Easter Eggs are more than spring’s most iconic food. For Christians, Easter Eggs are a symbol of new life, a colorful reminder of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the beginning of a new time. Inside each egg there is a new life growing.

Or perhaps not, because falling in love isn’t really about choosing the type you prefer, but rather more about the chemistry between two people.

There are phenomena, buildings and customs in Tirol which might seem strange at first sight – but they exist.

As a little girl it felt like my father could do anything. One of his magic tricks was cooking a specific dish synonymous with Tirol: Kiachl. I still remember the smell and sound in our home when he made them. Kiachln are doughy discs traditionally served with Sauerkraut, though these days you will also find them dished up with several other accompaniments such as cranberries. Now that I'm all grown up, it's time for me to learn for myself how to make Kiachln. And who better to teach me than the master himself?

For many people it is the most important celebration of the year: Christmas. With the countdown already on, I spoke with some locals in Tirol to find out what the festive season was like here in Tirol many decades ago, when they themselves were children. Join us on a journey back in time to an period when many things may have been different but the core elements of celebrating Christmas were pretty much the same as they are today.

Some dishes of my childhood were only prepared by my Dad. As he didn’t cook that often, these rare occasions were something special—and the food was simply delicious. I remember that I always had to loosen the belt after his signature dish, Zillertaler Krapfen. I just couldn’t get enough of this traditional Zillertal Valley dish that comes with a tasty quark and grey cheese filling in a crispy exterior.I asked my Dad the other day if he would show me how to make the Krapfen. And although they are quite time consuming to make from scratch, and he hasn’t prepared them for a long time, he was more than willing to do so.

“What is this life if we have no time to just sit and stare out at nothing? Everything great that ever happened in this world happened first in somebody’s imagination.” (Astrid Lindgren)Doing nothing is a foreign concept to most of us. The bottom line is that you don’t have time. But it’s the key to recovering from that productivity addiction that’s spinning you around in circles. It’s important to just take the time to zone out. Fortunately, Innsbruck has a number of pleasant spaces where I can luxuriate in a special time of doing nothing. Preferably with sunshine and a picnic blanket, just on my own or in good company. And without having to eat or drink anything.

I once read that Tiroleans are said to be a cunning, lederhosen-wearing mountain people who yodel. Well, honestly speaking, I wouldn’t describe us as ‘cunning’; I’d rather say we are kind of pig-headed, maybe. Don’t worry, the Tiroleans are still very friendly and welcoming people. If you befriend with those guys and they go to the mountain with you, be sure you have found friends which understand this meaning from the heart.

Outside the wind whistles and the rain pours, but inside the warm farmhouse kitchen it's nice and cosy. The scent of freshly baked cookies fills the air and reminds me of my childhood, when we would pinch the odd biscuit straight from the tray as soon as they came out of the oven. With Christmas just around the corner, I am looking forward to making my own cookies once again this year. Farmer and baking expert Karoline Schapfl kindly invited me into her kitchen in Lans to share some of her top tips.

Small weddings are on the rise as couples seek to make their weddings a more personal and intimate celebration. Lonely beaches are very popular, but what could be dreamier than getting married on a mountaintop, surrounded by all of nature’s glory? Mountain weddings make a unique alternative to the standard beach destination wedding.