A Second Learning

Hiiiiii all!!It’s Me ….Amrutaaaaaa!

 You a trifle EXUBERANT  today Amruta…

WHATSSUP ???

Goodness gracious Amruta… what are you doing???!

Haha Twinny ! That’s NOT  me!
It is Navratri…..Raas Garbar time!  

And yes am  Ready to do a Tandav in front of all the beautiful images of  deities all around !

Ever wondered where these beautiful pictures came from Twinny ??!
NO NEVER Amruta!

Guess SOMEONE SOMETIME must have drawn them!

Yes yes you are right Twinny!
Believe it or not ..it was 

RAJA RAVI VARMA! 

Father of MODERN INDIAN ART! 

(1848 – 1906)

Given a KAISER -e-HIND citation.. here he is…

Even a CRATER on the 🌙 moon is named after him!
Good grief Amruta ! That’s Amazing!

But Why Soooo many awards?? 

Simple Twinny.. !!

Close your eyes.. 

Try to picture Goddess LAXMI…

Is THIS the image you imagine??
YESSSS!!!

Well this was HIS version of the Goddess !

 Now think of Goddess SARASWATI…

 Or for that matter…SHAKUNTALA or the various scenes from the EPICS or PURANAS..


All these and many many more…..Were painted by Raja Ravi Varma !!!!
He gave faces to all our Gods!

His paintings are everywhere ….

Reaching the humblest of homes.!

HOW Amruta??!

Simple Twinny !

He started a printing press (in 1894!)

The RAJA RAVI VARMA PRESS !

WHERE Amruta?
Believe it or not …in GHATKOPAR ,Mumbai!

Then later in MALAVLI near Lonavala ..!

His paintings of Hindu Gods /Goddesses, 

of  Mythological stories …

were churned out from this very press …in huge numbers …on calendars ,posters !

Available CHEAPLY in bazaars! 

No wonder his art is called 

CALENDAR ART !

POSTER ART!

BAZAAR ART!

Ok ok Amruta .. but ONLY pictures of gods and goddesses??!
No no Twinny !

Raja Ravi Varma himself was closely related to the matriarchal ROYAL family of TRAVANCORE. ….so many of his paintings feature 

 aristocratic women in sublime finery and rich drapery …

Strong , beautiful , palpable women !

Full of grace and charm!

Just look at the detailing ,colours and elegance! GORGEOUS PORTRAITS in OIL…Borrowing elements from European realism
Mixing with indian sensitivity ….

Simply BREATHTAKING !

Here is the LADY with the LAMP……..

The lady posing for this masterpiece is still alive..here she is……

Absolutely EXQUISITE 
Absolutely REAL ..

This art form also called 

ACADEMIC REALISM..!

It was indeed a privilege to OWN a Raja Ravi Varma painting
But to do so one also had to be RICH!

To make his paintings more affordable 

He made LITHOGRAPHS/ OLEOGRAPHS!

Amruta what the heck are lithographs???
LITHOS means stone …

GRAPH means to write 

( In Greek of course)

Lithography Originated in Bavaria in 1796!

The painting to be copied is traced on a rough Stone…

Then using the property of immiscibility of oil and water.. an AUTHORISED COPY of the painting is made ..

Of course …In a series of steps…

The PRICE of the lithograph is way cheaper than the the original painting …Many painters like Picasso / Hussain 

Certified their lithographs!

This way more persons could OWN ….if NOT the ORIGINAL painting ,the closest to it!

At this same time…….In the west….HENRI de TOULOUSE LAUTREC

( 1864- 1901) , the extremely talented alcoholic dwarf artist 

popularised POSTER art …

With his flair for painting ,printing ,
lithography and caricature …

He depicted life in gay Paris .. the cafes / brothels/ moulain rouge/ the theatre/ the circus

Here are some of his paintings and posters …

It is said .. if there were no Henri LAUTREC..
There would be no ANDY WARHOL…

And surely you know who that is Twinny!!

Oooooh Amruta .. I just love this idea of  
PORTRAITS / POSTERS!

In fact …

Am READY to SIT  for a portrait right away !

Summon the Artist !
Only a modern -day Raja Ravi Varma will do!

Will Promise  to gift you a PRINTED COPY  OR a  NUMBERED LITHOGRAPH , Amruta!
And yes …..

Will keep one for that bimbo Isabella too!
Come on …

Pass me that basket cover….!

Shall place it so ….

 Almost ready !
And now…..

‘LADY with LAMP ( er light bulb!)’!!!2017!
Oh Twinny ….you are crazy !

Keep waiting!!! What do I care??!

Byeeeee… !!!!!

Hiiiii !It’s me Isabella !!!😁!

And why that CHEESY grin Isabella???

Oh that’s because today’s recipe has in it ….FETA…. 

FETA ?????

‘FETA ‘  kyaa CHEEZ  hai Isabella???

Oh Twinny …Feta is a brined , white ,

curd-like GREEK  Cheese ….curdled from SHEEPS milk!

Most cheese produced around the world is by adding rennet or vinegar to COW’S milk….
Sometimes to GOATS milk ( like in Sudan)

Or to BUFFALO milk  ( as in Egypt).

The Bhutanese and Nepalese use  YAKS milk……..and yes …one can procure cheese even from a  MOOSE !

But the RAREST , MOST EXPENSIVE cheese in the world is from 

SERBIA !

It is from DONKEYS !

It takes 25 litres of milk to produce 1 kg of PULE( donkey cheese)

And One donkey ( Jennie) can produce very little milk!

And donkey milk anyways has very little Casein ….

So less to coagulate!

No wonder it is SO EXPENSIVE …560 dollars per pound!

Very rich in antioxidants and vit c , calcium

Phosphorus ,omega3…..

NOVAk DJOKOVIC bought the worlds entire supply of this cheese!!!   In 2013!!! 

 No No Twinny ..am not Djoking!!!

SHUSH   SHUSH. Isabella…..!  How much you love to gossip!

How about you get back to Todays  recipe?

Ok ok Twinny ……don’t get CHEESED!!
Am set and ready..

Let me list the ingredients ….

FETA cheese 
BHAVNAGRI CHILLIES

WALNUTS

SUGAR

Lets go…First …​​​

​
Now let’s get the sugar and walnuts ready…​
​
Then simply put together!!
​​
Wow !

BHAVNAGRI CHILLIES with CARAMALISED WALNUTS!!!!

This recipe is quite IMAGINATIVE  Isabella..

Are you sure it’s your creation ???!

Heavens no Twinny !

This is the innovative brainwave of my simply AMAZING friend…SANGEETA KAPOOR!

Here she is…

Come on Sangeeta ……..SAY CHEESE !!

This gal is something else!
As BRAINY  as the  WALNUTS

As  SWEET as the CARAMEL

As  SPICY  as the MIRCHI

And as WHOLESOME  as the  CHEESE…

Like the 400 or more cheese varieties in this world .. 

(in France there is one cheese for each day of the year) she is a woman of 400 or more facets!

My my …You have gone crazy Isabella !
No Twinny .. it is true..!

She dabbles ….in almost everything!

Interior design /art/ props /events /ad films/ costume design/writing /traveling /share markets /gardening/ Cooking !

The works!

She’s dependable and popular like 

CHEDDAR …

Creative ,imbibing ,open…like Swiss EMMENTAL…

Soft ,crumbly ,emotional…..  like 

the French fromage BRIE….

Ready to Stretch out and help like Italian
MOZZARELLA on an oven fresh Pizza…!

And SuperFunny !
Driving away the blues… 

Well maybe NOT  the blue of blue GORGONZOLA!

She is simply pure gold !
Nothing less than WHITE   STILTON GOLD Cheese…

British and blingy! With sparkles of gold …!

Today is 9th September.. and it’s her birthday !
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY darling pal!!

Wanted to surprise you in a different way!

Aware that you detest 

run of the mill,  mass produced factory stuff ….

like the mass produced processed cheeses of the UNITED STATES.. 

So What ….if they …the largest cheese producers in the world ! And their factories as old as 1861 !

So presenting for you dear Sangu a recipe fresh and quick.. using
COTTAGE CHEESE …our Desi PANEER!

Suggested by the very suave 

Dr ASHISH WAGLE .!!

From the U.K.!     Here he is .. 

The guy in the specs!
Oops …they all wearing specs…..dr Satish and dr Divya too!

Ok ok the tallest guy with the cheeeeeiest grin …….Ahoy there Ashish !!

Merci Beucoup for sharing your recipe … 

Here it is …..

Take 1/4 kilo paneer ..

Cut in neat pieces …,Dust with cornflour and deep fry in hot oil…

Dry on kitchen paper and Keep aside!

Next sauté in a pan 1 tablespoon butter … 
Along with finely sliced shallots(8-10)

Ginger ,garlic

Chillies..plenty .. approx 2 tablespoons each

For 10- 12 mins till soft and shiny…

Then add 
Light Soya sauce 

And  Pepper  Soya sauce….

2 tablespoons  each…

Some sugar …only if you need it sweet and saucy…..then throw in the paneer pieces….

My gosh .. what an unholy mess!

Wait wait…Twinny !

You still have to Toss in finely chopped SPRING ONIONS …..and most importantly GROUND WHOLE PEPPER!
1 /2 tablespoon….or so!

Hey presto……..PEPPER SOYA PANEER !!!

Hot spicy main dish !

Can be SERVED with pan fried noodles or veg fried rice !

Or SIMPLY with LOVE!

As for you…… SANGU!

And what about  DESSERT  Isabella??
Sangeeta not a fan of desserts Twinny ..

So heres a CHEESE PLATTER !

Something salty , Something fruity , Something crackly ….
Served With ‘yum’   Dessert wine , post dinner

.. MOSCATO the best!!

Cheers!!!

There you go…

As for me Twinny…am off to have a bath!
With ASSES  milk! 

Isabelllla .. Asses milk????Grrrrrrr!😡

MIND your LANGUAGE !

Forgive my slang Twinny!
Let me correct myself……..

Am off to bathe with er Donkeys milk..

Ooh la la 

Just like Cleopatra !

Haha…

😘😊😘

Byeeeee!!

PS…

Hi all …It’s me VIRGINAL Isabella !

Virginal???

Do you know what ‘VIRGIN’ means.. you TWIT  Isabella ???

Yes yes Twinny..!!

Am not the VIRGIN MARY .. but…

Was born in September .. so naturally 

VIRGO/ VIRGIN / VIRGINAL …..VIRTUALLY !!

Ufffffff  Isabella!!!
Now get cracking  .. what are you cooking today??

Oh alright Twinny…!

Today’s  MENU comprises FISH BHAAJI!

RECIPE  no 1 coming right up… WATCH!​

​ 
So to recap… I used…

Curry leaves

Cut green chillies

Fenugreek seeds

Chopped fine ginger and garlic

Chopped onions

FRESH GRATED COCONUT

Salt ,turmeric !

Hey FISH too ! Clean thoroughly with turmeric and salt….!

Mackerel /pomfret /sardines..! 

Any VIRGIN fish will do!

What do you mean ‘ViRGIN FISH ‘???

RAW ,Twinny , RAW !!

RAW , UNFLAWED, PRISTINE!

Good grief Isabella!

Get on with your cooking…what do you do next..??

Simple..​​….

​

Ok ok… So once cooked …
Remove the fish slices ..

Debone…

And dump right back in!

FISH BHAAJI ready !!​

​
Of course  the sprinkling of COCONUT OIL at the end …..Makes all the difference !

SEMI REFINED , so less hydrogenated ,so more safe!

As apposed to REFINED.. more hydrogenated but less aroma  of coconut !

Accompany with  RICE  ROTI… YUM!

How about something to drink.. ?
Coming right up .. RECIPE  no 2…

 VIRGIN PINA COLADA!

ViRGIN again Isabella??!

Yes yes Twinny…!

PURE ,UNADULTERATED !

COCONUT MILK with PINEAPPLE  JUICE…

..

In VIRGIN drinks ….no IMPURITIES  like RUM , however  PURE the rum may  be!

Shake up  in cocktail shaker with ice and a little sugar , maybe some lemon juice…

Dress  with a parasol and a slice of pineapple..

And your carnival drink is ready!

Slurp !!

Now for DESSERT ….as Light as Light can be!  This time will use …
VIRGIN COCONUT WATER!

Yes I know Isabella…VIRGIN now means FRESH ,from YOUNG TENDER coconut!

Hey Twinny …You getting the hang of it !

For RECIPE no 3..

Take 2 cups fresh coconut water …

Stir in well the secret ingredient …1/2 – 3/4 tsp AGAR AGAR…

What the heck is AGAR  -AGAR  Isabella??

This is a vegetarian powder made from seaweeds which ‘SETS ‘  liquids .

Bring this mixture to a boil…….

Add a little sugar ..just to enhance the mild nutty flavour of the coconut..

Pour in a dish ..

Cool slightly ….before putting in fridge!
Will take just 5 mins to set!

Garnish with pomegranate seeds…

Done!

COCONUT JELLY with POMEGRANATE!

Serve with ice cream!

One could garnish the freshly made jelly with finely chopped GREEN CHILLIES. and freshly ground PEPPER  instead and you would have Voila ..!

 a spicy APPETIZER…!

 still retaining the VIRGINAL Coconut taste virginal meaning here ofcourse UNSULLIED/  ORIGINAL !

Coconuts /Virgins!
Virgins/ Coconuts!

You are driving me nuts  Isabella!
Relax Twinny .. Time for a GENTLE HEAD MASSAGE …Which COCONUT OIL  do you prefer??

VIRGIN /EXTRAVIRGIN ?

😡!

VIRGIN is COLDPRESSED UNREFINED….

EXTRAVIRGIN is COLDPRESSED , UNREFINED  ORGANIC   .. from trees grown  without pesticide…

😡!

ISABELLAAAA …! Virgin / Extravirgin

 I don’t care!

But have decided to gift you a ONEWAY ticket on VIRGIN Airlines to some

hitherto  UNEXPLORED UNCHARTERED , UNMAPPED  ahem VIRGIN territory !!

Serves you right for Acting like some 

Queen of Sheba!

Queen of Sheba… Twinny???

You mean the  VIRGIN WARRIOR QUEEN ??!

Wowwww! So I am a VIRGIN after all!!!!! 

Byeeeeee !!!!

🌷A footnote…..

Most recipe books will NOT list this delicious Fish Bhaji.. simply because it is the brainchild of my brilliant charming friend Saumya…
Here she is..

Thankyou Saumya!! Your cooking skills simply magical!!

😘🤗😘🤗!

The coconut jelly was taught to me by my very young bohemian friend Priyashi.. with eclectic tastes!
Here she is..

Merci beucoup Priya!!

Stay cool ,Subtle and sublime  ….

Very much like this jelly!

🤗😘🤗😘!

 

Hi all !It’s me Isabella….Phew! FINALLY  it’s MY turn! 

Today’s ride different .. Taking you across Eastern Europe …in a BLIMP..!

Why on Earth ……in a blimp Isabella??!
Simple!    From up here .. there are no countries ,no boundaries……All free flow…Come on , join me..!  Let’s go!!

First stop..VIENNA… City centre ….A Pakistani restaurant.. DERWEINERDEEWAN
serving delicious mouthwatering PAKISTANI  food..!

Thronging with students from the Austrian university ..
Rules simple ..

Eat …as much as you like..!

Pay …as much as you wish to!

Wow!!!! 

What did I tell you Twinny ….

The world a great place …where FOOD  is concerned …you can get  ANY  TYPE, ANYWHERE! Even for free!

Look ! Look! 

Here’s   A  VIETNAMESE Restaurant …..in PRAGUE ..SaSAZu .. !

Along with the sesame honey pork chops.. a
delectable  THAI PAPAYA SALAD served here… Made  a little differently…

Let me show you how..

Todays APPETIZER  and RECIPE no 1…

Take RAW green papaya , Grate.. ! Chill .!

Now make a mixture of garlic/red chillies/ palm sugar and lemon juice ..and 
A little salt ….

Pour over ..and blend ,blend ,blend !

Garnish with roasted cashew nuts , cut into bits,not the usual peanuts!
And coriander leaves.. Voila!  

Serve with Rice Papad!

 Ready!  

THAI PAPAYA SALAD from Czech land! Terrrific!

NOW WHERE  TO  Isabella?? 

A  TEA BREAK    at an  ENGLISH  TEA house in BRATISLAVA 

Bratislava ??? Never heard of this place Isabella! 

Welcome!!!!!

Twinny …..This is the fairy tale , pedestrian only ,

compact CAPITAL of SLOVAKIA..!  

And the name of this cafe ….ZEPPELIN!

Good grief ! Don’t you think Isabella…… this 

Zeppelin and Blimp business getting much too much???

No no Twinny ….Zeppelins and Blimps are TOTALLY DIFFERENT .. 

Zeppelins are Rigid Airships…

Blimps are balloons with fins and engines…

Likewise  the TEA served here ..is  TOTALLY DIFFERENT!

GINGER TEA…..RECIPE no 2 coming right up..!

Take GINGER…lots of it , slice very small , Put in tall glass….Garnish with tons of mint 🍃 leaves
And honey 🍯 

A dash of lemon juice …

Of course hot water!

No , NO TEA BAGS!

Now WAIT…. for the taste to emerge!

Done!!! So simple .. 
Just 1 tip .. for  NATURAL flavours to emerge use TONS of  NATURAL ingredients!!

Onto SZENTENDRE .. The Artists Village.. just outside Budapest…

Wow ..look 👀..
A MARZIPAN Museum !

Isabella .. Thought MARZIPAN only meant to be eaten…. yes yes.. I know NATURAL INGREDIENTS… just HONEY  and ALMONDS!

But this honey almond concoction can be rolled into dough and shaped into figures !

Just like Wax..!

 

Great Isabella .. but  CANT  EAT  these!

And am superhungry!    Hang in there Twinny ..

Am taking you up a street to have LANGOS ….

What the heck is that ?

 Langos  …is  Hungarian street food 🥘!

Grandmums favourite recipe! And today’s RECIPE number 3 ..  the Main Course!

Watch! Just  Three simple steps…

Make a BHATURA…..Bhatura???

 Yes..!  The very same of Chana / bhatura fame!

Bhatura and  Hungarian fried bread or Langos…. is more or less the same!!

 Or  at least …,,they taste the same!

Here is the Bhatura …

 Paint a little garlic paste …

Follow up with sour cream or better still …HUNG CURD…..
that’s easy to make .. literally HANG the CURD!

Flavour with roasted cumin and sugar…and place on bhatura !

Now…Garnish with masses of shredded cheese!
 And EAT  instantly… Hot , Hot!
Can serve in Budapest! Or in Mumbai ..!

So what if ingredients are different.. Adapt with whatever  locally available ……..VARIATIONS LIMITLESS!

Make anything you want ..

Without  restriction or boundary!

FUSE FOOD!

Czech papaya salad, Slav Ginger Tea ,

Punjabi Langos….

FUSION  FOOD  simply delightful!

Jolly Good !! Well done Isabella!

Have Decided to award you this cap!

But first …
PLEASE PLEASE  get off that Blimp!

Oh alright Twinny …. As you say!

CAPTAIN er….CHEF  ISABELLA always at your service!!!

Byeeeee!👩🏻‍🍳!

Hi All…It’s me Twinny !

Have finally learnt the origin of the word

‘BOHEMIAN’!

Startlingly easy!    Means ..

From ‘land of BOHEMIA’!

NOW CZECH Republic!

So are the Czechs …bohemian Twinny??
Yes!! Yes !!!

Enter PRAGUE , the capital… Fondly called ‘PRAHA’

And this is what you see..At the Airport…

And lit up ……

Prague Castle.. the BIGGEST CASTLE COMPLEX in the WHOLE world…!
Majestic , Gothic, Sprawling, the Crowning glory to  ecclesiastical buildings ,Churches cathedrals…. all standing in ORIGINAL medieval splendour!

CITY of a 100 SPIRES! Maybe even more…!

Set against the beauteous Vltava River!

Gorgeous!

So what’s so bohemian about that ??
Patience ..Isabella!

Walk across the CHARLES BRIDGE…a bridge wholly made of stone lined by 30 baroque statues….and you Begin to feel the BOHEMIAN spirit …!

CAREFREE, CREATIVE !Artists, Musicians, Lovers!

Sit in a cafeteria in the Old Town Square…and BACK you are transported to the MIDDLE Ages…the DARK Ages

( 5th to 15 th century AD ) cobblestones, carriages,a time of knights ,castles , of Christianity ,orthodoxy ,of spells ,witchcraft…To A time..

When TIME STOOD STILL .. !

Till emerged the

Age of Discovery ,

Of Renaissance (in the 16 th century ), Of change..!

DARK ?When Time stood still..?
Really Twinny??!

OF COURSE NOT Amruta!

Hear the gonging of the ASTRONOMICAL CLOCK..

the DANCE of metal puppets .. announcing the time..

Working like ‘clockwork ‘ EVEN TODAY …..as it did centuries ago..

So also the CLOCK of the Old Town SYNAGOGUE..In the Jewish Quarter.. Ticking perfectly … only
the hands of this one moving backwards! Yiddish .. naturally DIFFERENT!

Walk a little ahead .. yes in Praha WALKING ……more or less compulsory !

It’s the Bohemian way!

Step two storeys underground.. into a medieval DUNGEON.. !
Complete with lanterns/ firebrands/ropes/ barrels / fencers/ dancing gypsies/the beats of the FAMFRNOCH…

What’s that Twinny ?

Sssssh!!

Patience .. Amruta…!

Back up on the street
Right In front ……home of  FRANZ KAFKA…. German Jew writer , INTROSPECTIVE , dark ….impossible to ignore ! His short stories peppered with Dry humour …

Much like yours Arvindji!

You will love ‘Metamorphosis…’

KAFKAESQUE as you are!

Call for a BEER !
Have a pint or two… it’s the Czech favourite!

Cheap too!  100 Czech crowners for water

35 Czech crowners for beer!

PILSNER originated here! Urquell  the favourite brand..

GOLDEN ,HOPPY ,DELICIOUS!

Can have it with breakfast!  Bohemians do!

And Why not??!

Can feel the rhythm now..
A JAZZ Band is playing!

Praha ALIVE with jazz gigs, clubs, hubs!

The Jazz Capital of Europe…YOUNG , SPONTANEOUS, EVOLVING !

Even WILD!

This city …Host of the International Jazz Music festival ! Annually!

Hark .. someone’s playing…

Cross the river… Behold  The Lennon wall!

GRAFFITI….Painted at the time of John Lennons death in 1980 …a SYMBOLIC burial ground .. endorsing his call for peace ,love happiness in the world!

LOVERS of PEACE / HARMONY ! Bohemians hardly resisted foreign invasion …

Instead they  try to REACH OUT….

Here a special table with chairs constructed around a tree..saying…come let’s TALK…and get to know each other..,

BONHOMIE…the BOHO way!

Check out the Czech QUIRKY sense of humour ..

ECCENTRIC,UNCONVENTIONAL , RANDOM!
Here a sculpture of a WATERMAN .. devilish but doing his job of guarding the water mill..
Here the metallic heads of assassinated SOLDIERS on posts guarding the road ..
And here the name of the restaurant which was nearly submerged in a Vltava flood .. the ‘ YELLOW SUBMARINE!
And more recently in 2015 the oversized RED UNDERWEAR  put up on the Parliament building instead of the flag .. protesting the policies of the President!

Buy some Funky silver trinkets,
Gaze at the bright  glaze of creative ceramics …. CERAMICS  the NATURAL CRAFT of Bohemians ….

In fact…..The OLDEST CERAMIC figure in this world…Venus of Dolni Vestonice ..26000 years old ….unearthed from Czech land !

Now Time for some Prague Chocolate…!

OR
Maybe a giant cinnamon roll …TRDLO…they call it!

Hey Kk .. is that you … ?!

Potato soup , Pork chops!

Colour and Carnival…SAVOUR the moment !

FORGET the GOAL………..

….,……..PURSUE the PROCESS!

This …the BASIC BOHEMIAN Rule to HAPPINESS !

And finally ……NEVER  say NEVER !

‘IT IS ‘  POSSIBLE   to …..

CATCH  ……

……that Elusive DREAM!!

Byeee!

Hi all!It’s me Twinny …

Back from Vienna….

City of PARKS ..800 of them!

City of PALACES…Stunning!

A drive in a tram/ bus/ carriage on the Ringstrasse( the Ring) .. will leave you breathless!

Palace  Walls  dressed with  RENAISSANCE paintings….

each telling a story ..of kings ,queens, ministers… and actual events in history….all paintings  left unsigned!

Instead….

an obscure image of the painter painted in!

Idea for your next Goru!

Here  are paintings of the Long reigning Marie Theresa..of the Austrian – Hungarian Empire…..The ONLY FEMALE ruler of the Habsburgs … 2017 marks 300 years of her birth centenary!
Portly …
She had 16 children! And…They all Looked ALIKE!

So also did many of the other Hapsburgs! 

Why oh why?

Simple ! The Royals liked to marry AMONGST themselves!
Uncle to niece ,Brother to first cousin , as Franz Joseph ( the longest reigning king.. 68 years) to the beautiful Elizabeth .. Sisi her pet name…

SIMILAR GENES! SIMILAR FACES!
‘PHOTOSHOP ‘ must have existed in the late 18th century…..as  NO trace of smallpox scars on the children’s faces!

And how ever was Mozart sitting and playing on the piano… in Maria Theresa’s court ….when he wasn’t even born!

The men sported WHITE WiGS …
Why oh Why ?? Simple again!

It was in FaSHION!

Lords used white chalk to colour their hair white.. washing very rarely …

Lice/ flees a regular feature!

Palaces had NEITHER KITCHENS NOR TOILETS …These were OUTSIDE ! The 
Royals didn’t want unnecessary smells!

For the ladies…’CHAMBER POTS’ ( tucked under the bed) were regularly used!

How to use?

Lift the layers of your flouncy skirt and do your thing … and cleaning?? Douse lavishly with perfumes!

DISPOSAL of the CONTENTS of the chamber pots …was done by servants !

And the huge 

Schoenbrunn palace had plenty …2000 precisely!

Hey you ..Amruta the art lover…have a look at the Chamber pots .. some even  Pretty!

Just like one goes from Bombay to Goa for a holiday .. the princes and princesses moved from SUMMER Palace  to  WINTER palace to ‘ IN BETWEEN ‘palace …Sisi Palace outside Budapest..and if tired of these….
out …they would go riding into the forest gardens as Princess Elzabeth often did …

To meet her lover … Yes Isabella ….she had one!

The equestrian skills of Royals and Aristocrats were honed at the brilliantly baroque
Spanish Riding School of Vienna .This school is now 450 years old!

And it is here that 

Majestic ,White Lippizaner stallions ,from the Iberian part of Spain are TRAINED to dance …To compositions by Johaan Strauss /Mozart…. played by 

the Viennese Philharmonic orchestra !

A treat to watch …..

Even their morning exercises!

Horses taught to walk with high steps, trot daintily ,canter ,leap ,even pirouette !

All in synchrony ….just like ballerinas!!

Admirable and Bewildering !

Viennese Operas !
Viennese Art galleries!

VIENNA (pet name WIEN as on river Wien) is REPLETE 

With everything !

‘The KISS ‘ painted by GUSTAV KLIMT .. is symbolic of Romantic Vienna …And seen Everywhere!

 ….on pillow covers/ plates jewellery boxes!

The ORIGINAL PAINTING of course is housed in the Belvedere Museum!

Guarded as are the ……
GLOBES in the Globe MUSEUM,

CLOCKS in the Clock MUSEUM… 

POTS in museum for Sanitary ware and FURNITURE 

Haha!Vienna has a museum for everything!

The last a revelation!

Twinny of firm opinion that the WATER CLOSET or Wc was probably the MOST DESIRED invention ever!

Thankyou George Jennings!
Universities/ SIGMUND FREUDS home / The worlds OLDEST ZOO / 
The worlds OLDEST working FERRIS wheel !(1897).. All in Vienna!

Oh my God..,😰🤔😱!
Where to go ? What to do?

Easy!!!

START the day with coffee at a coffee house … coffee culture is a melange of everything Wien!

Have a MIDMORNING break at a cafeteria … rich chocolate Sacher torte with another round of coffee…Revive the art of conversation!
LUNCH at a sausage stand in Vienna city centre
Followed by 

raspberry torte and coffee at coffee house again!

DINNER at a rustic wine tavern………
Weiner schnitzel followed by Apple Strudel followed by coffee nightcap

Yes…
The Viennese just LOVE their coffee!!!

With all this coffee…Twinny on COMPLETE COFFEE HIGH!

Ready 

to dance the ..

Viennese waltz.. !
FLOW ALONG darlings!

This WALTZ is all about love, romance ,waves….

❤️!

Byeee.. 

Meet you in Prague!
🌹❤️🌹❤️🌹❤️🌹❤️🌹❤️🌹❤️🌹❤️🌹

This episode dedicated to my beautiful kid sister Geetu and handsome brother in  law Gaurang…..

Happy Anniversary Darlings!

Life is to romance!

Love forever and ever!!!Muah ! Muahhh!
PS…..Geetu …. here’s a novel idea…..since we in Vienna and on romantic note….

How to…..

Oh no ! Twinny you better 🏃 !!! Geetu’s going to kill you !

Hi all .. its me Twinny !Back from HUNGARY !

No! No ! This country …

Is NOT related to Attila the HUN

NOR is it  full of HUNGRY people!

In truth ….it is absolutely Wonderful !

3 great attributes of these great Siberian settlers … the Magyars…..with GENES ENTIRELY DIFFERENT from the rest of Europe….

FIRST….They are STRONG!

Brawn ! Brawn! Brawn!

The number of Olympic medalists from this country of a paltry 10 million .. shocking !

Champion swimmers 🏊

Canoeists 🛶

FENCERS 🤺 and 🤸‍♂️ gymnasts!

Water polo specialists!
BUDAPEST , the capital…

Likely to be the seat of the 2020 olympics!

POINT NUMBER TWO….Hungarians have BRAINS!
Big big ones…!

Ever wondered where the RUBIKS CUBE came from.. mystery ends in Hungary..

ERNO RUBIK invented!

Yes ..they use their second names first! Just like other Easterners… the Chinese/ Koreans!

Fellow traveller ARVIND GUPTA got whiff of this instantly….

Introduced himself as GUPTA ARVIND…

Well done Arvindji 👍!

Small things like BALLPOINT PENS and SAFETY MATCHES were discovered in Hungary …
So also large things  like  HELICOPTERS!  Wow!

Ok ok .. Leonardo Da Vinci drew the first helicopter in the 16 th century ..

but it was IGOR SIKORSKY

Who actually designed  the first SUCCESSFUL one!

And The line up of NOBEL LAUREATES …simply daunting!

Not to forget the great ”ESCAPE ARTIST” HOUDINI…he was born here .. a Hungarian! Of course he ‘escaped ‘to New York and did all his amazing stunts there..each one a test of resilience and ingenuity …!
HUNGARIAN BRAWN ,

HUNGARIAN BRAIN….!!

What a combo!

Here’s a pic of a museum in his name..

Up in the ‘BUDA ‘part.. or ‘HILLY’ part of Budapest ,near the Buda castle ..

The ‘PEST ‘ part ( pronounced Paish)
Is the ‘PLAIN ‘part of Budapest… literally flat .. 3  times the size of Buda….hey …but there’s nothing ‘plain ‘about it…..

the worlds third largest PARLIAMENT building ….on the River Danube .. is a sight to behold !

As are the numerous buildings ..each beautiful, Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Neoclassical ….all part of the great Austria- Hungarian Habsburg empire.
Great it WAS!

Now dimunitised from the proverbial BRAIN of EUROPE

To the Baby HEART of EUROPE!

Just look at the buildings…

Hey Twinny …..you are digressing!
You started with …

Hungarians are Brawny

And Brainy

….and ???

ooh lala .. hang in there Amruta ….they are

ROMANTIC too !

Land of FERENC LISZT the maverick composer..

Of actors ZSA ZSA Gabor , TONY CURTIS

…Of WILLIAM FOX…. founder of 20 th century Fox!

Here’s a picture of the perfect LISZT!

Wow!
Brawn/ Brains / Romantics

What more could a gal want??!

Yes ! Yes!

But I have to tell you Amruta …
the MOST number of SUICIDES in this world are in Hungary !

Whaaat??

Yes..!

And of the Seven bridges crossing the Danube .,

From Buda to Pest …..And vice Versa .. the Chain Bridge , the Margeret Bridge etcetc ..the one ‘MOST  CHOSEN ‘to jump from is the LIBERTY Bridge!!

Heavens ho! IRONICAL!

Why oh why Twinny??
Its something to do with Hungarian history ..Amruta …

Too often has Budapest been destroyed !

Too often has it been rebuilt !

Bombed over and over again.. by the Turks, then the Germans and finally the Russians..who came ostensibly to HELP rebuild the broken city .. but ….stayed for a long 45 years.. Hungarians finally got independence only in 1989!

They have been ravaged/ ransacked / destroyed OVER and OVER again….defused bombs unearthed every now and then…..No wonder they a depressed lot!

Even the Hungarian National  Anthem is melancholic ….it is rated the SADDEST national anthem in the whole world..!
All 2.3 mins of it.. tch tch tch!

Yet HIGH flies the Hungarian flag … bearing an uncanny resemblance with the great Indian jhanda!
Except there is ‘no wheel’. Look!

Twinny. has a good mind to stick one in..and Change the wheels of fortune!
Of this great country….

HOW TO DO??

Seems impossible…

Hey Twinny….Solve ‘one ‘problem

at a time …

Start with.. …The Rubiks Cube!

Woah  Amruta…..that’s impossible!

Listen Twinny….

NOTHING  is Impossible!

Look…here it is!

In perfect alignment!!

Byeeeeee!