Stew Ross, Author at Stew Ross Discovers

Liberation Day

I’m writing this post on 5 May 2014. Liberation Day (also known as Freedom Day) for Holland. It was 5 May 1945 that Canadian forces along with other Allied forces were able to obtain the surrender of German forces in the small Dutch town of Wageningen. This led to the complete surrender and liberation of the country.

There is a cemetery near Maastricht. It is the final resting spot for 8,301 American soldiers who died in Operation Market Garden (17–25 September 1944). It was a failed Allied attempt to liberate Holland on their path to Berlin. There are other military cemeteries nearby for the British and Canadian men who did not survive the battle.

A Dutch family has adopted every man who perished in the battle. Each man’s grave is kept up and decorated. Even a portrait of their adopted soldier sits in their respective homes.

Audrey Hepburn

The Dutch railway workers called a strike during the battle. They felt it would increase the chances of success by the Allied forces. The battle failed and Holland would have to wait another 7 months to be liberated. In the meantime, the Nazi regime under Seyss-Inquart retaliated by not allowing any food into the country. Holland was literally being starved to death during the Hongerwinter (winter of hunger). More than 20,000 people died that winter of starvation. If you read any biography of Audrey Hepburn, you will hear about her experience during that winter.

Every May on the fifth, Liberation Day is celebrated in Holland. For two minutes, everything and everybody stops while the church bells ring. At the end of the day, a concert is held. Beginning in 1965 (the 20^th anniversary of the liberation), Nino Rossi’s taps called “Il Silenzio” is played as the final piece of the concert.

I will never forget as a 10-year old in 1965 stopping on the street wherever we were at the time. We would stop talking, and listen to the church bells ring for 2 minutes—every year.

I invite you to click on the following link and listen to a 13-year old Dutch girl, Melissa Venema, play “Il Silenzio” during the 2008 concert celebrating the liberation of Holland. The Royal Orchestra of the Netherlands backs her up. It is very moving—at least for the former 10-year old, now almost 60.

Do we have a lot of stories? Of course we do. I’m looking forward to sharing these with you. Please continue to visit our blog and perhaps subscribe so that you don’t miss out on the most recent blog posts.

Thanks so much for following my blog and my little journey through this incredibly interesting process of writing a series of niche historical travel books and then getting the bloody things published.

-Stew

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The Oldest Coffee House in Paris

Kusmi Logo. Illustration by Kusmi Tea. PD. Wikimedia Commons.

I published a blog post some time ago (May 2013) where my subject was the oldest coffee house in Paris—the Café le Procope. It was established in the 17^th century and still exists in the same location. Coffee quickly caught on with Parisians and coffee houses like Café le Procope multiplied throughout the city.

The BBC News Magazine recently posted (19 April 2014) an article entitled, France’s Silent Tea Revolution. The point of the story was to expose the growing trend of tea drinkers in Paris. It comments on how the French want quality in their tea bags whereas the English want the cheapest. Companies have sprung up to concoct special teas for restaurants as well as providing consulting services.

The specialist teas are spreading and no longer will French tea drinkers settle for just any old English tea bag (e.g., Earl Grey). The article mentions a retailer by the name of Dammann. While based in Dreux (west of Paris), Dammann has a store in Paris located at 15, place des Vosges (www.dammann.fr). Monsieur Damame, who was granted exclusive privileges by Louis XIV to sell tea in France, founded the company in 1692 (compare this to Café le Procope having been founded in 1686).

The article goes on to identify certain individuals who I mention in my book, Where Did They Put the Guillotine? , Madame de Sevigne, a prolific letter writer during the 17^th century, lived in the mansion that now houses the Musée Carnavalet. Napoleon was a tea drinker. Cardinal Mazarin, advisor to the young Louis XIV, drank tea as a medicine for his gout.

Like a Fine Wine

The French are treating tea as they do their beloved Bordeaux wines. There is a special way to serve the tea. Teas are being paired with cheeses and other foods. Teas are being judged based on color, clarity, vintages, fermentation, new growth, etc. For all you wine experts, sound familiar?

Do I hear an international tea contest brewing that is based on blind taste testing sometime in our near future? Perhaps Inglenook will develop a tea that takes Europe and France by storm? Most of you oenophiles will know what I’m talking about.

-Stew

Please note that I do not and will not take compensation from individuals or companies I mention or promote in my blog.

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Author: Stew Ross

Childhood Memories

Liberation Day

Audrey Hepburn

Coffee, Tea or Me

The Oldest Coffee House in Paris

Like a Fine Wine

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