Author: Ms. R.

When German traffic psychologist Karl Peglau designed an easy-to-recognize symbol for pedestrian street crossings in East Berlin, he had no idea that it would eventually grow legs of its own. The German Democratic Republic’s Ampelmännchen, or “little street crossing man,” is not your typical tall, stick-like figure. Rather, this stout and somewhat childlike silhouette, with a flat-top cap and a confident stride, is as iconic as he is eye-catching. Over the years, the quirky Ampelmännchen has become a much-loved……

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Turin is a city of hidden places and uncanny architecture that evokes a sense of wonder. Strolling along the Corso Francia northeast of Turin at number 23, a five-story building designed in Liberty-style will certainly catch visitors’ attention. The residential Palazzo della Vittoria or House of the Victory was commissioned by Giovanni Battista Carrera to engineer Gottardo Gussoni at the end of 1918. It was designed to celebrate the Italian victory in World War I. The building is also……

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Rising above the surrounding town, this monolithic masterpiece of Brabantine Gothic architecture might have been the tallest church ever constructed, alas, the funds needed to complete the proposed 252-foot (77-meter) spire ran dry. Constructed between 1200-1520, this imposing house of worship is named for the patron saint of Mechelen, a missionary and martyr whose remains are rumored to be buried inside the cathedral. Its distinctive tower scrapes the sky at an impressive 318 feet (97 meters) and can be……

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Kibeho is a small town nestled in the southwest corner of Rwanda, known outside the region for two things: reported visions of the Virgin Mary that took place in the 1980s and two massacres during and after the Rwandan genocide in 1990s, when thousands were killed there. In November 1981, 16-year-old Alphonsine Mumureke reported a vision she described as the Virgin Mary, warning of a bloody, apocalyptic, hate-filled conflict to come. She initially endured ridicule after reporting what she……

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It’s a humid night in Upolu, one of two main islands that make up the small Polynesian country of Samoa. The humidity, however, doesn’t dampen the anticipation lighting the faces of my family members, all awaiting steaming mugs of koko Sāmoa. In a big old teapot over an open fire, there are only three ingredients: a block of roasted Samoan cacao chopped into pieces, boiling water, and sugar to taste. Drinking koko Sāmoa is a heady experience. The flavor……

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The celadon house at 44 Hull Street in Boston’s North End neighborhood has handsome exposed brick and a bathroom with vivid blue tiles. It boasts a lush, green private yard and enviable views from the roof deck. Charming amenities, for sure, but not the most notable things about this house. It’s narrow—really, really narrow. Blink-and-you’ll-miss-it narrow. Stretch-your-arms-and-brush-both-walls-narrow. It’s so narrow that previous owners had to saw their box spring in half to coax it upstairs, and even then only……

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