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Special Interest

Special Interest

Haute, haute, haute

Some encounters, even if they occur late, are the fruit of essential talents. Haute couture and business aviation meet together thanks to the talented Nazli Hkhani, stylist and collection director at the House Emanuel Ungaro. Paradoxically, parallel worlds can sometimes intersect. So it is with haute couture and business aviation, two worlds whose encounter owes…

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Nachos, begone!

Celebrity chefs cook up top-notch concessions  Pretzels and popcorn have competition from big-name chefs opening arena outposts. Order Michelin-starred Chris Galvin’s lasagna of Dorset crab (on the fine-dining menu at London’s new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium) or David Chang’s habanero fried chicken (his fast-growing Fuku concept just landed at Washington, D.C.’s Audi Field). Coming soon: At…

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Rijeka or breaka

Rijeka in Croatia has been named the 2020 European Capital of Culture, here are four reasons why you should pay it a visit. 2020 is a very special year for Croatia. The eastern Europe gem has become the travel destination du jour of the last five years, praised for its interesting beaches (think dramatic coastlines…

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To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.

To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure. (JK Rowling.) In his 1996 book about death, Herbert Fingarette argued that fearing one’s own demise was irrational. When you die, he wrote, “there is nothing.” Why should we fear the absence of being when we won’t be there ourselves to suffer it? Twenty…

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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 Scarlet Lady

Sir Richard Branson’s new and unusual cruise ship, the Scarlet Lady, is presently heading across the Atlantic to Miami, where it will commence actual sailings with passengers in late March.   After that, Branson’s second of four eventual new ships, to be named the Valiant Lady, will be launched in 2021.   Journalists have now been permitted aboard the Scarlet Lady to…

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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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Hang out without hurting them

On May 20, 2016 we marked  Endangered Species Day to create awareness about how our actions impact dwindling species. It would be a tragic, irreversible loss if magnificent animals like the black rhino, the Sumatran elephant or the Bengal tiger were forever lost to us. Take Action: Travel Sustainably Visit a national wildlife refuge, park or other…

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These floating cities will leave you feeling buoyant

The majesty of Venice’s grand canals is truly astonishing and it makes for a unique travel destination. Did you know there are other equally charming floating cities? Water is the center of these city destinations and they grant the same ethereal feeling as Venice does (or even better!) Check out these 7 floating cities to…

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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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Behold, the Andaz Mayakoba, Cancun

For those who have no clue what Mayakoba is, it’s essentially a 1,600 acre development south of Cancun , Mexico. The development has four resorts — the Fairmont (which opened in 2006), the Rosewood (which opened in 2007), the Banyan Tree (which opened in 2008), and the Andaz (which opened in 2017). What makes Mayakoba…

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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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