Every April, the Seven Sisters of the Taurus constellation disappear from the Peruvian sky, only to reappear in June, signaling the coming harvest and a return to order and abundance. The celestial phenomenon also served as a metaphor in ancient Peru’s Pachakuti philosophy. The words pacha (time and space) and kuti (return) refer to a […]
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So maybe you know Andorra is a tiny country, high in the Pyrenees between France and Spain. Maybe you know that the entire country is about one-fifth the size of Rhode Island (181 square miles). But what you might not know is that it is a traveler’s paradise, renowned for its skiing and shopping. But […]
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With a history that spans more than a millennia, calcio storico (historic football) is an ancient ball game that originated from the Greeks, was adopted by the Romans and established as an annual tournament in Florence in celebration of the city’s patron saint, St. John the Baptist. Calcio was originally a game for aristocrats to […]
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Dionysus was the god of wine once revered by the Thracians who lived in Bulgaria. What better way to celebrate the history of the country than to tour its delicious offerings of wine and food? We can’t think of anything. Splendors of Bulgaria will put you in touch with experts on the cultural heritage […]
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In the northeast region of Spain, just more than an hour from Barcelona, lives the home of one of the most unique cultural rituals in Europe — the Concurs de Castells de Tarragona. This event, also known as the Tarragona Human Tower Competition, which takes place during festivals in Catalonia, has an origin that dates […]
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San Fermín’s namesake festival started way back in the Middle Ages, and is now arguably Spain’s most iconic event. Originally a religious celebration, the event honors Pamplona’s first bishop and commemorates his beheading and martyrdom in the Catholic Church. Legend has it, the man died being dragged through the streets, chased by bulls. San […]
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“Liberty, equality, fraternity.” The national motto of France traces its origins to the French Revolution. Celebrated just 10 days after our Independence Day, July 14 celebrates the storming of Bastille in 1790, a flashpoint of the French Revolution that eventually led to the overthrow of the French Monarchy, altering modern history and ushering in an […]
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Holy Week, or Semana Santa as it is known locally, is a huge event in Antigua. Devotees from all over Central America and tourists of all creeds from around the world flock to the colonial city to take in a series of spectacular parades. Local families spend hours constructing brightly colored alfombras, or carpets, […]
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In 1804, explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark set out from St. Louis to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase. Their Corps of Discovery pointed toward the Pacific Ocean, uncertain of what they’d find in this vast unexplored territory. In the process they earned themselves a permanent place in history; their names are almost universally […]
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The religious figure of Maximon offers evidence of a curious syncretism between traditional Mayan beliefs and Catholicism, which arrived in Guatemala along with the colonizing Spanish in 1524. Worship is thought to have begun around this time, and provided a way for the Mayans to hold onto some of their traditional ceremonies while appearing […]
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You might not have heard the terms Googie and Doo Wop in reference to architecture, but you are definitely familiar with the form. Doo Wop is a part of the mid-century modern style many call “retro,” a subdivision of the futurist movement that was born in the 1930s, but redefined post-WWII as an architectural approach […]
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Military buffs will greatly enjoy exploring the history of the Vietnam War with a helicopter tour of some of its biggest battlefields. Vietnam Helicopter Operations’ Saigon to the DMZ will take you on a trip through time to one of the world’s most harrowing battles. You’ll start out in Saigon where you’ll spend three […]
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The festivities begin at 10 a.m. with el palo jabòn, a greasy pole challenge where a climber must drop a ham tied at the top, signaling the official start of La Tomatina, Buñol’s famous annual food fight. With La Fiesta de San Fermín and Los Concurs de Castells, La Tomatina is right at home with […]
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The spectacular Nazca Lines amaze and baffle archaeologists in equal measure. Travelers making their way through Peru from Arequipa or Cuzco to Lima are advised to stop and see the famous Lines, which are located just off the Pan-American highway. Although you could easily miss the lines themselves from the road, the barren desert […]
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At first glance, Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas may not appear a great destination for visitors to Ecuador, but a short trip from the center provides an opportunity to experience a unique indigenous culture. Ecuador’s third-largest city is stiflingly hot and its position between the mountains and the coast make it a commercial hub. […]
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Ancestral veneration is a near universal tradition among humans. Every corner of the world has a celebration dedicated to the practice, with Mexico’s being la Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. Rituals for the deceased have been present in Mexico for more than two millennia, with the modern-day festival originating from […]
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If you’re a fan of V for Vendetta, you remember what happens on Guy Fawkes Night. Alan Moore’s graphic novel refers to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, when a group of English Catholics attempted to assassinate King James I and replace him with a Catholic monarch. Fawkes was caught, tortured and executed, with the […]
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Dating back to ancient times, Diwali is one of the oldest, biggest and brightest holidays of India, signifying knowledge and light’s victory over ignorance and darkness. It is believed the festival (also called Deepavali) originated as a festival held after the summer harvest season, during the Hindu month of Kartika. The event has been […]
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Somewhere along the Mekong River, in a meadow just 25 kilometers from Laos, is one of the most surreal temples you have ever visited, famous throughout the world as Buddha Park. Technically, it’s not a temple, but the sculpture garden has been given the name Wat Xieng Khuan (Spirit City) for its awe-inspiring array of […]
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Located on by the Taohua River, just outside the confines of the city of Guilin, is one of China’s hidden treasures — Reed Flute Cave. For centuries, locals used the hard reed stalks found near the entrance of the cave to craft woodwind instruments; however, no one realized what could be found inside. […]
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