Month: December 2024

Paganism is experiencing a global revival as more people are reconnecting with nature. Cities such as New Orleans, US; Edinburgh, Scotland; and Drogheda, Ireland, have commercialized their pagan festivals. However, there are still places where ancient celebrations continue in their original form, preserved as locally-kept secrets passed down through generations. These festivals preserve age-old customs,

With its enormous ice shelves, vast emptiness and silence, Antarctica is like no place else on earth. Its landscapes are a study in the color white: how it reflects light, accentuates mountains and crumbles atop the sea. Yet, it’s often the animals who leave the biggest impression. There are the tuxedo-clad Adelie penguins who belly-surf

A vision of eerie volcanic peaks, misty laurel forests and Atlantic-whipped shorelines, soulful Tenerife tempts with much more than its balmy weather and beach-vacation buzz.  On the largest island in Spain’s Canary Islands, you can meander around neighborhood markets and linger at low-key terrace cafes before diving into cutting-edge art, local crafts and regional architecture,

Somehow, even as the Algarve took off as one of Europe’s great getaway spots in recent years, Faro, the region’s principal city, seemed to fly under the radar. Yet that’s all changed now. Southern Portugal’s regional capital has slowly cemented its city-break credentials. And today, this exciting city is rightly considered one of the country’s

The Christmas season is all about celebrating the joys of life, and what’s more joyful than dessert? But just where do Christmas desserts come from? And how did they become part of the holiday season? Here’s a handy guide to some of the most delicious traditional Christmas desserts that you might not have heard of – and

From Amazon jungle to the world’s largest salt flats by way of soaring Andean peaks, Bolivia rewards travelers with a giddying variety of landscapes. Better still, this quiet corner of South America doesn’t see half as many visitors as neighboring Argentina, Brazil or Chile, so you can admire the views without a crush. This general

Many visitors may be surprised to find out that when it comes to food, San Juan truly has it all.  This hasn’t always been the case. When I was growing up in the sprawling metropolitan area throughout the ’90s and early 2000s, the options were mostly limited to Puerto Rican, Spanish and Caribbean fare, along

I’m a California-based photographer who recently visited Mexico City for a weekend getaway with my girlfriend. I had heard time and time again how amazing the city is. Given its proximity to Los Angeles, I needed to check out its exciting food scene, world-class museums, trendy neighborhoods and beautiful parks for myself. My biggest concern