When Did Persia Become Iran and Why? The region that is now the country of Iran has been known by many different names, and has had varying boundaries and borders over the past 5000 years. The name Iran comes from the Avestan word airyānąm, appearing in the time of Cyrus the Great (4th century BC).…
Design and Art
We haven't been to NYC for a while. So imagine our surprise when the B1M video (see below) about New York 's popped up for us on YouTube. Turns out that the project was not exactly the happiest of experiences, but - as they say - it is what it is. Rising from the remnants of…
With the benefit of hindsight, we can look back at things that raised the blood pressure of "the people," but can now look back and wonder what all of the fuss was about.
An example is Eileen Gray’s modernist villa E-1027, built in 1929. It resides on the Cap Moderne site. (The Cap Moderne Association is…
Every so often, a human mass movement comes along that subtly alters the zeitgeist of we humans. It could have been the art enlightenment in the 1920's. Or perhaps it was the peace and love Hippies in the 1960's. But one of these movements has persisted - the Chautauqua Institute. Chautauqua was an adult education…
For years there have been jokes about the "tin foil hats" people: the doomsayers, the mountain men, the survivalists, the crazies, the Government Plot believers. Others would look askance at them, walk to the other side of the street to avoid them.
Well, there is no doubt that mother earth is struggling, and we humans may…
In 1986, Vancouver hosted the World's Fair. An event like that is a big deal not only for the hosting city, but also for the brands that sponsor and appear in the fair. McDonald's was no exception: behold the McBarge. The 57-metre, two-storey glass-and-metal barge was used as a floating McDonald’s restaurant during the world’s…
If you're a YouTube fan, and especially a car aficionado, then have we got a channel for you: Ed's Auto Reviews
Ed (last name unknown) is from the Netherlands and boasts the sense of humour that typically inhabits the people of that most liberal country.
Being from the Netherlands, Ed mostly features European automobiles. But he saves…
Ah, governments are silly old things, aren't they? Their covert missions, surveillance, collusion and hidden agendas. And their dismissal of the intelligence of the people.
But here is a story that beggars belief -- the BT Tower in London. The story of how, for over a quarter of a century, everyone had to pretend the BT…
Your flight tickets will be $550. Your suitcase will be another $212.
Give this man, Bruno, a medal.
Overpacked and no room in my carry on, this is the outcome of that predicament - the travel coat: a couple meters of nylon from the Flea Market in two perfect tones of forest green, 29 carefully…
Tripadvisor fans (like us) get around. They every corner of the globe to discover the newest, the wildest, the most obscure and the, well, just plain fun. It's almost impossible to travel without eating something. And if your budget permits, the lure of "best of" restaurants is just too strong to resist. Here, here to…
You've got questions? We've got answers - especially to ones that you probably thought you'd never find yourself asking. Unless you're bored, doing research or are an anorak. This particular peculiarity focuses on the urgent need to understand why airline captains sit on the left-hand side of the plane? You'll find out here, but if…
As if Rome isn't fun enough - may we present to you Mama Shelter, Roma. Created by the owners of Club Med, Mama Shelter goes waaay beyond the normal. Just a short walk from the Vatican, and just 250m from the Cipro Metro station, everything is close and the nightlife is not far away. Treat…
The vast majority of Airbnb rentals go smoothly, but do you know what to do when they don’t? What happens if your host cancels your booking two days before you arrive, or the spacious bedroom shown in a listing turns out to be the size of a closet? Read more courtesy of SmarterTravel.com.
As you…
AirBnB, constant bad press notwithstanding, has created a wonderful new model on how to travel. Almost everyone wins. VRBO, an Expedia company (and one of our valued affiliate friends,) have taken the model and successfully given AirBnB a run for their money: in some recent months, they have marched past AirBnB in bookings. But, this…
"If looks could thrill it would have been us instead of him" All the children sing. These looks will thrill - at Reserva Alecrim EcoSuite & Glamping in Portugal. The properties, the views, the surroundings, the location - wow! And the bungalows look more like dwellings on the moon. Set by a lake in the Alentejo…
We're not sure if Sylvia Plath ever stayed at Sylvia's Restaurant and Lounge in Vancouver, but we're sure she would have felt at home. The Sylvia Hotel is a designated heritage building - there aren't too many of those in Vancouver - ideally located on English Bay, beside Stanley Park and just 5 minutes from…
It's hard to believe that (as of this writing) it has been two years since Notre Dame cathedral in Paris burst into flames. There were tears in our eyes as we watches - helplessly as the roof crumbled.
It will still be a very long time for the restoration to be completed.
Watch the video below to…
Whether we want to admit it or not, almost all of us feel a little tingle when we think of Disney parks. The company knows how to push our buttons, and even lead us to new places. But, one of those places - Epcot - in Florida is a bit of an enigma to many. …
No, this is not about drugs. But it is about sensory experiences that you can enjoy no matter your mood. The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is featuring a collection of four autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) videos that show off the acoustic ambience from the all parts of the city. Custom-made to arouse the…
India is a wonderful place full of wonderful people and lots of surprises. Here's one. Jatayu Earth Center, also known as Jatayu Nature Park or Jatayu Rock, is a park and tourism centre at Chadayamangalam in Kollam district of Kerala. It stands at an altitude of 350m above the mean sea level. Jatayu Nature Park…