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The Biltmore is now built even more

If you spend any time on our site, you will know of our unabashed love of the architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.  His influence on architecture and design are still preeminent to many designers, architects and builders. When you enter one of his creations, you will never forget it. Sadly, some of his work has been…

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You wear what you eat

Archaeologists and other scientists are beginning to unravel the story of our most intimate technology: clothing. They’re learning when and why our ancestors first started to wear clothes, and how their adoption was crucial to the evolutionary success of our ancestors when they faced climate change on a massive scale during the Pleistocene ice ages.…

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Un poco loco?

Un poco loco = a little crazy Covid-19 Are you tired of sitting around the house, but am not sure when or if you can travel?  One option, of course, is just to bite your tongue, suck it up, etc.  Vancouver?  Toronto?  New York? Another idea - sensible and not expensive - is to treat…

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Get your kicks with Harvey Nic’s

If you've been to London, you'll know that it is almost mandatory to visit Harvey Nicols (or Harvey Nic's) as it's known to locals. Since Harvey Nichols first opened in Knightsbridge in 1831, it has led the way in sourcing the most desirable and cutting-edge designer brands. Recognised as the UK's premier luxury fashion retailer,…

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Do jets sip or gulp?

We fly on airplanes and think we understand how they work.  But, do we really? Most of us take for granted the fact that airplanes just fly when we get on them. We often completely overlook the technicalities involved in achieving flight. And one of the key areas that few of us consider is the…

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You’re a star!

Trains, planes and automobiles.  There's no getting around getting around. In this day and age, trains are the past, present and future.  There can be only a few competitors to rail when it comes to sustainability and simple common sense.  That's why they are the default mode of transport in so many countries. Mother Europe…

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Fond Doux Eco Coco

As if you need any encouragement to visit the glorious island of St Lucia, we have further tasty reasons might you might want to stay at a certain place -  Fond Doux Eco Resort.  The reason?  Chocolate. Located within the UNESCO World Heritage site of Soufriere Saint Lucia on a historic 19th-century working cocoa estate,…

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Simplify Covid travel with the IATA Pass

The IATA Travel Pass is a mobile application under development allowing travelers to simply and securely store and manage certifications for COVID-19 tests or vaccines. The information through the IATA Travel Pass can be shared with border authorities requiring testing or proof of vaccination as a condition of international travel during and after the COVID-19…

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Let’s all sing a song of aerodynamics

If you're a fan of our site, then you'll know that we reciprocate that with you.  Thank you! You'll also know how much we love to travel and how much aircraft factor into this.  Modern planes (and, to be honest, even older planes) are complex beasts, over-engineered to provide that maximum safety for passengers.  They…

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Large home – 414 years old. Six careful owners.

We recently watched a fascinating documentary about Kumamoto Castle on the Curiosity Stream channel. This impressive Japanese dwelling for six generations of Japanese monarchy has survived battles, earthquakes . . and more earthquakes, the most recent by another Kumamoto Earthquake in 2016.  The last quake unearthed unexpected damage to the building, to the point of…

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Namibia

A traveler's dream is to find an honest, unspoiled and inexpensive place to go.  As the world gets smaller, this remit gets harder to fill.  But, read below about Namibia.  You might be delighted. "Arguably Namibia’s main attraction is nature—it’s a country of spectacular scenery and plentiful wildlife, from camping amidst the stunning orange dunes of…

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Be here and now

When people outside of Asia think of Buddhism, they tend to think about just philosophy and meditation. Buddhists are often said not to have gods, wars or empires. Their religion isn’t about ritual or belief, but a dedicated exploration into what causes suffering and how to end it through meditation and compassion. Although there’s some…

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Blues cruise

Let us clarify that you won't get the blues when you take a Viking cruise down the Mississippi river. But, this article is all about being there. Stretching for 2,350 miles down the United States, from Minnesota's Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico, Viking cruises on the "Mighty Mississippi" offer a different type of…

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Emirates are shrinking

Emirates airlines, one of our affiliate partners, are known for their fleet of top-of-the-line aircraft:  one of the youngest fleets in the world made up entirely of Emirates A380 and Boeing 777s.  Emirates fly to over 135 destinations every year.  But, the prevailing winds are blowing, and for a number of reasons.  First, aircraft of…

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This is not a reproduction

Regular readers of this site will know that we are history freaks:  the older, the better - and the more amazing.  In every corner of the world, historical delights can be found around every corner.  But, some locations in the world specialise in history:  their efforts to delight and inform visitors range from the basic…

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So, who says “don’t wait until the lastminute”?

We're really happy to welcome Lastminute to our family of travel providers. One of the earliest travel "warehouses,"  Lastminute.com established the template for how self-serve holiday shopping can be.  And they still have a broad offering, with accompanying great prices. Lastminute are a publicly traded multinational Group and operate a portfolio of well-known brands such as lastminute.com,…

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A warm welcome from the Phlegraean Fields

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…

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