Author: Ms. R.

Just north of Tucson nestled in the Molino Basin of Coronado National Forest are the remains of part of America’s dark past. What is now sparse concrete foundations, rusted pipes, and stacked rocks was once the “Catalina Federal Honor Camp” used to imprison draft dodgers, conscientious objectors, and Japanese-Americans during the Second World War.   The camp was once a 46-man minimum security prison with “barracks, a mess hall, laundry facilities, power and storage facilities, a garage, a vocational shop,……

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Roccia dell’Elefante (Elephant’s Rock) is a large, 13 foot (four meter) tall, boulder made of andesite and trachyte, which has been eroded by atmospheric agents into a shape that closely resembles an elephant. It’s located along the SS 134 road in Sardinia, Italy, just south of the town of Castelsardo. Already notable for its weird shape, the rock is also an important archaeological site as two ancient tombs are located inside the boulder. The two tombs are an example……

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The northernmost point of Skye is the Rubha Hunish, a headland that seeps into the water in a jagged fringe of rock. On the cliffs overlooking this peninsula is a small bothy known as The Lookout. Constructed in the early 20th-century, this structure was a former watch station for the coastguard due to the superb views overlooking the surrounding sea and islands of Harris and Lewis. In the 1970s, however, it was no longer required and became a spot……

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Michael Richardson, special collections librarian at the University of Bristol, wasn’t surprised to find forgotten parchment scraps from medieval manuscripts hidden inside some of the books at Bristol’s public library. The library, established in 1613, is one of the oldest in England and has an antiquarian books collection that rivals any university’s. And where there are old, rare books, there are often older, sometimes rarer parchment fragments recycled into those books’ bindings. But Richardson didn’t expect to stumble on……

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In one of the busiest neighborhoods of Pune, India in a public square, an obelisk rises from the midst of a circle of trees. For most of the residents passing by, the stone structure is a common sight. The white stone monument was erected in memory of the soldiers who fought during World War I from the city and district of Pune (known at the time as Poona). An emblem of a shield and two crossed swords is etched……

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The lonely Coster Avenue Mural at Kuhn’s Brickyard was designed by Civil War descendant Mark H. Dunkelman, who painted it together with noted muralist Johan Bjurman. The mural was dedicated on the 125th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, and it’s an important monument to the clash between Colonel Charles Coster’s Union forces and the Confederate brigade led by General Harry Hays. It is consistently identified as one of the least visited memorials in Gettysburg. Coster’s troops were positioned……

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Before it was lost, it must have been a wild paradise: a lowland tropical forest near the sea and thick with tall palms and other slim, flowering trees. Woody vines snaked through the dense understory, shaded by relatives of today’s cashew and tropical chestnut trees, while stout hop-bushes clustered where sunlight pierced the canopy. Black mangroves sank their roots into the water where crocodiles likely waited, silent and patient, for an unsuspecting meal to wander past. The air would……

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Bienno is a mountain village located in Val Camonica, at the feet of the Alps. Its history dates back to prehistoric times, and its relationship with the surrounding woods has been critical to the survival of its inhabitants. This kind of long-lasting relationship cannot but engender an array of mythological figures.  In addition to being known as one of the five most beautiful villages in Italy, Bienno is also home to a prolific community of artists. In 2019, two……

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At most sit-down restaurants, a skinny vase containing a flower or two on every table is as common as cutlery and placemats. But occasionally, flowers end up alongside or atop the food. Take an orchid in your cocktail: Some might pick out that orchid and set it aside, or put it into their hair. What they might not know is that the orchid is edible. Actually, according to the upcoming book Edible Flowers: How, Why, and When We Eat……

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