The Versailles most people don’t see
Louis XIV’s iconic “bachelor pad” is one of the most-visited palaces in the world. But to understand his vision for the place, leave the crowds, head outside and hop on a bike. The palace looked like a mirage of itself. Water from the canal shimmered …
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The best countries to raise children
We answer every emigrating family’s top question: where are the best places to raise children – or, for that matter, to be a child? For people looking to relocate, rankings of the world’s most liveable countries can be helpful. But with kids in tow, there …
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The top eight free or inexpensive views in London
From the free city rooftop The Garden at 120 to the soaring IFS Cloud Cable Car, here are eight of the best viewpoints that most tourists wouldn’t know to visit. Endlessly reproduced on postcards, t-shirts and mugs, the London skyline is an attraction …
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Governors Island: The island that gave birth to New York City
From Dutch outpost to urban playground, Governors Island has had many lives. Now, it’s pioneering a zero-waste concept that could show other cities how to develop more sustainably. There’s a moment setting out on the ferry from Manhattan’s South Street …
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European dyeing recipe kept a secret
In Central Europe, a rare, centuries-old practice has influenced the language, dress and culture of several nations. Wearing all-blue attire – blue jeans, blue vest, an indigo blue-and-white patterned shirt and a blue apron – Josef Koó opened the doors …
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The riskiest road in the world
A drive down Bolivia’s infamous “Death Road” takes travellers into a world where two resources have provoked fascination, misunderstanding and controversy for centuries: coca and gold. After cresting the 4,800m Cumbre pass, the trufi (shared taxi) plunged …
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The highest ATM in the world is located in Pakistan on a mountainside.
It may be an unlikely spot for a cash machine, but the Khunjerab Pass ATM has been serving the small number of residents and border staff – and adventurous tourists – since 2016. “We’re going to the end of Pakistan,” I announced to my children, wrestling …
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The world’s most representative London street
In Blackstock Road you can travel and taste the world, from Africa to the Middle East and Asia, before finally landing in Europe. The choice is infinite, global and unpretentious. It’s hardly scenic nor is it ritzy, but dig a little deeper behind the …
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The reason Armenians adore strangers
Armenians, like their Caucasus neighbours, have long been renowned for generosity to outsiders – a result of the country’s historical location on the Silk Road. I never meant to spend the night in Dilijan. I’d been making my way through northern Armenia …
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Turkey’s renowned dessert, Künefe, is being rebuilt.
Before two earthquakes hit the Turkish province of Hatay, there were more than 30 shops making künefe. The few that remain are determined to keep this beloved tradition alive. It was an early November evening in downtown Hatay, Turkey’s southernmost province …
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