Heritage of Mercury: Almadén and Idrija

Heritage of Mercury: Almadén and Idrija UNESCO World Heritage Site

From the Heritage of Mercury: Almadén and Idrija World Heritage inscription: The property includes the mining sites of Almadén (Spain), where mercury (quicksilver) has been extracted since antiquity, and Idrija (Slovenia), where mercury was first found in AD1490. The Spanish property includes buildings relating to its mining history, including Retamar Castle, religious buildings and traditional …

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The Lavaux Vineyard Terraces

Lavaux Vineyard Terraces, Switzerland

The Lavaux Vineyard Terraces begin on the eastern outskirts of Lausanne, Switzerland and cover a roughly 30 km along the stretch of Lake Geneva’s northern shore in the canton (similar to a state) of Vaud. This is a stunning area and a wine route through the Lavaux vineyards is a popular activity for travelers hoping …

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Carolingian Westwork and Civitas Corvey

Carolingian Westwork and Civitas Corvey

From the World Heritage inscription: The site is located along the Weser River on the outskirts of Höxter where the Carolingian Westwork and Civitas Corvey were erected between AD 822 and 885 in a largely preserved rural setting. The Westwork is the only standing structure that dates back to the Carolingian era, while the original …

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Blaenavon Industrial Landscape

Blaenavon Industrial Landscape UNESCO World Heritage Site

From the Blaenavon Industrial Landscape World Heritage inscription: The Blaenavon landscape constitutes an exceptional illustration in material form of the social and economic structure of 19th-century industry. The area around the Blaenavon ironworks provides an extraordinarily comprehensive picture of the South Wales coal and iron industry in its heyday in the 19th and early 20th …

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Low-Carb Options When Traveling By Air

Low Carb Options When Flying

There is no sense in burying the lead: There are no good low carbohydrate options available on any major airline.  I try to eat a low-carb, keto diet when I’m at home and I can do so quite successfully. However, going keto while traveling is extremely difficult. It’s especially hard to do when flying as …

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5 Educational Day Trips From Tucson, Arizona

5 Educational Day Trips You Can Make From Tucson, Arizona

Tucson is a lot more than a warm place to visit in the winter. Its location in southern Arizona in the Sonora desert makes it the best spot in the United States to learn about several aspects of science, history, technology, and culture. Tucson is a lot more than a warm place to visit in …

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Visiting the Pyramids of Egypt: A Survival Guide

How to Survive a Visit to the Pyramids of Egypt

Usually, I write about the history, the mystery, and the grandeur of a place like the pyramids. For over 4,000 years the pyramids have been one of the best-known structures on Earth. We’ve probably all seen TV shows, read books, or perhaps wrote a fourth-grade report on them, so there is nothing I can really …

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Eagle Creek Gear Warrior Review: My Perfect Bag

In the past, I shared about my long journey to find the best travel and camera bags. When you travel as much as I do, your luggage represents vital pieces of equipment that impact your ability to nimbly navigate a range of travel situations. I’ve now had this combination of long-term travel luggage—a large rolling …

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Is it Safe to Travel to the Balkans?

Balkans travel safety at Mehmed in Višegrad

In a few days, I’m going to be flying to the Balkans, where the Adventure Next conference will be taking place in Ohrid, Macedonia. In addition to attending the conference, I’ll be renting a car and visiting some of the nearby countries, many of which I haven’t been to before. Safety is a big concern …

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