…Love is the theme of our songs, movies, poems, books, and art because it’s the most important force in our lives. It’s our most important emotion. It drives our actions, our goals , and is the basis of our emotional connections with others, human and non-human. Giving, receiving, and feeling love makes us happy!

When it comes to expressing love, and the emotions associated with it, sometimes words just simply aren’t enough. From a simple hand-tied posy of wildflowers to an explosion of exotic blooms; a dozen red roses to a corsage or boutonniere on Prom night—flowers can speak so eloquently on our behalf.

GC’s “Poet Laureate,” Charlie Rawson, shares her latest beautiful, evocative creation.

Spain’s culture is as rich, intriguing, and complex as its history. Here are 5 movies that will help you better understand both.

In the second he opened that door, the world stopped. There she was, the most beautiful goddess in the world. Her blonde curls were playing joyfully with the wind. Her blue eyes were as clear as the Mediterranean Sea. She had dimples when she smiled and she was smiling at me.

Vita nuova translates to “new life,” and through prose and poems Dante describes his relationship with the love of his life, Beatrice. These two first met in Florence when they were nine years old, and then again when they were 18. The early poems in Vita nuova show Dante as a young man besotted with Beatrice’s beauty, love-sick like a hormonal teenager. As in any pop-culture romance, his infatuation has its ups and downs. He’s devastated when Beatrice refuses to greet him in the street. He even has a dream in which Love appears to him personified, and feeds Dante’s heart to Beatrice.

At the beginning of my journey my name is Abhain Dubh meaning “black river” in Scottish Gaelic. I tumble down the mountain to Duchray Water and then into Loch Chon, much appreciated for its sheltered water after my hurtle down the hillside. I can relax in this magical place and enjoy the playfulness…

Could there be any better way to be challenged than to have an actual, honest conversation face-to-face with people towards whom you would not normally gravitate because they do not sound or look like you? When information is available in a safe setting, you are able to make your own decisions. Building bridges is more constructive than building walls.

One of our neighbours’ sons, got married in 2016, so I asked if I could write about “going to the chapel,” aka, the wedding, and the answer was “Si!” Weddings are a fun and interesting way to get a glimpse into any culture. This wedding was a great mix of old traditions and modern trends.

I realize that I am blessed to have been born in the US (thank you , Mom and Dad, for seeking and working for a better life). I realize that I enjoy great privilege in being able to travel and learn from experiences and cultures from all over the world, and I do not ever want to take any of that for granted.

This 5-star hotel was founded in 1881 and was fully restored in 2007. It is the second-oldest, still-standing hotel in Spain and is still run by the Moreno family. In fact, it is easy to find the actual owner, Mr. Rafael Moreno, talking with guests at the lobby.

This is the moment of truth. The matador will try with his dance to make the bull look like the perfect creature that it is. It is, to me, the most beautiful moment of the corrida. The two in the ring become one soul. A good matador will be the bull’s shadow, will be his breath, they unite.

A cremation day is characterized more by fun and laughter than mourning. The community is helping to achieve their sacred duty: liberating the soul of the departed and freeing them to reincarnate. In Bali’s unique form of Hinduism, the body is only a shell—the vessel of the soul.  After death, the soul lingers near the body until being liberated by fire. Through cremation, the soul is released to be reborn.

One of America’s most prolific and celebrated writers to change the literary landscape is undeniably Ernest Hemingway. While it’s always a challenge to capture a work of writing and adequately refashion it for the silver screen, here are five worthwhile adaptations of works by the incomparable Ernest Hemingway.

Here in Spain, getting your driver’s licencse is a big deal. One of the things that shocks foreigners is that we have to wait until we are 18 years old, and you are not allowed to practice at all before that day.

The Czech Republic’s Vltava River begins in the Šumava Mountains, ends near Prague, and flows through some of the country’s most beautiful scenery. That’s why it inspired the most famous piece of classical music in Czech culture: the symphonic poem Vltava (you might know its English title, The Moldau), named after the river, and composed by Bedřich Smetana. Smetana’s piece is a paean to the wonders of the Czech landscape.

Shortbread is synonymous with Scotland, and no self-respecting shortbread tin would be without a striking image of the country. If you’re thinking of visiting friends on New Year’s Eve and want to take a home-made gift, or if you simply want to treat yourself or your family, the recipes below are quick and easy and could be just what you’re looking for!

I am a generalist and work all over Italy and they are specialists in their regions or cities. I am also a bridge and strive to make connections between the well-recorded history and how it relates to us. Taking things from the past and relating them to our present and trying to not simply rattle off facts and numbers, but to create a cultural experience that will remain as a memory, long after the facts have faded into the background.