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Special Interest

Special Interest

See places new, mon

Have you ever been to Trelawny?  Chances are good that you may not have even heard of it.  It's in Jamaica, and it's just one of the destinations offered by our new affiliate friends, AmstarDMC. AmstarDMC provides world-class destination services. From handpicked destination experiences to private VIP itineraries, plus a wide range of transportation options,…

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Live large in Italy

There's a town in Italy shaped like a person It's called Centuripe, and it looks like it's had too much to drink Centuripe (Latin: Centuripae;[3] Sicilian: Centorbi) is a town and comune in the province of Enna (Sicily, southern Italy). The city is 61 kilometres (38 mi) from Enna in the hill country between the Rivers Dittaìno and Salso. Not too much more to say than this,…

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Isle de Granville

Granville Island is a de rigueur activity when you visit Vancouver.  There are dozens of boutique shops, selling things like bespoke art, vodka and ... brooms. The main draw - and in many ways you will draw deep breaths - is the Market.  There are dozens of food stalls, but the main attraction is the…

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Starry, starry night

Imagine a place where we feel covered by a majestic starry sky. Right in the middle of Alentejo, Portugal is the wonderful Alqueva sky is like dark velvet cloaked by a huge blanket of stars. It is a protected area and internationally certified as a Dark Sky Reserve, or "Starlight Tourism Destination", which extends over…

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Clean routine

Via Vittorio Emanuele is the public wash known as "medieval wash" at the late-Renaissance palace Martino in Italy. In 1514 it was demolished and rebuilt on a more back from the city walls and the river that (legend has it that it was created by the tears of a mourning nymph) flowed under the open…

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A GEM among them

Unless you've had your head in the sand, you will most certainly know about the immense and exciting GEM museum in Cairo. GEM stands for Grand Egyptian Museum and it will be a stunning building even separate of its incredible jewels, artefacts and mummies. When it is completed, the Grand Egyptian Museum just outside of…

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Moon, tycoon … soon?

If you think that trekking to Machu Pichu is yesterday's news, we may have an idea for you. Yusaku Maezawa, a billionaire from Japan has invited eight members of the general public to embark on a trip around the moon on Elon Musk's SpaceX flight. "I want people from all kinds of backgrounds to join,"…

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Meetings with the dragon

Margaretha Hönin had a bad reputation. Even though she lived in the late 16th century, we know that her neighbours, the people of Coburg in Thuringia, despised her for being a parvenu and a money-grabbing miser. Hönin was also said to be a witch who met regularly with a dragon. For her neighbours, her economic…

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Asleep at the controls

Have you ever dreamt of being a pilot?  You'll need a license, first. But, if your aspirations are more down to earth, why not control your dreams rather than the controls themselves? How about Sweden's Jumbo Stay Hotel in Arlanda? A unique hotel in a Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet. An exclusive experience in the world…

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Sharaan

In the past few decades, the world has seen so much technological change.  New ideas, new designs, new techniques and new materials.  If we can dream it, we can build it. But does that mean that we should? Vaunted French architect, Jean Nouvel, who has been responsible for some of the most innovative design in…

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Tombs in your living rooms

At one time, sitting on the couch and watching television was considered a luxury:  we were so busy in our daily lives that being able to collapse on the sofa and stare at the screen . . or at the ceiling. Well, Covid-19 has flipped that scenario on its head, and most people are gagging…

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Ohio, the prehistoric effigy

Ohio, in the United States, is one of those places that can surprise you.  Primarily focused on agricultural endeavors, it does feature three large metropolitan areas:  Columbus, Cincinnati and Cleveland.  But, it's mostly farmland.  So, it's not surprising that Ohio can hold some . . surprises.  One such feature is the Great Serpent Mound.... The…

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Do you know Sacha Lodge?

Imagine walking across a bridge suspended over the rainforest canopy, paddling through creeks in search of monkeys and river otters, climbing to the very top of a giant kapok tree or swimming in a black-water lake, threading your way through trees in search of the world’s tiniest monkey… Sacha Lodge can show you how.  This…

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Don’t pretend to be: be!

A devastating loss can shatter the façade we put up for others, exposing our deepest, rawest self. A work of art can do the same. Don’t show off! Don’t pretend to be, be!’ The piercing voice of my stern ballet teacher with the stick and the square glasses still echoes in my mind. These two…

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It’s only a flesh wound

Monty Python notwithstanding, the legend of Arthur, king of the Britons remains an enduring, fascinating and unresolved story.  Dozens of films have been made, and yet, his legend is still shrouded in uncertainty. One thing about him that has more ground - literally - is where his infamous castle lair was located - generally accepted…

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Bohemian, like you

I'm getting vibes.... We'd like to introduce you to West Bohemia, a region filled with charm and chances to dig deeper into Czech culture. West Bohemia – two hours west of Prague – includes three cities that are all about health and wellness: Karlovy Vary - the well-known wellness destination of free-flowing mineral springs, founded…

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Chateau No

Some people have all the luck. An infamous €57million French chateau that was built illegally in the Côte d’Azur has been definitively condemned for total destruction, in what is expected to be the final stage of a 15-year-long court case. Chateau Diter was built by Montreil-born property developer Patrick Diter between the years of 2000…

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