Checking a navigation mobile app to quickly establish how to get from point A to point B has become second nature to us. Measured in megabytes, the world now fits in our pockets. It is quite astonishing, then, to see first-hand that only a few centuries ago geographical knowledge was yet to be fully charted, and how religious beliefs and fear of the unknown co-existed with burgeoning scientific know-how. “Look here,” said Mattea Gazzola as her gloved hand pointed to the 570-year-old planisfero (a planisphere, or spherical world map) in front of us. “To the east is the Biblical Paradise depicted as a walled town dotted with towers. To the south is an unbearably hot impassable desert, and to the north lies another desert uninhabited due to extreme cold. In the...
Cuba was one of the last places on Earth I ever expected to eat an antelope steak, which is precisely why we ordered one. To keep things playful, we also asked for a beef steak and requested that...
Nepal is one of the most beautiful and adventurous experiences in the world. From isolated Himalayan terrains to bustling mountain towns and settlements, trekking in Nepal is among the most...
Key Facts: Area: 2,381,741 sq km (919,595 sq miles). Population: 38.8 million (2014). Population density: 16.3 per sq km. Capital: Algiers. Government: Republic. Head of state: President Abdelaziz Bouteflika since 1999. Head of government: Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal since...
One of the biggest appeals to traveling in an RV is the fact that it’s essentially a home on wheels. The only issue is that an RV doesn’t always feel like home. Sure, it has a living room, a...
It’s that time of the year again for a family holiday to another state or country, and everyone is on a rush to pack up. But don’t be too excited to just fly off to some exotic destination. Remember that you’ll be leaving behind an...
Key Facts: Area: 2,381,741 sq km (919,595 sq miles). Population: 38.8 million (2014). Population density: 16.3 per sq km. Capital: Algiers. Government: Republic. Head of state: President Abdelaziz Bouteflika since 1999. Head of government: Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal since 2014. Electricity: 230 volts AC, 50Hz. The European two-pin...
Key Facts: Area: 1,246,700 sq km (481,354 sq miles). Population: 19.1 million (2014). Population density: 15.3 per sq km. Capital: Luanda. Government: Republic. ...
Key Facts: Area: 112,622 sq km (43,484 sq miles). Population: 10.2 million (2014). Population density: 90.2 per sq km. Capital: Porto-Novo. Government: Republic. ...