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Maya site of Copán
Maya site of Copán
In a quiet valley of western Honduras lie the ruins of Copán—a city of the ancient Maya civilisation. Its sky served as both compass and calendar, guiding celestial events and shaping temples, rituals and the rhythm of life. Around 426 CE, K"inich Yax K"uk" Mo", a warrior from the Maya heartland, founded Copán and established its royal dynasty. The city became a centre of Maya art, astronomy and power.Desktop Version
Hen Galan
Hen Galan
Most people wrap up their New Year plans by the first week of January. Wales, however, has a charming habit of saying, "Hold on—we"ve got one more celebration left." Enter Hen Galan, the "Old New Year," observed on 13 January in parts of Wales, most famously in the Gwaun Valley. The date survives from the old Julian calendar, kept long after the rest of Britain adopted the Gregorian one.Desktop Version
Andermatt village in the Alps, Switzerland
Andermatt village in the Alps, Switzerland
Nestled in the Urseren Valley at about 1,437 metres, Andermatt is a charming Swiss village embraced by the majestic Alps. Long a vital crossroads, it"s linked by three iconic passes—Gotthard, Furka and Oberalp—each enhancing its allure as a gateway between regions and cultures.Desktop Version
Chittorgarh Fort, Rajasthan
Chittorgarh Fort, Rajasthan
High on a hill of 180 metres in Rajasthan, Chittorgarh Fort spans approximately 3 kilometres. It stands as a proud witness to the valour of the Rajputs. Their name comes from the Sanskrit "rajaputra," meaning "son of a king," and they are celebrated for their noble lineage and martial traditions across northern India. The fort"s stone walls have witnessed centuries of courage, pride and romance, remembered in the songs of Rajasthan"s bards. Local lore credits Bhim of the Pandavas, the five warrior princes of the Mahabharata, with laying its first foundations.Desktop Version
Fortress of Palamidi, Nafplio, Greece
Fortress of Palamidi, Nafplio, Greece
Perched high above the coastal town of Nafplio in Greece, the Fortress of Palamidi asserts itself before its walls even come into view. The climb is steep and unhurried, cut directly into rock, opening wide views across land and sea with every turn. This ascent was never ornamental. It was designed to slow movement, expose approach and reinforce control long before an enemy reached the gates.Desktop Version
Christmas market in Leipzig, Germany
Christmas market in Leipzig, Germany
Do you know what people bought at Christmas markets 567 years ago? Not costly ornaments or fancy souvenirs but candles, spices, local goods, knitted items and toys. Leipzig"s Christmas market began in 1458 and quickly became a favourite stop for merchants and locals alike. Today, with its cultural and culinary offerings spread across the historic old town and about 300 stalls, it is one of the largest Christmas markets in Germany. Imagine streets buzzing with the chatter of traders and children following the scent of "Lebkuchen"—honey-sweetened cakes. This is where townsfolk gather to celebrate winter and catch up on the news while sipping mulled wine. These markets have always symbolised more than shopping—they offer an escape from the everyday routine.Desktop Version
International Mountain Day
International Mountain Day
Every 11 December, we celebrate International Mountain Day, honouring the majestic peaks that shape our planet and the glaciers that support life. From the rolling Alps to the towering Himalayas, mountains cover nearly a quarter of Earth"s land and host 15% of the world"s population and nearly half of its biodiversity hotspots. Mount Everest, the world"s highest peak at over 8845 metres, stands as a symbol of human aspiration and natural beauty. Its glaciers feed rivers sustaining millions, showing that mountains are more than scenery—they are lifelines.Desktop Version
Poinsettia: A winter classic
Poinsettia: A winter classic
Some plants simply sit quietly on windowsills. The poinsettia? It demands the spotlight — bright, bold and as red as Rudolph"s nose. Long before it became a popular Christmas decoration, it grew wild in Mexico, where the Aztecs used its leaves for dyes and its sap for traditional remedies. In the 19th century, it travelled across continents as people admired its vivid colour during colder months, eventually finding its place in winter celebrations around the world.Desktop Version
Starling murmuration over the ruins of Brightons West Pier, England
Starling murmuration over the ruins of Brightons West Pier, England
Today is a day that puts time into perspective. Old Rock Day highlights the vast geological processes that have shaped our world since its earliest eras. In Arches National Park, Utah, United States, Turret Arch—seen through North Window—offers a striking reminder: landscapes can take hundreds of millions of years to assemble. The Entrada Sandstone that forms these arches began as shifting dunes and shallow seas long before erosion carved today"s shapes. Even so, these formations are relatively young. Most rocks on Earth disappear over time because plate tectonics, erosion and volcanism continually recycle the crust. Only the planet"s ancient continental shields preserve truly old material. Canada"s Acasta Gneiss, about 4 billion years old, is the oldest known rock still rooted where it formed.Desktop Version
Fiji Day
Fiji Day
Some dates mark a single milestone—Fiji"s October 10 marks two. On that day in 1874, the islands officially became a British colony. Almost a century later, in 1970, the same date saw Fiji raise its own flag and declare independence. Fiji Day is a unique national holiday—part reflection, part celebration. The day begins with formal ceremonies, where the Fijian flag is hoisted and leaders deliver speeches. Schools and community groups often stage reenactments and performances. Streets fill with parades, villages host cultural dances like the meke and rugby pitches come alive with matches. Families prepare traditional dishes like lovo, where meat and root crops are cooked underground, and kokoda, a citrus-marinated fish dish.Desktop Version
Gwalior Fort, Madhya Pradesh
Gwalior Fort, Madhya Pradesh
Few cities carry their past vividly as Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh. Towering over its skyline, Gwalior Fort is a 6th-century hilltop stronghold. Nicknamed "the Gibraltar of India," this fort was praised by Mughal emperor Babur as the "pearl among the fortresses of Hind" for its strength and grandeur. The fort has witnessed rulers from the Tomars and the Mughals to the Scindias, each leaving echoes of their reign, and remains tied to tales of battles, royal intrigue and whispered treasures.Desktop Version
World Migratory Bird Day
World Migratory Bird Day
Birds don"t bother with passports, visas or luggage—they simply spread their wings and fly. Twice a year, billions of migratory birds criss-cross the planet, travelling immense distances between breeding and wintering grounds. World Migratory Bird Day, marked on the second Saturday of May and October, celebrates this incredible journey. In India, the story takes on a vivid form each winter, when lakes and wetlands burst into life with the arrival of birds from colder regions. Places like Keoladeo Ghana National Park in Rajasthan transform into lively sanctuaries, offering some of the best opportunities to witness the spectacle.Desktop Version
Colosseum, Rome, Italy
Colosseum, Rome, Italy
Think modern sports are dramatic? Ancient Romans had front-row seats to spectacles far more intense inside the Colosseum. Commissioned by the Flavian emperor Vespasian in 72 CE and finished by his son Titus in 80 CE, this amphitheatre broke tradition with its predecessors that were built into hillsides for natural support. Instead, the Colosseum was a fully free-standing architectural giant, crafted from stone and concrete. Its arches and vaults supported an arena that could host up to 50,000 spectators. Gladiators, exotic animals and even staged sea battles thrilled the crowds, while hidden elevators and trapdoors created sudden, dramatic appearances.Desktop Version
Þorrablót, Icelandic midwinter festival
Þorrablót, Icelandic midwinter festival
When January"s chill grips Iceland, locals turn to warmth and tradition with Þorrablót—a midwinter festival rooted in Viking heritage. Named after Þorri, a winter figure from Norse mythology, this celebration began as a sacrificial feast to honour the gods and ensure survival through harsh winters. Today, it"s a lively cultural event that blends history with hearty camaraderie.Desktop Version
Guanaco, Punta Norte, Valdés Peninsula, Argentina
Guanaco, Punta Norte, Valdés Peninsula, Argentina
If llamas are the laid-back stars of the Andes, their cousins, the guanacos, are the free spirits of Patagonia. Guanacos are part of the same camelid family as llamas, alpacas and vicuñas. But unlike their domesticated relatives, they keep things wild. Found mainly in Argentina, Chile, Peru and Bolivia, they"re built for life at high altitude. Their thick coats help them handle chilly winds, while their padded feet give them the grip to trek across rocky terrain that would make even mountain goats nervous.Desktop Version
Blue walls of Chefchaouen, Morocco
Blue walls of Chefchaouen, Morocco
On 11 January, 1944, Morocco took a bold step toward freedom. 66 leaders signed the Proclamation of Independence, demanding an end to French and Spanish colonial rule and affirming the country"s right to sovereignty. This manifesto, backed by Sultan Mohammed V, was presented not only to colonial authorities but also to representatives of the US, UK and the former Soviet Union—a signal that Morocco"s struggle was part of a global call for self-determination. Though repression followed, the movement endured and by 1956 Morocco achieved full independence, marking a turning point in North African history.Desktop Version
Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy
Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy
Ever heard coins clinking louder than applause? That"s the Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy, for you—a spot where history, hope and selfie sticks collide. Completed in 1762, it marks the endpoint of one of ancient Rome"s earliest aqueducts, the Aqua Virgo, which still supplies water today. The name "Trevi" comes from Tre Vie—"three roads"—signifying the junction where it stands. Designed by Italian architect Nicola Salvi and finished by Giuseppe Pannini, this 26-metre marvel is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and one of the most famous in the world. Its sculptures show Oceanus, the god of the sea, surrounded by Tritons and horses.Desktop Version
The temple of Wat Phra That Hariphunchai, Lamphun, Thailand
The temple of Wat Phra That Hariphunchai, Lamphun, Thailand
What would you wish for if a single lantern could carry it skyward? Tonight, in northern Thailand, the Yi Peng festival offers that chance. This centuries-old Lanna tradition celebrates the twelfth lunar month with glowing paper lanterns—khom loi—that are released to honour the Buddha. Each lantern is believed to carry away misfortune and light the way toward a brighter future. Children steady the lantern frames, elders whisper blessings and the crowd pauses as hundreds of lights drift higher than the trees. Farther south, the same full moon watches over Loy Krathong, a sister festival, where candlelit rafts glide across the water.Desktop Version
Everglades National Park, Florida, United States
Everglades National Park, Florida, United States
On Florida"s southern tip lies one of the United States" most unusual landscapes. The Everglades is not a typical swamp or river. It is a slow, shallow sheet of water that drifts south across flat grasslands toward Florida Bay, linking forests, marshes, mangroves and coastal prairies. This subtropical wilderness supports hundreds of species, including alligators, manatees and the endangered Florida panther. Spanning over 6000 square kilometres, it is one of the largest wetland ecosystems in North America—a place where land, sky and water meet in constant motion.Desktop Version
Male hooded merganser, Oregon, United States
Male hooded merganser, Oregon, United States
Each autumn, the quiet waterways of Oregon, United States, become seasonal waypoints for hooded mergansers—small diving ducks native to North America. They are agile divers, plunging beneath the surface to catch fish and other prey. Males, known as drakes, stand out with their fan-shaped white crests, dark heads and chestnut-brown sides, while females, called hens, are brownish grey with smaller crests. Oregon"s lakes and wetlands provide sheltered feeding grounds as these birds migrate or winter across the continent.Desktop Version
Karlovy Vary, Bohemia, Czechia
Karlovy Vary, Bohemia, Czechia
In today"s image, winter settles over Karlovy Vary in Czechia, a pastel valley that built its identity around the hot springs rising through its hills. The eponymous city traces its beginnings to accounts of Charles IV, then king of Bohemia (a historic region of Czechia) and later Roman Emperor, encountering a steaming pool here in the 14th century, an early moment that set this quiet part of Bohemia on the path to becoming a spa retreat.Desktop Version
Old Rock Day
Old Rock Day
Today is a day that puts time into perspective. Old Rock Day highlights the vast geological processes that have shaped our world since its earliest eras. In Arches National Park, Utah, United States, Turret Arch—seen through North Window—offers a striking reminder: landscapes can take hundreds of millions of years to assemble. The Entrada Sandstone that forms these arches began as shifting dunes and shallow seas long before erosion carved today"s shapes. Even so, these formations are relatively young. Most rocks on Earth disappear over time because plate tectonics, erosion and volcanism continually recycle the crust. Only the planet"s ancient continental shields preserve truly old material. Canada"s Acasta Gneiss, about 4 billion years old, is the oldest known rock still rooted where it formed.Desktop Version
Fibonacci Day
Fibonacci Day
Look closely at this ammonite fossil. Its swirling shell, once home to a prehistoric sea creature, holds a mathematical secret—a spiral pattern. Each new chamber is proportionally larger than the previous one, maintaining a consistent growth ratio, often associated with the Fibonacci sequence.Desktop Version
Irohazaka Road in autumn, Nikko, Tochigi, Japan
Irohazaka Road in autumn, Nikko, Tochigi, Japan
If you think the alphabet is straightforward, Japan"s Irohazaka Road in Nikko will twist that belief right out of you. Named after the old Japanese syllabary "Iroha," this mountain pass once had 48 hairpin bends—each curve matched to a character of the alphabet. Today, it"s a pair of separate one-way roads—one goes up, the other comes down and both make drivers feel as if they"re spelling out a story with every turn.Desktop Version
A traboule in Lyon, France
A traboule in Lyon, France
In Lyon, France, you don"t just walk through the city—you glide through it. The traboules, a network of hidden passageways threading between courtyards and buildings, turn a simple stroll into a treasure hunt. They were the original shortcuts, allowing residents to dodge rain, carry goods or move discreetly through the medieval quarters. Today, they"re less about practicality and more about discovery. These passages date back to the fourth century but became essential during the Renaissance, when silk traders used them to shuttle delicate fabrics safely from workshops to the river without braving the weather. Later, during World War II, Resistance fighters used the traboules as escape routes.Desktop Version