World Briefs
Vancouver you're on fire!!! On June 13, 1886, the newly incorporated city of Vancouver, British Columbia nearly burned to the ground. Officials attempted to clear brush with a controlled fire between Main and Cambie streets. However, during the controlled burn a strong wind arose off the Pacific Ocean and it fanned the flames out of control. That almost almost burned the entire city to the ground.
The Great Wildebeest Migration is considered of the world’s most incredible natural events, and it’s happening earlier this year. The largest wildlife migration is one of the most popular natural events to see in Maasai Mara, Kenya. While the migration takes place throughout the year, the wild beasts cross Mara River in July and August. And, they’re already being seen there now. The Maasai Mara National Reserve is more than 580-square miles of protected land for wildlife, but visitors often come to the area between July and October to witness the natural wildebeest migration phenomenon. One of the reasons the migration is considered one of Africa’s Seven National Wonders is the sheer number of animals that travel to Maasai Mara National Reserve from Serengeti National Park – over two million of them from zebras, gazelle and elands. It’s not uncommon for many of the 250,000 wildebeest that travel not to [...]
When the Trump Administration announced new travel restrictions to Cuba, it effectively barred cruise ships from going to the country. And, a day after the announcement, cruise lines stopped offering the service. With passenger ships no longer permitted to go to the island, cruise ships had to be quickly rerouted.
Born on June 11, 1910, in Saint-André-de-Cubzac, Gironde, Jacques Cousteau was a French naval officer who became one of the world's greatest explorers, ecologists, filmmakers and scientists. His passion was the oceans of the world and the sea life in them, and he co-developed the modern SCUBA tank and regulator, making underwater exploration accessible to scientists and the masses alike. Jacques Cousteau liked to call himself an "oceanographic technician". He was, in reality, a sophisticated showman, teacher, and lover of nature. His work permitted many people to explore the resources of the oceans.
Due to the latest Trump administration regulations, group tours and cruise ships are no longer to stop off in Cuba. However, if travelers have already booked those trips or people still want to visit, is there anything that can be done?
Machu Picchu is one of the most remarkable Inca projects, but it’s difficult to get to. Its citadel, which rests at the top, is protected by amazing gorges and peaks that surround the area.
People visiting Paris and the Eiffel Tower can now take a zip line. It’s a second time in three years that Perrier, the French mineral water brand, has put up the zip line on the 1,063-foot tall iconic feature.
On this day in history, more than 160,000 Allied troops landed on the beaches in Normandy, France marking a critical turning point in World War II. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower called the operation a crusade in which, “we will accept nothing less than full victory.”
People who use medical marijuana who always wanted to visit Hawaii have another reason to do so. The Associated Press reports that Hawaii will allow visitors who have permission to use medical marijuana to register and purchase the drug from the islands’ dispensaries.
Big Ben, the tower clock in St. Stephen's Tower that looks out over the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London began keeping time on May 31, 1859. Designed by Edmund Beckett Denison, the clock was completed in 1854. Five years later, the tower was finished. The name "Big Ben" is of uncertain origin. The clock is highly accurate and regulated by a stack of coins balancing and weighting the clock pendulum.
The Lincoln Memorial was dedicated on May 30, 1922. In 1867, only two years after his assassination, the US Congress authorized the Lincoln Monument Association to build a memorial to Lincoln. However, it was not until 1901 that the site was chosen. Former President and Chief Justice William Howard Taft dedicated the monument upon its completion in a ceremony attended by Robert Todd Lincoln, the surviving child of Lincoln.
Due to an “insurance crisis,” a popular Ireland tourist attraction in Ballingarry, North Tipperrary has closed its doors. According to its Facebook page, the Bike Park Ireland will stay closed until the insurance crisis is addressed. Graham Kenny with his family runs the park said the company would have celebrated its fifth year in business, but with everything going on, it was better to shut down.
