Let’s welcome the long-awaited blooming season, Spring, with the Houston Euro Circle.
Please note that we are going back to Wednesdays and please join us on March 25th, 2015 at a new place in town.
W+M will be featuring for the evening schnapps cocktail specials until 7:00 PM and wine specials all evening to celebrate the beautiful colors of Spring.
Time: 6:00 – 9:00 PM on March 25th, 2015
Location: Weights + Measures 2808 Caroline Houston, TX 77004
(713) 624-0921
Please sign up and we will see y’all on the 25th, Venere, Shahla, Mary Beth, and Juliana.
I have this strangest love for Russian culture – being a Finn some people expect us not to like Russian stuff. I love Russian culture, food, and I am in tears when I listen to the old Russian folk songs. I have never been to St. Petersburg (and I always think it as Leningrad) even if it is only like 150 km from the Finnish border (been to Australia, Myanmar,Thailand, Hong Kong etc). Luba is a sweetheart so I asked could I interview her.
Please introduce yourself.
Hello. My name is Luba Cain. I’m from St. Petersburg, Russia. I graduated from St. Petersburg Polytechnic University with a degree in graphic design. I chose that degree because, as a child, I loved to draw and paint. Later on, I took computer courses for four years. I really enjoyed drawing and using computers, therefore I knew that I wanted to combine those things. I currently live in Round Rock, TX (just outside Austin) with my husband and 15 month old son.
How did you end up in Austin, TX of all places?
My husband has a degree in Russian language. He came to St. Petersburg to study abroad during college. We fell in love and got married. I moved to the U.S. and we settled in East Texas (Tyler) where my husband grew up. We had always wanted to live in a larger metropolitan area, so my husband was able to find a job in Austin and we decided to move. We love it here!
What is the best and worst about Austin for you…what is a typical day and weekend?
I love Austin because of the people. There’s so many interesting people here and they are so diverse in their culture and beliefs. You won’t find that in most other cities in Texas. There’s also a lot of foreigners here and a decent-sized Russian/Ukrainian population. I found friends here! I suppose the worst thing about Austin for me is the traffic. A typical weekday for me is taking care of my son. On the weekends, I’m able to devote myself to my photography work.
What do you miss the most – and the least from your own country?
What I miss the most about my own country would be my family. I have four sisters I grew up with and my parents that support me in everything. I also miss St. Petersburg. It’s a huge city with beautiful architecture and the Neva River flows through the city. I liked the fact that most people walk everywhere and use public transportation, whereas here we are always driving in a car somewhere, even if it is 2 minutes from your house. What I miss the least would be the very cold and harsh winters. Although I think I prefer those over the humid and hot summers here!
What cafes or restaurants do you recommend to tourists to go to in Austin and why? Or to do something else.
I love Indian food, so I definitely recommend Madras Pavilion. Very friendly people work there and the food is awesome. For people with children, I recommend The Thinkery or to go walking in any of the parks around town.
Tell us more about your photography business?
I am a professional photographer specializing in maternity and newborns. I started photography because of my father who is a photographer. He taught me to shoot with film first. I learned about composition, lightning and equipment. Later on I opened my first boudoir studio. It was a very unique experience. I had a great team of women that helped me with make-up, hair and clothing. When I came to the U.S. and had my first child, I took a lot of pictures of him. I loved it and decided to specialize in newborns and maternity. I believe you need to capture those moments because they will never be that tiny again and will never fit in your hands again. Plus, kids love to look at themselves and their parents.
Is it different to run a business in Russia than in the U.S.?
I had a photo studio in Russia and I can tell you that it is very different. Most photographers in Russia don’t own a place for their own studio like they do here. There are places that already have beautiful rooms with different set ups you can choose from. So you just rent a room and shoot there.
) What should your clients expect?
I create a unique experience for my clients. I offer finished art pieces and I want them to remember the session where a mother holds her newborn baby that fits in her arms for the last time. I capture emotions, personalities and new lives. Your experience begins with a pre-session consultation in-person or over the phone. I will answer all of your questions, show you examples of my work and what print products you could order through my professional photo lab.
I select the best images and hand-edit them individually. At the Viewing/Ordering Session, I show the slideshow with 25-30 pictures (usually parents cry when they see the pictures of their kids). Clients are able to order prints, canvases and albums.
Please check out my web site and look at my work. www.lubacain.com and facebook.com/LubaCainArt
How do you find the lifestyle in Austin compared to your hometown?
People in Austin are very different and come from many different backgrounds, religions and from different parts of the world. You’re mainly just going to find Russians in St. Petersburg, Housing in Austin is a lot bigger. That being said, I personally believe the educational system is better and the food is more natural.
Would you move back to your country/Europe fulltime – yes or no?
I like it here a lot, but I think I would move back if I could. Of course, I was born there so I love my home and most of my friends and family are there.
What do you do in your free time?
I am a very creative person so I like to learn different and fun things like painting with henna on hands and other parts of the body. I also enjoy making mandalas (Ojo-de-Dios), crocheting, knitting, sewing, and painting. About once a month I host workshops where I teach how to do some of these things.
https://www.eurocircle.com/euro/wp-content/uploads/austin-member/2015/03/LubaCain4.jpg793526Kaisa Kokkonenhttp://www.eurocircle.com/euro/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/eclogow1.pngKaisa Kokkonen2015-03-15 05:15:362022-01-10 21:41:38Luba Cain – Russian photographer who specializes in maternity and newborns
My name is Choi Zung-Kyu Per Mattias Strömberg, born in Taegu, South Korea and raised by my adoptive parents in, well most of the time in Jönköping, Sweden. I am a real mix of everything, my looks are East Asian, my name (I usually introduce myself as Mattias) is Swedish. My English is a mix of Lancashire & Irish accent, with a hint of Scottish. So occasionally it is quite interesting when I meet someone for a business meeting for the first time.
I have a background as a 2nd lieutenant in the Swedish Army Rangers, a Masters in Weapon systems and Explosives and a Bachelors in Intelligence/counter-intelligence operations. No civilian diploma but plan to attend evening courses to achieve one.
I live in Budapest, and have lived here for a year now. I live alone in a 2 room apartment in the outskirts of Budapest, which is nice. A bit more quiet and relaxed than living in the city center, and a lot cheaper too.
I have lived in Ireland, England, Poland and Algeria before. I guess I am a bit of a globetrotter.
How did you end up in Budapest, Hungary of all places?
I was Delivery Manager for an IT company in Sweden, and one of the accounts had an office here in Budapest as well. Every once and again I had to go here for meetings. After a relationship with someone – for whom I moved back to Sweden – was over, I decided to move to Budapest.
What is the best and worst about Budapest for you?
Everything is so close. 3 hours and you are in Stockholm, or in Paris. Or why not go to Vienna for a day? Venice? Prague? London… And all you can think of is here too. Want to go to the opera or a musical? Go clubbing? Enjoy history and culture?
The administration is the one thing I really dislike here, and that EVERYTHING is in Hungarian. Without someone who helps you to translate, you are utterly lost.
How do you make your living now – and how would you like to develop that career?
I recently started a new position as a Support specialist for ExxonMobil’s Budapest office. It is a fairly easy position I would say. I plan to stay work in this position for a year or so, then start climbing the corporate ladder. I have always worked in some sort of leadership or management position before, so being at entry level feels very strange.
Do you see the differences between nationalities easily – yours vs. Americans vs. other Europeans?
I would say that I fairly easy can tell from what country people come from. This may have to do with me moving around so much, meeting and interacting with people from all over the world.
What do you absolutely miss from your country/heritage …or elsewhere? What do you miss the most – and the least from your own country?
Salted licorice. I crave my salted licorice and have a hard time finding it here, or any place outside Scandinavia. I also miss the Swedish “snus” (wet/moist tobacco) and since it is illegal to sell outside of Sweden (for EU countries) I depend on my friends in Sweden to send me some (there is a little shop selling under the counter, but shhh… don’t tell anyone) I also miss going to the movies and watching them in the original language. I would say that 95% of all movies showed in the cinemas are dubbed.
What is your absolute favorites as far as food/drinks go in Hungary?
Since I love meat, Hungary is the perfect country for me. The selection of sausages here is incredible, and there is a never ending supply of meat in all forms you can imagine. As for drinks Hungary is also a very good wine country. So, a good dish of meat with a glass of red is always welcome. Pálinka have also caught my attention, but I try to avoid the factory produced off the counter version. Proper pálinka should be the home-made one.
Workwise – how do you see Hungarians being different from Swedes – also culturally, what stands out in your chosen profession?
Hungarians and Swedes are pretty similar in many ways when it comes to work. We dig our heads down and do what we are told. At the same time, they are very much like the Irish. A bit laid back, no stress and if they miss a cut-off it’s not the end of the world. Took me some time to adjust back to this way of working after a couple of years back in Sweden. They also try to help out more, more than Swede’s do. If you have a problem or a question, all of a sudden you have 10 people from your department helping out. Another thing is that everyone is very polite here, greeting each other in the elevator, even if you don’t work for the same company. Walking into the office in the morning and you have said “good morning” to everyone you pass by.
The only major difference I would say is that in Sweden, it is not needed to have a diploma from a University or College to land a manager position. If you have the experience and proven track-record, you can get hired for a management position. Here in Hungary, it is impossible. Experience doesn’t count at all if you don’t have a diploma.
Sweden vs. Hungary – what do you think at minimum we should know about Sweden and Hungary?
In Sweden you can get along without speaking a word of Swedish, as long as you speak English. In Hungary it is the opposite. Generally people here only speak a couple of words in English.
Knowing more about life and having lived with your decisions for a while (like work) – would you still choose to be there and why?
That is a hard one. But I have to say yes. With all the problems and trouble that come with not speaking the language, the positives still win. Why? I don’t know, maybe because everything still is “new” to me and there is so much more to discover.
What cafes or restaurants, sights do you recommend to tourists to go to in Budapest and why?
There is so much to see and experience here in Budapest, but to name a few: the ruin pubs, Castle Hill and Fisherman’s Bastion, St Stephens Basilica, The Budapest Zoo. Take a tour with the river boats, enjoy a trip with continental Europe’s oldest metro, the New York Café… The list goes on…
How is the expatriate community there in Budapest, lots of Swedes for example?
Budapest is an international metropolitan, but not many Swedes or Scandinavians that are permanently living here. Most come here for studies or an internship.
Sweden is a very wealthy and equal country. I am curious how the standard of living is in Budapest (housing, health care, costs etc) – I have never been there myself – shame on me, I always wanted to.
Living in Hungary is totally different from Sweden. In every aspect. Salary, living standard, health care and social security. It feels like a lot of the things are still stuck in the 80’s. Yes, you can find high-end, top of the line housing, owned by foreigners and ridiculously overpriced. But if you stay away from the Real Estate agents who exclusively target foreigners, you can find really good housing for a fair price.
https://www.eurocircle.com/euro/wp-content/uploads/interview/2015/03/MattiasStromberg.jpg720719Kaisa Kokkonenhttp://www.eurocircle.com/euro/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/eclogow1.pngKaisa Kokkonen2015-03-11 10:13:092022-01-10 21:41:38Mattias Strömberg – From Sweden to Budapest with South Korean Flair
I just HAD to ask her for an interview. Oulu is one of northenmost larger cities in the world, I grew up about 230 km southeast from there. It is a city that is also called “living labs” – it has a specific place in my heart as my sister lived there for a while.
Please introduce yourself.
Hello Y’all! My name is Hanna Doyle (Kupiainen) and I was born and raised in Oulu, Finland. My first experience living in the U.S. was in 1997, when I was a foreign exchange student for one year of high school in Scandia, Minnesota (thank you Nickelson family). I enjoyed my time in the U.S. so much that I wanted to come back, so I returned in 2001 to be an Au Pair for one year in Chicago (thank you Holzhauser family). After my year as an Au Pair was over, I moved to Lohja, Finland, where I received
my associate’s degree in Tourism, Sales and Information Services. I was then accepted to Lahti University of Applied Sciences, majoring in Hospitality Management, and completed 3 semesters there.
I would finish my degree in Houston, as you will see below.
Fast-forwarding to 2015, I am married to James, who is a native Houstonian that I met in 2007. Jonah (12) is my step-son who lives with us in Spring, Texas with his little brother….and my biological son….Lucas (3), who is learning to speak both Finnish and English. We also have two pets: Tommy (our dog) and Peanut (our goldfish). We will be adding to our family in August. Merlin (15) will join us from Germany, as a foreign exchange student, and will be attending Klein Oak High School. Having kids at
home is wonderful, but it certainly keeps me busy!
How did you end up in Houston, TX of all places?
It was May 2006 when I received a phone call from my former Au Pair family. They had been transferred from Chicago to Houston and they invited me to move in with them in and finish my degree in Hospitality Management. I was so excited, not only to be returning to the United States, but also because the University of Houston is home of the Conrad N. Hilton college of Hotel and Restaurant Management! I packed my bags and told my mom that I was going to Texas for three months (sorry mom), knowing it would probably be more like three years. I graduated with Honors from the University of Houston in December 2009. Never did I think that I would stay in Texas after my graduation, but here I am, married with children.
What is the best and worst about Houston for you?
The best thing about Houston is the food! I love food, and if you are a foodie, Houston is the best place to live! We have the most amazing Tex-Mex, steaks, and sushi (I call it Texas sushi). I still haven’t learned to like BBQ, but I know it’s a big part of the culture here and my husband tells me that there’s nothing like authentic Texas BBQ.
As for the worst thing about Houston, I’d have to say it’s a tie between the traffic and the summer heat. No one likes to be stuck in traffic, and there is plenty of that in Houston. While I love the winters here, because it never gets down to -30F (like it does in Oulu), the summertime heat in Houston can be unbearable when it gets over 100F.
How do you make your living now – and how would you like to develop that career?
I work as the Office Manager at a private golf country club in The Woodlands. I’m glad to have a job in the hospitality industry and work normal hours Monday – Friday. I also work with International Cultural Exchange Services as a Field Manager. ICES is an exchange student organization that brings in students from all over the world to learn and experience life in the U.S. Having seen the benefits of the exchange student program myself, I can say that working with international teens and American families has changed my life for sure. I have a true passion for it and I love giving those kids an opportunity to broaden their horizons in the United States, just like I did back in 1997. I am currently hiring new Local Coordinators in Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. If you are interested in working as a Local Coordinator for us, or if you would like to host an exchange student, please contact me at hdoyle@icesusa.org.
Do you see the differences between nationalities easily – yours vs. Americans vs. other Europeans?
Finnish people are not the most warm and cuddly nationality out there. We like our space and our privacy and don’t easily warm up to strangers. I noticed when I moved here that Texans like to hug a lot and they always want to make small-talk, whether they know you or not. It was very strange. I am getting used to it now, but every now and then, my husband tells me “Stop being such a Finn and loosen up!”
What do you absolutely miss from your country/heritage …or elsewhere? What do you miss the most – and the least from your own country?
I miss sauna most of all. Anyone from Finland will tell you that it’s a HUGE part of our culture. Also, I miss eating reindeer and mashed potatoes, Valio vanilla ice cream, salted black licorice, rye bread, Karelia pies, Finnish chocolate, Kotipizza….the list is never ending. Did I mention that I like food?
What do I miss the least about living in Finland? There’s not much to say here, other than the limited options on television and radio. Living in Texas for a while, I’ve also grown to love country music….almost none of that back home!
Workwise – how do you see Americans being different from your countrymen– also culturally, what stands out in your chosen profession?
In Finland we get plenty of vacation and sick time. It was disappointing to learn that I only receive 10 days of vacation and 10 days of sick time per year. Some employers don’t even offer that much. What happened to taking off work every July? Not over here. Also, I have to say that six weeks of maternity leave is nothing. In Finland we get nine months! But I still choose to live here and I love what I do. As for work ethic, I will say that Finnish people, for the most part, are much more punctual and everything is done with intent…..no one keeps you waiting and very little time is wasted on meaningless tasks. Generally speaking, I haven’t found that to be as true here in the United States, although I have worked with some very intelligent and hard-working individuals.
When you think about what did you think about life in Houston before you moved there – did you misconceptions that turned out to be wrong?
I thought there would be tumbleweed and cowboys EVERYWHERE! Obviously, that’s not the case. Texans don’t all have cows or ride their horses to work every day. Also, I was afraid there would be snakes everywhere, especially rattlesnakes. I’m glad this did not turn out to be true….not a big fan of snakes!
Knowing more about life and having lived with your decisions for a while (like work) – would you still choose to be there and why?
Absolutely! The chances of me ever moving back to Finland are very slim. I have a family here in Texas and it wouldn’t be fair to ask them to move all the way to another country. That being said, my husband and I have discussed moving someday, so there’s a chance that I could end up back in Minnesota….hopefully in a nice house on a lake!
What cafes or restaurants do you recommend to tourists to go to in Houston and why?
This is something that I know about….yummy food! There are several places that I love that are close to me in Spring. This area is known for great Tex-Mex (a Texas version of Mexican food), so I would recommend my personal favorite, Mi Rancho. Love it! Fukuda Sushi is fantastic as well, if you just want good sushi and not necessarily the high prices or fancy atmosphere. One of my new favorite restaurants is Peli Peli in Vintage Park. If you are craving a good steak, you will find it here.
https://www.eurocircle.com/euro/wp-content/uploads/houston-interview/2015/03/HannaDoyle.jpg720576Kaisa Kokkonenhttp://www.eurocircle.com/euro/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/eclogow1.pngKaisa Kokkonen2015-03-09 05:58:262022-01-10 21:41:38Hanna Doyle – How does a woman from subarctic Oulu end in humid subtropical Houston, TX
Are you ready for a little bit of “oulala”?! Our next event is going to revolve around France. For this theme, we ask that you come with your own representation of France – could be specific clothes (beret), props (cane), features (moustache) or your favorite character. Ultimately, we want to be immersed in France through your vision and experiences. Let your imagination flow!
Now we go to the Best Hotel Bar in Austin with a balcony that overlooks Congress Avenue.
EXTENDED happy hour until 10 pm (drinks for sure, not 100 % on food)
French American Business Council of Austin, Inc. (FABCA), www.fabc-austin.org
(Liz Wiley, President. Board members: Valerie Bodet, Nicole Gewinner, Didier Kane, and Dana Kolflat)
Paul Rambaud, The Print Shoppe AustinAccueil.org, Isabelle Bossart & Co
Chef Alain Braux, AlainBraux.com, read his interview HERE
Allison Berguin (France) & The rest of EuroCircle Austin team (Adnan, Emma, Szilvia, Kaisa & Co welcome you warmly.
Members, please LOG IN with your email and password to sign up and find more details. (if you are not a member yet, register below — it is FREE.)
Share this EuroCircle event and invite other Europeans to join EuroCircle.com – it’s free. REGISTER HERE AS A NEW MEMBER
The Hotel finished a multimillion dollar renovation in March of 2013. Affectionately known as the ‘Stephen F,’ the luxury hotel is ideally placed on Congress Avenue.
The unique Art Deco façade is a famous Austin landmark and has been part of the city scene for more than 60 years. At the heart of the culture capital of Texas, this Austin luxury hotel is just blocks from art museums, the state capitol and right next door to Paramount Theatre.
The Stephen F’s Bar & Terrace is consistently voted the Best Hotel Bar in downtown Austin, with a balcony that overlooks Congress Avenue and a gorgeous view of the Texas State Capitol.
Who is Stephanie Sack and how did you find out about EuroCircle?
Hello EuroCirclers! My name is Stephanie Sack and I am the Communications Manager for my family’s luxury European travel company, the Barge Lady. I heard about EC about a year and half ago on Facebook! I joined the group right away, introduced myself to the Chicago ambassador, Maria Dollas, and have been active ever since.
How did you end up in Chicago? You lived in Europe, right?
I am a native Midwesterner, born and bred Chicagoan. My exposure to international travel and foreign affairs was from a very young age, as I began French lessons at age 8, attended an international youth leadership camp at 15, took my first trip to London at 18, and then off to Paris at 21! I have since been to Madrid, Barcelona, and Amsterdam, with additional trips to London and Paris. I have a very good friend who has lived all over the world, speaks four languages, and obviously possesses a complex view of international affairs. He has always said I am typically Midwestern in that I am grounded and pragmatic, but have a far reaching and global view that belies my upbringing as a lifelong Chicagoan. That is a wonderful compliment!
What is the best and worst about Chicago for you…what is a typical day and weekend?
On more days than not, I adore Chicago! I work out of the Barge Lady offices in the River North area, an area that once was sort of scuzzy thanks to the nightlife “of ill repute”. These days, it is a vibrant business district with a slew of scrappy start-ups, large corporate companies, flagship Chicago restaurants, and chic juice bars. We have a darling office in a vintage office building and are always visiting and collaborating with other colleagues in the area. Weekends I am at my yoga studio taking hot yoga classes, grocery shopping for new recipes, hanging out with my boyfriend, and spending time with my family!
How do you find the lifestyle in Chicago compared to Europe?
The European way of combining the old with the new has always been a fascinating difference. America is still so young, whereas Europe reveres its millenia of history in a way that simply does not translate to any American city. Chicago obviously stands alone in American architecture, but lacks the serene grandeur of European landmarks and cities. It’s hard to describe but I do feel it.
How do you make your living now – and how did you choose that career? Ever done anything else?
I am so blessed in my professional development in that I have always had the coolest jobs for the best people. I sold adverts for an arts and entertainment publication in my twenties, and am still very close with the owners of that company. I then owned and operated Chicago’s original independent boutique for stylish plus size women, offering the latest looks and and trends exclusively in sizes 12-24. It was called “vive la femme”, bien sur! After eleven years, it was time to move on, and I then ran a small marketing agency as for small business throughout Chicago, producing private events, consulting on advertising buys, and managing social media strategy. I was having a blast, meeting a ton of people and working on interesting projects, when my sister, Caroline, offered me a job as the Communications Manager at The Barge Lady in July of 2014. Caroline’s tenure at the Barge Lady began in 2010, and I was hesitant at first to join my mom AND my sister in a professional context. I started part-time in August 2014, took my first barge cruise in October 2014, and went full-time in November 2014! Now I get to use my entire skill set, speak a bit of French, AND see my family every day!
What is the essence of Chicago to you – what do you absolutely want your friends to see or feel in these places?
The neighborhoods are the beating heart of Chicago, and when friends are in from out of town, I take them to the authentically “Chicago” places, well off the beaten path. I had a gal pal in from California over the winter…we had coffee and people-watched at my favorite cafe, met a bunch of awesome folks at a party at one of the local clubs, and attended a meditation service at a super hip spiritual center, all in three different neighborhoods. Those kinds of things are what I like to show people about Chicago.
What do you absolutely miss from Europe…or elsewhere?
I miss a sense of gentility and culture that prevails in Europe. It is definitely in Chicago, you just have to look for it, but Europe’s complex culture, iconic cuisine, public art, and urban planning is something I think about often.
What are you favorite travel destinations for you – outside work?
I LOVE the American West…Nevada and Colorado are always top of mind when I travel domestically.
If you could change one thing from American culture/mannerism – what would you do? Same for Europe (a loaded Question, I know)
LOL this is definitely a tricky issue! Americans are sweet people, and we mean well, but we are SO GAUCHE! Loud, dressed badly, clueless…gah. All harmless but irksome traits. Europeans…perhaps a more generous spirit when a tourist (okay, yes I mean ME) asks for help would be delightful.
Workwise – how do you see Europeans being different from Americans– also culturally, what stands out in your chosen profession?
I think a more entrepreneurial spirit has influenced the European work ethic. It’s been amazing to see the food tourism movement take hold in France, and England revved up the economic engine with the success of the Tate Modern, a slew of new hotels, and a commercial response to the success of Downton Abbey. Travel has always attracted hard workers and detail-oriented people — if you don’t know where your passport is you ain’t going anywhere — and the influx of travel websites, personality-driven blogs, and self-publishing options has added new dimensions no one could have predicted when the Barge Lady began in 1985.
Would you live fulltime in Europe?
I would LOVE a place of my own in…Amsterdam, maybe? Ultimately I would like to have a permanent address in Chicago with a ton of escapades throughout Europe. So we’ll see!
What is a great weekend for you?
Lots of yoga, plenty of cooking, hanging out with my boyfriend, and smooching my adorable two-year old niece!
Your favorite trips by your company and why?
There are SO MANY amazing itineraries! Barge cruises are luxury adventures on your own private floating hotel. France is chock full of awesome barges! We have a “Dine Around” program aboard the “Savoir Vivre” where guests visit small restaurants deep in the French countryside for a taste of Burgundian cuisine, which is a super popular option for foodies. Winsome winos will adore the Bordeaux wine cruise on the “Mirabelle” with daily wine tastings throughout the region’s world-famous vineyards, while those who like more physical activity can bicycle throughout the pristine backroads of France while on the “Papilion”. In Scotland, guests can golf on elite courses during the day and sip small batch Scotch at night, while in Holland passengers immerse in the glorious assault on the sense that is Tulip Time. Beauty, culture, and gastronomy abound freely on barge cruises!
Your own dream trip – where and how would you like to travel?
I am planning a trip to Scotland to visit a barge called the Scotland Highlander, hopefully in late 2015 or early 2016. A stop in Edinburgh seems prudent, and I love to take trains in Europe, so a train ride (or three) will be involved! I also REALLY want to visit Iceland and Denmark, so with any luck some time in Reykjavik and Copenhagen are also on the docket! Finally, I plan to attend the Burning Man Festival this year in Nevada. This will be my fifth visit to this otherworldly event!
What makes Stephanie happy….if I had the power to give you anything you want to make your life perfect for you, what would you like me to do?
May I have an emerald green vintage Jaguar, please! Oh, and a driver to go with it!
\I look forward to sharing the barging lifestyle with the good people of EuroCircle!
https://www.eurocircle.com/euro/wp-content/uploads/travel/2015/03/StephanieSack03.jpg1024849Kaisa Kokkonenhttp://www.eurocircle.com/euro/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/eclogow1.pngKaisa Kokkonen2015-03-09 00:09:532022-01-10 21:41:38An antique network of waterways for the most modern of travels –Europe by barge!
We wanted to take a moment and ask Larisa to introduce herself to the Chicago members of EuroCircle. You haven seen her at the last two events behind the camera aiming the lens at you. So Larisa, tell us a little about yourself…
My name is Larisa Pevtsova. I am a photographer currently living in Chicago but originally from Crimea, Russia.
I have been living in Chicago for the past 18 years and certainly now consider it my adopted home.
Chicago is an amazing cultural city and it serves as a tremendous inspiration to me. The modern landscape of skyscrapers and incredible architectural innovation are a sobering contrast to the old world architecture and natural beauty of the Crimean peninsula.
Before I came to Chicago I was a student, but photography has always been a part of my life since both, my grandfather and great grandfather were photographers.
I’m inspired by true emotion and natural exuberance. I get tremendous pleasure photographing the performing arts – where I strive to convey not only the existential meaning of the performance, but also the emotional catharsis of the performers.
This also translates to portraiture where it is my pleasure to capture the raw emotion and beauty of the subject.”
PS. Go to her website and check out the beautiful photos!
https://www.eurocircle.com/euro/wp-content/uploads/chicago-member/2015/03/Interview-StephanieSack.jpg676849Kaisa Kokkonenhttp://www.eurocircle.com/euro/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/eclogow1.pngKaisa Kokkonen2015-03-04 02:39:052022-01-10 21:41:38Larisa Pevtsova, From Russia to Chicago, Larisa’s Life through the Lens
