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Design and Art

Design and Art

You’ve got a friend in we

People are people, thankfully, but everyone is distinctly different in one way or another - again, thankfully.  But some collections of people seem to have attributes that give their countries - and themselves -shiny reputations. There have been plenty of these lists circulating in the past, but the world has gotten bigger and smaller at…

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Tornados in Europe!

Even if you're a European whiz, sometimes you might want to retrace your steps to ensure that you've seen it all.  Or maybe you're just in a hurry.   So here's a plan for you.  Be a tornado. Experience three of Europe's iconic capitals in just ten days. If you only have a short stay in…

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Find the hidden restaurant

Are you "in" with The In Crowd?  Do you know every latest dance?  When you're in with The In Crowd, it's easy to find a hidden restaurant.*  New York is the place that never sleeps, is sometimes confusing and maybe a bit too artsy, and is certainly in with The In Crowd.  We love it.…

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You’re worth it, and you know it

Who hasn't - at least once - dreamt of basking in the sun in Saint-Tropez?  Since the 50's, it has always represented the universal ideal in luxury, culture and aspirations. Well, for those in the mood and in the position to do so, you'll be thrilled that the Airelles Saint-Tropez, Château de la Messardière will…

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Rigi – don’t lose that number

Yodele hee hoo!  Now here is a wonderful, simple and unforgettable adventure for you - lovely Rigi mountain in Switzerland -  and its fabulous cog train. The residents of Rigi have not let their wonderful natural resource go to waste.  Above and beyond being a daily mode of transport (since 1871) for its residents, it…

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The second most romantic hotel in the world

Second best is not usually where we see ourselves appearing.  We're winners, are we not, even in a small way?  We've got moxie!  Nothing's gonna keep us down.  Chin up.  Pip pip.  So here's a story that will bring a smile to your face. A small hotel in Guadalest has been voted the second most romantic…

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Can you Canfranc?

War is hell.  There have been too many.  But, humans always find a way to pick themselves up, dust themselves off and start again. After the end of the First World War, during the euphoria following one of the most awful periods of world history, the Pau-Somport rail tunnel had been driven beneath the Pyrenees…

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Au revoir, Paris. Vous allez me manquer.*

Je vous aime . .  the heart of Paris, a city that has beckoned artists, philosophers, romantics and young wide-eyes over the millennia. But now, especially in the times of Covid-19, millions of French people who would rather die than leave this city home are now packing their bags and saying au revoir. Watch this short…

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There’s a place

In his documentary, filmmaker Paul Saltzman retraces his journey of 50 years ago when he spent - almost accidentally - a life-changing time with the Beatles at the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s ashram on the banks of the Ganges River. In 1968, he discovered his own soul, learned meditation, which changed his life, and hung out with…

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London? nHow!

Ye olde London, once again, shows that it isn't "stiff upper lip" anymore.  Those days are long gone. the nHow hotel is a celebration of London told through innovative and immersive design, around the theme “London reloaded.” The hotel’s bold and fresh design takes inspiration from traditional British icons, such as the Royal Family, London…

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Gala Malaga

Nearly 3,000 years old, Málaga, Spain, on the banks of the Mediterranean, offers an intriguing mix of the ancient and modern. Images of Phonecians in long tunics and mantles trading goods at the port have given way to happy locals in brightly colored sundresses and espadrilles. The Phoenicians named it Malaka (meaning salt), but the city is…

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Rumba rumbles

Emerging from the poor districts of Havana and Matanzas in the 19th century, today rumba is one of Cuba’s most popular art forms. Influenced by African and Spanish traditions of music and dance, its distinctive, syncopated sound requires masterful musicianship and fierce passion from its performers. But, despite being born of marginalisation and oppression, modern…

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Star wars

Food fans are aware of where food has gone in the past decade or so.  Between blow-torched puddings to accompaniments made of foam, our ancestors wouldn't know what to make of it all. However, one constant that has always remained with chefs everywhere is the inexhaustible desire to have a Michelin star on the door.  This…

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I know, but I don’t know, y’know?

Does imposing the death penalty lower rates of violent crime? What economic policies will lead to broad prosperity? Which medical treatments should we allow and encourage to treat novel diseases? These questions have a few things in common. They bear important consequences for us all, and so policymakers and the public would like to know the…

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Geek alert! All about the Airbus A220

We will keep this post short and sweet. It's a video from Airbus describing their new look, specifically for the Airbus A220.  As you may or may not know, the A220 is a plane actually manufactured by Bombardier in Quebec, Canada. However, Bombardier fell into financial distress and now Airbus and the government of Québec have…

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Luvlee!

We periodically write about Wales, the oft-forgotten member of the United Kingdom's family.  The country sits in the background, reinventing itself over and over. Once known only for coal and sheep, Wales has been transforming into a destination, as both of those means of putting food on the table are diminishing. The natural path is…

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Irony Curtain

At its heart, Russia is a fabulous place.  With so much history, expansive terrain and the sheer diversity of its population, its lure as a place to visit is often obscured by politics and other kinds of maneuvering. When we talk about history, we must remember that the Soviet era is now history, too.  And,…

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You see Phou Si

Asia has so many wonders, and so much rich and deep history. One that is well-known, but not always on at the top of everyone's list is Mount Phou Si in Laos.  It is a 100 m high hill in the centre of the old town of Luang Prabang in Laos. It lies in the heart of…

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Tsk! Kids, these days

First, they want an Xbox.  Then they want a car.  And now they want to roller-skate in an airport!  What's next? Well, the rather great TWA Hotel at JFK Airport in New York (we wrote about them here) are actually featuring exactly that - A 50-minute skating session costs $20 per adult and $16 for…

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