Im Vorgarten der Karpaten

A sensual approach to culinary art "on the ground", meeting farmers, winegrowers, restaurateurs and cooks, where gastronomy and the art of living have their roots.

Could psychedelics treat depression? Banned substances such as LSD and psilocybin are now being tested for various afflictions. Several studies are ongoing with one of the largest being conducted by the Charité hospital in Berlin and the Central Institute for Mental Health in Mannheim, Germany. Since the risks and side effects of the substances have not yet been fully researched, their use for therapeutic purposes remains highly controversial.

On the unspoilt banks of the Save River lies the Lonjsko Polje Nature Park. Numerous species have made this green setting their home. But the star of the region is the white stork. Some villages have more than two nests per rooftop, and the cohabitation between man and beast generally goes well. A surprising illustration: for the past twenty-four years, Stjepan Vokic, a retired school janitor, has looked after the stork Malena, who has been grounded by an injury.