Funchal is the capital city of Portugal’s Madeira archipelago. It’s backed by hills, and known for its harbor, gardens and Madeira wine cellars. The centuries-old Funchal Cathedral, which mixes Gothic and Romanesque styles, is notable for its carved wooden ceiling. Fronting the harbor is the São Tiago Fortress, built in the 1600s. It now houses the Contemporary Art Museum, with a large collection of Portuguese works.
Video timeline: 00:00 Titles 00:05 Teleférico Funchal-Monte (Funchal Cable Car) 00:42 Madeira Story Centre – Museum 01:04 R. dos Barreiros 01:42 Rua de Santa Maria 04:18 Tv. dos Escaleres 04:41 Rua D.Carlos I 07:55 Forte de São Tiago – “Yellow Fort” 13:10 Jardins do Teleférico 20:15 Farmers’ Market (Mercado dos Lavradores)
Prague, capital city of the Czech Republic, is bisected by the Vltava River. Nicknamed “the City of a Hundred Spires,” it’s known for its Old Town Square, the heart of its historic core, with colorful baroque buildings, Gothic churches and the medieval Astronomical Clock, which gives an animated hourly show. Completed in 1402, pedestrian Charles Bridge is lined with statues of Catholic saints.
Walk Down Wenceslas Square
The centerpiece of the New Town, and likely your first visit after arriving at the train station, is the monument to the Czech hero Saint Wenceslas. The Good King himself looks down a grand boulevard lined with unique and colorful buildings on its way to the former city walls of the Old Town. The equestrian statue is ringed by four other Czech patron saints. This large square has long been a gathering place for protests and demonstrations, including the peaceful Velvet Revolution that gradually seized power from the Czech communist government in the late twentieth century.
Circle the Old Town Square
At the bottom of Wenceslas Square, you’ll be entering the Old Town of Prague; note the sudden change in street layout and architecture. Old Town Square in the center of the old walled city is an absolute must-see for every Prague visitor; predictably, it is often crowded. Try to visit early in the morning or, even better, late in the evening to enjoy a quiet square. At the top of every hour, tourists gather around the Astronomical Clock to watch its chime. This complex clock marks the hour of the day in a twenty-four hour cycle, phases of the sun and moon, and the passing of the seasons. The hourly chime is small and quiet – it wasn’t originally built to entertain large crowds – so don’t expect a big flashy show.
Make the Climb to Prague Castle
On the other side of the wide Vltava River, on top of a steep hill, is the large compound of Prague Castle. Not named for any one particular building, this fortified mini city has been the center of Czech power for centuries; from medieval kings to modern parliament. From the top ramparts, look out over the contrasting architecture and red roofs of the Prague skyline stretching out below. Try to find the characteristic towers and steeples of the churches and the defense towers along the old city wall. Crowds clear out at night, leaving the square around St. Vitus’ Cathedral and the normally jam-packed Golden Lane all yours for an evening exploration.
Six amazing hill forts in Rajasthan, India. Amber Fort, Jaipur (0:00), Chittor Fort, Ghittorgarh (1:54), Jaisalmer Fort (3:29), Kumbhalgarh Fort (4:59), Junagarh Fort, Bikaner (6:30), Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur (8:22). Some of these forts have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Rajasthan is a state in northern India. The state covers an area of 342,239 square kilometres or 10.4 percent of the total geographical area of India. It is the largest Indian state by area and the seventh largest by population.
Deep in a cloud forest far, far away are the planet’s last remaining Skywalker gibbons. These small members of the apes family were only identified in 2017 (by, you guessed it, a Star Wars fan), but already they’re endangered.
Now, researchers in south-west China have developed an ingenious technique for getting gibbons from different territories to meet and form a partnership – these Skywalkers mate for life. Join us to see how technology can be used as a Force for good to help protect this vanishing species.
Scientists announced the discovery of a new species of primate, the skywalker hoolock gibbon (Hoolock tianxing), in the American Journal of Primatology on Tuesday. The scientists named it skywalker because the Chinese characters for its scientific name translate to “heaven’s movement”—but also because they’re fans of Star Wars, according to the BBC.
Cologne, a 2,000-year-old city spanning the Rhine River in western Germany, is the region’s cultural hub. A landmark of High Gothic architecture set amid reconstructed old town, the twin-spired Cologne Cathedral is also known for its gilded medieval reliquary and sweeping river views. The adjacent Museum Ludwig showcases 20th-century art, including many masterpieces by Picasso, and the Romano-Germanic Museum houses Roman antiquities.
Video Timeline Links: 00:00 – Cologne (Köln), Germany Walking Tour Intro 00:48 – Statue of Kaiser Wilhelm II 01:33 – Hohenzollern Bridge 04:58 – Ludwig Museum 08:46 – Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) 21:34 – Cologne Central Train Station 31:51 – Fish Market Square (Fischmarkt) 34:36 – Great St. Martin Church 37:55 – Old Market Square (Alter Markt) 38:51 – Historic Town Hall 41:31 – Haymarket Square (Heumarkt) 43:31 – Statue of Friedrich Wilhelm III 49:02 – Schildergasse Shopping Street 55:12 – New Square (Neumarkt) 58:22 – Basilica of the Holy Apostles 1:04:40 – Hahnen Gate (Hahnentor) 1:12:39 – Willy-Millowitsch Statue 1:21:32 – Minorite Monastery
Odessa is a port city on the Black Sea in southern Ukraine. It’s known for its beaches and 19th-century architecture, including the Odessa Opera and Ballet Theater. The monumental Potemkin Stairs, immortalized in “The Battleship Potemkin,” lead down to the waterfront with its Vorontsov Lighthouse. Running parallel to the water, the grand Primorsky Boulevard is a popular promenade lined with mansions and monuments.
WSJ’s Middle Seat columnist Scott McCartney tallies the data for which airlines performed best and worst in 2020 for things like on-time arrivals, complaints and flight cancellations. Photo: Getty Images
Oslo, the capital of Norway, sits on the country’s southern coast at the head of the Oslofjord. It’s known for its green spaces and museums. Many of these are on the Bygdøy Peninsula, including the waterside Norwegian Maritime Museum and the Viking Ship Museum, with Viking ships from the 9th century. The Holmenkollbakken is a ski-jumping hill with panoramic views of the fjord. It also has a ski museum.
Daytona Beach is a city on Florida’s Atlantic coast. It’s known for Daytona International Speedway, which hosts February’s iconic Daytona 500 NASCAR race. The beach has hard-packed sand where driving is permitted in designated areas. Near the boardwalk’s rides and arcades, Daytona Beach Bandshell stages free summer concerts. Steps from the beach, Daytona Lagoon water park offers go-karts, laser tag and waterslides.
Bryce Canyon – Welcome to Utah’s otherworldly red-rock landscape carved by powerful geologic forces and the endless march of time.
Bryce Canyon National Park, a sprawling reserve in southern Utah, is known for crimson-colored hoodoos, which are spire-shaped rock formations. The park’s main road leads past the expansive Bryce Amphitheater, a hoodoo-filled depression lying below the Rim Trail hiking path. It has overlooks at Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Inspiration Point and Bryce Point. Prime viewing times are around sunup and sundown.
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