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Unusual

Unusual

Aussie hotel floats to North Korea

Hope springs eternal, and this idea almost made it.  But the winds of change, and the tides – literally – sealed its fate.  It’s a long and winding tale. The Hotel Haegumgang is a floating hotel that began operations in Queensland, Australia, was moved to Vietnam, and is currently docked at Mount Kumgang on the east coast of North Korea. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, it…

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No falter Malta

The country of Malta has been very successful in its efforts to manage Covid-19.  It is one of the safest places to be right now, and it is cautiously opening up its borders to responsible travelers. But, Malta is still a mystery to many.  And here's your chance to discover all of its wonders.  The…

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Can you Lamu?

Here is a place that might be new for you - Lamu, Kenya.  Almost forgotten in time, Lamu Island is a port, city, and island just off the shore of Kenya in the Indian Ocean approximately 150 miles from Mombasa. It is a part of the East African country of Kenya. Lamu was founded in…

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Binge at the Fringe

In case you've been hiding in a cave for several decades, here is a reminder about the always-hilarious and never predictable annual Edinburgh Fringe festival in Scotland. The founding principle at the heart of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is to be an open access festival that accommodates anyone with a desire to perform and a…

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Elon Musk is loopy

Well, that Elon Musk is always doing something.  Whether it's the reading the entire Encyclopaedia Britannica at nine years old, selling his first company for $307 million, founding PayPal and creating Tesla automobiles and starting SpaceX to send humanity to infinity and beyond. One of his passions is transportation, and his Hyperloop system is well…

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Go go Mongolia

With extreme temperatures and landscapes, extreme living, and some extremely wrong perceptions from outsiders, Mongolia is one of the most complex places—and Mongols one of the most misunderstood people—in the world. Conversations about the weather, the great expanse of the country, and the traditional nomadic lifestyle dominate talk of Mongolia, and it’s understandable. Temperature…

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Pain is just a word for bread

This looks grueling. Put on your best pink tutu, peacock feathers or Viking hat and get ready to run – and drink! Held on 11 September in 2021– just in time for wine harvest – the annual Marathon du Médoc brings contestants to more than 30 vineyards in the wine region of Médoc in France,…

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Fly Andorra

As you may or may not know, Andorra is a small, mountainous country in the Pyrenees mountains between France and Spain.  For 715 years (1278 to 1993), Andorrans lived under a unique co-principality ruled by the French Chief of State and the Bishop of La Seu d'Urgell.  As of 2019, its population is 77,142. Tourism,…

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Starfish and coffee

Prince Rogers Nelson (Prince) was a pretty popular guy when he was still in the land of the living.  He passed away in April 2016 and still leaves quite a considerable legacy. So much so that his home, Paisley Park, an extraordinary estate and production complex in Chanhassen, MN is offering tours. Fans have the…

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Hey, hepcats!

Our town, Vancouver, has many things:  many shops, many sights, many people and  . . . many restaurants, some of which come and go. But, one mainstay - and for good reason - is The Templeton.  Situated on Vancouver's slightly crazy Granville Street, The Templeton diner has been here for decades, serving absolutely delicious diner…

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Medieval nights

As you most likely know, Europe is filled with history.  Right at your fingertips, you can touch - and even spend the night - in buildings that are hundreds, if not thousands, of years old.  In some cities, you literally bump into one incredible structure after another.  The fact that Europe still has so many…

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Widebody Cotswolds

One of England's most beautiful - and well-known - areas are The Cotswolds.  Picture-perfect stone houses, babbling rivers and mountains standing in the background, it's no surprise that the villages are often overrun by tourists.  It is one of the most touristy locations in the UK. The Cotswolds, themselves, only have around 90,000 residents.  And…

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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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