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Petra, the Mysterious Jewel of Jordan

12391716060?profile=RESIZE_930xAhmad Qaisieh


In southern Jordan, just under three hours from capital Amman, one of the most recognisable ancient sites in the MIddle East - and indeed, the world - was rediscovered by archaeologists in 1812. But it dates back to at least the 2nd century BCE and probably earlier, settled by an ancient Bedouin Arab tribe called the Nabataeans, who spoke Aramaic rather than Arabic and grew into a wealthy, powerful kingdom which at its height - and until it was absorbed by the Roman Empire in the

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Experiencing Dublin on St. Patrick's Day

12399857656?profile=RESIZE_930xMediaProductions


Every March 17th, the 5th-century Romano-British missionary who converted the Celts to Christianity, then became a bishop and eventually Irland´s patron saint is celebrated in more countries than any other national holiday, and of course it has special weight and significance here, where it´s a public holiday as well as a cultural and religious one. And if you happen to be visiting on this special day, you´re in for a treat, with various forms of festivities shamrocking the cit

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 12395835480?profile=RESIZE_930xCarnival Cruise Line


On their recent Carnival Cruise Lines vacation, every member of the Meyers family was busy enjoying their three-generation vacation getaway. Tom and Martha were playing their favorite sport of pickleball, which is a popular pastime among people in their advanced age group. Their son Ben and his wife Melissa were steering electric race cars along a winding two-level track (above and below), slowing to negotiate sharp hairpin turns. Meanwhile, grandchildren Tom and Betsy were

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6 Highlights of French St. Martin

12239387653?profile=RESIZE_930xPaul Sableman


The northern part of the island shared with Dutch Sint Maarten was colonized by the French in the early 17th century, and today Saint-Martin (population just over 39,000) is a “collectivity” of France, an overseas territory with considerable autonomy. This side of the island is known for its French influence, gastronomic delights, and beautiful beaches.

 

 

Marigot

The capital of French St. Martin (pop. 5,700, above and top) is a laid-back blend of French and Caribbean culture filled

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12389714065?profile=RESIZE_930xRootOfAllLight


Lunar New Year 2024 has just ended, landing us in the year of the Dragon, and it got me to thinking: there´s quite a bit out there on where/how to travel according to Western star signs, aligning destinations with your astrological characteristics, but you don´t hear much of anything on the subject when it comes to Chinese astrology. As someone who´s studied Chinese and Sinic culture, I looked into it a bit, and here´s what I came up with, with a couple of destination suggestions

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7 Special Spots in Lexington, Kentucky

12385672495?profile=RESIZE_930xRuss Glasson


The main claim to fame of Bluegrass State´s second largest city (pop.around 323,000 ), located in the Bluegrass Region in Kentucky´s center and north is as "the horse capital of the world," cradle of thoroughbreds (even though the famed Kentucky Derby is held in Louisville, an hour and a half away). Equestrian enthusiasts can check out some 450 horse farms as well as the Kentucky Horse Park (see below), but there´s plenty more to this gracious city. Here are a few of the spots not

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12384031292?profile=RESIZE_930xPhotos: David Paul Appell


Nearly 20 years ago I visited Norge for the first time – on a press trip sponsored by Visit Norway to capital Oslo, historic second city Bergen, and a Hurtigruten cruise to the fjords and up to far-northern Svalbard. It was all beautiful, of course, but it was in summertime, and over this past Christmas and New Year´s I had to privilege of coming back in winter. Naturally, it was a whole different – and a chilling yet in many ways even more enchanting – experience.


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8 Essential Items for Winter Travel

 12378298064?profile=RESIZE_930xPickPik


Winter may now already be on its way out, but if this one’s for anyone already thinking of next season. A couple of months ago, in preparation for a whirl through the winter wonderland above Norway’s Arctic Circle, I realized that the usual winter togs that serve me well enough in Spain just weren’t going to cut it in serious snow, ice, and temperatures forecasted to drop as low as 5⁼ Fahrenheit (-15⁼ Celsius). So I educated myself about what new cold-weather clothes gear I would need

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10 of the World´s Most Magnificent Mosques

 
12368627852?profile=RESIZE_930xHossam all line


The world´s second largest religion, Islam, is practiced by an estimated 1.8 billion people on every continent, and an estimated 3.6 million mosques worldwide, ranging from the humble, workaday and even primitve to the spectacular indeed. Countries with the most mosques include (believe it or not) Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Morocco, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia (which is after all the religion´s birthplace), Turkey, and Yemen. Known in Arabic as a masjid, this is whe

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6 of Virginia's Top Destinations

12367421892?profile=RESIZE_710xMporterf


"Virginia is for lovers," the tourism slogan goes and that´s especially true for lovers of history and nature. Here you'll see colonial settlements as well as Civil War battlefields and presidential residences (eight presidents have hailed from here, mostly early in the USA´s history). Its cities are a mix of historic architecture and cutting-edge modern culture and amenities including great dining; its relatively modest coastline is nonetheless packed with appealing beaches; and its

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6 Scintillating Sparkling Wines from Europe


Raise a glass to the world of sparkling wine! French Champagne is the most famous, of course, but there are many types of bubbly wine enjoyed around the world, and some of the best/most nobale hail from Europe. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or just want to enjoy a glass with friends, there is a sparkling wine out there for everyone. Here are some of the most popular types that you can find at your favorite wine shop or online

Champagne (France)

The world´s most renowned bubby

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11 Tips for Finding Affordable Rail Tickets


Are you planning your next adventure on the rails, and concerned about the potential costs? Here´s a comprehensive look on how to snag cheaper train tickets, from innovative booking strategies to secret deals. So all aboard!

Book Early: The Early Bird Gets the Worm!

Booking your tickets as far ahead as possible can lead to significant savings. Rail companies typically release their tickets 12 weeks in advance, and that's when you can grab the cheapest seats. The reason behind this is simple. The

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12357505284?profile=RESIZE_930xGoranQ


Officially the Republic of China, this island with a population of around 24 million – just a bit larger than the state of Maryland and just under half the size of Scotland – has been in the news lately both thanks to its controversial January 13 presidential elections and to its perennial potential (and especially in the context of other current crises in Ukraine and Gaza) as a world flashpoint due to mainland China´s obsession with eventually and forcibly annexing it. Taiwan is both o

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 A-Look-at-Traditional-Arts-and-Crafts-of-Kenya-2-jpg.webp?profile=RESIZE_930x

For many, the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to Kenya is wildlife and safaris. But visitors should also keep in mind this country´s rich artistic and cultural heritage - thanks to its more than 70 ethnic groups such as the Kikuyu, Kamba, Luhya, Maasai, and Kalenjin  - both to witness (such as tribal dances) and to buy as mementos of their trip here (esecially masks, figurines, and other forms of sculpture). This beautiful country keeps the spirit of its ancestors alive through ev

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12343780091?profile=RESIZE_930xnps.org

The unwavering commitment to equality, justice, and nonviolent protest of one of the premier civil rights leaders of the 20th century had a profound impact on U.S. and even world history both during his lifetime and in the more than half century since. And the holiday established in his name, celebrated on January 15, is a chance to celebrate diversity, explore the richness of history, and uphold the principles that MLK Jr. devotedly upheld.
And these five spots across the country offer

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5 of Spain´s Special New Year´s Traditions

12335576059?profile=RESIZE_930xjacinta lluch valero


We Spaniards love to ring out the old and ring in the new as much as anyone else on the planet. And whilst we of course share many NYE practices with the rest of the world (at least the Western world, I guess), there are several which are fairly unique to our country – and here´s a quirky quintet of them:

Toasting with Bubbles - but with a Twist

Of course all of Spain raises a glass of cava (the méthode-Champegnoise sparkling wine – from sweet to dry – made in Catalonia) t

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12332141285?profile=RESIZE_930xMatthiasKabel


All across the world, all sorts of holiday activities– both religious and secular, age-old and relatively new – are in full swing during this season, including festive lights, special street markets, trees, Santa and elves everywhere, and the rest of it.  But a handful of places feature oddities which range from whimsical to scary to occasionally potentially offensive. Here´s a particularly memorable top ten:

Austria & Germany: Demonic Doings

December 5 is celebrated as St. Nicho

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12280909253?profile=RESIZE_930xJosh Duncan



The smallest of the three U.S. Virgin Islands – just seven miles long and three miles wide (roughly 11 by five kilometers) and with a permanent population just under 99,000 – is the favorite of some because it´s less developed and more pristine-feeling than St. Croix and St. Thomas. Some of its highlights include:

 

12280930053?profile=RESIZE_930xMatt Wade


Cute, Laid Back, Welcoming Towns

On its west coast, St. John´s largest settlement is Cruz Bay (above pop. around 4,200), where  Mongoose Junction and Wharfsi

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7 of the Top Destination Brands of 2023

12313136882?profile=RESIZE_930xVisit Maldives


Over the past decades, destinations in Europe, North America, and the Caribbean have been the stars in both destination branding and popularity among travelers. And while all the above certainly remain among the world´s most powerful performers in tourism, the World Travel Awards (dubbed “the Oscars of travel”) in 2023 have underscored strong showings outside these traditional areas, particularly in Asia and the Middle East. Here´s a quick rundown of this year´s winners:

At the

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