Manhole Covers Around the World

 Most are functional, bare visible unless something goes wrong. Others act as decorative timestamps. Some are time capsules. Homage to history or popular culture. In Japan, Pokemon peeks out of the circle. In Ridgefield, Connecticut, a simple leaf design spreads across a rectangular cover. In Orihuela, Spain, a weirdly geometric pattern may recall distant Mudejar inspirations. In Montevideo, Uruguay, a sun god beams up at you. Minneapolis did one better and commissioned artist Kate K. Burke in 1992 to create a series of 11 decorative manhole covers - the three showcased here are absolutely gorgeous. In Istanbul, we see tile art incorporated. The one representing Maribor, Slovenia practically belongs on a postage stamp - it's so quaint and picturesque. Dunjiangyan, China has a selection of cute panda bears. Tromso, Norway pays tribute to reindeer. Get in on the game. See the towns and cities of the world through their manhole covers. Show your own random discoveries, while travelling or in your home town. It's surprisingly fascinating.

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The Lewis and Harris Trail

As the largest island in the Outer Hebrides, Lewis and Harris presents something of a geographic enigma. Are they the same island? Why do they need to have two names if they are connected by a narrow isthmus? I have no answers to those questions, but from visiting The Lewis and Harris Trail Facebook Group, it is easy to see why they are so popular with tourists to this part of Scotland. There is some stunning nature photography, beach rides and pony trekking, local craft events and accommodation options. See some gorgeous knitting and functional art featuring funky impressions of the iconic highland cattle. Drone footage of the dramatic coastline. And tempting updates on what yummy local treats to find in the honesty sheds scattered around the route. It combines a sense of community with a welcoming hand to visitors.

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Sunrises and Sunsets of the World

Whether it be the silvery slithers of new light that signify the start of another day, or the golden, sun-drenched glory that marks the end of it, there is something romantic and special about sunrise and sunset. Both prompt you equally towards self-reflection with their beauty. When travelling, a sunset infuses the watcher with the magic of transitions - be they temporal or geographical. But they also touch of the timelessness of our shared appreciation of beauty. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's wise Little Prince exalted in the sunsets of his tiny home planet and mourned the fact that Earth's sunsets were a whole twenty-four hours apart. He might have loved this group, where you can experience a thousand sunsets around the world, simply by scrolling further. Goodnight, beautiful planet. Here's looking at you. 

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Photo Credit: dakzxz on Pixabay.

Hurtigruten Insiders

 It is somewhat surprising to discover that a remote and inhospitable region located within Norway's arctic territory is home to a population representing over 20 nations. But with the Domesday Clock currently set the closest it's ever been to midnight; it might be a relieve to know that the Svalbard Global Seed Vault serves as a repository guarding the planet's biodiversity with its priceless collection of flora species. Its existence highlights the fascinating and important research taking place here, as well as its amazing natural and cultural heritage. Tourists to this area are drawn to the spectacular aerial dance that alternates between the enigmatic northern lights in winter and the midnight sun of the arctic's summer season, as well as its unique wildlife which includes several species of whales, walruses, seals, arctic foxes, puffins, barnacle geese, reindeer and of course, the rock stars of the arctic, the polar bear. As a Facebook group, Hurtigruten Insiders represents the shipping company that offers a gateway to this important region for 130 years, a great place to visit, if you are planning an icy adventure amidst its glaciers or just curious.

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The View From My Window

One of the best things of the Internet, in my opinion, is the way it brings the world to you. It's wonderful to be chatting to someone in World of Warcraft, who is on another continent, or find a kindred soul whom you would never have met, had it not been for the World Wide Web or Facebook. This Facebook group uses images shared as a medium of saying hello to someone far away. And it's not necessarily the stunning, touristy scenery that's shared in snapshots - just moments of life, little pieces or local, with a few words that say, in so many ways "Look, I am here!" Take glimpses through windows in Australia, Kenya, Argentina, Chile, Minnesota, USA, Greece, the Netherlands, Belgium, Malta, the UK, Madeira, the Orkney Islands, Norway and Northern Ireland.   You may see newsworthy moments, adorable pets, visiting wildlife, sunsets, water, greenery and snow-capped firs, traffic and laundry, flowers, swimming pools and lawn flamingos, garden gnomes in Germany, visiting kangaroos in Australia, marinas, seascapes and beach views, the vastness of Canada and quaint little gardens and so much more. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy this wonderful collection of crowd-sourced postcards and pictures.

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Google Earth, Structures and Anomalies

When Google Earth was first introduced more than twenty years ago, it filled many people around the world with a sense of wonder. Never before had the planet seemed so accessible to anyone with internet access. And the legends began. One of the most incredible stories to emerge in this new era of digital empowerment, in my opinion, is that of Saroo Brierley, a young boy who was reunited with his birth family thanks to Google Earth, after having been separated from them at age five. If you are intrigued by the mysteries and enigmas unlocked by this incredible web tool, buckle up to explore and collaborate with like-minded souls via this fascinating community. Home in on Mysterious offshore installations, abandoned urban areas, subterranean Viking vessels and other ancient structures. Visit normally inaccessible locations such as North Korea, Nightingale Island, or Antarctica. Puzzle over moments of intense human drama captured on Google Streetview or freeways, off-ramps and other infrastructure from hell. 

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