MALDIVES BEYOND THE RESORTS

Everyone is familiar with images of cerulean seas and swish resorts of the Maldives with rooms on stilts where alcohol flows and honeymooners basking on white sandy beaches. But these are some images of Maldives beyond the resorts. I took a trip to some local islands and walked through the streets...I saw a football field in every island, a modern mosque with a loudspeaker playing prayers through the day.  Many houses have...

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Unique Rock Church, Helsinki

 One of the most unique modern churches that I have visited is the incredible Temppeliaukio Church also called the Rock Church in Helsinki, Finland. This church was built by brothers Timo and Tuomo and opened in 1969. The Church was built out of a solid rock outcrop. The Church has an extraordinary, ethereal, dome made of gleaming copper wire, and concrete beams with glass in an amazing design.  The...

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Change of Guard

When I was in Athens recently, I loved watching the Change of Guards at Syntagma Square. All over the world there are ceremonies for Change of Guards but I found this one to be quite different, even quirky! The perfectly choreographed Change of Guards takes place ever hour before the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier and the Presidential Palace. The handsome Guards are called ‘Evzones’ and are special elite soldiers who are meant to guard...

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