Travel
Discover facts about travel. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Travel
Morocco bans importing and operating civilian drones
Morocco bans importing or operating civilian drones, and customs may confiscate one when you arrive. A drone packed for aerial shots could be taken before you…
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Why the Tower of London employs a Ravenmaster
The belief is that if the ravens leave, the monarchy will fall. The Ravenmaster feeds and cares for them, and trims their wings to keep them at the Tower.
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Why some snow globes can be dangerous to pets
Some snow globes contain ethylene glycol, which is highly poisonous to pets. If one breaks, its liquid can leave a dangerous puddle on the floor.
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A bird of prey can make a public space less inviting to gulls
Trained raptors are used as a deterrent where birds gather around food and people. Their presence signals danger, encouraging other birds to move elsewhere…
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A cruise ship can have a holding room below the holiday decks
Large cruise ships can use secure rooms to detain someone involved in a serious incident until authorities take over ashore. The ship has to manage security…
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There are burgers beneath the Louvre
The Carrousel du Louvre shopping complex has a McDonald's. It is connected to the museum's underground entrance, not tucked between the paintings. That puts…
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Ferris wheels need perfect balance to stop motor burnout
Operators distribute passengers around the wheel to keep its load balanced. If too much weight gathers on one side, the drive motors have to work harder…
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A fake handbag can cost thousands in France
In France, buyers of counterfeit goods can face fines that far exceed the item’s price and may reach thousands of dollars.
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Swedish drivers must keep headlights on all day and night
The rule applies even in bright summer daylight, a safeguard in a country with dramatic shifts in visibility and long, dark winters.
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The fortune cookie's American story has Japanese roots
Researchers have traced similar fortune-bearing cookies to Japan, and Japanese immigrants made them in California before they became a familiar finish to…
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The popular toy its inventor barely profited from
Scottish inventor David Brewster patented the kaleidoscope in 1817, but its simple design was quickly copied, leaving him little profit despite the toy's…
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Swiss quiet hours depend on where you are
Cantonal and municipal rules govern everyday noise, with restrictions covering activities and times that can include Sundays. That is why a harmless-looking…
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A Kerala feast can fit up to 28 dishes on a banana leaf
A traditional sadya combines rice, vegetable dishes, pickles, and desserts, with different foods arriving through the meal. Even placement follows a pattern,…
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Splitting a dinner bill is also a negotiation about fairness
Dividing the total equally keeps things simple, while paying for individual orders can feel fairer when spending differs. Neither method tells you everything…
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How a Filipino bellhop helped make the yo-yo famous
Pedro Flores, a California hotel worker from the Philippines, carved traditional wooden yo-yos and entertained guests with string tricks. An entrepreneur…
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Big Ben is slowly leaning northwest
Ground settling and nearby tunneling have contributed to the tower’s small tilt, which is considered safe.
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Space Needle features a restaurant that rotates on a track
The dining room slowly turns around a central axis, continually changing the view of the skyline as you eat.
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Water slides inject heavy water flow to reduce friction
A steady flow of water creates a slick layer between your skin and the fiberglass, reducing friction as you slide down.
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Why the Burj Khalifa needs a quarter-million gallons of water
High-pressure pumps push water hundreds of stories upward every day, keeping the building’s plumbing working all the way to its penthouse toilets.
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The Little Mermaid statue is a vandalism magnet
Copenhagen’s bronze Little Mermaid has been blown up, painted, and beheaded multiple times, requiring repeated repairs.
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Why roller coasters roar so loudly
Hollow steel tracks act like giant sound boxes: as trains roll over them, the vibrations echo through the tubes and create that bone-rattling roar.
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Brussels has a wardrobe for a tiny bronze boy
Manneken Pis is dressed for occasions in specially made costumes, and the city's GardeRobe MannekenPis museum displays selections from the collection. The…
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The Mona Lisa gets love letters
Admirers have sent the Louvre letters addressed to the woman in the painting, including declarations of love. Her smile has prompted people to write as if she…
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Sea-Monkeys arrive as eggs with life on pause
Brine shrimp can produce protective cysts that remain dormant through dry, unfavorable conditions. When conditions improve, the embryos resume development and…
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