Banff National Park, Alberta

Banff National Park, Alberta

Banff is probably the best known national park in Canada. Located in the Canadian Rockies, just a 90 minute drive from Calgary, it is also one of the more accessible national parks in Canada. Part of the fame of Banff comes the fact that it is also Canada’s oldest national park. Established in 1885, just …

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The Spanish Flu Pandemic

The Spanish Flu Pandemic

Podcast Transcript In 1918, as the world was nearing the end of the First World War, another disaster was spreading across the globe.  It was so lethal that someone could be dead within a single day after seeing the first symptoms. It moved through army camps, cities, ships, and villages, infecting hundreds of millions and …

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Everything Wrong With the Animaniacs Nations of the World Song

If you grew up during the ’90s, or if you were just around for it, you might remember a catchy tune sung by Yakko Warner of the Animaniacs. That song recounted all the nations of the world in one fast-paced list. If you have never heard Yakko’s World before, take a listen right now. It …

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World Heritage Week

In honor of visiting my 50th World Heritage Site, I will be posting several articles in the coming days listing my favorite and least favorite sites visited on my trip. Starting today I will also be featuring the World Heritage sites which I’ve visited as my next 50 daily photos. (Actually, by the time I’m …

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My 10 Favorite Historical Sites

This the fourth installment in a series for my 4th Travelversay Celebration. This was an extremely difficult list to compile. How do you evaluate how historic something is? Where do you put the boundries around it. Most European and Asian capitals have a very deep history, so trying to pick and choose was hard. The …

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The Seven Wonders of the Philippines

The Seven Wonders of the Philippines

The Seven Wonders of the World is a fun list that has inspired a lot of people to look at other countries in a new light. The New Seven Wonders of the World furthered that fascination with the best natural and made-made beauty that every country has to offer. For that reason, my Seven Wonders …

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Back in Bagiuo

I’m back in Bagiuo for the night. I spent most of the day on the bus coming back from Banaue. It turns out that I picked the rainy season to visit. Tomorrow I’m off to Vigan north of here, then to Puerta Princessa. I may have to say here a few days longer than expected. …

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Historic City of Vigan

Historic City of Vigan - UNESCO World Heritage Site

The above photo is of the Vigan Cathedral and the central plaza. The plaza area has small models of the wonders of the world as well as a map of the Philippines with models of the Filipino World Heritage sites on it. Vigan is a very quaint city and you can tell it is different …

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Changdeokgung Palace Complex

Changdeok Palace - UNESCO World Heritage Site

From the World Heritage inscription for the Changdeokgung Palace Complex: In the early 15th century, Emperor T’aejong ordered the construction of a new palace at an auspicious site. A Bureau of Palace Construction was set up to create the complex, consisting of a number of official and residential buildings set in a garden that was …

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