Immerse yourself in the full Louisiana dining experience with a fun and educational cooking demonstration class at the New Orleans School of Cooking. In a converted 19th-century molasses warehouse, watch a local chef prepare classic Creole dishes like gumbo, jambalaya, and pralines. As you learn the secrets of these beloved recipes, enjoy generous samples paired perfectly with local beer or a refreshing sweet iced tea.

Mardi Gras and Carnival have long been the marquee events in New Orleans, with the first recorded parade taking place in 1837. Attracting hundreds of thousands of people each year, these festivities trace their origins to French traditions—Mardi Gras translates to "Fat Tuesday" in French. Carnival officially kicks off on January 6th (Epiphany) and unfolds over several weeks, beginning with elaborate, invitation-only balls hosted by krewes (private clubs), where debutantes are introduced to society. The excitement builds in the final weeks, leading up to Mardi Gras, with the famous street parades filling the city with colorful costumes, floats, and lots of music.

Bulgaria’s coastal bunkers, remnants of its WWII alliance with Nazi Germany, are scattered along the Black Sea coast. In Burgas, one bunker sits just off Central Beach, between the Pantheon of the Fallen Antifascists and the Flora Burgas Expo Centre. Another can be found near Lake Atanasovsko, known as the Bunker at the Salt Pans. Once military outposts, these structures now stand as silent reminders of a complex past, with some repurposed into cafes and covered in murals, or left abandoned, offering a glimpse into 20th-century history.