MAGAZINE
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A replica of Ictíneo I sits in the courtyard of the Museu Marítim de Barcelona. Photo by Carol (CC-BY-NC-SA-2.0) via Flickr.
Exploring the Depths: The First Fully-Functional Submarine
The world’s first fully-operational submarine was invented by Narcís Monturiol i Estarriol, a Catalan self-taught engineer and radical thinker, who dreamt that his machine could help save humanity.
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Coca tovada d'albercocs. Photo by Tara Shain.
Recipe: Traditional Mallorcan Apricot Cake
This unusual "coca" from Mallorca is very popular when apricots are in season and has a couple of rather surprising ingredients: potatoes and sobrasada.
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A Brief History of Mulled Wine—From Health Tonic to Festive Treat
When frost sparkles in the morning and our breath is visible as we venture outside, thoughts turn to winter warming treats like mulled wine—a drink full of ingredients that have become synonymous with Christmas.
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Bunyols de Vent: A Sweet Lenten Treat
These sweet dough balls are a tempting treat commonly eaten in Catalunya during Lent.
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Sant Esteve church in Andorra la Vella, photo by FrankAndProust, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Europe’s Microstates: The Medieval Monarchies That Survive in Our Midst
Continental Europe is home to four microstates with populations of between 30,000 and 80,000 people: Andorra, between France and Spain; Liechtenstein, between Switzerland and Austria; Monaco, on the French Riviera; and San Marino, in northern Italy.
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Sant Miquel d’Olèrdola, © Tara Shain 2016-2021.
Sant Miquel d’Olèrdola: An Ancient Iberian Fortress
In the vine-peppered foothills of the Alt Penedès sits an ancient Iberian fortress with over 4,000 years of history. The archaeological site at Olèrdola is one of the most impressive pre-Roman settlements in Catalunya.
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The dockside in Naples, a man is cooking snails in a pot over an open fire, while another man reads aloud from a book by Ariosto, 1800-1899. Image courtesy of Wellcome Collection, Public Domain.
From Peasant Fodder to Posh Fare: How Snails and Oysters Became Luxury Foods
Eating what many consider to be a slimy nuisance seems almost counter-intuitive, but consuming land snails has an ancient history, dating to the Palaeolithic period, some 30,000 years ago in eastern Spain.
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Lyn Lozano: Living Boldly, Leading Quietly—and Always with Heart
Those who meet Lyn might at first see a quiet, careful woman—thoughtful and reserved. But spend just a little time with her, and the lioness emerges: fierce in her kindness, fearless in her generosity and delightfully bold in her humor.
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Before You “Fix the Fights,” Rebuild the Bond
One of the biggest misconceptions couples have is that solving their arguments will take massive effort.
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Eating Red Meat May Increase Your Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
A recent study, with nearly two million participants, found that high consumption of unprocessed red meat, such as beef, lamb and pork, and processed meat, such as bacon, salami and chorizo, increased the incidence of type 2 diabetes.
