How Sweet It Is: Destinations And Their Desserts

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Cheesecake in New York, Brussels waffles in Ghent, Gelato in Florence, and Turkish Delight in Istanbul. Most destinations have at least one signature dessert - that one confection that they do so well, you can taste history in every bite. It's impossible to list all of the world's best desserts, but here is a shortlist of six cities and their famous sweet treats.

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The Avenue Of The Baobabs

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The Avenue or Alley of the Baobabs is a prominent group of baobab trees lining the dirt road between Morondava and Belon'i Tsiribihina in the Menabe region in western Madagascar. Its striking landscape draws travelers from around the world, making it one of the most visited locations in the region.

The Avenue of the Baobabs has been a center of local conservation efforts, and was granted temporary protected status in July 2007 by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests, the first step toward making it Madagascar's first natural monument.

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Caravanserai - Staging Posts Of The Desert

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There were once thousands of caravanserai, staging posts for the weary traveller, dotted throughout Asia, North Africa and the South-Eastern parts of Europe. The Silk Road, an important and extensive trans-continental network of routes, was dotted with them. Many still survive, but more are abandoned and slowly turning to dust.

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25 European Castles You Can Stay In

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Did you know you can become king or queen of your very own European castle... at least for a couple of nights. Many European castles are open to the public because they have been converted into a hotel. Here are 25 European castles you can stay in.

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The Incredible Mountain City Of La Paz, Bolivia

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La Paz, whose full name is Nuestra Señora de La Paz, is the administrative capital of Bolivia and the second largest city in the country after after Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Bolivia has two capitals - while the official capital of Bolivia is Sucre and it is the seat of Justice, La Paz has more government departments, hence the 'de facto' capital of the country.

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The Cascading Fountain Of Nampo's Lotte

The fact that some of Busan's best sightseeing can be done inside of shopping centers says something profound about Korean culture. Nampo's giant seaside Lotte Department Store offers enough to entertain a tourist for hours, including a wonderful rooftop garden with views over the neighborhood, and the world's largest indoor cascading fountain.

(thanks Juergen)

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Famous Great Travelers

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Tourism has been around since antiquity but travel is timeless. The earliest guidebook, The Description of Greece, was written by Greek geographer Pausanias around A.D. 160.

A handful of history's boldest travelers staged epic journeys that crossed new lands, broke cultural barriers, and revealed the radical diversity of the world around us. In doing so, these trailblazers confirmed that wanderlust is part of the human condition.

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Angkor What? Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Cambodia's Most Iconic Temple

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Angkor Wat is the largest Hindu temple complex in the world. The temple was built by King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century in Yasodharapura, the capital of the Khmer Empire, as his state temple and eventual mausoleum. As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious centre since its foundation - first Hindu, dedicated to the god Vishnu, then Buddhist.

Angkor Wat is at the top of the high classical style of Khmer architecture. It has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on its national flag, and it is the country's prime attraction for visitors.

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8 Amazing Drowned Buildings

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Buildings of different purposes, rising out of lakes and rivers, submerged in gallons of water - the places where people once lived and worked, are homes to weeds and fishes now.

These buildings were flooded and drowned by men's own doing, in their hurry to change nature's path for dams and reservoirs. Churches, monasteries, palaces and fortresses occur as partly-submerged structures, which are popular among photographers and tourists.

(thanks Bosko)

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The Great Wall Of China - Diverse Perspectives

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The Great Wall - created over centuries to protect the Chinese Empire from intrusion and invasion - is one of the world's best known sights. Yet again and again we see the same stretch of wall, the same throngs of tourists and a stream of visiting politicians.

Take these elements away and there is a sublime change - a shift in perception. Here is the Great Wall of China from various diverse perspectives, some stretches of the wall you may not be familiar with and hardly a tourist or soldier in sight. The Great Wall of China suddenly becomes a mystery again, inscrutable and elegant, unfathomable and incredible.

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34 Places To Swim In The World's Clearest Water

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Here are 34 places around the world to do some underwater exploring, and come back with amazingly clear imagery. Sometimes the water is so clear it looks like the boats are floating in the air.

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The Seven Wonders Of Ukraine

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What springs to mind when you think of Ukraine? Since independence in 1991 the second largest country in Europe has been somewhat demonized by elements of the Western European media. It has often been portrayed as something of a cultural backwater with little to recommend it. Here we address that issue by revealing to you the Seven Wonders of Ukraine.

(thanks Robert-John)

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8 Stunning One-Color Towns Around The World

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We've all heard about the colorful towns around the world, there are really lots of them and their facades are very colorful and striking.

But, are there any towns that are painted in only one color? Of course there are, but they are very rare. This list deals with these unusual tourist destinations - one-color towns.

(thanks Bosko)

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Milan's Glass Covered Street

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Connecting two of Milan's most famous landmarks (The Duomo and La Scala) is the famous glass-vaulted arches of the Galleria. Formally known as the 'Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II', the street is covered by an arching glass and cast iron roof. A landmark in its own right, the Galleria is a sight to behold.

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10 Things You Didn't Know About The Dead Sea

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The Dead Sea, also known as the Salt Sea, borders Jordan to the east and Israel and the West Bank to the west. It's a hypersaline lake that is truly one of Earth's unique places. This salinity makes for a harsh environment in which animals cannot flourish, hence its name. Here are 10 things you didn't know about the Dead Sea.

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8 Of The Most Unusual Tunnels In The World

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Tunnels are mostly human creations that commonly pass through the mountains and hills. But there are tunnels that have a very unusual purpose, appearance or location.
This is a list of tunnels that you can not see often, because they are rare or unique. That is why some of them have become very popular tourist attractions.

(thanks Bosko)

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Japan - The Land Of Vending Machines

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Anyone who lives in a town or city is used to the sight of the odd vending machine. As a convenience they have no equal - at least when they work or have not run out of the product they are supposed to sell.

Yet where most countries have vending machines for a limited range of goods the Japanese have taken it to extremes. Japan truly is the country of vending machines and some of the items you can get from them might surprise you.

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Lake Retba - 'Strawberry' Lake In Senegal

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Lake Retba or Lac Rose lies north of the Cap Vert peninsula of Senegal, north east of Dakar. It is so named for its pink waters, caused by cyanobacteria in the water. The color is particularly visible during the dry season. The lake is also known for its high salt content, which, like that of the Dead Sea, allows people to float easily.

Many salt collectors work 6 - 7 hours a day in the lake, which has a salt content close to 40%. In order to protect their skin, they rub it with 'Beurre de Karité' (shea butter, produced from shea nuts obtained from the Shea nut tree), which is an emollient used to avoid tissue damage.

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16 Must-See Oahu Hawaii Tourist Attractions

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Say the word 'Paradise,' and it's likely the first thing that comes to a person's mind will be the Hawaiian Islands. And on those islands, perhaps the most popular place for a vacationer to go is Oahu.

Oahu houses many of the state's most iconic landmarks, top tourist destinations, and most sought-after vacation activities. So regardless of whether you are a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler here are 16 Must-See Oahu Hawaii Tourist Attractions to get you started on the journey.

(thanks Casey)

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10 Shocking Secrets Of Flight Attendants

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Did you know that flight attendants do not get paid until the aircraft pushes away from the gate? That they can be fired for bizarre reasons? Newly hired flight attendants are placed on strict probation for their first six months. During probation, flight attendants can't hem their skirts above a certain length. Afterwards, it's OK to shorten the hem and show a little leg.

10 Shocking Secrets Of Flight Attendants.

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