Travel
Discover facts about travel. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Travel
Flying a camera drone in Morocco is strictly banned by law
Packing a fancy quadcopter for sweeping aerial shots will absolutely backfire at the baggage carousel. The government maintains a fierce, completely…
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Why the Tower of London employs a Ravenmaster
According to ancient superstition, if the large black birds ever leave the fortress grounds, the entire monarchy will instantly crumble into absolute ruin. To…
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Why some snow globes can be dangerous to pets
That magical little winter wonderland you bought for your aunt is actually a hazardous chemical weapon. To ensure the liquid inside does not freeze and crack…
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Why an amusement park uses falcons against seagulls
Managing a lakeside amusement mecca requires a literal medieval defense system. Because dropped french fries attract relentless swarms of aggressive gulls,…
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Why cruise ships have jails
Misbehaving in international waters does not grant you wild immunity. Every major passenger vessel comes equipped with a small, unglamorous holding cell…
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The Louvre has a McDonald's underground
You can gaze upon priceless classical sculptures and immediately follow it up with a greasy carton of fries. Tucked away in the massive underground complex of…
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Ferris wheels need perfect balance to stop motor burnout
Carnival operators aren't staggering your seating arrangement just to ruin your group's fun. Massive wheels must be loaded symmetrically so the weight is…
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A fake handbag can cost thousands in France
Picking up a horribly cheap counterfeit purse from a street vendor will result in a nightmare at customs. Authorities relentlessly target the buyers, not just…
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Swedish drivers must keep headlights on all day and night
Forget about relying on the bright afternoon sun to illuminate the road. Regardless of how painfully sunny it might be outside, local law strictly demands…
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Fortune cookies were invented in America
The definitive symbol of global takeout wisdom is entirely an American fabrication. Japanese immigrants living in San Francisco and Los Angeles in the early…
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The popular toy its inventor barely profited from
Intellectual property theft is as old as light reflection. When Scottish inventor David Brewster patented his beautiful optical tube in 1817, the design was…
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Why washing your car on Sunday can cost you in Switzerland
Attempting to scrub the dirt off your vehicle on the weekend is a spectacular breach of social order. Local ordinances fiercely protect the peace and quiet of…
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Why a burp can be a compliment after dinner in India
Holding in your gastric gases is surprisingly rude after a fantastic feast. Emitting a robust, resonant burp at the table is traditionally viewed as a sign of…
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Why splitting a French dinner bill can seem rude
Pulling out a calculator at the end of a beautiful meal to divide the cost down to the cent is socially repulsive. The local philosophy demands that one…
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How a Filipino bellhop helped make the yo-yo famous
The spinning spool phenomenon didn't start in a corporate boardroom. Pedro Flores, a hotel worker in California, carved out traditional wooden toys from his…
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Big Ben is slowly leaning northwest
The most punctual clock tower in existence cannot even stand up straight. Ground settling and nearby tunneling have caused the massive structure to slowly…
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Space Needle features a restaurant that rotates on a track
If you enjoy getting mildly dizzy while consuming wildly expensive seafood, this tower has you covered. The massive dining room slowly spins completely around…
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Water slides inject heavy water flow to reduce friction
You aren't gracefully sliding down a tube; you are hydroplaning forcefully on a highly engineered torrent of chlorinated water. Parks pump thousands of…
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Why the Burj Khalifa needs a quarter-million gallons of water
Keeping the tallest structure on earth fully functional requires a horrific amount of hydration. Because pushing liquid hundreds of stories into the sky…
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The Little Mermaid statue is a vandalism magnet
Being an innocent bronze tribute to a fairy tale apparently paints a massive target on your back. This delicate water-bound figure has been completely blown…
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Why roller coasters roar so loudly
That terrifying rumble that makes you question your life choices isn't just for atmosphere. The massive tracks are constructed from hollow tubular steel,…
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The tiny statue with a wardrobe of a thousand outfits
A miniature bronze boy perpetually urinating into a fountain somehow possesses a better wardrobe than you. To celebrate various holidays and visiting…
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Mona Lisa possesses her own personal mailbox at the Louvre
Being a small, heavily guarded painting apparently does not stop you from receiving fan mail. The enigmatic portrait is so fiercely admired that museum staff…
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Sea-Monkeys were never tiny people
Generations of children were tricked into believing they were buying microscopic humanoid monarchs. In truth, these novelty creatures are a heavily modified…
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