Category: News

OVERVIEW This is one of the most beautiful castles in the world, and has become a natural film set Rocca Calascio is the highest castle in the Apennines and one of the highest fortifications in Italy. At 1,500 metres, the fortress towers above a small village called Calascio. This is in Abruzzo, in the Gran Sasso-Laga National Parkto be precise. The structure, made of very white stone and with a square layout, has become known to most as a popular film set. Ladyhawke, The Name of the Rose and The American, among others, were filmed here.  The whole area has a special charm; the perimeter stretching from Rocca Calascio to Santo Stefano di Sessanio has been elected ‘set par excellence’ by the international film industry, and the reasons for this will become clear to you as soon as you arrive. The castle of Rocca Calascio can be visited free of charge every day from 9 a.m. until sunset. It can be reached by car up to the entrance of the village, but it’s advisable to park in the dedicated spaces along the road and then continue by shuttle bus or on foot along a dirt path. If you want to explore the area and feel like actors in a… CONTINUE READING…

The Mayan Ruins of Palenque are as important as Chichen Itza, Uxmal and Tikal in architectural magnificence and historical significance. Located 400 miles (650 kilometers) from the Riviera Maya, this is a great 3 day road trip from the beach. As an UNESCO Heritage site, Palenque is testimony to the mythology and resources of the Maya. When we made the trip to Palenque, our self-imposed vacation from the beach, the weather was on our side. We made the non-stop drive from Akumal to Palenque in about 12½ hours. Our agenda was to spend time at the Palenque Ruins and experience the exotic mountain state of Chiapas in southern Mexico. Waterfalls, cascades, Mayan ruins, caves, canyons, lagoons and extraordinary wildlife awaited and we took full advantage of what Chiapas has to offer. NATURAL HARMONY WITHIN THE PALENQUE SETTLEMENT Palenque is located in the Tumbalá mountains, and overlooks the jungle below. The Mayan builders and architects of Palenque balanced landscape with platforms, temples and palaces, which created an artful harmony at the settlement. The Usumacinta River is part of the settlement and created a means of transportation for Palenque citizens. The river also placed Palenque along a main trade route and fed… CONTINUE READING…

A father’s decision to carry his dog instead of his son has sparked a viral curiosity. A woman recorded the unusual scene from her car and published the video on her TikTok account. While driving, Luz Elena captured a video of a man carrying his dog in one arm while holding his son’s hand in the other — sparking an online debate about family priorities. “When your priority is your dog, not the child.” She wrote. Despite being originally posted in May 2022, this touching video has recently gained popularity on social media with over 4 million views and 5,000 comments. The overwhelming majority of users came out in defense of the man’s decision, with one writing, “If his leg’s hurt, the child has good tennis shoes.” It’s clear that this father’s love for his dog and his son are both equally important to him. Men love their pets. No question about that! Check out more articles where people’s admiration for their fluffy loved ones has gone through the roof:

Pet euthanasia is a difficult and complicated subject, and people have differing views on whether it’s humane to put a dog with medical issues to sleep or give them a chance at life. Recently, a puppy with birth defects was brought to a vet to be euthanized — but the vet made a decision to him. Oliver Reeve, a veterinarian from New Zealand, wrote that someone brought a 7-month-old puppy to his hospital. The puppy has unspecified birth defects, and their owner wanted the pup to be euthanized. However, Reeve opted to not euthanize the puppy — and decided to adopt the dog himself. “A 7 week old puppy got brought into the clinic to be euthanised tonight. Very sad. Any way, meet my new son,” he wrote on Twitter. The vet’s decision to save the puppy’s life drew praise online, with many scorning the dog’s owner for trying to have the pup put down instead of making an effort to save their life. “Anyone that would even consider bringing a healthy pet to the vets to be put down is an utter scumbag that should face charges. It makes me rage,” one reply reads. “How anyone could do that to… CONTINUE READING…

Located in the Bavona Valley, the charming, peaceful Ticino village of Foroglio, Switzerland can be visited all year long. This is part of the Vallemaggia District that’s well worth a day of exploring in Ticino. This very scenic Swiss village of Foroglio is one of the most photographed in the canton, which we can understand why. With historical stone houses, surrounded by nature and a huge waterfall, Foroglio is a place you must add to your travel bucket list. Our article shares more information, how to visit and what you can see in Foroglio. Read on! ABOUT FOROGLIO SWITZERLAND The village of Foroglio Switzerland is home for only approximately 100 inhabitants at the elevation of 697 meters above sea level. Foroglio is known for its beautiful, historical village with lots of character. It’s very unique to visit, even if you only have 1 hour to spare. It’s one of the most beautiful villages to visit in Ticino! We have personally visited a few times to Foroglio Switzerland and the waterfall, in rain and sunshine, with every time being amazing. It’s a place you should visit at least once when in the Ticino canton of Switzerland, even with bad weather. HOW CAN I… CONTINUE READING…

Lia Thomas, a well-known swimmer, made the unexpected and intensely emotional decision to give up competitive swimming, citing an emotionally taxing journey and a sense of loneliness in a statement posted yesterday. Thomas, a transgender athlete, has served as the focal point of many discussions about fairness, gender, and the integrity of competition in women’s sports. Lia’s statement reads: “The waters have been turbulent, not due to the physical demands but the constant battle to seek acceptance and fairness in a sport I adore. No athlete should feel isolated or singled out for their identity rather than recognized for their achievements.” This choice was made following months of acrimonious discussions, petitions, and arguments about transgender athletes competing in women’s sports. She has shed light on the difficulties faced by transgender athletes both inside and outside of their chosen sporting arenas as a result of her trip through the turbulent waters of public scrutiny, policy discussions, and ethical issues. Supporters of Thomas contend that her retirement from professional swimming is a big loss for the sport and highlights the need for a nuanced, compassionate, and inclusive strategy for athletes navigating their careers amidst difficult identity discussions. Meanwhile, her detractors have scrutinised… CONTINUE READING…

Whether you’re a pet lover or not, this is a heartbreaking story. A real story. It’s about a woman and her dog, Hannah. And about Hannah’s last days on earth. Hannah began to have seizures that got progressively worse. When she wasn’t on her meds, Hannah could barely navigate stairs and she would often fall down. She was on painkillers and on medication for her kidney. “I finally decided that keeping her on the meds was selfish, but keeping her off of them was just as cruel. So I decided to give her one last hoo-rah day of pampering, like the queen she’s always been, and let her go,” Hannah’s human wrote on Imgur, about the agonizing decision to euthanize her. She then proceeded to catalogue the last day on earth of Hannah’s – a day that Hannah would be completely pampered and be allowed to do and eat things that she normally wouldn’t be allowed to.First, she gave Hannah a soothing, aromatherapy grooming session along with a temporary heart tattoo. Then she draped Hannah in a stylish hot-pink bandana and took her for a McDonald’s treat. No pet-owner who cares about her dog would make that a habit, but this… CONTINUE READING…

Hugh Tennent is a man intrinsically linked with Glasgow. He took over his family’s beer firm in 1884 and one year later, after a trip to Germany to see how they brewed their booze, launched Tennent’s Lager. The brand is still one of Scotland’s best known and best loved products and is recognisable the world over. It has always been produced at Wellpark Brewery, just east of the city centre, and brewing at the site dates back to Hugh’s great-great-grandfather (also Hugh) in 1740. But although he died in Glasgow’s west end and is buried in the necropolis facing Wellpark, Hugh didn’t only live in the city. As a teenager, he bought Dunalastair House in Perthshire. Part of a historic estate between Loch Rannoch and Loch Tummel, east of Pitlochry, the incredible castle is now abandoned but still cuts an imposing figure as it emerges from the surrounding forest like a ghost from the past. Closer inspection shows the former stately home is now merely a skeletal ruin and a haven for urban explorers. But despite its dilapidated state, the building maintains many of its original external features, including its conical roofs, chimneys and even a coat of arms above the main entrance. So what came to pass… CONTINUE READING…