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Do Something Different

Do Something Different

Ahh . . . go climb a tree

The pandemic has inspired many  to jump into nature. Over the last 360 days, we have attempted new nature activities like kayaking and spelunking, sought out remote hideaways, and found inner peace on long hikes. Maybe we even hugged (or spoke to) a few trees, because we were just so elated to be out of…

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Jeronimo Ødger

Europeans generally like being with each other, visiting each other's countries, and sharing all that it means to be European. But, as you know, it wasn't always like this.  There were headlong battles over land, domains and royalty.  These conflicts left scars. But it isn't what you may think.  In fact, there is a day in August…

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The great ones steal

Always brash and cheeky, Pablo Picasso was never short on attitude.  And here is a humorous example of that modus operandi. His maxim that lesser artists borrow while the great ones steal is to be illustrated in Britain with a historic pairing of two artworks (David Sanderson writes). The National Gallery is collaborating with an American…

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Juan O’Gorman

Walking through the quiet old streets of Mexico City’s San Ángel, a neighborhood hugged by old ash trees and immense colonial style buildings, there’s one edifice that doesn’t quite fit in. Two square houses, one blue and the other one red, are linked  by a narrow bridge and fenced in by immense cactus plants. Most…

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Kenya call me a taxi?

No matter where you look, the world is getting bigger and better - and sometimes in places where you might least expect it.  It's time to change our worldview.  The future is now. A Kenya Airways subsidiary might just be flying “ultra short-haul” in the future through a partnership with Embraer subsidiary Eve Urban Air…

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You wanna Botswana?

It’s the remarkable and divers landscapes of Botswana’s parks and reserves that make this country such a noteworthy and unforgettable safari destination. In the North, there are the shimmering waterways and green floodplains of the Okavango Delta. Dominating the soul of the country is the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, a remotes but beyond belief sandy…

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Rumble in New York

New York City has one of the world’s biggest subway systems, but some areas of the city are poorly served. Even though New York City has the most extensive subway system in the Americas, less than two-thirds of the city’s population actually lives within walking distance of a station. For the last 15 years, construction crews…

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Constantino/bul

History is a "funny" old thing.  Like tunics tumbling in a dryer, around and around the dynasties come and go.  And, of course, sometimes they just melt into one another and no-one really remembers what it once was like. At one of the most important places on earth sits Istanbul, Turkey.  It still has a sharp…

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Thoughts o’ Palazzo

If you visit this site often - or even other travel sites - you'll know that Venice is heaving under the weight of packed-like-sardines tourists, and rising water levels that threaten its very existence. Fortunately, there are those individuals who recognise the threat and are in a position to do something about it. The Anish Kapoor Foundation…

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Hiking in India

When you start to read this article, you'll ultimately find out that it is about the best places to hike in India.  That's all well and good, as it is an immense country, full of wonderful and kind human beings as well as jaw-dropping sights. But, likely, even if you don't hike, you will be…

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Wham bam thank you tram

Some places just "get it." As we see mother earth in peril, some of us are just not rising to the occasion.  Climate change is not a joke.  It's real. But, some countries (mostly in Europe) are paying attention and doing something about it.  It could be banning automobile traffic in certain places.  It could…

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Is this Trojan Horse a trojan horse?

You are probably already familiar with the Trojan Horse of Troy, the wooden horse used by the Greeks to enter the city of Troy and win the war.  If not, here is a good tutorial. The horse has been an elusive archeological find, but now, Turkish archaeologists claim they have found what they believe are pieces…

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Next phase – luxury apartments?

Human beings  just seem to love the idea of something being "the best."  Even if it's the best cheese sandwich, it inspires some awe and loyalty. Airports are no different, especially when we have to sit and fidget in them for hours and hours, waiting for a result with our flights So as to be…

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Don’t call me Junior!

If there is one movie franchise that EVERYONE loves (in addition to Star Wars, of course) it's Indiana Jones.  Chances are good that - if you're a certain age - you got your first glimpse of Morocco or Petra via those classics. But, did you know that the films were influenced by a living human being…

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Tollund Man’s missing right toe found

If you're a history fan, you've likely heard of Tollund Man. On May 8, 1950 the police in Silkeborg, Denmark received an alarming message. During a peat digging 2 days earlier a body had been discovered in a bog close to Bjældskovdal, an area located approximately 10 kilometers west of Silkeborg. The finders believed they…

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Blurry faces

We all know Google, love them or hate them. (We rather like them.) They're everywhere, constantly innovating, making money, but providing free services, as well. One of their shining stars is Google Maps.  We're sure that the service doesn't need introduction.  But, did you know how much they've played with Maps to make it even…

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Home of the buzzard

You might have heard of Cleveland, Ohio USA, a scrappy city that never gives up. It was formed in the late 1800's and was a manufacturing and financial powerhouse until things dried up in the 1970's. But, the die-hard residents there still plug away at reinventing the city, over and over.  Having major league basketball…

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