If you ask a regular person to draw a city, not based on an existing city, but rather the concept of “city,” they might start by drawing the borders. To draw those borders, they might begin by doing something that almost no actual cities have done—make it some kind of simple shape. A square, or a circle, or a rectangle, something like that. Then they’d fill in the city stuff—streets and buildings and parks—within that shape.This isn’t the way cities really look, of course. The borders of many cities depend on water in some way. There are cities made up of one or more islands, such as New York (apologies to the Bronx, the only part of the city on the mainland), Hong Kong, and Singapore. Many are structured on coasts, such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and Shanghai. Still others are constructed around rivers: Pittsburgh, Paris, Cairo. These natural features are all irregular. Most older cities have, through centuries of many small decisions by many different people, expanded and contracted until they become sort of blob-shaped. Cities are like fungi, growing in ways that make internal sense but not necessarily geometric sense as a whole. They aren’t triangles, circles, or rectangles. That would be weird.

(CNN) — When workers arrived at Canada's Vignoble Coteau Rougemont vineyard on Thursday, ready to pick the last grapes of the season, they were in for a shock. On removing the nets from their carefully cultivated vines, they discovered thieves had hit the site overnight -- making off with half a tonne of grapes, equivalent to more than 300 bottles of wine. "In the morning, my workers went into the parcel, and started removing the nets, and when they got into the row, they realized that for half of the row, the nets were already taken off," said Michel Robert, owner of the family-run vineyard in Rougemont, Quebec. "When they looked at it, they saw there were no more grapes on the row," he said.

At first glance, the cuscus looks like a cross between a cat, a monkey, and a Furby. An herbivorous marsupial found in New Guinea, Australia, and the surrounding islands, it has sharp claws, a tail that wraps around branches, and forelimbs that look eerily like human hands. The babies are also unreasonably cute.“They like to wrap their tail around you and curl around,” says Shimona Kealy, a researcher at Australia National University who, as a Ph.D. student, once handled young cuscuses. “My supervisor was trying to take a photo, and I was just there being like, ‘Can’t we take it home?’”

After losing year-long friendships with composer Richard Wagner and philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer over intellectual quarrels around the mid-1870s, the mental and emotional health of German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche started to deteriorate.In search of a cure for his ails and his ever-increasing migraines, Nietzsche started to roam the warmer climates of Northern Italy and Southern France, living as a free philosopher and eventually coming to some of his more radical philosophical ideas. From December 1883 to April 1884, Nietzsche settled in the quiet coastal town of Èze, at the heart of the French Riviera. Èze is in fact made up of two conjoined villages. The modern town of Èze bord-de-Mer lies directly on the coast of the French Cote d'Azur. Several hundred meters up a steep mountain hill lies its neighbor, Èze Village, a dreamy medieval town with narrow winding streets. 

The Jewish Medieval Museum is located in a historical quarter of the small town of Fondi, about 62 miles (100 kilometers) south of Rome, in a district that was originally known as "La Giudea," or the "Jewish District".Fondi was located on the northern fringes of the Kingdom of Naples. At different times in its history, Fondi provided a safe haven for Jewish communities, otherwise threatened and persecuted across the neighboring Papal States. Fondi prospered as a commercial border-town. Local scholars believe that the beautiful building located at the end of Via dell'Olmo Pereto might have been the local community's synagogue.

Inside Carnfunnock Country Park is an old ice house that was constructed during the mid-1800s. It was designed to provide ice for the former estate grounds known locally as Cairncastle Lodge.The ice house was constructed into the side of a hill and would then be covered in dirt to keep the facility cool and away from direct sunlight. The chamber reaches depths of 65-feet (20-meters) where the ice blocks were stored. There was also a drain at the bottom that helped remove any meltwater from the chamber. During that period, the external door to the chamber was a pair of heavy solid double doors that prevented any warm air from circulating and melting the ice.

As the Southern cotton economy expanded on the back of slave labor in the early 1800s, towns emerged to transport the cotton on the Mississippi River. New Orleans, Memphis, Vicksburg, and Natchez are the four most famous of these towns.Located high on the bluffs of the Mississippi River, Natchez, Mississippi, was established by French colonists in 1716. The defensible strategic location ensured that it would become a pivotal center for trade.In the middle of the 19th century, the city attracted Southern planters, who built mansions to show off their vast wealth from the cotton and sugarcane trade. Natchez was where planters came to escape the heat and isolation of the plantations. It was the Hamptons of the South — the place where the rich relaxed and socialized.

I had no idea what to expect when I first visited Quito. The capital of Ecuador and home to two million people, the city had a grittiness to it that reminded me a lot of Naples that was juxtaposed by beautiful and historic architecture.While the region around Quito was Inca territory through the 15th century, the city itself dates from 1534 when Spanish settlers led by Sebastián de Benalcázar enslaved the natives and colonized the area. The city has been standing ever since.Enveloped by mountains and perched at 2,850 meters (9,350 ft) above sea level, Quito usually gets ignored as travelers head elsewhere in the country (i.e. The Galápagos). However, from the beautiful historical town square to the lively restaurants and parks to the beautiful mountains, there is plenty to see and do here for a few days. Make sure you spend a couple of days here. Quito isn’t really a touristy city so you can get a real good sense of Ecuadorian culture here!

Atlas Obscura and Epic Magazine have teamed up for Monster Mythology, an ongoing series about things that go bump in the night around the world—their origins, their evolution, their modern cultural relevance.You’re a banker, living in a cottage in Dublin. It’s autumn and the wind is brisk but pleasant, so you decide to take a nighttime stroll. You latch your gate behind you, and turn to find a stranger dressed in a fashionable suit. He begins to tell you your own family secrets: sins, adultery, sorrows, destitution. Then he tells you what’s going to happen to you: Your wife will leave, your money will run dry, your world will crumble. He laughs, turns around, and is gone.

Lebawit Lily Girma is an award-winning journalist who has been living in the Caribbean since 2008. In this guest post, she shares her tips and advice for exploring the Caribbean in an ethical and sustainable way while benefitting the local communities that call the islands home.In 2005, I went on my first Caribbean vacation. I chose Saint Lucia, and like a typical first-timer, I stayed at an all-inclusive resort. Over the course of three weeks, I was awestruck by the color of the Caribbean Sea, the beautiful beaches, and the natural splendor of this region.But I realized that what moved me the most were the cultural reminders of my childhood in West Africa: the plantain dishes and chicken stews, the tropical gardens filled with hibiscus and palms, the drumming and soca beats, and the warmth of the locals. Three years later, I packed my bags, left my corporate legal career behind, and hit the road with dreams of becoming a travel writer and photographer in the Caribbean.

Trajan is considered one of the greatest Roman emperors, having expanded the empire to its largest size. While leading the conquest of Dacia, he ordered the construction of a large forum around 105 CE. The most integral part of the forum was a market. It's believed the project was designed by Apollodorus of Damascus, an architect and close associate of Trajan. Today, it's often referred to as the world's oldest shopping mall.It's believed that shops were built in a multi-level structure containing administrative offices and a library. The street on the upper level was named Via Biberatica, after the Latin word for "drink", biber. This suggests that there were numerous drinking establishments along this level. During imperial Rome, the market sold a variety of products including fruits, vegetables, fish, wine, oil, and spices. Free wheat was also distributed to civilians once. 

At the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, with travel restrictions in place worldwide, we launched a new series — The World Through a Lens — in which photojournalists help transport you, virtually, to some of our planet’s most beautiful and intriguing places. This week, Danielle Villasana shares a collection of images from southeastern Peru.Stubbornly unfazed by warnings of “soroche,” or altitude sickness, I swung my legs up onto a donkey and began to ascend the steep trails. After trekking for a few dizzying hours alongside hundreds of others, I approached a glacial basin. The scene began to unfold before us: an immense valley flooded with so many pilgrims that it seemed to be covered in confetti, each tiny speck representing a huddled collection of tents and people.

Italy hosts millions of tourists every year. This country has everything to offer from delicious food, spectacular landscapes and an abundance of world history. Most visitors come visit Italy in the Spring and Summer months to sunbathe and swim when the weather is warmer. The Summer months are the busiest and most expensive time of the year to visit. If you would like to see this beautiful country from a more relaxed point of view, consider a visit in the shoulder season months. Specifically, here are six reasons to enjoy Italy in the Autumn.Virtually no crowdsBy the end of September, Summer holidays have concluded and students are back in school and others are back to work. From the major cities to the rural areas, the country and its citizens are more relaxed now that the peak tourist season has ended. Now is the best time to visit the most renowned landmarks of this country. The lines for these attractions are considerably shorter than in the spring and summer months. This gives you more time to unwind on your Italian holiday instead of waiting in long lines in the heat. Visitors in the off season can also have a better opportunity to mingle with the local residents and get a taste for what real life in Italy is like.

Portland, Oregon, is one of America’s most unique cities. While it often gets overshadowed by Seattle to the north, Portland is one of the US’s best and most interesting metropolises. With a world-class food scene, plentiful local breweries, and postcard-perfect scenery, it’s surprising that more people don’t visit this eclectic place.Nicknamed “the City of Roses” (after roses became a common garden staple in the late 19th century) and “Stumptown” (due to lots of tree stumps remaining after the city expanded and clear-cut the surrounding area in the mid-19th century), Portland is known for its liberal tendencies, its food trucks, and its hipsters (thanks, Portlandia).My first trip here was back in 2011 for Thanksgiving. While in Spain I made friends who lived in Portland and paid them a visit on my way to Asia. What started as “like” during my first trip turned into love on my second.

The end of 2020 is on the horizon but there’s time to celebrate the end of a truly unusual year with plenty of pampering with family and friends this winter on a luxury yacht charter in the Caribbean. Celebrate Thanksgiving on a pink sand beach in Barbuda, do some duty-free last-minute shopping in the US Virgin Islands, have a White Christmas at The Baths in the British Virgin Islands, or ring in the New Year with fireworks and starry night skies in St. Barths.A luxury yacht is one of the best ways to visit several destinations as you unwind in complete comfort with plenty of amenities to entertain you throughout the trip. The highly skilled crew will keep younger guests entertained while the adults savour some much-needed rest and some crews also have beauty therapists, massage therapists, yoga instructors and Dive Masters for a truly unforgettable holiday, honeymoon or another special occasion. Here are four top-quality destinations to consider in the Caribbean and a more in-depth look at what they have to offer.

When mining finally ceased in this Nottinghamshire town, the people wanted to install a reminder of a time foregone. This led to the creation of a magnificent sculpture depicting a giant Davy miner's oil lamp with two figures of coal miners, one of which is inside the lamp as if working in a thin coal seam.The body of the lamp is inscribed with images and words relating to the local mining industry.The striking bronze sculpture crafted by Graham Ibbesson was completed in 2005 and was primarily funded by the County Council and the Tesco supermarket chain. The sculpture depicts the modern version of a Davy lamp which contains a glass cylinder in the lower portions of the lamp. These were not used often for illumination in the mines during the late 20th-century as battery-powered helmet-mounted lamps were normally utilized. However, they were regularly used for testing mine atmospheres until mining largely ceased across the region.

(CNN) — With medieval origins and a quaint, colorful port, the low-rise Norwegian city of Trondheim doesn't look very futuristic. But the former Viking capital is making waves with a pioneering transport initiative: a zero-emissions, self-driving electric ferry.The small, autonomous ferry, which launches next year, works "like an elevator" says Erik Dyrkoren, CEO of Zeabuz, the company building and operating the boat. Passengers on each side of the canal that separates the port and city center can press a button to call the boat to their side. The boat charges while it waits at the dock, fits up to 12 passengers as well as bicycles, and takes less than 60 seconds to make the crossing -- saving pedestrians a 15-minute walk.

(CNN) — Cooler temperatures in parts of the United States make for a fitting start to fall.Trees across the country will begin a beautiful metamorphosis over the next couple of months, covering forests in colors of rich scarlets and golden marigolds. Nature's extravagant show lasts a short period, so SmokyMountains.com made an interactive map to make sure no one misses out. The map pulls historical data and seasonal forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to predict the precise moment peak fall will occur county-by-county across the United States. The map is one of the only fall leaf tools that provides accurate predictions for the entire continental United States, according to the Smoky Mountains tourism site.

Atlas Obscura and Epic Magazine have teamed up for Monster Mythology, an ongoing series about things that go bump in the night around the world—their origins, their evolution, their modern cultural relevance.As night settles across Togo and Ghana, the adze, it is said, slips through keyholes, under windows, around doors. They fly to the bodies of the sleeping, appearing as mosquitos, beetles, fireflies, or simply balls of light. The adze prey on men and women, but enjoy the blood of children most of all.For centuries, the Ewe people of West Africa have lived in fear of the adze. As legend goes, there’s no potion, spell, or weapon that can ward one off, and no cure for the bitten. The adze will either drain the person of life, or possess them, consigning them to madness or misery—if not both. When asked about the adze, one Ewe professor based in the United States replied, “I've come across adze, but only as a witch. Witches in this culture are real, not mythical.” (He did not respond to further requests for comment.)

Suite name: Penthouse Suite Location: Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel, Beverly Hills, CA, USA Size of accommodation: 465 sq m Cost per night: $15,000 Who’s stayed there? Celebrities, royalty and the international elite What makes it special: As the largest Penthouse in all of Los Angeles at 5,000 sq ft., this one-of-a-kind Specialty Suite is complete with 270 degree views of the city, three-bedrooms, show kitchen, media room perfect for private screenings and more.Extravagant. Spacious. Elegant. For those who demand the very best, the Penthouse Suite at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel located in the heart of Beverly Hills, California, is the most impressive hotel suite in all of Los Angeles. Situated at the end of the hallway on the private 14 th floor is where you’ll find this three-bedroom Suite. Boasting 465 m2 of luxurious space, it comfortably fits 6 adults, or 4 adults and 2 children.

In this guest post, blogger and writer Annette Richmond shares her experiences and reflections as a plus-size black solo female traveler. I’ve known Annette for years and she an incredible person who has spoken at TravelCon on subjects relating to blogging and diversity. She’s one of my favorite humans and I’m stoked to have her writing for us today!Every day, I learn more about intersectionality and how my identity as a fat Black woman impacts the way I travel. Intersectionality is a framework for conceptualizing a person, group of people, or social problem as affected by multiple forms of oppression. It takes into account people’s overlapping identities (age, race, sex, disability, religion, class, sexuality, appearance, etc.) and experiences in order to understand the complexity of prejudices they face.

(CNN) — Last month, a navy blue, six-seater aircraft took off at Cranfield Airport in England. Usually, a 15-minute, 20-mile flight wouldn't be noteworthy -- but this was the world's first hydrogen fuel-cell-powered flight for a commercial-size aircraft. The plane's powertrain -- the mechanism which drives the plane, including fuel tanks and engine -- was built by ZeroAvia, a US and UK-based company developing hydrogen-electric engines. Using liquid hydrogen to feed fuel cells, the technology eliminates carbon emissions during the flight. A conventional flight today produces half the CO2 generated by flights in 1990, largely thanks to an increase in fuel efficiency. However, due to record traffic growth, driven by increasing passenger numbers and trade volume, the aviation industry is creating more emissions than ever before -- accounting for 2% of global manmade carbon emissions. This percentage is set to increase says Bobby Sethi, a senior lecturer in aviation at Cranfield University: other industries, like road transport, are "decarbonizing at a faster rate" he says, while aviation is lagging behind.

(CNN) — Indoor pools, recreation facilities and even business centers. Those are common amenities at many hotels today, but it wasn't too long ago that they were considered luxuries. One of the first hotel chains in the country to bring those comforts and conveniences to the masses was Holiday Inn.Beginning in the 1970s, Holiday Inn was looking to reinvent their hotels and further cater to traveling families and business clientele. Enter the Holiday Inn Holidome: a climate-controlled indoor space that housed everything from tiki bars to shuffleboard. Instead of traveling across the country to a tropical destination, vacationers had to look no further than their own backyard.It was a minivacation for the family, but it was also a great place to hold business events, said writer and producer Ross Walton,a historian for the University of Mississippi Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage.

Almost everyone in Japan knows of the 17th-century swordsman Miyamoto Musashi and the legendary duel between him and his rival, Sasaki Kojirō. Musashi allegedly arrived at the duel purposefully late, wielding a wooden sword made out of an oar. Enraged by this disrespect, Kojirō lost his calm and was struck on the forehead, knocked unconscious, and was defeated. Although, accounts vary. While there are numerous theories about the date of the event, there is one undoubted fact—the duel took place on the small island of Ganryū-jima, located between Japan’s mainland (Honshū) and the Kyūshū region. Officially named Funa-jima, meaning "Boat Island," it was later nicknamed Ganryū-jima after the fighting style that Kojirō invented.