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World Culture

World Culture

Close to the edge

Close to the edge, down by the river.  Down at the end, round by the corner. Seasons will pass you by. There are few places as mystical and magical as Iceland.  Still relatively untouched, the landscape shapes its people, and they respond in kind by returning the favour. You've all seen images of Iceland's volcanoes, but have…

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Spelunking in Tokyo

It's hard to believe, but there is the very slim chance that you might run out of activities when you're in Tokyo. You will have had to have combed the entire city of 13.96 million people, the 60,000+ restaurants, 6,000 different parks. (see some of our suggestions, below.) But, if all of that is not enough, watch…

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Och aye the noo

Och aye the noo = An archetypal example of an overt Scotticism is "Och aye the noo", which translates as "Oh yes, just now". But, it doesn't stray too far from its roots.  And, luckily for us, we are learning more and more about history - Scottish in this case.  Read more here courtesy of NationalGeoraphic.co.uk Booking.com AutoEurope…

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The oldest buildings in Canada

We have to chuckle a bit at this article - the oldest buildings in Canada .  We lived in London where we almost rented a house that was built in the 1400's, so considering that one of the oldest places in Vancouver is from 1921, it's not much of a comparison. But, fair is fair and Canada…

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I ♥ you!

Having grown up in the USA, your editor has some ancient knowledge of the tenets, legends and rituals of that country by heart. One such standard is Pennsylvania's Poconos resort area.  Once considered a last-ditch effort for a (cheesy) romantic getway, time has now caught up with the legend and the place is back in action. The…

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Coffee 24×7

When visiting Colombia, it is a must to take a trip to Eje Cafetero Colombiano, a colorful destination that boasts marvelous nature views and is all about coffee. Moreover, the people there are hospitable and friendly, and always smiling. There is no doubt that people visiting the Eje Cafetero will feel at home. The department of Quindío…

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Healthiest and happiest.

Residents of Okinawa are some of the world’s healthiest and happiest. Strong social networks and good food may be why. The island unlocked the secret to long life—and knows how to get through tough times. Read more here courtesy of NationalGeographic.com Booking.com Let 12go show you around Okinawa. Click above.

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Walk with the Pharoahs

Praise the Pharoahs!  At last, the miracle mile is cleared for us mortals. Egyptian authorities have unveiled a renovated ancient promenade in the city of Luxor that dates back 3,000 years. It's the latest government project undertaken to highlight the country's archaeological treasures. Read more here courtesy of ABC.net.au KLM fly to Cairo. Click above, Booking.com

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Adios, el Avila

In 1986, at the age of 21, Alejandra Melfo moved to Mérida, Venezuela. There, in the mountain city, she often looked out toward the horizon at the vast Sierra Nevada de Mérida: a large, muscular, towering expanse three miles in the sky and blanketed by snow and the broad sheets of glaciers. As the years went by, Melfo saw…

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Where is Ultraman when you need him?

It is so nice to see when something actually means something to the people around it, and that they treasure it and preserve it. Especially when it is larger than life. Sendai Daikannon, officially known as the Sendai Tendou Byakue Daikannon, is a large statue of Byakue Kannon bearing a gem in her hand located…

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Watch for low-flying planes

Wanna get high? Dubai has turned breaking world records into something of an art form over the years, and the emirate now has yet another to add to its list. The world's first and highest 360-degree infinity pool has just opened at the Palm Tower, a hotel and residential building from developer Nakheel that offers showstopping views…

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Spread eagle

April showers bring May flowers.  What do Mayflowers bring?  Pilgrims.  And what do Pilgrims do?  Thirst. Though it claims to be the oldest pub on the River Thames, this riverside pub’s real claim to fame is that patrons have a clear shot at seeing where the Mayflower was moored before its departure for the New World. Because…

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An aerial photographer, overexposed

If you're of a certain age (like we are) you might have a penchant for music from the 80's.  In our case we're talking about alternative (or new wave) music. One of our favourite bands from that period was Wire, an artistic, uncompromising, challenging group of gentlemen.  Not easy listening for those who prefer easy listenng. In…

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El Prado……corrado

If you have been to Madrid and have not visited the Prado Museum, then shame on you / you're really missing out. Without question, in the top five museums in the world, Prado has the ability to overwhelm you with the depth, breadth and sheer quality of its holdings.  Give yourself at least two full days…

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Da, comrade….

... you will sleep here, tonight. All jokes aside, we're assuming that this fabulous new hotel in Copenhagen, from our affiliate friends Marriott Bonvoy says socialist, it can only mean sociable.  You could be a bit confused when you first see the stark design of the exterior, but the interior is another thing entirely. In any case, we're…

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Smells like common sense

In most of the world, inhaling radon for pain relief sounds like a bizarre idea. In some places, though, it's so accepted that it's prescribed by doctors and covered by health insurance. And I have no idea how to talk about it. Thanks to the team at the Radonstollen in Bad Kreuznach: Watch the video courtesy of…

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How many points should you get when there’s an active shooter at your hotel?

This is not something that we thought we would ever have to consider, let alone write about.  To us, there is something peculiar about the whole thing, but maybe it's just modern living. A few months back, at Mexico's Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun, several active shooters landed on the resort’s beach. Two of the shooters…

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Run away, run away . . . runway!

This article is not meant to be funny, but it is, in a way.  Monty Python would think so, anyway.  (And, to be sure, no-one was hurt.) ETF Airways, a startup charter airline from Croatia, is preparing a lawsuit against Bremen Airport (BRE) in Germany over the damages caused by a rabbit strike in August, as…

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