DAVID ADAMS provides a round-up of some stories on the odder side of life…
Santas gather at the Christ the Redeemer statue above Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. PICTURE: Reuters
• Close to 50 Santa Clauses gathered at Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer on Friday, 16th June, to ask for world peace. They gathered at the steps beneath the statue where they sang songs and posed for pictures with tourists. Some donned Santa hats and others were wearing full costumes. The attendees were taking part in Brazil’s fourth Santa Claus National Encounter. – Reuters
The Federal Grill Master Championship hosted in Buenos Aires on Monday. PICTURE: Reuters
• A meat-lovers dream occurred in Argentina at the Federal Grill Master Championship hosted in Buenos Aires on Monday. In the contest, now in its fifth edition, the country’s best grillers from all across Argentina gathered in the nation’s capital to battle it out for the title of the country’s top grill master. The grill masters were tasked with grilling up a traditional Argentine “asado,” and they were all given the same cuts of meat and extras to work with, including beef, chorizo sausages, fish, lamb, provoleta, and vegetables. A total of 24 people competed in the contest near Buenos Aires’ landmark Obelisk. Argentina is famous for its “parrillas” and “asado” culture and for having some of the best beef in the world. – Reuters
The harbour in the coastal town of Hel in Poland. PICTURE: Adrian Tync (licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0)
• Going to Hel on bus route 666? A Polish bus company has announced it will no longer run route 666 to the town of Hel after concerns over the number – held to signifiy the devil – and the similiarity of ‘Hel’ and ‘hell’, a place of eternal damnation. PKS Gdynia said it has changed the route number to 669 which will be effective from 24th June. Local media reported that the company made the move following pressure from Christian groups but added that after a new public outcry over the change it was now reportedly considering returning to the old number.
