better known as Madame Nhu. She was a 98-pound Vietnamese […]
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