Magic can happen anywhere, at any time, to almost anybody.
Take Aretha Franklin, for example.
In an innocuous two-story building with a barn-like roof on a side of a nondescript street in Muscle Shoals, Alabama is the home of FAME Recording Studios (short for Florence Alabama Music Enterprises.) Music lovers will know it well.
They were small, but…
History
Those of us who live up here in the Pacific Northwest of North America are very lucky, in many ways. The weather, the diversity (especially of our residents) and the history that is constantly being discovered and enjoyed. As with many other countries, Canada has a population that can be considered as First Nation. In…
We get that feeling that sometimes the country of Pakistan is misunderstood, and that the misunderstanding conjures up specific images and misconceptions. And that's a shame, as the country is rich in so many ways. There is so much history in Pakistan, with its mix of religions and beliefs, and it's long relationship with India. …
Cape Town is South Africa's crown jewel and the most European city you'll find on the continent. Founded by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, it was South Africa's first attempt at a modern metropolis, earning it the nickname "The Mother City." Cape Town is worth visiting year-round. That said, it looks different each…
Perched on the hills of the Achrafieh neighborhood hundreds of meters from the Beirut Port, the 60-year-old Sursock Museum was the beating heart of Beirut’s creative scene. The country’s only modern art museum, it boasts a collection of Lebanese art dating back to the late 1800s. But, is still rebuilding a year after the Beirut…
England is a funny old place. It is / was a part of Europe for decades, but finally opted to bail out in 2018. It has people from every country arriving there, and all in relative harmony. The history of the UK is of legend - literally - and you will find examples of that -…
We would imagine that many of our readers like - perhaps even love - France, like we do. What a place! The variety! The quality! The countryside! Paris! But here is a place that you will know of, but may not have visited - Dijon. Dijon is an unheralded French city that is worthy of…
Almost everyone has heard of Hans Christian Andersen.
His most famous works include The Snow Queen, The Ugly Duckling, The Emperor’s New Clothes, The Princess and the Pea, The Little Mermaid, Thumbelina and so many more.
Even Disney has created movies from his work: The Little Mermaid, The Emperor’s New Groove as well as Frozen 1 and…
Everything is relative, relatively. Some of us boast that we live in homes that were built in the 1950's. Your editor, for example, lived in a house from the 1800's, and almost resided in another from the 1400's. That's pretty impressive if you're a history fan. But this all pales when it comes to places…
I am not a crook. With next year being the 50th anniversary of the Watergate break-in of 1972, (For those not aware, the illegal activities that went on in the Watergate Hotel were the start of the unraveling of US president Richard Nixon's reign.) Now, completely legally, guests can visit or reside in room 214,…
What could possibly go wrong? Actually, at this point in time, you're probably OK to camp at Yellowstone National Park. The park is a nearly 3,500-sq.-mile wilderness recreation area atop a volcanic hot spot, so choose a cool spot. Mostly in Wyoming, USA, the park spreads into parts of Montana and Idaho too. Yellowstone features…
Some countries - such as China and Russia - get stuff done. Their enviable work ethic and constant desire to push are legendary.
As with any country who constantly strive, there may be some who get impacted or fall behind - sad stories.
But in this case, here is the tale of Russia building an impressive bridge…
You think your job is tough? Think the boss asks too much?
Well, suffer this poor guy, who works for Japanese Rail. This almost looks like a joke at first. But it's not. They are deadly serious and that is something to reckon with.
No wonder Japan is admired in so many ways. But, don't mess up!
See…
As if the relationship between Canada and the USA isn't convoluted enough, did you know that 50% of all Canadian citizens live south of essentially the 45th Parallel. Canada is one of the largest countries by land in the world, but its population of only 38 million is about ten times less than the United…
OK, so you're rich, bored, ambitious and looking for the latest thing to get your pulse racing, as well as impressing your friends. Doctor, who doesn't want to be a spy? Secretly, all of us, no matter which race, creed or sex. And most of us would want to be James Bond, we assume. Well,…
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).…
If you're lucky, you live near trees. And if you're even more lucky, those trees will be plentiful. But, if you're really lucky, you might be able to find a rare habitat, one that would make Frodo feel at home - a tree tunnel: high or low canopies of the trees that create a nature-made…
....down, down . .
When you are in the mood for top seafood, where would you first go to find it?
We're willing to bet than an airport would not be your first choice. For donuts, yes . . . but not lobster.
Well, if you find yourself passing through Canada’s Halifax Stanfield International Airport, prepare to be…
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…
Hey tiger, want to explore the bush and find your inner animal? In style, of course. And a rather special place is the The Bushcamp Company in Zambia. It's been around for a while, but they've spent a number of months refreshing the place. The award-winning Mfuwe safari lodge is set in the most prolific…