Diliff/Aleksandar Cocek/Visit Luxembourg
Annually since 1985, the cultural poobahs of the European Union have desginated one or more of the continent's cities (and as of 2022 it's three), as Capitals of Culture, focusing on their cultural offerings, allowing them to organize a series of cultural events (many with a strong pan-European dimension); bring in considerable additional revenue; foster urban renewal; and raise their international profiles and images. Since the first one, Athens, most
On the west coast of the island republic of Mauritius, 1,134 kilometers (705 miles) out in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar (and about an hour from capital Port Louis), Tamarin was once a humble village devoted to fishing and salt panning, but in recent years has been transformed by tourism, especially as a surfing spot, and now has a diverse raft of lodging options, from self-catering apartments to four-star resorts. Tamarin Bay also has its own pod of dolphins, and spotting them
Airline flights in much of the world are organised through a system called "hub-and-spoke," invented by U.S. airline Delta in 1955; made widespread in the USA after that country's deregulation of the airline industry in 1978; and commonplace in Europe as well since the European Union finally eliminated the last of its own air-industry restrictions in 1997. The model is named after the basic design of a traditional wheel, where the "hub" is a central airport and the spokes are the flights comin
When I was growing up in New York in the 1970s, I had this lovely image of the capital of our country’s Pacific Northwest region, thanks to a teen idol whose music my kid sister would play incessantly for a while there. Every day one summer, it was annoyingly toothy Bobby Sherman catchily belting out:
The bluest skies you’ve ever seen in Seattle,
And the hills the greenest green in Seattle…
And just those simple, oft repeated phrases fixed this city’s image in my imagination as
The capital of the Czech Republic, with its UNESCO World Heritage historic center, is considered one of Europe's (indeed, the world's) most beautiful cities, and has been a favorite for visitors for more than 30 years now, since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Top attractions include Castle Hill, Old Town Square, the Old Town Hall, Wenceslaus Square, and Charles Bridge. And here are some tips and observations to help you navigate "golden Prague":
Transportation
The city center
The year 2022 is also the 10th anniversary of the opening of TOKYO SKYTREE TOWN. centering on the tallest free-standing broadcast tower in the world, whiich will be aglow with a special "Happy New Year!" greeting, along with an image of the Japanese flag.
Light-up and projection map schedule is January 1 from midnight to 6 am and January 1-3 from 5:45 pm to midnight.
In addition, commemorative anniversary events include:
Shishimai, a propitious lion dance, welcoming spectators pra
In today’s commercial passenger aviation, understandably it’s the aircraft that get top billing and most of the attention. But the airport systems that make their operation possible include a complex array of equipment, much of which is unglamorous and goes largely unnoticed by the flying public. And one of the key contraptions along these lines is a low-slung vehicle called a pushback tug or tractor.
As the name implies, this doughty workhorse of the tarmac goes into action when it’s time to
Our Southern California Wine Council welcomed the holiday season by tasting and pairing four whites and four reds from the Livermore Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA), just over an hour east of San Francisco. With a climate consisting of warm days and cool nights, the area has been conducive to wine grape growing since the late 1800s.
Omega Road Winery Gratia, 2019 ($23) was our first tasting. Omega Road Winery is run by father-daughter team Ken and Alexandra Henkelman. A flavorful
Glædelig Jul! In the capital of Denmark – once home to 19th-century writer Hans Christian Anderson – the holiday atmosphere is like something out of one of his fairy tales. With the streets and buildings decked out in lights and Christmas decorations, and sidewalk stands and windows hawking roast chestnuts, mulled wine, and hot cocoa – and all of it often blanketed with a frosting of snow – this time of year there are few spots in Europe more ‘Yuletidey’-feeling than Copenhagen
There may be no snow - and precious little ice skating or hot cocoa - on this lush, tropical Caribbean island, but there’s certainly holiday cheer, and lots of it, for a good long time – in fact, Puerto Rico takes pride in having the world’s lengthiest season of Navidad (Christmas), around 45 days or so, beginning right after Thanksgiving (meaning the third Friday in November) and lasting through mid-January. Along the way are various festivities, activities, and highlights not to mis
Europe is of course filled with amazing scenic and cultural sights and experiences, but it's also known as by and large an expensive place to visit. Yet it doesn't have to be! There are still a number of European cities and countries where you won't bust your wallet on lodging, dining, entertainment, and touring, and here are seven of them - many, but not all, in Eastern Europe (and of course don't forget that in budget travel, a good part of your savings occurs at the beginning and end of yo
Aviation geeks (more punchily known as avgeeks) are of course folks who are obsessed with aircraft – commercial, military, and otherwise – and who can to a greater or lesser extent quote you chapter and verse on many aspects of mechanical flight, especially when it comes to commercial airlines.
And then there there’s a subset of avgeeks who not only follow the industry avidly but who also spend as much of their free time as possible “on the hunt,” hunkered down for
Haveseen/Dreamstime.com
When I encountered my first giant sequoia in Mariposa Grove, my head did not tilt back far enough to see the top. Walking around the trunk practically required a GPS. Leaving noise and civilization behind to walk among these ancient trees brought us to the famous "Grizzly Giant," the grove’s elder statesman, which rivals the Statue of Liberty in height and sports a branch extending outward that is larger than the trunks of most trees.
Anna Dudko/Dreamstime.com
Welcom
The quiet village of Monkey River in southern Belize is habitat to a plethora of flora and fauna, and as a result the nature tour conducted around herehas been rated one of the top in the country. Exotic tropical birds, butterflies, crocodiles, iguanas, and especially howler monkeys are just some of the wildlife that visitors will spot on this tour.
The tour will stop at various locations to give visitors an opportunity to explore the jungle on foot, keeping an eye out for snakes and spiders
One of Europe's most atmospheric cities has for good reason long been a visitor favourite. And apart from roaming its cobblestones and canals, here are ten of the best things you shouldn't miss while visiting the "Venice of the north" for an Amsterdam good time!
Cruise the Canals
There are quite a few cruise operators that will take you on a float of around an hour to an hour and a half through a number of the 165 famous canals of Amsterdam, either by day or night. Som
At some point when you're approaching your plane you've surely wondered to yourself why the wings are curved, no? This design feature is called a winglet (also known as a wingtip device), and it's there not just to look cool but for an important purpose: to maximise aerodynamic efficiency. Interested in learning more? Read on!
If you're an aviation geek, you know that airplanes stay in the air thanks to the interaction of four types of physical phenomena:
Thrust - that related to the tractio
At some point when you're approaching your plane you've surely wondered to yourself why the wings are curved, no? This design feature is called a winglet (also known as a wingtip device), and it's there not just to look cool but for an important purpose: to maximise aerodynamic efficiency. Interested in learning more? Read on!
If you're an aviation geek, you know that airplanes stay in the air thanks to the interaction of four types of physical phenomena:
Thrust - that related to the traction gen
"Nature's Grace" along the Maine Sculpture Trail. Photo by Alan Stubbs
Some people are traipsing through lovely landscapes as others explore history from days of North America's earliest tribal peoples to the present. Avid birders use binoculars to spot colorful feathered friends in flight while canoers and kayakers dip paddles into the water. At the end of the day, many of these visitors to Panama City, Florida, belly up to an oyster bar to enjoy freshly shucked bivalves prepared in a variety of
In terms of epic journeys, you’re not going to get much bigger than road tripping around the land Down Under. This huge landmass has more differing landscapes and areas of natural beauty than perhaps anywhere else in the world, from stunning beaches, lush rainforests, the red centre, Uluru, and massive cosmopolitan cities, all with a laid-back vibe and rich culture to explore.
Of course, with any journey of this size, you need to know a little about what you’re getting yourself into before yo
Have you dreamed of picking up a 9 seater car hire UK and going with your family and pets on a big road trip around the country? It would be a unique experience, but you are probably worried that not every hotel is ready to welcome your favorite dog or kitten.
However, don't despair! The British like to travel with their pets. Therefore, most hotels - from the simplest apartments in the capital, to elegant palaces with gardens located in the suburbs of London - welcome both four-legged guests a
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