Author: Ms. R.

The permanent residents of the Shri Jagannath Temple, in the Indian coastal town of Puri in Odisha, usually have busy schedules. Every year, three idols, representing the holy siblings Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra see and bless millions of Hindu pilgrims. But every June, the idols go on sick leave, a fortnight of isolation and purification before emerging again for the Rath Yatra (“cart journey”) festival, in which three 45-foot-tall chariots, one for each deity, process through the town,……

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Tucked away among the green hills of Umbria, Rasiglia is a medieval village dating back to the 13th century. While the centuries-old stone homes and buildings appear as though they’re frozen in time, the town is constantly in motion; small streams rush through the village, looping around centuries-old homes and stone buildings. The streams, fed by the Menotre tributary, weave through the village, forming torrents, basins, and small waterfalls. During the 16th century, they powered the town’s mill, wool……

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When a railway was laid across Mongolia’s vast expanse, it cleaved the country in two. Constructed in the mid-20th century as a conduit through the Gobi Desert, the rail stretches from southern Russia into northeast China. But the railroad was, of course, built for humans. Which means its builders overlooked how it would affect other species, including the ungulates of the region—most notably Mongolia’s khulan. Once the track was laid, the damage was done. The khulan, a Mongolian subspecies……

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Ponte delle Tette (Bridge of the Tits) is one of the hundreds of small bridges that cross the waterways of Venice, but this particular span is unique for its connection with sex work. At the time of the Republic of Venice, sex work was very common, with more than 10,000 women supposedly engaged in the trade in the city. In an effort to contain this practice, authorities restricted it to the neighborhood of Carampane di Rialto in 1412, turning……

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Since 1874, an authentic, steam-powered locomotive has traversed the countryside of the Isle of Man, between the coastal village of Port Erin and the capital of Douglas, huffing and puffing through idyllic green pastures, rolling hills, grazing sheep, and coastal cliffs overlooking the Irish Sea. Several times per day, these old engines chug along, blowing hoarse, reedy whistles at every crossing. With brief stops in several towns and hamlets, including Castletown, the Isle of Man’s former capital and home……

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Pighin Tower is one of the only three remaining medieval towers in Rovigo, the other two being part of a former castle. It was once part of the city walls that once surrounded the town, but today it stands as a residential building. The structure was built in 1138 during the construction of the city walls. At first glance, the 23-meter (75 foot) brick tower looks like a typical medieval fortification. But if you look at the side facing……

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