Author: Ms. R.

East of the Old Town of Kaunas, a mere five minutes from the blue-domed, Neo-Byzantine St. Michael the Archangel Church, lies a small, triangular square with an Aztec symbol painted on the ground. This unique traffic island is surrounded by three busy streets; you can’t access it, you can barely even see it from street level. And that is the point. George Maciunas Square—aptly dubbed the world’s first invisible square—is a suitably curious homage to the Lithuanian-American artist who……

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São Jorge is one of nine islands that make up the Azores archipelago. The long, narrow landmass measures just  53 kilometers (33 miles) long and 8 kilometers (5 miles) wide. A high plateau runs along the center of São Jorge, marked by a row of volcanic peaks. At the foot of the steep cliffs lie a number of fajãs, flat extensions of land close to sea level that stretch out from the island. Although all of the Azorean islands have fajãs, São Jorge……

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At the start of World War II, Australia was unprepared for the conflict, especially in regards to supplies of petrol. Attempts were made during the 1930s to increase storage, but motoring was such a new industry that no real progress was made towards keeping storage ahead of usage. As a result at the start of the war, Australia had sufficient petrol for only three months of normal consumption. During the war, petrol rationing led to the use of alternative fuel……

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Named both for its unusual location—on the seventh floor of downtown Chicago’s historic Garland Building, which was built in the early 1900s—and for the aromas and tastes that greet diners, Heaven On Seven has been serving Cajun fare for decades. It’s most distinctive feature, though, are the hot sauces that cover the tables and even the walls. The restaurant did not feature a hot-sauce collection when chef-owner Jimmy Bannos and his family took over the eatery in 1980, which served……

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The name Benedict Arnold is synonymous with treason in the United States. During the American Revolutionary War, Arnold was initially a valiant member of the Continental Army, earning fame and honor during the Battle of Saratoga and the capture of Fort Ticonderoga. He gained the trust of General George Washington and in 1780, he was placed in command of West Point, a key American fort on the Hudson River in New York. But somewhere along the way, Arnold became……

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The towers perched on the top of the three peaks of Monte Titano are the symbol of the small country of San Marino, but while the first and second are famous tourist attractions, the third is hardly visited. The third tower, known as Montale, is the smallest and most recent of the three fortifications. It was constructed during the 14th-century after some earlier structures were renovated. In 1320, it was connected to the other two towers by a wall. The……

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The gang of masked figures came barreling down Didi Chailuri’s main street just shy of 11 a.m. on a March morning. Mud-streaked, screaming, and armed with whips, they brought chaos to the narrow streets of this otherwise sleepy village of about 1,200 people in Georgia’s eastern Kakheti region. But the berikas, as they are known, were not there to stir up fear. Their arrival marked the start of the ancient festival of Berikaoba. The tradition “can be traced to……

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One of the few places left to still see wild bison in their natural habitat, Elk Island is a unique preserve that includes Astotin Lake, the surrounding wetlands, aspen woodlands, and prairie meadows that are filled with wildlife. Most notable among this collection of wildlife is a herd of wild storied plains bison that have been brought back from near extinction. The herd has grown accustomed enough to human visitors, who can view them from their cars. During the……

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