The setting could be any small village in France: winding lanes filled with teal shuttered cottages, a charming main square with a small school, café and boulangerie, and a church whose bells have beckoned the villagers to Mass for over seven hundred years.
The only thing missing are people. We’re standing in the middle of what…
Unusual
If you yawn because you think you've seen every kind tourist haunt, here's a place that's really smoking!
There is nothing remotely Elysian about the Phlegræan Fields; nothing sylvan, nothing green. The Fields, which lie on the north shore of the Bay of Naples in Italy, are part of the caldera of a volcano that is…
How would you like to wing across the entire country of Canada in eight minutes? Eight minutes, you ask? Yes, it's true and doesn't require supersonic aircraft. Sounds great, doesn't it? And you can also do the same in Las Vegas and Reykjavik, Iceland. But, how can this be you might ask? A 52-foot spherical…
A king who offended the all-powerful Emperor, and then rebelled against him, but failed. How do these dramatic events in China's history link to the finding of 4000 buried miniature terracotta warriors discovered in Jiangsu Province, China? The ancient city of Pengcheng was located near today's Xuzhou in Jiangsu province, and the museum displays 190…
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…
If you are one of those "I've seen it before and I've done it before" tourists, we may have something for you, especially if you find the Cold War alluring.
Ukrainian travel consultant Yulia Kulyk would like to tell you a little bit more about the Soviet era in modern Ukraine. Ukraine today is an…
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…
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…
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…
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…
You can dance if you want to . . . In December Alaska Airlines introduced The Safety Dance, taking the Men Without Hats’ classic and applying it to air travel during the Covid-19 pandemic. To celebrate joining the global OneWorld alliance , Alaska Airlines has released a new version of their Safety Dance featuring cameos…
Like so many worthy things, the game of chess continuously phases in and out of our collective consciousness. It certainly has its allure, and once you're couched in the skills that you need, it is always there for you. And, in many ways, it's an international language. But did you know that there is a…
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…
There's something about being in the western United States that brings out the crazy in people. Between Area 51, Las Vegas, Nevada you will never fail to be amazed at what some business models look like. And yet, they prevail. And now, may we introduce The Clown Motel. It all started in 1985 when Leona and…
If you're a regular reader of our site, you'll notice that we feature content about Richard Branson and his Virgin empire. He never sits still - his latest venture is a Mach 3 airliner. And he always tries to instill a feeling of fun in all that he does. With that in mind, did you…
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,…
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,…
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…
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…
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…