I was driving around the West Coast aimlessly in February of 2011. It was chillier than I hoped it would be, but I bundled up. I'd been thinking about California's Highway 1 longingly ever since I drove down it in 2007 and I'd been hoping to replay the visuals I'd stored ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
History
California Coast Redux
I was driving around the West Coast aimlessly in February of 2011. It was chillier than I hoped it would be, but I bundled up. I'd been thinking about California's Highway 1 longingly ever since I drove down it in 2007 and I'd been hoping to replay the visuals I'd stored ...Better Know A Holiday: Showa Day
Formerly: The Emperor's Birthday, Greenery Day
When? April 29
Public holiday in: Japan
Part of: Japan's Golden Week, a series of four public holidays in the span of a week that sees offices closed, trains and planes packed and a mass exodus from the major cities ...The Cabinet Of Curiosities: Collecting The Wonders Of The World
Before there was the museum, there was the cabinet of curiosities. Starting in the 16th century as Europe expanded its horizons during the Age of Exploration, the rich and powerful began to collect curios and display them. Their collections were eclectic – everything ...Shakespeare Slept Here: Hidden Old Room In Oxford Once Hosted The Bard
Behind an eighteenth-century facade in downtown Oxford, just above a clothing shop, is a bedroom that was once used by William Shakespeare.
It was part of the Crown Tavern, owned by Shakespeare's friend John Davenant. The Bard frequently stopped in Oxford on his trips ...Gambia And UK Open Fort Bullen Museum, A Bastion Against The Slave Trade
A fort in The Gambia that was instrumental in stopping the slave trade has been given a new museum, the Daily Observer reports.
Fort Bullen was one of two forts at the mouth of the River Gambia, placed there in 1826 to stop slave ships from sailing out into the Atlantic. ...International Budget Guide 2013: Asuncion, Paraguay
Why is 2013 the year to get to Asunción, Paraguay's, lovely, riverfront capital? Because this landlocked tropical nation sandwiched between Boliva, Brazil and Argentina is modernizing at warp speed. Tourism is still a rarity (expect curious looks, especially if you ...A Cast-Iron Church In Istanbul
This church on the shoreline of Istanbul looks ornate yet pretty normal – that is until you go up and take a closer look. The Bulgarian St. Stephen Church isn't made of stone but rather of cast iron. It's a rare survival of a 19th-century craze in prefab cast-iron ...Route 66 Polaroid Project Aims To Capture The Mother Road The Old-Fashioned Way
There have been a lot of cool Kickstarter Projects in recent months, but this one will warm the heart of anyone who likes a good old-fashioned road trip. The Route 66 Polaroid Project is just what it says on the tin: a plan to drive the length of the famous highway taking ...National Park Week Begins Tomorrow!
The National Park Service and the National Park Foundation will kick off their annual spring celebration of the parks tomorrow, as National Park Week officially gets under way. The event will run from April 20-28 and will feature a number of special activities throughout the ...International Adventure Guide 2013: Ethiopia: Addis Ababa And The Northern Circuit
Ethiopia is the rising star of the adventure travel scene. The country has a great deal to offer those who want to visit Africa beyond the usual favorites. Want to see ancient ruins? North Africa is dodgy at the moment and Europe is expensive. Want to go on a safari? You ...Smithsonian Channel To Air Special King Richard III Discovery
The Smithsonian Channel will soon air a documentary about the remarkable discovery of the skeleton of King Richard III in a parking lot in Leicester, England.
"The King's Skeleton: Richard III Revealed" premieres Sunday, April 21 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The two-hour show was ...
10 Offbeat Things To Do In Chicago
If you've never been to Chicago, or you've only visited during the winter, which tends to last roughly from early fall through late spring, you have to see the place in the summer. As soon as the weather gets warm, the city's residents flock to the lakefront and the place ...George Orwell's Birthplace To Become Monument To Gandhi
George Orwell's birthplace in Motihari, Bihar, India, is being turned into a monument and park, but not to the famous English writer. Instead, Art Daily reports, the new park will be dedicated to independence leader Mahatma Gandhi.
The ramshackle bungalow where Orwell was ...VIDEO: Jerusalem In 1896
Jerusalem is one of those cities that clings to you long after you leave it. The mix of faiths, the musky scents of the markets, the muezzin's call ... once you've been there you can't forget it.
It's prominent in the imaginations of many who haven't even been there, so ...
5 Overlooked Castles Close To London
England is famous for its castles. Giant fortresses such as Bamburgh Castle and Lincoln Castle attract thousands of visitors a year, but people tend to overlook the many smaller, lesser-known castles close to London. These are often as interesting as their more famous ...China To Demolish Ancient Temple To Bolster World Heritage Site Bid
Chinese officials have announced a controversial plan to demolish a number of buildings at an ancient Buddhist temple located in the city of Xi'an in the province of Shaanxi. This drastic move is intended to improve the site's possibilities for being designated a World ...International Budget Guide 2013: Oaxaca, Mexico
If you are seeking an authentic and affordable taste of Mexico, look no further than Oaxaca.
The southwestern Mexican city has come a long way since the political protests of 2006, where non-violent activists clashed with corrupt government officials and militia in ...Historical Mexican Portraiture The Subject Of New Photography Book
Since the invention of the camera, portraiture has been an important part of the cultural history of Mexico. Now, a new book, "Mexican Portraits" (Aperture, $85) curated by photographer and editor Pablo Ortiz Monasterio, beautifully captures the essence of this complex ...Samurai! The Art Of The Japanese Warrior Comes To Boston
The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston is showcasing a large collection of samurai armor and art from one of the world's leading private collections.
"Samurai! Armor from the Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Collection" opens this Sunday, April 14, and features more than 140 ...Industry Destroys Part Of The Nazca Lines
A limestone quarrying company operating illegally within the bounds of the Nazca Lines has destroyed some of the enigmatic figures.
The archaeology news feed Past Horizons reports that heavy machinery removing limestone from a nearby quarry has damaged 150 meters (492 ...
