Say WOW

Suborbital space tourism finally arrives | FCC prepares to run public C-band auction | The big four in the U.S. launch industry — United Launch Alliance, SpaceX, Blue Origin and Northrop Grumman — hope to be one of two providers that will receive five-year contracts later this year to launch national security payloads starting in 2022. | China’s launch rate stays high | The International Space Station is the largest ever crewed object in space.

 
Pero's Bridge in Bristol, England
Pero’s Bridge is undoubtedly one of the most surprising and, at the same time, functional monuments in the center of Bristol. Its shapes are unmistakable and its appeal is subtle but real. This distinctive pedestrian footbridge in Bristol, England, holds cultural and historical significance. Completed in 1999, the bridge was named in honor of Pero Jones, an enslaved African who lived in the city during the 18th century. The bridge, which connects the harborside with the city center was...

Read More

Palace of the Porphyrogenitus in Istanbul, Turkey
This stupendous structure is all that remains of the imposing Blachernae Palace, home of the Byzantine emperors who ruled Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul, Turkey) for more than a millennium. Known in Turkish as Tekfur Sarayı or “Palace of the Sovereign,” this once imposing, 13th-century palace is now a shadow of its former glory. The palace’s name likely refers to Constantine Palaiologos, a Byzantine prince and son of Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos. The porphyrogenitus title (literally “purple-born“) was bestowed on any...

Read More

6 Surprising Stories About Shopping
If you find everything on your loved ones’ wishlists online this year, you might miss out on the most interesting part of the holiday experience—stores themselves. Or maybe not. Our gift to you this holiday season: the best shopping stories from the Atlas Obscura archives, so you can explore tales of architecture, linguistics, subcultures, secrets, and yes, cats—without leaving home. Meet the Proud Shoppers of Aldi’s ‘Aisle of Shame’ by Sara Murphy If you ever hear “caw-caw!” sound in...

Read More

 
Top 3 Hotel Rate Parity Issues and...
Are you a hotelier struggling to maintain rate parity in today’s ever-changing hospitality industry? If so, you’re not alone. Despite the challenges of the last few years, rate parity remains a significant issue for hotels, and it’s only getting more complicated. Top 3 Hotel Rate Parity Issues As a result of the pandemic, many hotels The post Top 3 Hotel Rate Parity Issues and How to Fix Them appeared first on Revfine.com.

Read More

The Ultimate Gastro Obscura Gift Guide
When it comes to finding the perfect gift for the gastronomically obsessed friend, partner, or weird aunt in your life, the only real challenge is having too many options. In the past at Gastro Obscura, we’ve reached for the mathematically efficient Christmas cookie cutters or a heat-resistant bowl for a cauldron of favorite flaming punch. This year, our editors eyed everything from the practical (kitchen knives forged from Chinese artillery shells) to the whimsical (an oddly luxurious leather shrimp...

Read More

The Tragic and Inspiring Story of the...
“It’s just crazy–it’s a crazy story,” says Thai cookbook writer and journalist Chawadee Nualkhair. “And apparently it’s true! Or, that’s what we all believe.” She’s referring to the tumultuous life of Maria Guyomar de Pinha (1664–1728), known in Thailand as Thao Thong Kip Ma and sometimes called “the Queen of Thai Desserts.” In the Siamese court of the late 17th century, Guyomar experienced a meteoric rise followed by an equally dramatic fall, and Thai cuisine would never be the...

Read More

 
How Polka Dots Help African Penguins Stand...
Colonies of two-foot-tall African penguins gather along the continent’s southwestern coast and islands, at times forming a seemingly endless sea of what appear to be nearly identical individuals. Researchers who study the birds rely on the smattering of spots across each bird’s white chests to tell them apart—but they’re not the only ones. The penguins themselves use these dots, too, to identify their lifelong mates, according to a recent study in Animal Behavior. “Especially in birds, people focus on...

Read More

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai, India
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, formerly known as Victoria Terminus, is a historic railway station located in Mumbai. It is one of the busiest and most iconic railway stations in the country and serves as a major transportation hub in India and its surrounding areas. The station is renowned for its stunning architecture, which blends Victorian Gothic and traditional Indian styles. The construction of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus began in 1878 and was completed in 1887 to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of...

Read More

Birmingham Back to Backs in Birmingham, England
The center of the city of Birmingham contains a jumble of old and modern buildings spanning a broad range of architectural styles. Some of these buildings, such as the Birmingham City Council, the Library of Birmingham, and Selfridges Birmingham, stand out very prominently on the skyline. However, on the periphery of the Birmingham China Quarter, a cluster of some of the city’s most historically notable buildings blend completely into the urban landscape and may seem completely uninteresting to the...

Read More

 
Davingy Art Park in Forestville, California
As the road curves past Sunset Beach, vivid, recycled sculptures intermingle with the countryside. Heads swivel back to catch a glimpse of colorful totems. In Forestville, Davingy’s sculpture park adds an intriguing dimension to the lush scenery dappled with vineyards, apple orchards and riverside redwoods.  The collection of repurposed work is the vision of artist Dave McGraw. When he purchased the property, he came across pieces of farming equipment that he incorporated into his sculptures. Rusted drag grates, transmissions,...

Read More

Champion Cow Graves in Ferndale, California
The Humboldt County Fairgrounds in this small Californian town are home to the burial sites of three bonafide bovine winners. For much of the mid-20th century, Ferndale was primarily a farming community and its residents were particularly proud of their dairy cows—so proud, in fact, that the resting places of three prized specimens are honored with special headstones here.  Silken Lady’s Ruby of F., Challengers Joyce VG, and Sunny King Berna were all butterfat champion cows that reigned from the 1950s...

Read More

Crossing the Rubicon in Savignano sul Rubicone,...
Crossing the Rubicon, a saying said to depict an action for which the consequences are irreversible (passing the point of no return), refers to the action of Julius Caesar in 49 BCE when, against the laws of the Roman Republic, he led his army of troops across the border-forming river from the territory of Gaul into the part of Italy under direct Roman administration. It was inevitable that this would start a civil war. The exact date is unknown,...

Read More

 
Clive in Covington, Kentucky
An alien has landed in a parking garage in Covington, Kentucky. But have no fear: This otherworldly creature is a friendly fellow. You can call him Clive. A Squizzle from the galaxy Artalon, Clive is mischievous, a real prankster, and he loves to explore. From Covington’s Midtown Parking Garage, we’ve spotted him examining the brains—nothing sinister here—of Covington’s creative residents and visitors alike with a massive magnifying glass.  The fiberglass-and-Styrofoam sculpture was crafted by Marc Phelps, an artist with...

Read More

Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, Pennsylvania
The Steamtown National Historic Site is a museum and active railyard operated by the National Parks Service in downtown Scranton, Pennsylvania. The museum features a roundhouse with a working turntable, several outbuildings, exhibits, a theater, and an impressive collection of locomotives, train cars, and railroad equipment. Steamtown was built on a defunct railyard of the Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad. Many of the outbuildings date to the time when this was an active hub for the DL&W railroad, and...

Read More

Decoding the Gun-Wielding Angels of Bolivia
Set in the arid high plain about an hour and a half south of La Paz, Bolivia, the town of Calamarca is in many ways a typical colonial settlement, a grid of houses and shops centered around a circa 1600 Baroque church that overlooks a small plaza. Inside this church, however, a remarkable gathering of angels has made the town a destination. Dressed in lace, feathers, and gold brocade—finery that resembled that of the Indigenous elites who administered Spanish...

Read More