Author: Ms. R.

In the center of the city of Recife on the banks of the Capibaribe river stands a haunting sculpture that depicts a man undergoing excruciating torture. This sculpture was created by the artist and architect Demetrio Albuquerque and serves as a memorial to the victims of torture and oppression of the three-decade-long Brazilian military dictatorship.  It is estimated that over 20,000 people were tortured by the military and secret police agencies (the ABIN and the SNI) during the decades of……

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The area around Moab, Utah, is famous for its natural arches, and many are preserved in Arches National Park. Quite properly, of course, those arches are shielded from human activity, and some of them would certainly be at risk of damage if the crowds were allowed to swarm over them. Still, it would be fun to actually walk across a natural stone arch, and Gemini Bridges let you do just that. This pair of robust arches are perfectly safe, and……

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Gleedsville Cemetery is eastern Loudoun County’s largest African-American cemetery, but it is all but unknown to anyone who isn’t already aware of its location. The cemetery served the community of Gleedsville, Virginia, which was founded in the late 1800s by formerly enslaved people from Oatlands Plantation and existed until the mid-20th century; it was named for community leader John “Jack” Gleed. In 1893, the community established the Gleedsville Cemetery, not far from the Mt. Olive Methodist Church, which still stands on……

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In Greek mythology, Artemis was the goddess of the hunt, the wilderness, and wild animals, and was among the most respected goddesses in ancient Greece. In the 5th century BCE, Callikrates designed and built a temple to honor Artemis. The small Ionic Temple of Artemis Agrotera was constructed on the south bank of the Ilissos river, considered sacred in ancient times. The temple was constructed with Pentelic marble, with a colonnaded portico in the front and rear facades. The……

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In 1948, this magnificent library was constructed as part of the University of Ibadan. Named after professor Kenneth Dike, the first indigenous Principal, and former Vice-Chancellor, the design is heralded as an amazing example of  “tropical modernism.” The library was created by Maxwell Fry and Jane Drew, two artists that pioneered the Modern Movement in England. The library is covered in patterned sunscreens, a popular architectural feature at the time. These panels keep the building cool during hot days as the……

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Originally built in 1921, five years before historic Route 66 was certified, this small roadside building in Chandler, Oklahoma, started out as a station selling Nevrnox gasoline. It morphed into a machine and engine rebuilding shop. The building was sold in 2007 and after several years of renovations, it reopened in 2010 as a motorcycle museum. The museum is jam-packed with all kinds of bikes, mostly motorbikes but also pedal bikes. Road bikes, racing bikes, off-road bikes, motocross bikes…….

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Listen and subscribe on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast apps. In this episode of The Atlas Obscura Podcast, we visit Micropia in Amsterdam, the world’s only museum dedicated to microscopic organisms and learn more about our invisible life companions. Our podcast is an audio guide to the world’s wondrous, awe-inspiring, strange places. In under 15 minutes, we’ll take you to an incredible site, and along the way you’ll meet some fascinating people and hear their stories…….

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In the tiny village of Conche, on the remote eastern shores of Newfoundland’s Great Northern Peninsula, a former nursing station houses this small museum about the history of this corner of the island. Harpoons, nets, lanterns, and other objects accompany photographs and descriptions of the inshore fishery, tales of self-reliance in harsh conditions, and the process of salting cod for export around the world. Especially poignant are the glimpses of daily life. One display, “Passing the Time,” includes black-and-white……

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I’ve already finished my holiday shopping this year. Please hold your applause till the end of this gift guide. Truthfully, I’m usually not this efficient. But with online shopping skills honed by 18 months of semi-confinement, I quickly checked everyone off my list before shops had even swapped out their Halloween merchandise for Christmas stuff. It helped that I mostly side-stepped those pesky supply chain issues by buying friends and family used books, second-hand gadgets, and local products. So,……

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