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Staten Island, New York
by
Jennifer Ruzicka
When most people think about New York, they think of Manhattan, or maybe even Brooklyn. But there is another borough that is worth checking out: Staten Island.
Staten Island may share the "718" area code with Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx, but it distinguishes itself with its own unique history, culture, attractions and food. Its tree-lined streets are home to approximately 450,000 residents, and at sixty square miles, this little piece of suburbia in the city is the least densely populated of the five boroughs. Staten Island residents voted to…
in North America
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Taiwan
by
Marian Goldberg
The Lantern Festival and So Much More
It was a warm and balmy February 28, sunny and 80 degrees when I arrived at Taipei’s International Airport, and I had just escaped the blizzard of the century back in New York. I was here in Taiwan for the country’s annual Lantern Festival, a spectacular event spanning eight days with a different location every year. Today was the opening day, just 15 days after Chinese New Year, and I was changing into short-sleeves.
in Asia/Pacific
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New York, NY
by
Valerie Gladstone
Andaz Wall Street
“Invent something new, something personal, something that matters,” Hyatt Hotels challenged acclaimed architect David Rockwell, when it offered him the job of designing Andaz Wall Street, the third hotel in its elegant new collection. The first two are in London and West Hollywood and the fourth will open in mid-town Manhattan later this year with each distinctly different. “That got my juices going,” he says.
in En Suite
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Barcelona, Spain
by
Sharon Hudgins
Barcelona, the capital of Spain's Catalonia province, is the country's second largest city and a prime tourist destination for lovers of art, architecture, and fine food.
Located on the northeast coast of Spain, Barcelona also boasts several sandy beaches on the Mediterranean Sea, which attract thousands of swimmers and sunbathers in spring and summer.
Like the region of Catalonia itself, Barcelona embodies many layers of history, from ancient to modern: the Roman ruins and medieval palaces of the Gothic Quarter, a dark maze of narrow streets, high walls, and stone…
in Europe
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Durban, South Africa
by
Sabrina Canfield
An Exceptional Meeting between Earth and Ocean
Situated on South Africa’s East Coast, Durban is a precious cornerstone of the KwaZulu-Natal region. In Zulu, Durban is aptly known as ‘Thekweni,’ meaning “where the earth and ocean meet”. But don’t be fooled by the simple designation, neither Durban’s landscape nor its beaches are commonplace.
For any traveler seeking the indulgence of gorgeous topography paired with the elegance of the Indian Ocean’s sub-tropic aquamarine swells, Durban is for you. In the west of the city, art deco and modern architecture combine, spreading…
in Africa
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Seville, Spain
by
Valerie Gladstone
Orange Trees, Leafy Patios, Tapas, Flamenco and Red Wine
The sounds of stamping feet and lustily strummed guitars burst from every corner of this radiant city during the Bienal de Flamenco, which takes place this year from September 15-October 9. Day and night, in 16th-century plazas and Art Deco theaters, top-flight dancers and musicians celebrate the art over a four-week period packed with performances, workshops and classes. “It’s a fantastic time to visit,” says Miguel Marin, who presents Flamenco Festival USA every year, and grew up in a nearby village.…
in Europe
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Belize, Central America
by
Dina Mishev
Seventy-five years ago, when Belize was still British Honduras, Aldous Huxley wrote about it. “If the world has any ends, British Honduras would certainly be one of them. It is not on the way from anywhere to anywhere else. It has no strategic value. It is all but uninhabited.”
in South/Central America
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St. Gallen, Switzerland
by
Sharon Hudgins
A Sweet, Swiss Surprise
Tell your friends that you're going to Switzerland, and they immediately think snow-covered Alps, cheese fondue, and yummy Swiss chocolates. Tell them you're going to St. Gallen, and most likely they'll look at you strangely and ask, "Where?"
Everyone has heard of Geneva, Zürich, and Zermatt, but few Americans could find St. Gallen on the map. It's still a well-kept secret, even though it's the main metropolis of eastern Switzerland. Nestled in the pleasant Steinach valley between the Bodensee (Lake Constance) and the rolling hills of…
in Europe
