An Irish Experience: Travel Tales Flowing from History, Humor & the Search for Home
Never did I believe I would come across a travel writer who likes sweets more than I do. Although I love to discover new cafés, bakeries and restaurants with appealing dessert menus, I haven’t felt a craving for something sweet merely through a look at the clouds — unlike the author of An Irish Experience: Travel Tales Flowing from History, Humor & the Search for Home.
Howard G. Franklin in pursuit of sugary delicacies in Dublin:
I quip to the large white clouds that have drifted into the western sky in search of sunset. Shaped like creampuffs, they instantly spark a desire for a sweet treat, and propelled by the sudden rush of euphoria from having experienced so very much, without getting lost even once, I hurry my feet towards a bakery I had spied yesterday in Temple Bar. Finding it easily, I soon emerge armed with a brownie, two cookies, and a custard tart. What? you say, shaking your head. After already one-upping the Cookie Monster, now you’re pigging-out again?…Uh-huh. Exactly. In case you haven’t already guessed, where sugar’s concerned, the Sultan of Self-Control I’m not.
Apart from tales that stem from the author’s sweet tooth, the book blends Irish history, humor, architecture, culture and literature — from Powell’s Travel Bookstore in downtown Portland to Dublin’s Greenwich Village and three weeks through the Emerald Isle. Franklin’s personal narrative ends in the village of Enniskerry, not surprisingly, with ice cream bars.
Thanks for the book suggestion, Erica.
I read somewhere that the country that eats the most sugar per person (by far!) is Israel. Since you love both sweets and travel perhaps you should check it out.
I’m not sure where Ireland fits on the list of sugar eating countries but it really is a great place to travel.
.-= Spot Cool Travel´s last blog ..The Best Pedicure in Paris =-.
Israel, had no idea about that. I would have guessed Switzerland. (At least that’s the country where they eat the most chocolate.) But Israel is definitely on my list of future places to visit!
I really wish I could get into bakeries and sweets as much as others. And food in general. Then I may just have a better experience. I’m going to have to buy this book and get inspired. Like the photo is really reminds me of rural areas of NZ.
.-= Cate´s last blog ..Take time out to watch the leaves turn =-.
Well, there’s more to life than sweets! I recently listened to a podcast about raw food. The speaker had this theory that if you have enough sweetness in your life already (not food related), you won’t feel such a need to eat sweets. Interesting philosophy.
We usually hear sugar is the root causes of diabetes and advise to control our assumption. As SpotCool has stated above Israel is supposed to eat the most sugar but upon googling I discouvered that Type-2 diabetes US is top on the list!(sources:http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/d/diab2/stats-country.htm) Just wondering is sugar really the root causes of diabetes?
According to http://www.realfoodnutrients.com/db/causes.htm there are two primary causes apart from the genes you inherited, a long-term diet high in carbs and nutritional deficiencies.
I received a newsletter from Pure Food/One Lucky Duck today and thought about this post. For everybody else who loves sweets, read this excerpt from the newsletter:
“Processed sugar is addictive and has absolutely no redeeming quality in regards to your health – hence the term “empty calorie”. Refined sugar is void of minerals, vitamins and nutrients so when the body digests it, it has to draw on its own reserves, causing a deficiency in the body. It’s easy to give up sugar and enjoy sweet treats without doing damage to your health – Check out all the alternatives! … these sugar alternatives http://www.oneluckyduck.com/store/category-list.php?id=38 are a great thing to incorporate into your daily life so that you can kick any remaining processed sugar habit you have goodbye!”
Sounds good, right? Also, I highly recommend this recipe book by Nathalie Lussier http://curecravingsforever.com/desserts Eat sweet treats and still be healthy!
Us Dubliners love our sweets and sweetners.
Great article – I didn’t know about Howard Franklin’s journey into Enniskerry where I grew up.
Brian ( Dublin Visitors )
At least many of you! Let us know if you have any café recommendations!