10 Secrets Of The Louvre

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For many people all over the world, a visit to the Louvre is a major bucket list item during a trip to Paris. The most-visited museum in the world is also one of the largest and one of the richest in artistic treasures.

The museum employs 2,290 staff members, including 65 curators and 145 conservationists.
The Louvre even has its own squad of 48 firefighters on call 24 hours a day.

Borderline Crazy International Borders

With nearly 200 countries in the world, it is perhaps no surprise that many have found themselves with borders that defy the conventional. Just the Flight has explored some of the most fascinating borders on the planet.

Like the 2.4 mile wide Demilitarised Zone separating North and South Korea, the political boundary that runs directly across the summit of Mount Everest, and the town which is sectioned between two countries, with boundaries marked by white paint which can run right through the middle of shops, restaurants and houses.

Casey: The Small Town of Big Things

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At just over two square miles and with less than 3,000 inhabitants, the town of Casey in Illinois might be among the smaller towns of the US, but it's home to some of the biggest things in the world.

These include a wind chime, a rocking chair, knitting needles and a crochet hook, a mailbox, a pitchfork, a golf tee, a pair of wooden shoes, a coin, a birdcage, a yardstick, a pencil, a ear of corn, saguaro cactus and many more.

Vintage Maps Rekindle The Romance Of Early Air Travel

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In the early days of the 20th century, an exciting new mode of travel became possible. Anyone with enough money could take to the skies on a commercial flight. Trips that would take weeks by sea could be made in days by plane. A Londoner could hop over to Paris for the weekend.

As commercial flying grew, maps became a vital advertising tool, tantalizing the public with exotic destinations newly within reach. Now a new book, Mapping the Airways, conjures the romance of those early days with a collection of maps from the British Airways Heritage Collection.

Why Do Flight Attendants Dim The Lights For Takeoff And Landing?

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It's one of the mysteries of flying that many passengers have pondered, but seldom bothered to solve: why do flight attendants dim the plane's lights for takeoff and landing?

The Island Where Donkeys Wear Pyjamas

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The Island of Rhea, or Île-de-Ré in French, off the west coast of France near La Rochelle, is a popular summer destination known for its gently sloping, sandy beaches, cool waters and constant light breeze. The island's other famous attraction are its donkeys. Originating from the Poitou region of France, they are one of the largest donkey breeds, and because of their size they were employed as working mules in the island's salt industry.

In order to protect the animals' legs from bug bites, the owners would have them wear specially made trousers each day before they went to work. Donkeys are no longer used for work in the salt marshes, but the tradition of wearing trousers continues to this day, mostly to draw tourists.

The Place Furthest From Land Is Known As Point Nemo

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Where do you go to get away from it all? When the stress of everyday life pushes you to search for the most remote point on Earth, you might be surprised to learn there are actually a few to choose from.

But if you have decent sea legs, nothing beats the furthest point from land, also known as the 'oceanic pole of inaccessibility.' It has been nicknamed Point Nemo. The The name means 'no-one' in Latin, which is fitting for a place so rarely visited by people.

Meet The Breathtaking Beauty Of Shah-e-Cheragh

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Iran is well known for its unique architectural style, as well as its historical buildings.
The Shah-e-Cheragh Mausoleum, which was built during the 12th century, holds the holy tombs of Mir Muhammad and Amir Ahmad, the brothers of Imam Reza.

Historical documents revealed that Imam Reza is related to the Prophet Muhammad, as well as his successor, Shia Imam. Although the history related to the building is overwhelming, it’s its interior design that draws so many visitors here every year.

30 Amazing Facts About France

France is known worlwide for its art, culture, food and wine, and is one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, welcoming tens of millions of visitors each year.

Here's an entertaining infographic by Gites packed with interesting facts about the amazing country of France. Learn about the Eiffel Tower, the Mona Lisa, how much wine the French drink, and the Arc de Triomphe.

The Most Cheerfully Colorful Town In The World

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Imagine stumbling across a vibrant and energetic town where all the walls, window frames, stairs, and even roofs are painted in bright, intense colors and dynamically-detailed murals.

This visually electrifying place really exists. It's a town called Guatapé, in Colombia. Photographer Jessica Devnani happened upon this wonderful discovery while backpacking through Colombia and marveled at its beautiful colors, cobblestone streets, and tremendous views.

Airports Furthest From Their Cities

An infographic by Just the Flight. Once your flight lands, you are generally safe in the assumption that most of your journey is complete. Unfortunately, for some airports this is far from being the case.

Some of the airports are in fact quite a distance away from their namesake city centres, resulting in journeys that may even eclipse the time spent in the air.

(thanks Harry)

Otherworldly Destinations Here On Earth

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President Barack Obama published an op-ed in October 2016 recommitting to his goal to send humans to Mars by the 2030s. It's enough to give Earthlings a bad case of interplanetary wanderlust, but you can’t book your tickets just yet. For budding space tourists eager for a celestial-body experience, here are some terrestrial destinations with distinctively off-planet flavor.

Super Mario-Themed Airbnb Rental Available In Lisbon

If you like video games, particularly Super Mario Brothers, and you happen to be traveling to Lisbon, Portugal then hit the pause button if you're thinking of staying in a hotel. This Super Mario-Themed room just became available on Airbnb and it's as awesome as it sounds.

This rental has officially gone all out in making the space a complete Mario world. From Donkey Kong to the Princess, to Luigi and Mushroom, to gold coins and deadly plant traps, you cannot imagine a place that's gone into more detail.

(thanks Nathaniel)

Visit The Top 10 Happiest Countries In The World

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Looking for a travel destination with great views and friendly people? Try following a cue from the 2016 World Happiness Report. Every year the United Nations measures the quality of life for citizens around the world through surveys and data analysis.

What makes these countries the happiest in the world? All possess a winning formula of good governance, strong sense of community, respect for fellow citizens, and general high quality of life. Here are the top 10 places to travel happy.

Roadside Curiosities: Things That Make You Go 'What the Heck?'

An oddball collection of vintage found photos and postcards - just published in a new book - pulls together American folk art and roadside landmarks that make you stop and exclaim, 'What IS that?'

(thanks Lisa)

The Village Of Monsanto

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Monsanto is a beautiful village built in the Portuguese countryside. Featuring narrow streets carved from rock and granite houses squeezed between giant boulders, it looks like a real life Bedrock.

At the top of the 400 feet high hill stands a very old square built castle. The castle played an important role in Medieval times when the Templars Grand Master built a castle which withstood several battles including the Napoleonic invasions.

Pobiti Kamani: The Stone Forest, Bulgaria

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In Bulgaria, on the road to the capital of Sofia, is a remarkable natural area called Pobiti Kamani or the Stone Forest. At first glance, it looks like the ruins of an ancient temple, but these broken stone pillars are all natural.

The most curious thing about these pillars is that they are mostly hollow and filled with sand. They don't have a solid foundation or attached to the bedrock. Instead, the pillars are loosely stuck into the surrounding sand as if some one had hammered them into the earth.

The Treacherous Road With 318 Turns

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Deep in the southern United States, in the thickly forested border of Tennessee and North Carolina, is a road that seems drawn by a doodler. It makes 318 turns along 11 miles of countryside, including hairpins, blind cutbacks and a cloverleaf here and there.

It's so windy and challenging that it has become a destination for motorcyclists and car enthusiasts; some say it's among the best driving roads in the world.

(thanks Greg)

Chuysky Trakt: The Most Beautiful Road Of Siberia

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Chuysky Trakt is over 621 mile long and it is included in the National Geographic's top 10 most wonderful road trips in the world list. The Russian Altay Mountains are well known for their beauty. The Chuysky Trakt crosses them, all the way from one end of the country to the other.

In fact, the road, which requires at least 4 days of driving to be crossed, is the main connection between Russia and Mongolia. Furthermore, this is among the few large roads worldwide that have an impressive history behind.

The Secret Language Of Flight Attendants

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Have you ever eavesdropped on an airline cabin crew, and wondered the meanings of their jargon? What does 'cross-check' mean? Or 'all-call?' And what does 'spinner' means, and 'deadhead?' The airline world has its own shoptalk and jargon, and listening passengers can discover an entirely new language.