New posts gaining attention right now, refreshed from recent reader activity.
After spending decades wandering the globe creating art, sculptor and painter Jorge Selaron knew that he wanted to settle in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro as soon as he arrived there. Jorge Selaron—who is originally from Chile—instantly fell in love with Rio’s vibrant music, delectable food, and robust art scene. Jorge Selaron sold…
Discover the unique town of Setenil de las Bodegas in Spain, where approximately 3,000 residents call the natural caves their home. The caves were chosen as housing due to their ability to provide natural insulation from the heat and cold, eliminating the need for full-fledged houses. This area has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The…
In 1791, the King of Bohemia organized an exhibition in Prague to showcase Bohemiaβs advanced manufacturing capabilities. In the 19th century, several European countries held similar exhibitions. Eventually, the World Expo was born. By the 20th century, millions of people gathered every few years in various cities around the globe to celebrate some of the…
In the late 19th century, Renaissance man Henry Chapman Mercer traveled throughout France, Germany, and the United States studying and collecting pottery, tools, and spooky stories about the supernatural. Mercer believed that industrialization was endangering certain artisanal aspects of human culture, so he built an ornate castle in his home state of Pennsylvania to showcase…
The medieval village of Rocamadour rises from the side of a rugged cliff in Dordogne-Lot, France. Much like the mystical spires of Mont Saint-Michel and the healing waters of Lordes, Rocamadour is a popular pilgrimage destination.Β History and architecture buffs adore Rocamadourβs striking castle, rich folklore, and sweeping views of the Alzou Valley. Constructed in…
Have you ever wanted to leave everything behind and head out on the road in an old van? Most people have, at least once. That restless urge sits at the heart of Into the Wild, Sean Pennβs raw and deeply affecting film based on the real story of Christopher McCandless, the young man who renamed…
Shaped over thousands of years by the crashing waves, Kannesteinen Rock is a magnificent mushroom shaped rock formation located in the rural village of Oppedal, Norway, approximately 10 km west of the center of MΓ₯lΓΈy. While difficult to measure the exact size by looking at the photographs, the rock is about three feet high and…
In 1909, a riverbank collapse on the River Severn in Gloucestershire, England, led to concerns that a busy canal vital to the flow of goods and services would be compromised if the water level rose any higher. Old ships were intentionally beached to create a man-made barrier to protect the adjacent canal. Today, Purton Hulksβotherwise…