Thanksgiving is our favorite American holiday and favorite American meal, hands down.

Last year we enjoyed Thanksgiving with expats from around the world in Beijing, China. This year we share Thanksgiving dinner with family in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

We wonder: where will we find ourselves at this time next year?

No matter where you are, we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!

This is the cultural goulash of Central Europe.

Although our recent reflections on this site have been focused on China, we’ve actually been bouncing around Central and Eastern Europe and working on projects.

Before we move onto stories from Burma and India, we offer a visual slice of Central Europe. Enjoy our photo collections from Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia and Hungary.

Vienna, a city of grand culture, coffee houses and sacher torte. While it’s firmly in the West, it provides hints of the East. For visitors, it offers magnificent museums, a vibrant market (Naschmarkt), and Heurigers (vineyard restaurants on the outskirts of the city) that make drinking a spritzer (white wine mixed with sparkling water) a required activity.

Read: The Wine Bends: A Detour in the Austrian Countryside

More photos from Vienna and the Austrian countryside

Despite the density of crystal shops, souvenir stands, strip clubs and tourist restaurants in Prague’s Old Town (Starometska) and Wenceslas Square, its residential neighborhoods (Vinohrady, Vrsovice) still retain their charm.

Although the days of $0.40 draught Pilsner Urquell beer (upon our arrival in Prague, circa December 2001) are long since over, the city still begs a visit.

Read: Clown and Country: A Week in the Czech Countryside and other articles about Prague.

More photos from Prague, Southern Bohemia, and the rest of the Czech Republic (Cesky Krumlov, Valtice, Kutna Hora, and more)

Although sometimes overshadowed by nearby Prague, Bratislava (a.k.a., the “Little Big City”) is relaxed, unpretentious and pleasantly lean on souvenir shops.

See more photos from Bratislava and Trencin, Slovakia

Berlin is arguably the most dynamic city in the region; a forward-looking and creative energy circulates constantly and begs us to stay each time we visit. During our first visit in 2002, Berlin was a giant construction site whose cranes consumed the landscape. Berlin has since settled nicely into its post Cold War identity, but the spirit of change abounds. Maybe this is why Barack Obama chose to speak here in July, 2008.

Read: Barack Obama in Berlin

Photos from Berlin, Barack Obama’s speech (July 2008) and the rest of Germany (Munich, Dresden and Nuremberg)

Budapest leaves no doubt about its historical significance - just look to the scale of its streets, buildings, and its public transport network. We’ve already spilled our ink about rediscovering Budapest this autumn and falling in love with its markets. Check it out below.

Read: Budapest: Warmth and Spice in Central Europe

Photos from Budapest, Hungary

The impetus to change our itinerary occurred while we were in Central Asia. Several seasoned travelers and experts, having just come from China, convinced us to seize the moment and visit before the Olympics. We’re glad we did.

To anyone possessing even a remote interest in seeing traditional China, we offer similar advice: go soon before it disappears under the wrecking ball.

To conclude our reflections: a slideshow of the Best Of China’s Landscapes and Cityscapes, our Top 10 Authentic China Experiences and a Google MyMap indicating our paths across China.

If you’d like more details on any of these photos, go to the Best of China - Landscapes and Cityscapes photo set and check out the description under each photo. If landscapes don’t do it for you, but people do, check out The Many Faces of China.

Where and how did we collect these impressions?

Our use of the word authentic in the title is deliberate. China’s tourism development officials seem to revel in contriving experiences for visitors, resulting in large tchotchke-filled concrete-poured pavilions called “Tourist Leisure Centers” and newly built or heavily renovated “ancient” temple complexes and old towns.

The antithesis of authenticity perhaps?

For us, the most engaging and touching moments are those that showcase the real lives of people carving their way through daily life. And call us nostalgic, but moments that genuinely speak to bygone eras are satisfying, too.

1. Searching for Audrey’s grandfather’s house in Qingdao, being questioned by the police (authentic, but not fun) and recovering by eating “Pork with Douche” dumplings.
2. Getting lost amidst testicle stands and duck vendors at the sprawling ethnic markets of Gedong and Chong’An in Guizhou Province.
3. Hiking the Hani terraced rice fields of Yuanyang (Yunnan Province), watching Dan get his chest hair pulled by another man and absorbing the colorful weekly ethnic market in Niujiazhai.
4. Goofing around with kids at a streetside market outside of Jinghong in Xishuangbanna (Yunnan Province)…much relief after a two-day bus trip with the Chinese Olympic Spitting Team.
5. Stumbling upon a Tibetan Opera and a crowd of Tibetan Buddhist pilgrims at Labrang Monestary in Xiahe (Gansu Province).
6. Taking in the animal parade (camels included) at the early-morning opening of the Kashgar Sunday Animal Market (Xinjiang Province) and ending the day with pulled noodles at the night market.
7. Discovering a pocket of freedom of expression at Factory 798 in Beijing.
8. Avoiding the ear cleaner, surviving Sichuan hot pot and finding the pandas amongst the 10 million people of greater Chengdu.
9. Having the Great Wall to ourselves at Jinshanling and hiking 12 km atop the wall to Simatai on a clear and brisk December day.
10. Eating…everywhere!

The blue line indicates our path in November/December 2007; the red line shows our path in June 2008. Click on a pin for transport details and links to articles from that location.

A SIM card mosaic, of course. While we don’t have a SIM card from every country we’ve visited over the last two years, we certainly have a growing collection.

More evidence that we are gadget and equipment junkies? Not really. Mobile phone SIM cards are practical. Most cost between $5-$10 and often include equivalent credit for making phone calls and sending SMSs (text messages). Within seconds of popping one into our unlocked mobile phone, we are equipped with a local phone number and able to call guest houses and coordinate dinner plans with locals. Cheap and easy.

The exception? The United States. During our last visit in 2006, we searched high and low to find a reasonably priced pre-paid SIM card. Eventually we did; it set us back $15. Although we doubt it still works, we’ll take it with us to New York this week and we’ll see if we can bring it back to life.

If not, we’ll be on the hunt again…to add to our collection.

The following slideshow is our take on China’s ethnic diversity. While these images represent only a fraction of China’s 56 official ethnic groups (there are scores more unofficial ones), we hope they give you a better feel for the various people who call China their home.

If you’d like to know more about the people you see in the slideshow, go to our Many Faces of China photo set and click on the individual photos for a full description.

While we’re on the subject of cultural diversity in China, do you remember the celebration of ethnic diversity at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic games? You know, the one where all those cute little ethnic minority kids paraded around in their traditional outfits. It seems that the children were not actually members of the ethnic groups they were supposed to represent, but rather Han Chinese children disguised in traditional ethnic outfits.

We assure you that the people featured in our slideshow are for real.

If you are interested in reading about China’s ethnic minority areas, check out our Ethnic China Series:

• Part 1: Disappearing Donkeys: Kashgar on the Edge of a Developing China
• Part 2: A Tibetan Pilgrimage in Xiahe
• Part 3: Yuanyang – Sweaty Men, Rice Fields and Beautiful Women
• Part 4: Xishuangbanna: China’s Deep South
• Part 5: Guizhou: Market Days in China’s Poorest Province

From the friendly Gansu bread man to the the giggling Qingdao dumpling ladies, China unfolds in a video montage of street food and kitchen scenes.

Only in China and only in this video.

From the fresh markets to the grand open baths, here’s why.

Lehel Market: Where Budapest Locals Shop

Surprisingly unpleasant experiences greeted us at outdoor markets in the Baltic capitals (Riga, Tallinn and Vilnius). Memories of dour, paranoid vendors - forbidding photographs of their produce and eschewing conversation with their frowns - fueled our apprehension as we approached Budapest’s Lehel Market (Lehel Csarnok) with our cameras.

Instead, we found courteous shoppers stopping in their tracks to avoid ruining our photographs and friendly vendors agreeing to be photographed. They didn’t mind us snapping away at their gorgeous peppers and massive cabbages. For this we breathed a sigh of relief. The atmosphere at Lehel Market reaffirmed the impressions we had collected while walking Budapest’s streets.

The variety and quality of produce was impressive: pepper mountains in yellow, orange and fire engine red, cabbages the size of medicine balls, and stuffed pickled vegetables in electrifying hues. Not to mention the thousands of Hungarian sausage links (kolbasz). And this was November. We can only imagine this market as it bursts at the seams in the height of summer.

Lehel vs. Central Market
The following day we paid a visit to Budapest’s Central Market (Nagyvásárcsarnok) with the purpose of assembling the ingredients - chicken and vegetables - for the evening meal we had planned for our hosts.

They had warned us to arrive early since the tour buses pull up en masse at mid morning. Unfortunately, we aren’t morning people. Our late arrival ensured our share of bobbing and weaving through the tourist throngs - between the waving arms of gesticulating Italians and around the imposing footlong camera lenses of the of the shutter-happy Asians.

Budapesters (yes, our research indicates that’s what they are called) did their fruit and vegetable shopping at the stands along the edge.  We joined them in line. One kilo of small tomatoes, four sweet peppers, four onions and two zucchinis later, our wallets were a mere $2 lighter.

Ironically enough, the variety and choice of food at Lehel Market was actually much better than at Central Market.  Regardless, Budapest features some of the best fresh markets and produce we’ve seen in Eastern Europe.  We joked with our friends - recent arrivals to Budapest - that they will receive absolutely no sympathy from us should we hear complaints about the food.

Bath Time, Like a Dream
Our last night in Budapest featured a visit to the Szechenyi Baths in City Park on the Pest side of town. Puffs of steam rose from huge outdoor hot pools set amidst the Neo-Baroque architectural splendor. After sampling a chokingly hot dry sauna and various pools, we took a spin around the whirlpool. To signal closing time, a 1960s Hungarian childhood tune warbled in the night. Hungarians sang along as they exited the pool, laughing at the song…and themselves.

See More of Budapest: Our Budapest Photo Set

Practical Details - Budapest Restaurants, Markets and Baths

Where to Eat:

• Frici Papa Kifőzdéje - inexpensive, quick and filling. We enjoyed the mushroom gulash with mashed potatoes. Address: Király u. 55
• Szent Jupats: Recommended by two Hungarian women we met. Bean soup, tasty mushroom/paprika gulash, bugaci chicken with dumplings (halusky/strapacky). Don’t pay attention to reviews that claim that the kitchen only serves fried meat. Address: Moscow Square (Moszkva Ter)
• Hummus Bar: Ok, so hummus isn’t Hungarian food, but Hummus Bar dishes out some authentic and memorable hummus and falafel. Ask for the hot sauce and enjoy the endless shots of mint/ginger tea. A real treat when you need a change from gulash. Address: Alkotmany Street 20 (behind the Parliament).
• Langos Centrum: Located in the middle of Lehel Market on the ground floor, this place dishes out fresh langos (flat, circular fried bread) with a variety of toppings - sour cream, cabbage, beans, cheese - all day long. Grab a draft beer to accompany your langos and enjoy the experience.

Where to Shop (Fresh Markets):

• Lehel Market (Lehel Csarnok): Located outside the Lehel metro station, Lehel Market is the big building that’s shaped like a boat. If you want something sweet to finish you off after a dose of langos, head to the Turkish stand in the back and take your pick of five varieties of fresh baklava and halvah.
• Central Market (Nagyvásárcsarnok): Located near Kalvin Ter metro station near the river. The middle aisle is geared towards tourists - paprika stands, Hungarian sausages, Hungarian foie gras, traditional-looking Hungarian ceramics, etc.  The stands in the outer ring feature the best produce. Pay a visit to the strudel stand halfway up the main aisle (on the left if entering from Vamhaz krt.) and try the cabbage (kaposztas) and poppy/apple varieties. Truly delicious.

Hungarian Baths:
Szechenyi Baths: Take the metro to Szechenyi furdo and walk past the circus (on the left) to the entrance. Cost is 2,600 HUF, but if you stay less than two hours, you get a 400 HUF refund. Closes at 10 PM to a fabulously catchy children’s song.

To close our Chinese food series, we share a few miscellaneous bits, bites and highlights that we just couldn’t shoehorn into the previous segments. We remember fondly the Chinese dining experience: refrigerator cases full of greens, skyscraper piles of tofu, the flash fry technique, earthy-brown soy and sesame oil chili pepper sauces, and copious condiments.

The Chinese consider the number eight lucky. We can all use a little luck, so we limit our list accordingly.

Grilled Tofu: If you like tofu, you’ll be in heaven in China. If you don’t like tofu, give it another chance since you are virtually guaranteed fresh tofu in China; it’s a whole different experience.

In the Yuanyang region of Yunnan Province, grilled tofu stands dot the streets and markets of towns and villages like Xinjie and Niujiazhai. Tofu grill-masters ensure that each tofu pillow is perfectly browned. Serve yourself: snatch the piece of your choice with your chopsticks and dip it in a spicy combination of soy sauce, hot pepper sauce and other condiments.

Cat’s Ears Noodles: Hop outside the old town city walls of Pingyao (near the post office) and you’ll find some hole-in-the-wall local restaurants serving all manner of fascinating noodles typical of Shanxi Province. Our favorite: buckwheat noodles in the form of little buckets or - if you look at them right - cat’s ears. These noodles go by any number of the following names: kao lao lao, lao lao youmian, cat’s ears noodles, and wowo and are sided with a tomato-based sauce.

Pingyao Beef (平遥牛肉): The history of braised Pingyao beef may be a bit sketchy, but the taste is not. The texture of Pingyao beef resembles that of corned beef. The flavor is difficult to pin down; Pingyao beef is prepared with a five-spice (or five aroma: sweet, sour, bitter, savory, and salty) seasoning which features a combination of cinnamon, cassia, ginger root, cloves, fennel seed, star anise and occasionally Sichuan peppercorns. The result: beef that is tender, fragrant, and delicately rich. Terrific when sided by a decent bottle of Chinese wine (look for Xinjiang labels, stay away from Great Wall and large volume brands, open the bottle and let it breathe).
Where to find it: TianYuanKui Hotel: Although a bit more expensive than some other restaurants in town, the Pingyao beef is spectacular. Address: 73 NanDa Jie, Pingyao. Harmony Guesthouse also offers a different, but still very good, Pingyao beef. Address: No.165 Nan Da Jie Street, Pingyao.

Lotus Root: Lotus root sounds exotic. Looks it, too. It’s delicate, crispy, and vaguely sweet. The pattern inside a lotus root recalls a stencil from art class. Like any good root, lotus tends to take on the flavors surrounding it; it’s often marinated with vinegar or chili sauce and makes for a refreshing starter or palate cleanser.
Where to find it: Xiao Wang’s Home Restaurant serves a pleasant vinegar-marinated version at No 2 Building, GuangHuaDongLi in the Chaoyang area in Beijing.

Peking duck: Plum sauce, scallions and thin crepe-like pancakes round out the multi-layer meat-and-duck fat deal, yielding a delicate balance of salty and sweet. Although we’d argue that Peking duck isn’t the be-all, end-all of Chinese cuisine, it’s worth a taste and holds its place in the pantheon of familiar Chinese delicacies.
Where to find it: We enjoyed the lean Peking Duck at Xiao Wang’s Home Restaurant in the Chaoyang area of Beijing.

Jian Bing Egg Crepe (鸡蛋灌饼): Also known as the Beijing breakfast pancake, this treat is special, but not exclusive to Beijing. The savory combination of egg crepe, egg, coriander, spring onion and sesame flipped and doused with chili sauce or sweet bean paste will get wake you up in the morning or tide you over in the afternoon until dinner. As with any good street food, the production process is almost as pleasing as the result.
Where to find it: Best taken from a street cart with a dose of nostalgia in one of Beijing’s few remaining low-slung traditional hutong neighborhoods.

Yunnanese Goat Cheese (乳饼 rǔbǐng): Yes, you read correctly: Chinese goat cheese. Though the goat cheese in Yunnan Province doesn’t quite live up to chevre, its French cousin, it is worth a taste. Braised and served with salt (white salt or sometimes sulfuric black salt) and cracked black pepper, it is relatively mild and looks a bit like braised tofu (similar texture too).

Fava Beans: You can find this dish anywhere in Yunnan province. Tiny and buttery, shelled fava beans are another terrific vegetarian staple available from the capital of Kunming to the hinterlands of Xishuangbanna. Top it off with roasted red chili sauce for a little kick.

Given the amount of attention we’ve paid to Kashgar and China’s Xinjiang Province, you might think us obsessed, or suspect that we’re being paid by the Kashgar Tourism Board. You can decide about the former, but we can firmly deny the latter.

But this is our last word on the place, at least for a while. Enjoy the video.

Watch Our Video of Kashgar’s Night Food Market