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It’s a numbers game

Those of us who learned arithmetic using pen and paper, working with the ten digits 0–9 and place value, may take for granted that this is the way it’s always been done, or at least the way it ought to be done. But if you think of the amount of time and energy spent in…

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Pueblo crews

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…

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Equal rights, equal wrongs

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…

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A walk and a cheeky pint

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,…

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It’s literally Nauru . . . and you

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…

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Jane, stop this crazy thing!

Plastics.  Carbon fibre. Airloys. Atomic layer deposition. Nano putty. Aerogel. Memory foam.  Metalized polyethylene terephthalate. Your travel future relies on the space-age materials listed above.  They play their part in making planes, trains and automobiles better, lighter, stronger and faster. Why  does this matter to you?  Both American Airlines and Virgin Atlantic recently signed deals…

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Can you Canfranc?

War is hell.  There have been too many.  But, humans always find a way to pick themselves up, dust themselves off and start again. After the end of the First World War, during the euphoria following one of the most awful periods of world history, the Pau-Somport rail tunnel had been driven beneath the Pyrenees…

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There’s a place

In his documentary, filmmaker Paul Saltzman retraces his journey of 50 years ago when he spent - almost accidentally - a life-changing time with the Beatles at the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s ashram on the banks of the Ganges River. In 1968, he discovered his own soul, learned meditation, which changed his life, and hung out with…

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Luvlee!

We periodically write about Wales, the oft-forgotten member of the United Kingdom's family.  The country sits in the background, reinventing itself over and over. Once known only for coal and sheep, Wales has been transforming into a destination, as both of those means of putting food on the table are diminishing. The natural path is…

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Irony Curtain

At its heart, Russia is a fabulous place.  With so much history, expansive terrain and the sheer diversity of its population, its lure as a place to visit is often obscured by politics and other kinds of maneuvering. When we talk about history, we must remember that the Soviet era is now history, too.  And,…

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You see Phou Si

Asia has so many wonders, and so much rich and deep history. One that is well-known, but not always on at the top of everyone's list is Mount Phou Si in Laos.  It is a 100 m high hill in the centre of the old town of Luang Prabang in Laos. It lies in the heart of…

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Take you on a slow boat to Stratford

All apologies to Ella Fitzgerald. England is surrounded by water.  And, as you might imagine, there are rivers and streams that course through the country. Some are tiny and some are navigable. Even better, some are big enough to accommodate boats.  And even better than that, some of these boats have beds and kitchens and…

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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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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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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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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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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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The Out of Order Warriors

A king who offended the all-powerful Emperor, and then rebelled against him, but failed. How do these dramatic events in China's history link to the finding of 4000 buried miniature terracotta warriors discovered in Jiangsu Province, China? The ancient city of Pengcheng was located near today's Xuzhou in Jiangsu province, and the museum displays 190…

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