Culture From Your Country

[elliebean]

[youtube:1x0lkhsp]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeeWzFUTwU8[/youtube:1x0lkhsp]
[youtube:1x0lkhsp]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WULpYyv7FjA[/youtube:1x0lkhsp]
[youtube:1x0lkhsp]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATyGuDTLBjA[/youtube:1x0lkhsp]

Btw, meet some of my friends:
[youtube:1x0lkhsp]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyVCh4MiemA[/youtube:1x0lkhsp]

[philosoraptor]

In terms of local food stuffs (as in local to the NJ-PA-DE area):

Pork roll.  Which I personally love.  It's like a thinner, tangier version of Candian bacon.  Great on breakfast sandwiches, or fried until the edges get crispy.  Nom.  I might make some of this now!
Cheesesteak.  I never knew growing up that this is a regional thing, but it seems they don't really do them outside of the greater Philadelphia area.  Usually entails fried minute steaks, onions, and cheese, although there are many variations.  The roll is key to the creation-it's got to be a good, hard roll.  Newer variations include the chicken cheesesteak and the pizza steak.
Tastyake.  These are originally native to Philadelphia and the East Coast, but have slowly been creeping West.  Basically, they manufacture prepackaged baked goods that are good in that disgusting junk food kind of way.
Salt water taffy.  Was originally marketed out of Atlantic City (my town!), but is now sold almost anywhere there's  a beach or boardwalk.  Contrary to its name, it does not contain salt water.  A soft and chewy taffy that comes in a multitude of flavors.

[Tank]

Well to give you a little insight to where I live now.... this is our former sheriff.  
[youtube:15xooy3g]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCG9sIFRqx8[/youtube:15xooy3g]

I think Buster (new sheriff) is still keeping with the pink for most inmates..... I think, have to ask my deputy friend.

That's just a brilliant idea  

[Tom62]

My country is not famous for its culinary delights, but there are a few exceptions to that rule:

Poffertjes are very tiny pancakes that are served with some butter and powdered sugar.
Kroketten and Bitterballen is a deep fried meat delicacy.
Gouda cheese is one of the best cheeses in the world. Tip: if you are in Holland then try to get hold of the matured "boerenkaas". It is nearly impossible to get it abroad. Accompanied with a good glass of red wine or a sweeter dessert wine, it will blow your socks off.
Matjes is a soused herring dish, that makes the Germans go back to Holland year after year.
Rijsttafel is an elaborate meal adapted by the Dutch from the Indonesian feast called nasi padang. It consists of many (forty is not an unusual number) side dishes served in small portions, accompanied by rice prepared in several different ways.

[Cecilie]

Audrey Horne. In my opinion one of Norway's most underrated bands. From Bergen and plays heavy and melodic hard rock. Here are two songs one from their album "Le Fol", the second one from "Audrey Horne".

[youtube:22kmjcif]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGqQCl8GWec[/youtube:22kmjcif]
[youtube:22kmjcif]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fj3LHNRdSk[/youtube:22kmjcif]

[Squid]

I'll attempt to add a bit to the pot here.  I'm currently in San Antonio - I'm sure everyone knows its famous stories and this old building:



But I'll be moving back down to the coastal plains soon - where I grew up.  Since stuff around there is less well known, I'll show some stuff about it.  My hometown of Cuero, Texas besides being famous for "chupacabra" sightings has more to it than that:

[youtube:2tastq6y]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO9Yx6Bg1wk[/youtube:2tastq6y]

It has a large festival every year focusing on, no joke, turkeys - it's called Turkeyfest.  It originally started as the "Turkey Trot Festival" and has been happening every October for nearly 100 years:

[youtube:2tastq6y]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGecrkQZuRQ[/youtube:2tastq6y]

Just 26 miles north of Cuero, Texas is a little town called Shiner, Texas - home of the Spoetzl Brewery which makes the widely known Shiner Bock beer:

[youtube:2tastq6y]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pSTfdE9tR4[/youtube:2tastq6y]

Shiner has a festival every year as well called Bocktoberfest which has become pretty big, this is from a few years ago the 2006 Bocktoberfest:

[youtube:2tastq6y]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J8YlA0yGNg[/youtube:2tastq6y]

If you turn to the south of Cuero about 30 miles you come to Goliad, Texas famous for its Spanish missions:

[youtube:2tastq6y]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tvkstp6N-is[/youtube:2tastq6y]

I'll leave ya with this for now even though there's plenty more...

[Cecilie]

This is as Norwegian as it gets. "Hallingdans" is a Norwegian folk dance where you dance around in a circle and kick a hat off a stick.

[youtube:1xdyciw8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Wq6If8MsFQ[/youtube:1xdyciw8]

Also, some pictures of the "bunad" which is a traditional Norwegian costume. Most women have one, but not that many men have. They are hand made and really expensive.




My bunad looks like this (that is not me   ):

[Cecilie]

http://www.visitnorway.com/360/geiranger/

[Cecilie]

There's a nice video you can watch here:
http://www.visitnorway.com/

[Tank]

http://www.visitnorway.com/360/geiranger/

That is truly beautiful, magnificent.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Texas culture:

[youtube:17fgg5eo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmvo2HKrNl8[/youtube:17fgg5eo]

http://www.cartermuseum.org/



http://sxsw.com/

... amongst other things.

[Asmodean]

We are also a great big producer of heavy alternative rock. Bands like Tristania, Dimmu Borgir, Sirenia and Satyricon originate in Norway.

[Asmodean]

Audrey Horne. In my opinion one of Norway's most underrated bands.

I'm gonna watch them live in Oslo soon  

[Cecilie]

Audrey Horne. In my opinion one of Norway's most underrated bands.

I'm gonna watch them live in Oslo soon  

Lucky you.

[Tom62]

Some images from the area where my family lives.

[youtube:1rbreit2]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNLExP2QEMY[/youtube:1rbreit2]

[youtube:1rbreit2]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPMOxxrknWI[/youtube:1rbreit2]