The USA is not a place normally associated with ancient dwellings. Most of its history ostensibly started around 1776, and it has always fashioned itself around its "newness."
But, like anywhere else, the country has its surprises, one of which is the stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Mesa Verde national park in Colorado. The park…
History
Most of us live in social worlds that are profoundly unequal, where small elites have vastly more power and wealth than everyone else. Very few of the have-nots find this congenial. As experimental economists have shown, we tend to enter social situations prepared to take a chance and cooperate in collective activities. But if others…
If you happen to be on the left coast of North America, and you find yourself in the surrounds of Seattle, you might have to wait for one of the (interminably long) trains that girdle the country. And, if you do, you may gasp when you see what looks like a space-age passenger train, but…
Mardin is a city in southeastern Turkey. The capital of Mardin Province, it is known for the Artuqid architecture of its old city, and for its strategic location on a rocky hill near the Tigris River that rises steeply over the flat plains. * OK, now that we have that somewhat dry description of the…
One of the many joys of the United Kingdom is an afternoon walk. Much of the UK's land has been set aside for the public to use freely for walking. And, it is a tradition that families do that, usually on a Sunday, and perhaps after a rather over-generous lunch. The paths are always well-marked,…
Chances are good that you have never heard of Nauru. That's not surprising, as only around 10,000 inhabitants live there, and the island country usually gets only a couple of hundred visitors each year. It is the smallest country in the world. But, you might want to give the island nation a go, as its…
The 72 steps to the Philadelphia Museum of Art may well rank among the most famous stairways of the past century. Charged by a sweaty Sly Stallone in the 1976 hit Rocky, this majestic ascent has long inspired visitors to make the climb to the hilltop 1928 landmark, an assemblage of Greek-temple forms in golden-hued limestone. But…
Have you heard of Dominica? Officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island country in the Caribbean. The capital, Roseau, is located on the western side of the island. It is geographically situated as part of the Windward Islands chain in the Lesser Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean Sea. The island is located near Guadeloupe…
When you think of the Balkans, Montenegro doesn't often spring to mind for many people. In fact, most would struggle to even identify it on a map. And that's a shame, as it has as many mind-blowing features as some of its cousins (Split, Belgrade, etc) and deserves your attention. One approach is to hire…
Peruvians from the Huinchiri community in Cusco region are rebuilding a 500-year-old Incan hanging bridge, made using traditional weaving techniques to string a crossing together spanning the Apurimac river far below. The Q’eswachaka bridge has been used for over 500 years to connect communities divided by the river. But during the Covid pandemic it fell…
If you've been to Spain (and if you haven't, get going!) you'll likely recognise the name Mercadona. It is one of the country's largest grocery chains.
As you probably know, many companies (like us, for example) assemble their names by concatenating one or more words together into something recognisable, but not a "real" word.
Some have wondered…
Everyone knows it's windy.
Somewhere in a wind tunnel on the south-western side of Ontario, a group of the world’s leading bridge aerodynamics and acoustics experts are puzzling over a full-scale model of the railing of the Golden Gate Bridge.
The experts have been contracted to solve the mysterious problem of a strange humming sound that has…
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…
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…
We jest . . . but only somewhat. Is this a castle? Perhaps not. Is it a jail? It once was.
Now known as the Royal Crown Castle Bar and Grill, it's a rather nice pub in New Westminster on the outskirts of Vancouver, Canada. With inspiring views over the Fraser River, a delightful staff, good…
This article is somewhat of a bittersweet tome. It's about love and separation, being missed and being loved. Letting go and holding on tight. You see, Elon Musk's SpaceX team are in early conversations with a number of airlines with the aim to provide Starlink satellite internet network to provide travelers with inflight Wi-Fi. Science…
We live in an age in which – for obvious reasons – it’s vital to understand how to build peace. Nuclear proliferation, inter-state and civil wars, terrorism and insurgencies, rising extremisms and hate crimes, social polarisation and increasingly vituperate online diction mean that learning how to reconcile enemies has never been more important.
This importance is…
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…
If you haven't travelled to India (even recently,) there is a lot going on when it comes to air travel. Air India has always been the stalwart, and will likely remain that way. But, with companies like Vistara and GoAir - and now IndiGo, travelers in India are spoiled for choice. IndiGo is punching above…
Some of the most striking and beautiful terrain in the world can be found in South America. In particular, Chile and Argentina possess almost untouched mountains that literally stun you with their immense size and colours. One great way to experience this is to take a train, literally into the clouds, and we can get…