Some 2,700 years ago in the ancient city of Sam’al, in what is now modern Turkey, an elderly servant of the king sits in a corner of his house and contemplates the nature of his soul. His name is Katumuwa. He stares at a basalt stele made for him, featuring his own graven portrait together…
World Culture
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…
Many of us approach dining at a Michelin-starred restaurant as almost a religious sabbatical. Our best trousers and dresses, shoes shined, hair recently coiffed, we cross the hallowed threshold into a world of inconceivable bliss. And, the next thing you know, the entire month's paycheck is accounted for. Well, it's time to wake up. It…
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,…
If you really want to get away, then we have the place for you. Those in the know realise that Colombia is now shining in the sun, again. Most of its troubles are in the past and it is fast becoming a top destination. Lovely, friendly people, an endless array of activities throughout the country,…
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,…
The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) is pleased to announce that Belize has achieved the Safe Travels Stamp, granted by the World Travel &Tourism Council (WTTC). The Safe Travels Stamp, the first global safety and hygiene stamp, was awarded to Belize in late December 2020 in recognition of the country’s enhanced health and safety protocols. The…
Perhaps it's just us (I doubt it,) but we can't imagine travelers looking forward to airline food, especially in this day and age. Packets of pretzels generally do not make us squeal with delight anymore.
But, always posh and always positive British Airways have anticipated our needs before we did and are now offering their 20,000…
Like other artists, the actor is a kind of shaman. If the audience is lucky, we go with this emotional magician to other worlds and other versions of ourselves. Our enchantment or immersion into another world is not just theoretical, but sensory and emotional. How do actor and audience achieve this shared mysterious transportation? This…
Montevideo – Uruguay’s capital welcomes visitors to its seaside city bounds. Explore Montevideo with us and start planning a trip here of your own. Uruguay is emerging as one of South America’s favorite destinations. Its capital Montevideo has a warm, temperate climate, pleasant sea breezes and miles of boulevards. Tour the city while on vacation…
At the time of this writing, the world is starting to look forward to a Covid-free future. Governments are - mostly - doing their jobs and protecting their citizens. It will come as no surprise that many of those citizens want to travel, once more. The pent-up demand will help to save not only cash-strapped…
If you've been to London (or for the next time you do) be sure - if you haven't - to visit The Barbican. An icon of Brutalist architecture, the Barbican has always been controversial. Voted ‘London’s ugliest building’ in 2003, among design aficionados it's one of the UK’s architectural treasures. Home to some 4,000 residents…
As insanely expensive as they are, eventually commercial airliners are put out to pasture, even after they have spent time in a number of different airlines. Boeing's 747 was certainly one of the most glamourous and desirable planes to fly on, for the past several decades. But, alas, the old girl's time is coming to…
Literally meaning "muddy river confluence" in Malay, Kuala Lumpur has grown from a small sleepy Chinese tin-mining village to a bustling metropolis of 7 million (city-proper population- 1.8 million) in just 150 years. A cultural melting pot with some of the world's cheapest 5-star hotels, great shopping, even better food and some of nature's wonders…
Tainan – Venture here and explore Taiwan’s oldest city. Follow us through history’s favorite spots in Tainan and start putting an itinerary together of your own! When ready, browse vacation packages to Tainan: Known as “The Birthplace of Taiwan,” #Tainan invites you to gain an appreciation for the local history. Visit the historic quarter of…
We like to feature our affiliate friends when we can, as we choose them for their broad range of offerings, as well as their often innovative approaches. Some are small, and some are large, but we value them equally and are happy and proud to be associated with them. But, here we'd like to tell…
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…
No, the cat did not step on my keyboard. This is actually the name of a place in Wales, in the UK. Llanfairpwllgwyngyll or Llanfair Pwllgwyngyll is a large village and local government community on the island of Anglesey, Wales, on the Menai Strait next to the Britannia Bridge and across the strait from Bangor.…
Demand for last minute travel searches for same day and next day overnight hotel stays have increased compared to last year, according to our affiliate friends ,global digital travel platform Agoda.com, as it unveils its GoLocal Tonight product across Asia Pacific. Travelers looking for spontaneous last-minute travel, can benefit from even greater savings from Agoda’s…
Most countries have had their ups and downs with the Covid-19 pandemic, much of based on the behaviour of its citizens. Europe has more complex factors to consider, especially since it is comprised of 27 separate countries, with almost as many languages and - even more - 27 potential cultural ways of approaching critical situations…