George Harrison's home in the London area was Friar Park, a neo-Gothic mansion in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, which he purchased in 1970 and lived in until his death. While not in central London, Henley is in the wider London area. He also lived in his childhood home at 12 Arnold Grove in Liverpool and later owned Bhaktivedanta Manor in Hertfordshire, which…
This could be your foot in the door, or your escape out the window of sorts. Plus, it's a very civil place to be in this rather fraught day and age. Even better, when you inform your chums, the bragging rights will shoot through the roof. Longyearbyen is the northernmost city in…
History is peculiar. Is it correct? Is it real? Who are the victors, and why? Lots of questions. Luckily, we have the will, the brains and, nowadays, the technology to separate the wheat from the chaff. One bit of history that has persisted for many decades in American history is…
We won't spend too much time complaining about the current state of world affairs, courtesy of a specific buffoon, but it's not getting any better and, in our opinion, he needs to GO and soon. We're from Europe and Europe has a lot at stake. So it only makes sense the the European…
“The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas.” In winding my way through the process of writing content for our site, it usually appears either in an almost dreamy, fully-formed shape, or it's something that I find myself scratching my head for hours just to try…
Is this typical European efficiency or someone's idea of a joke. Or both? The Netherlands and Belgium share a 450 km border, which is notable for its complexity, particularly in the town of Baarle. This border is part of the Schengen Area, meaning there are no regular passport checks. The border's intricacies stem from historical treaties and land swaps, resulting…
Solid as a rock. You get what it says on the tin. With a name like Concrete, you can be sure that its solid as a rock. No fancy pantsy mumbo jumbo. Real. By now, we're pretty sure that you're confused with this post. What on earth does concrete have…
Kids these days, for the most part, have no idea of what the past was like, especially the 1960's and 1970's. They may have a parent or grandparent who can fill them in. The 1960s were a crucial, tumultuous decade defined by massive social, political, and cultural shifts, including the Civil Rights Movement, the rise…
That's history, sometimes. Especially if "the victors" win. And they usually do. The rest of us usually only find out much, much later. A good example is Chungking Mansions. Ring a bell? Likely not. Things like the subject matter here often submerge into anonymity, never to be referenced or…
When we hear the word UNESCO, it always gives us the feeling that the world, despite its fires, and bombs and hatred, we humans will do the right thing - which means turn things around as they are now - and come to our senses. It is a long uphill struggle, but one day,…
What makes Monaco such an exhilarating experience? Is it the wealth, or the history or even the views. It's all of that and more. But when you want to scale the height of heights and you can't quite find your way into the exalted gambling dens, lush restaurants and the sheer aroma of…
It's not enough that cats already think they own the world, and that includes you, human minion. How dare you think otherwise? So, probably the last thing that the cat world needs is a Cat Museum, but who can resist? So, of course, someone has come along and created just that. …
As of 2008, there are 6.831 billion of us on the planet. And that number is growing. We want all people to have a place to live and to have a good life. But how can we accommodate all of this growth? Build up is one option, but the height of…
Strange how music can - in 180 degrees - completely reorient what you're doing at the time. The good thing, we guess, is that the music is - if you're lucky - something that transports you to another place entirely than the place where you are. Of course, other music does quite the…
The pull of the Danube River is indeed a powerful mix of romance and history, stemming from its unique role as a cultural artery that has shaped the heart of Central and Eastern Europe for millennia. Its appeal is rooted in a combination of its grand scale, its physical beauty, and its function as a…
Nope. Not a typo. This is not about flying buttresses, even though they are super-cool on their own. No, this is about an average British chap simply doing his job and then, all of a sudden, hey presto! He's a hero. The driver who 'jumped' his bus over the Tower Bridge…
Yes, Yucan Yucatan! Or loads of other fabulous locations, too. You won't run out of things to do! The Yucatán Peninsula is an exciting and out-of-the-ordinary place for a holiday due to its unique combination of ancient history, natural wonders, and vibrant modern culture. It offers experiences far beyond a typical beach getaway.…
We're back on our never-ending sojourn about why leaving the car behind is such a good idea. There are numerous statistics from government and research bodies that show why trains and buses are often a much better choice than driving a car, particularly in terms of safety, environmental impact, and cost. Here are a…
We history buffs sure have it good. In "olden times" discovery of impressive historical finds was a crap shoot at best, or a defeating adventure where the curious ended up with nothing in hand. Still, we tip our hats to those adventurers of yore who piqued our interest of history and gave…
Hoo boy, we've got to tread lightly with this post. It can be a slippery slope. But at least it's not us this time making a stink. When you gotta go, you gotta go. You would think that when you're on a cruise ship, surrounded by water and other passengers who…