From the World Heritage inscription for the Botanical Garden (Orto Botanico), Padua: The world’s first university botanical garden was created in Padua in 1545, which makes the Botanical Garden of Padua the oldest surviving example of this type of cultural property. Botanical gardens have played a vital role throughout history in the communication and exchange …
From the World Heritage inscription for Venice and its Lagoon: The UNESCO World Heritage property comprises the city of Venice and its lagoon situated in the Veneto Region of Northeast Italy. Founded in the 5th century AD and spread over 118 small islands, Venice became a major maritime power in the 10th century. The whole …
From the World Heritage inscription for the San Marino Historic Centre and Mount Titano: San Marino Historic Center and Mount Titano covers 55 ha, including Mount Titano and the historic center of the city which dates back to the foundation of the republic as a city-state in the 13th century. San Marino is inscribed as …
If you have been paying attention to the news the last several days, you have probably heard about the tsunami which struck American Samoa. If you are also like most people, you have heard absolutely nothing about American Samoa in the news, maybe your entire life. Most Americans are probably not even aware that American …
In 1846, the United States and Canada signed a treaty to finalize their border. It set the 49th north line of latitude as the border from the Lake of the Woods in Minnesota/Manitoba to Puget Sound in Washington/British Columbia. As part of the deal, the British were able to keep Vancouver Island south of the …
I arrived in Vancouver today after grossly underestimating how long it would take to get to here from Banff. It wasn’t the distance so much as the roads and how fast you can go on a winding mountain highway. I also ended up pulling over to sleep for an hour in the middle of the …
I’m in Canada now. I crossed the border next to Glacier National Park yesterday and stayed the night in the burgeoning metropolis of Fort MacLeod. Today I’ll hit up two World Heritage Sites nearby: Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump and Dinosaur Provincial Park. I should arrive in Calgary sometime on Saturday. I’ll be leaving Calgary and visiting …
During the course of the last two years, I’ve met countless people. Most have been completely forgettable and some have been what Tyler Durden in Fight Club called “single serving friends”. Someone you might talk to for an evening or hangout with for a day and then you and them go your separate ways. At …
This guide is for both Americans who are looking to explore their own country, and for those from outside of the US who are looking to make a trip to America. It is by no means an exhaustive treatment of the subject, but it should answer some of the obvious questions and give you a …