Zakuski, cold snacks enjoyed with vodka (or black tea), are a Slavic celebration of this life, this day, this moment with the people you hold dear. Grab your besties, this book, and raise a glass. Za vashe zrodovye!
What do Pushkin, cholera, duels, Tchaikovsky, dumplings, caviar, and sugar-dusted confections have in common? A butter-yellow building with a storied history on the corner of a busy intersection in St. Petersburg.
From its landscape and architecture to revolutions and historical figures, everything about Russia seems larger-than-life. In this episode, we discuss five great reads that transported us to Russia, past and present.
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got bawdy royal scandals, inspiring travel journals, a journey on the Silk Road, how to get away with (fictional) murder, and more.
London, 1888. So posh, polite, and perilous. Go undercover with Veronica Speedwell and her partner Stoker as they try to avert royal embarrassment, dodge flying bullets, thwart Jack the Ripper, and flirt up a storm.
Have you ever daydreamed about riding a camel across the Sahara with the wind in your hair? Or strolling through the market in the old town of Marrakech? These six books will take you there asap, no passport required.
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got intrepid heroines of classic lit, oral storytelling around the world, overhead bin rage, grocery store tourism, and more.
This weekend, we recommend a getaway to the warm sunshine and stunning sights of Florence with Lucy Honeychurch, a heroine who would take the world by storm, if she could only get out of her 19th-century muddle.
This colorful salad combines sweet oranges, cool fennel and mint, and salty olives for a taste that's bold and a little exotic. It's a tribute to 'Tangerine,' a taut noir thriller set in 1950s Tangier, Morocco.
For centuries, women have been adorning their bodies with delicate, colorful henna tattoos to mark significant events in their lives. We take a look at the origin of this art and share tips for you to try it yourself.
The breathtaking scenery and raucous markets of Morocco can seem like something conjured from a dream. In this episode, we share the books that transported us to this special place and talk Moroccan food with MarocMama.
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got the history of the drawing room, the scoop on jet lag, underwater photography, books Erik Larson loves, Taco Bell poetry, and more.
This weekend, we recommend a getaway to the lush landscape of Costa Rica: glorious sunshine, azure-blue water, and dazzling foliage. Pay no attention to the many ravenous, angry dinosaurs roaming the jungle.
In honor of what would have been American artist Edward Gorey's 95th birthday, we invite you to creep into his gleefully macabre world of Victorian manor houses, elegant characters, with plenty of murder and mayhem.
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got the Phyrne Fisher movie, mid-century Gothic novels, Miss Havisham, Indian root bridges, the downside of solo travel, and more.
This story has the ideal elements for a King horror tale — a creepy carny, a haunted ride, a fortune teller, and an unsolved murder — it's really a coming-of-age story that captures that breathless ache of summer.
Once you've heard a crew singing 'Roll the Old Chariot,' you'll not forget it. Sea shanties are infectious — and they served an important function aboard ship. We've got the backstory on this charming nautical art form.
The Tom Collins is the ultimate highball, a combo of gin, simple syrup, lemon, and bubbly water. This classic is effervescent and refreshing — the ideal go-along for a literary thriller set on a retro luxury liner.
It's anchors aweigh on these literary voyages that promise excitement of both the physical and emotional variety. You'll meet a lady pirate, a WWII freighter captain, the passengers of a luxury liner, Ishmael, and more.
From a luxury cruise to battered warships and open seas to exotic ports, the ocean is a compelling setting for stories of big adventure, quiet moments, human vs. nature, and the drama sparked by close quarters aboard ship.
Every Friday, we share our favorite book- and travel-related links. This week, we've got a global landmarks quiz, the logic of spoken English, delightful old book illustrations, high-stakes hotel security, and more.
