If a whirlwind trip to Europe isn’t in the cards, you can experience the next best thing at this weekend’s Shortcut to Europe in Washington, D.C.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday, European Union-member embassies throughout D.C. will open their doors to the public, offering a rare inside look at the embassies and their work, as well as a taste of each country’s culture, food and traditions.
A total of 29 embassies are participating, including embassies representing E.U. members like Germany, France, Greece, Spain, Latvia, Ireland, Italy and Croatia. In addition to the 28 E.U.-member countries, the European Union headquarters will also be welcoming visitors with games, music, a photo booth and food.
Each embassy will host its own program for visitors to enjoy, ranging from games and giveaways to food and dancing. At the Embassy of Greece, visitors can learn the ancient skill of pottery painting while sampling mezedes and learning traditional Greek dancing. Meanwhile, the Embassy of the Czech Republic will host a 1920s-themed afternoon of jazz music, Kafka performances, Czech brews and traditional food.
And if a trip to Europe is on your bucket list, keep in mind that several embassies (including those of Greece and Estonia) will be giving away trips to their countries.
Shortcut to Europe is part of Passport D.C., a month-long program celebrating international culture through embassy tours, street festivals, exhibits and performances. More than 100 events are scheduled to celebrate D.C.’s International Cultural Awareness Month. For more information on this month’s events, check out the Passport D.C. website.
(Main image: Celso Flores)
