November 24, 2021

Book Donkeys On the road to La Gloria, a village in Colombia’s countryside, you might run into Luis Soriano and two donkeys (named Alfa and Beto) carrying a lot of books. This is the Biblioburro, a traveling library that brings books to children in the area. Biblioburro started out with just seventy books, but today, thanks to book donations from around the world, Luis boasts a collection of more than 7,000 titles. The operation has been going on for over 20 years, but remains as humble as it was when it was first started by a man who just wanted to help deliver the gift of reading to children.  READ MORE → GASTRO OBSCURA Bake a 19th-Century Pie In case you are still looking for last-minute Thanksgiving menu additions, may we suggest Marlborough pie? A single-crust pie of stewed apples in a custard fragrant with nutmeg, citrus, and sherry, Marlborough pie originated in England as a custard pudding and crossed the Atlantic with early English settlers. It has since embraced its Americanness as another take on the beloved national dessert: apple pie. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA COURSES Want To Start A Podcast? Join Hrishikesh Hirway of the award-winning music podcast Song Exploder, and learn how to craft a compelling interview-based podcast. In this 3-part online lecture series we'll explore everything from preparing and conducting an interview to editing and presenting the podcast in its final form. This class is for podcasters (and podcasters-to-be) of all levels. Seasoned hosts and producers interested in learning more about someone else’s approach are welcome, too! ENROLL NOW → 8 Bridges to Nowhere Bridges, by definition, are there to get you from one place to another—but you won’t get far on any of these. Some of the bridges were built for projects that never achieved their destiny, throttled by dwindling funds. Others were victims of natural disasters, demolished by nature’s wrath. From a flooded footpath in Scotland to a dead-end road in South Africa, here are eight bridges that are still wondrous despite their uselessness. READ MORE → GASTRO OBSCURA Fruit Repositories Picking fruit at the University of California, Riverside, is a singular experience. In the Citrus Variety Collection’s orchard, researchers walk among trees bearing oranges, lemons, and limes of all shapes and sizes, from spindly to oblong, bumpy to smooth, huge to tiny. There are more than 1,000 kinds of citrus, two trees of each: a Noah’s Ark of citrus. This is one of the world’s many germplasm repositories: lively orchards and fields and greenhouses, dedicated to preserving living genetic material for research and grafting. READ MORE → GASTRO OBSCURA COURSES Explore China's Regional Cuisines In this discussion-based seminar, we’ll learn about various regions of China through their distinct cuisines, using food as a vehicle for deeper learning. Join Atlas Obscura trip leader and educator Dr. Xiaokun Song as she walks us through cuisines across the country, as well as the histories, narratives, politics, and culture they’re steeped in. ENROLL NOW → LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA Brady Bunch Home Welcome to the “second most photographed house in the country.” This house, home to the iconic Brady Bunch, was chosen for the show because it resembled a house an architect (the profession of the show’s patriarch, Mike Brady) would call home. Visitors are welcome to take photos—from the sidewalk, that is. READ MORE → FROM THE ARCHIVES Octopus Observation When usually solitary octopuses get together, odd things happen. In some circumstances, octopuses can live in fairly close quarters, which elicit actions ranging from evicting others to passing touches to ongoing ruckuses of den-eviction, jostling, and turf-wrangling. Watching these octopuses might give researchers insight into how to interpret octopus intentions—an activity fraught both with scientific and philosophical puzzles. Read on to learn more about these observations made at sites aptly named Octopolis and Octlantis. READ MORE → THE ATLAS OBSCURA PODCAST The Jagannath Temple In this collaboration with our friends at Science Diction, we explore the Indian temple complex that gave rise to the word “juggernaut,” meaning an unstoppable force. But the real story behind it is far more complicated. TILLAMOOK, OREGON Octopus Tree of Oregon The Octopus Tree (also known as the Council Tree, the Monstrosity Tree, and the Candelabra Tree) is believed to be around 250 to 300 years old. It’s long been an attraction, but the origins of its odd shape are up for debate. READ MORE → FREEPORT, MAINE Freeport McDonald's The year was 1984. McDonald’s was looking to build a location in the town of Freeport, Maine. There was only one problem: The Freeport building design restrictions were strict, and the town wanted the fast-food giant to maintain the area’s aesthetic. In other words: No golden arches. McDonald’s solution? Remodel an existing structure, namely this elegant 1850 home. READ MORE → SPONSORED BY BANFF & LAKE LOUISE TOURISM Winter Means More in Banff National Park Step into a real-life snow globe and ice skate on a frozen lake, get pulled by a horse-drawn sleigh, and so much more. There’s an unforgettable winter experience for everyone in Banff and Lake Louise. PLAN YOUR TRIP →