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History

History

So long, Frank Lloyd Wright

One man's quest to photograph every Frank Lloyd Wright structure ever built. There are 532 Frank Lloyd Wright structures standing in the world. Phoenix-based photographer Andrew Pielage is on a mission to shoot every one of them. The 39-year-old is the unofficial photographer of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. So far, he has shot about 50 Wright…

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The richness of old Europe

How and why did the modern world and its unprecedented prosperity begin? Learned tomes by historians, economists, political scientists and other scholars fill many bookshelves with explanations of how and why the process of modern economic growth or ‘the Great Enrichment’ exploded in western Europe in the 18th century. One of the oldest and most…

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The giant shadow of Ikebukuro

HEARTLANDS: ZOSHIGAYA Small winding streets and low-rise houses. Zoshigaya is only a short walk away from the malls, highways and flashing lights of Ikebukuro, but feels like a silent suburb in comparison.  This homely heartland has maintained its Showa-era (1926 – 1989) atmosphere, with winding lanes lined with family homes and small shops selling everyday…

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Belize it or not

Already popular with American retirees, the seductive beauty of Belize is now attracting an increasing number of European retirees looking to a Caribbean lifestyle as an antidote for years spent focusing on a career. It’s not the world’s cheapest retirement destination by far, but it’s certainly one of the loveliest. Establishing residency is far easier…

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The bones of religion

European churches are known to have some intriguing and creative architectural features, but a wall made of human leg bones is a bit more inventive than you might have expected. While excavating the grounds of Saint Bavo’s Cathedral in Ghent, Belgium, ahead of the planned construction of a new visitor center, archeologists discovered entire walls…

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Whatta lotta Guatemala

Guatemala is a breathtakingly diverse country, where a new adventure awaits around every winding corner. With lush jungles, pristine lakes, surf beaches, colonial towns, vibrant markets, and not one, not two, but 37 volcanoes, there truly is something for every kind of traveler in Guatemala. With 42,043 square miles of adventure waiting to be uncovered,…

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How to say Thailand is my land

Over the centuries, travellers from Western Europe have been spellbound by the alluring cultures of the Far East. The ancient adventurers who arrived on the shores of Siam were instantly besotted, and there is ample evidence that a name change has done little to dampen the appeal of this remarkably captivating country. In the 21st…

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Kyoto thatched-roof dwellings transport you back in time

Located 1 hour 40 minutes by bus from Kyoto Station, the town of Miyama offers a view into Japan's rich agricultural heritage. Designated a semi-national park, the town is home to some 39 thatched farmhouses where people still live today. Miyama spans multiple hamlets that are scattered throughout the mountains and valleys, about 50 kilometers…

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Germany

Germany, (officially: the Federal Republic of Germany; German: Bundesrepublik Deutschland) is the largest country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by Denmark, to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic, to the south by Austria and Switzerland, and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands. Germany is a…

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Navarre. Not heard of it? You should….

When people think of Spain, they typically think of places like Barcelona and Madrid. Of course, those are excellent choices and should be revisited again and again. But one place you may have never heard of is Navarre. Situated not too far from Bilbao, this little-known area of Spain features a huge variety of interesting…

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Turks & Caicos

  The Turks and Caicos Islands are a British Overseas Territory only 37 miles long and all together consist of 40 islands and cays, of which only 12 are inhabited. There are two main islands, Grand Turk (Turks Islands) and Providenciales (Caicos Islands). These islands are 575 miles south-east from Florida and 90 miles north…

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You’ve likely never seen a beach like this.

It is located near the coastal town of Llanes (Spain,) on the coast of Asturias, Gulpiyuri Beach is unlike anything I have ever seen, or even imagined existed outside of Dali painting or a fantasy film. Imagine walking through the country and stumbling over an idyllic beach right in the middle of a green meadow…

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