The USA is not a place normally associated with ancient dwellings. Most of its history ostensibly started around 1776, and it has always fashioned itself around its "newness."
But, like anywhere else, the country has its surprises, one of which is the stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Mesa Verde national park in Colorado. The park…
World Culture
Most of us live in social worlds that are profoundly unequal, where small elites have vastly more power and wealth than everyone else. Very few of the have-nots find this congenial. As experimental economists have shown, we tend to enter social situations prepared to take a chance and cooperate in collective activities. But if others…
Mardin is a city in southeastern Turkey. The capital of Mardin Province, it is known for the Artuqid architecture of its old city, and for its strategic location on a rocky hill near the Tigris River that rises steeply over the flat plains. * OK, now that we have that somewhat dry description of the…
One of the many joys of the United Kingdom is an afternoon walk. Much of the UK's land has been set aside for the public to use freely for walking. And, it is a tradition that families do that, usually on a Sunday, and perhaps after a rather over-generous lunch. The paths are always well-marked,…
Chances are good that you have never heard of Nauru. That's not surprising, as only around 10,000 inhabitants live there, and the island country usually gets only a couple of hundred visitors each year. It is the smallest country in the world. But, you might want to give the island nation a go, as its…
Have you heard of Dominica? Officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island country in the Caribbean. The capital, Roseau, is located on the western side of the island. It is geographically situated as part of the Windward Islands chain in the Lesser Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean Sea. The island is located near Guadeloupe…
When you think of the Balkans, Montenegro doesn't often spring to mind for many people. In fact, most would struggle to even identify it on a map. And that's a shame, as it has as many mind-blowing features as some of its cousins (Split, Belgrade, etc) and deserves your attention. One approach is to hire…
Peruvians from the Huinchiri community in Cusco region are rebuilding a 500-year-old Incan hanging bridge, made using traditional weaving techniques to string a crossing together spanning the Apurimac river far below. The Q’eswachaka bridge has been used for over 500 years to connect communities divided by the river. But during the Covid pandemic it fell…
If you've been to Spain (and if you haven't, get going!) you'll likely recognise the name Mercadona. It is one of the country's largest grocery chains.
As you probably know, many companies (like us, for example) assemble their names by concatenating one or more words together into something recognisable, but not a "real" word.
Some have wondered…
People are people, thankfully, but everyone is distinctly different in one way or another - again, thankfully. But some collections of people seem to have attributes that give their countries - and themselves -shiny reputations. There have been plenty of these lists circulating in the past, but the world has gotten bigger and smaller at…
Even if you're a European whiz, sometimes you might want to retrace your steps to ensure that you've seen it all. Or maybe you're just in a hurry. So here's a plan for you. Be a tornado. Experience three of Europe's iconic capitals in just ten days. If you only have a short stay in…
WARNING - look away now if you are allergic to bad naughty humour. "After being deprived of two of my favorite activities — travel and sex — over the past year, one thing I’m looking forward to as both become more feasible is that inexplicable wave of horniness that reliably overcomes me when I’m on…
We live in an age in which – for obvious reasons – it’s vital to understand how to build peace. Nuclear proliferation, inter-state and civil wars, terrorism and insurgencies, rising extremisms and hate crimes, social polarisation and increasingly vituperate online diction mean that learning how to reconcile enemies has never been more important.
This importance is…
It's no surprise to anyone paying attention, but China continues to boom. They're a powerhouse. And, like many forward-thinking countries, the look to embrace what's new. One example of this is the new Moxy Hotels group - part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio. It brings fresh styling, attitude and pizazz to not only the hotel offerings…
Are your "sunset years" approaching? Do you find yourself longing for something completely different? Do you wake up at night pondering how you will continue to maintain that 8 bedroom house of yours? Or, do you simply want to "go off the rails" and take a 180 degree turn in your life? What better time…
If you haven't travelled to India (even recently,) there is a lot going on when it comes to air travel. Air India has always been the stalwart, and will likely remain that way. But, with companies like Vistara and GoAir - and now IndiGo, travelers in India are spoiled for choice. IndiGo is punching above…
Some of the most striking and beautiful terrain in the world can be found in South America. In particular, Chile and Argentina possess almost untouched mountains that literally stun you with their immense size and colours. One great way to experience this is to take a train, literally into the clouds, and we can get…
Texas, USA might be the last place you would think of as having beaches, but au contraire. Much of the state is bordered by the same warm and inviting waters that make places like Florida so appealing. For example, as far south as you can drive in Texas is a tropical paradise known as South Padre…
Second best is not usually where we see ourselves appearing. We're winners, are we not, even in a small way? We've got moxie! Nothing's gonna keep us down. Chin up. Pip pip. So here's a story that will bring a smile to your face.
A small hotel in Guadalest has been voted the second most romantic…
Slowly I turned, step-by-step, inch-by-inch..... Niagara Falls: you can smell the glassy, bottle-green water thundering over the treacherous cliffs, roaring down to the gorge below, clouds of damp spray greeting you every step of the way. Hypnotized by the endless torrent of water that never stops, you can get lost in time gaping and -…