Iran’s mountainous terrain has always been an important part of people’s lives. Years ago, these mountains were populated by legendary horsemen. Today, they are the subject of scientific investigation. This film provides the viewer with stunning arial views of these mountains. It unfurls the rich tapestry of Iran’s history, from the legendary Order of the Assassins to the Mongol invasions. We also get to know Iran by meeting some of the fascinating people who live there. Take Ali, a world champion of mounted archery. Despite its waning popularity, the sport has endured in Iran due the importance of horses throughout Iranian history. We get to explore the historic Tabiz bazaar, which is still a bustling market and kaleidoscope of cultures today. There, we meet Dschebrael, a stall owner who speaks Azeri, the official language of Azerbaijan. In fact, Azeri can be heard throughout the market, which serves as a meeting place for Iran’s many ethnic groups, and thus as a microcosm of the country’s cultural diversity. The film introduces us to beekeepers and violinmakers, as well as young people living in Iran who want to travel and express themselves freely on social media — even though it is forbidden.
Category Archives: Travel
Italy Views: A 36-Mile Bike Ride Around Lake Como
Lake Como, in Northern Italy’s Lombardy region, is an upscale resort area known for its dramatic scenery, set against the foothills of the Alps. The lake is shaped like an upside-down Y, with three slender branches that meet at the resort town of Bellagio.
Video timeline: 0:00 Intro and Map 1:25 Tremezzo 3:25 Villa Carlotta 4:32 Cadenabbia 6:07 Griante 14:07 Menaggio 22:08 Nobiallo 32:18 Acquaseria 34:03 Sant’Abbondio 36:19 Santa Maria 38:47 Santa Maria Rezzonico 40:02 Castello di Rezzonico 44:46 Prato 46:02 San Vito 50:36 Calozzo 53:46 Bellera 54:16 Musso 58:50 Dongo 1:04:32 San Gregorio 1:07:19 Gravedona ed Uniti 1:11:40 Domaso 1:18:07 Vercana 1:19:58 Cinque Case 1:23:27 Gera Lario 1:25:17 Sorico 1:30:30 Ponte del Passo 1:38:32 Adda River 1:40:26 Colico 2:05:45 Dorio 2:09:59 Corenno Plinio 2:11:42 Dervio 2:19:30 Bellano 2:29:35 Perledo 2:33:48 Varenna
At the bottom of the southwest branch lies the city of Como, home to Renaissance architecture and a funicular that travels up to the mountain town of Brunate.
Summer Resort Walks: Vail In Northwest Colorado
Vail, Colorado, is a small town at the base of Vail Mountain, home of the massive Vail Ski Resort. Set within White River National Forest, the town is a gateway for winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding. It’s also a summertime destination for golfing, hiking and cultural festivals. Gore Creek, popular for fly fishing, runs directly through the town center.
Alpine Walks: St. Moritz In Southern Switzerland
Saint Moritz, a town, or Gemeinde (commune), Graubünden canton, southeastern Switzerland. Saint Moritz lies in the Oberengadin (Upper Inn Valley) and is surrounded by magnificent Alpine peaks. The town consists of the Dorf (village), the Bad (spa), and the hamlets of Suvretta and Champfèr. Originally known for its curative mineral springs, it became a fashionable spa and summer resort in the 17th century. Since the late 19th century, it has developed as one of the world’s most famous winter-sport centres and was the scene of the Winter Olympic Games in 1928 and 1948. The resort is on an international highway, is linked by rail with international lines, and has an airport at Samedan, just northeast. Saint Moritz depends on tourism and the hotel industry.
Walking Tour: Leuven In Central Belgium (4K)
Leuven is a city east of Brussels, Belgium, known for its breweries. On a central square is the 15th-century town hall, with its tall spires. The building is decorated with hundreds of statues of local figures, biblical characters and saints. Opposite, the late Gothic St. Peter’s Church houses a “Last Supper” by the Flemish Primitive painter Dieric Bouts. Nearby, Oude Markt is a long square lined with bars and cafes.
Resort Town Walks: Banff In Southwestern Canada
Banff is a resort town in the province of Alberta, located within Banff National Park. The peaks of Mt. Rundle and Mt. Cascade, part of the Rocky Mountains, dominate its skyline. On Banff Avenue, the main thoroughfare, boutiques and restaurants mix with château-style hotels and souvenir shops. The surrounding 6,500 square kilometres of parkland are home to wildlife including elk and grizzly bears.
Summer Walks: Santorini In The Aegean Sea, Greece
Thera, Modern Greek Thíra, also called Santorin, or Santoríni, island, southernmost island of the Cyclades (Modern Greek: Kykládes) group, southeastern Greece, in the Aegean Sea, sometimes included in the Southern Sporades group. It constitutes a dímos (municipality) within the South Aegean (Nótio Aigaío) periféreia (region).
Geologically, Thera is the remaining eastern half of an exploded volcano. Its bow-shaped rim and the remnant isles of Thirasía and Aspronísi form an open lagoon that measures 37 miles (60 km) in circumference. In the centre of the lagoon are two active volcanic islets, Néa Kaméni (“New Burnt Island”) and Palaía Kaméni (“Old Burnt Island”). Thera proper consists largely of lava and pumice, the latter of which is the island’s main export. Red-wine grapes are also grown. The lagoon is rimmed by red-, white-, and black-striped volcanic cliffs rising to almost 1,000 feet (300 metres). The summit of Thera is the 1,857-foot (566-metre) limestone Mount Profítis Ilías in the southeast. The chief town, Thíra (locally called Firá), was badly damaged by an earthquake in 1956. Other settlements include Emboríon and Pírgos to the south and the port of Oía at the north entrance to the lagoon, which was destroyed by the 1956 earthquake.
Ukraine Views: Inside The Recaptured City Of Izyum
Ukrainian forces have reclaimed large swaths of territory in the Kharkiv region. WSJ’s Stephen Kalin reports from the liberated city of Izyum, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled to assess damage on Wednesday.
Izyum, also spelled Izium, city, eastern Ukraine. Izyum is located 75 miles (120 km) southeast of Kharkiv on the Donets River. The earliest historical mention of it dates as early as 1571; it has been a city since 1639. Izyum is linked with Kharkiv and Luhansk by rail. Industries have included railroad repair, brick making, brewing, and optical equipment manufacture.
Walking Tour: Loches In The Loire Valley, France
As a town of Art and History, Loches cultivates the art of strolling around, from one street to the next, stopping to look at views of the inaccessible courtyards of the beautiful residences, the Indre River, the bell towers and the elegant surrounding countryside.
A medieval keep, royal apartments from the Renaissance period: in the royal city of Loches, you travel through history in just a few dozen metres.
So close to the great châteaux, and so far from the tumult of the cities, southern Touraine is a wonderful breath of fresh air, brimming with authenticity and charm. A sensitive natural area, the Louroux lake is a good example.
Filmed in Summer of 2022.
Preview: Offshore Travel Magazine – Fall 2022
The Fall 2022 Issue of OFFSHORE is hot off the press and ready to inspire! Join our editors on a luxury journey across Spain aboard the Costa Verda Express. Plus, enjoy the scenic drive through one of Ireland’s most famed routes and more!
Five of the best spots to see North America’s spectacular fall colours
Come mid-September, Canadians everywhere recognize the telltale signs of the autumn season. Cooler nights call for cosy knits, a dockside Caesar gets swapped for a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, and in bustling cities and quiet towns alike, tree leaves begin to change colour, and eventually fall. An abundance of external influences like warmer or cooler temperatures make “peak” autumn colour