Author: Ms. R.

Unveiled in March 2024, “Malin’s Fountain” is a giant troll sculpture set within the woods of Pease Park. It was created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo and a team of local volunteers. More than 80 percent of Malin is made from recycled, repurposed, or found materials. The wood is sourced from Harvest Lumber, a sawmill dedicated to giving new life to Austin’s fallen trees. Specifically, the cladding and shake boards were milled by Harvest Lumber from a water tank……

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Dating back to the 18th century, Ex-Hacienda de Chautla was once a thriving sugar plantation and textile factory. Today, it stands as a testament to the region’s rich history and architectural grandeur. The hacienda’s centerpiece is the magnificent Castillo de Gillow, a fairytale-like castle perched atop a hill. Built in the early 20th century by the Gillow family, the castle features stunning French-inspired architecture, with intricate stonework and a grand central tower offering panoramic views. Visitors can explore the……

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The Dahlgreen Cross, named after the church it resides in, is no ordinary item. For one, this nearly 25-pound cross is fabricated from metal and measures 2 feet by 4 feet. It is also reported to have been constructed around the year 1634 with materials from the ships the Ark and the Dove, which carried settlers from England to the New World. It is said to have been used by Jesuit priests at the first Roman Catholic mass given in English in……

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Jabal Ithlib is a complex of rocky mountains located in the heart of Hegra, Al Ula. Home to a large number of inscriptions, shrines, and altars, it is believed to have been an important religious center for the Nabataean people of Al Ula. On the right at the Jabal Ithlib complex’s entrance is a large, open hall cut into the rock. This is the Diwan, where Nabataeans are believed to have gathered to discuss religious and political issues, perform……

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This article is adapted from the February 22, 2025, edition of Gastro Obscura’s Favorite Things newsletter. You can sign up here. In 2014, around Thanksgiving, talk-show host Ellen Degeneres showed her audience a photo of a mid-century American dish. “There’s something called a ‘Candle Salad.’ This is real,” she said, while the studio audience howled with laughter. “It is made with banana and pineapple … and mistakes. I tried it once. It was not my thing.” For the uninitiated,……

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In Chiang Mai, Thailand, there is an Airbus A330 parked in a strip mall parking lot, and it has a cafe inside. To enter, you have to purchase a “boarding pass” at the “terminal.” Upon boarding, you give your boarding pass to the barista, who then makes your drink. While you wait, you can put on a pilot uniform and take pictures in the cockpit. Once your drink is ready, you can find a seat anywhere on the plane……

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A Catholic chapel was built on this very spot in 1750 by Spanish missionaries. But in the 19th century, as new churches were established, it was abandoned and went into ruins. In 1952, a new chapel was built, keeping the original dimensions and orientation. The altar cross was also restored, being the only item from the original chapel. In addition, stone seatings were placed around the new chapel to accommodate more people. The chapel was named Alto Vista, which……

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Guildford, Surrey, is a must-visit destination for fans of Alice in Wonderland, being the town where its author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson—better known by his pseudonym Lewis Carroll—spent the final years of his life. The son of one of the major Anglican church figures of his time, and a Deacon of Christ Church himself, Charles is known to have been a rather spiritual man. In addition to giving sermons in Oxford, Charles also preached in Guildford on occasion, at St Mary’s……

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