Cultura.
Stories of international travel and culture
Travel
Exploring personal journeys of discovery, from off-the-beaten track trips and slow tourism, to practical tips and product reviews.
Culture
Deep dives into all aspects of international culture, including local history, social events, music, cuisine and more.
Relocation
Investigating push and pull factors, expectations, realities, challenges and rewards of moving to another country.
Latest articles
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Part 12 of personal reflections and historic explorations of the Grafton to Cairo length of Illinois Route 3 by writer and poet Richard Stimac. Like many American men, my dad is obsessed with war. War movies. War documentaries. War books. And like other American men obsessed with war, my dad is interested only in the American Civil War…
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On a quiet street just a few tram stops from Düsseldorf’s main train station, a giant peeks out from behind the trees, camels cross the desert, and dragons crawl across apartment blocks. While Kiefernstraße might look at first glance as an open-air exhibition, behind every painted wall you will find kitchens, bedrooms, and everyday lives.…
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Richard Stimac reflects on Cahokia Heights, formerly Cahokia, highlighting its historical significance as Illinois’ oldest French settlement. The blog details its evolution, key events, and landmarks like the old courthouse and Holy Family Church. Stimac notes the area’s agricultural developments and contemporary challenges, illustrating Cahokia Heights’ rich heritage and ongoing transformations.
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Japan offers a diverse travel experience shaped by both budget and culture. While some perceive it as expensive, the weak yen makes daily costs like food and accommodation more accessible for UK travellers. Convenience stores exemplify affordable quality, while cultural practices, such as tipping, reflect deeper societal values.
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Intersected by the dormant volcano of Mount Teide, Tenerife is a story of two halves. While the sunworshipper pilgrimage tends to head south for the beaches and pretty much guaranteed dry, warm weather, tropical Tenerife lies to the north, often offering lush vegetation, plantations and palms. OK, it’s slightly cooler here. And more humid. That’s…
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Part 10 of personal reflections and historic explorations of the Grafton to Cairo length of Illinois Route 3 by writer and poet Richard Stimac. St. Louisans like to make much of the city’s French heritage. There’s the name, of course, of the only sainted French king. Once the official symbol of the city before the Arch, the apotheosis…
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Part 9 of personal reflections and historic explorations of the Grafton to Cairo length of Illinois Route 3 by writer and poet Richard Stimac. My grandpa on my mom’s side was an interesting guy. He liked to tell entertaining tall tales. Sometimes they’d have bits of fact. Other times, pure fantasy. He told me that he bought his…
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Immediately upon entering Skopje, its charm and beauty cannot be denied. Situated in the heart of the Jakupica Range and constructed at the base of the 1000-foot Mount Vodno with its looming 200-foot iron cross on the summit, the city offers a combination of cultural tradition, history and modern architecture, and makes for a unique…
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Part 8 of personal reflections and historic explorations of the Grafton to Cairo length of llinois Route 3 by writer and poet Richard Stimac. I like to walk the Eads Bridge. I never park on the St. Louis side, in Laclede’s Landing, the slowly crumbling clump of less than a dozen 19th century buildings that once were the…
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Exploring an origin story of R&B and soul music in Nashville, and how local DJs and the media helped drive it to a national audience. Music historians will argue over the exact origins of the music industry in Nashville, although any stance depends on the genre under debate, and how far back one is willing…
