September 21, 2022

WHALE OF A TALE  Ancient Whale Temples  For over two centuries, fishing communities along Vietnam’s central and southern coastlines have built places of worship to honor the dead cetaceans washing up on their shores, hoping that their prayers will be carried to Cá Ông, the whale spirit, and they will be blessed with a safe fishing trip and a bountiful catch. From large ornate structures to simple graves with headstones to small wooden shoebox-sized shrines bedecked with incense and flowers, these “whale temples” are a centuries-old part of the country’s cultural history, but they also house evidence of its natural history. READ MORE → GASTRO OBSCURA Mountain Mixologist The “blonde witch,” as locals affectionately call her, cannot walk more than a few paces in the alpine meadows around her home without gathering ingredients. What most of us pass over as merely lovely to look at—tall grass dusted with bursts of color from gentian, plantago, and lady’s mantle petals—Tanja Rebolj sees as key components of medicinal, and delicious, liquors of her own invention. Slovenians call her 22 varieties of liquor “schnapps.” But it’s not schnapps as the rest of us know it. READ MORE → TERRACE BAY, ONTARIO Slate Islands This small archipelago in northern Lake Superior was formed by a massive meteorite impact 450 million years ago. Here, it is home to a host of plants and animals more typical of the Arctic, as well as the world’s southernmost herd of caribou. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA COURSES Decode Gravestones Have you ever wondered why certain gravestones and funerary monuments look the way they do? In this course, Dr. Elise M. Ciregna will explore how to decipher the stories in these stones, drawing from a foundational knowledge of cemeteries and material culture. We’ll trace the history of burying grounds, cemeteries, and gravestones in the United States, focusing on a different period of American history each week. ENROLL TODAY → AWESOME ARCHITECTURE Mysterious Fort In 1702, an English fleet laid siege to the politically-important Spanish stronghold of Castillo de San Marcos, located on Florida’s Atlantic shore. But even after nearly two months of being shelled with cannonballs, the fort’s walls wouldn’t give. In fact, they appeared to be “swallowing” the British cannonballs. Precisely how the walls did this remained a mystery for the next three centuries. READ MORE → EDEN, UTAH Paper Airplane Trail Paging all giants: You left your metal paper airplane on the top of this mountain. Created by artist Griffin Loop, this paper airplane is part of a series called “Launch Intention,” which the artist hopes will inspire people to set off in pursuit of their goals. READ MORE → GASTRO OBSCURA TRIPS Oaxaca: Tastes of Past and Present The mountainous region of Oaxaca is the most ethnically diverse state in Mexico—as well as the nation’s most biodiverse—and nowhere is this more apparent than in its cuisine, which marries indigenous ingredients and techniques with those that arrived with the Spaniards in the 1500s. Join us as we explore Oaxaca’s exquisite epicurean offerings alongside a seasoned chef and cultural anthropologist mother-daughter-duo, mindfully munching our way through the city’s bustling markets and fine dining establishments. BOOK NOW → SKETCHY SKULLS FOR SALE Skull-Blasting During the late Renaissance and the Enlightenment, if you were seeking to increase profit when selling a skull, you would get water, and some dried peas, millet or rice grains. Turn the cranium upside down, fill it with the peas or grain, add the water, and wait—eventually, the skull will crack, yielding you several pieces of bone. This process—known as “skull blasting”—was a canny way to meet client demand for relics, and a recent case suggests that even the most vaunted mortals could see their skulls split into parts and sold, including René Descartes, the father of Western thought. READ MORE → DAWSON, YUKON TERRITORY The Sourtoe Cocktail Established in 1973, the Sourtoe Cocktail is exactly what it sounds like: an actual human toe that has been dehydrated and preserved in salt. The Sourtoe can pair with any drink, but one rule remains the same: “You can drink it fast, you can drink it slow—but the lips have gotta touch the toe.” Not suitable for tee-toe-talers. READ MORE → SPONSORED BY PARTNERS OF TRAVEL SOUTH The World’s Most Unusual Vending Machine Returns In 2021, we built the World’s Most Unusual Vending Machine to celebrate the launch of our book. This October, join us in Brooklyn for its glorious return. You’ll find a treasure trove of rare, curious, and delectable treats from across the American South that highlight the bakers, makers, farmers, and chefs working wonders across the region. Packed with Cajun treats, Delta delights, and Appalachian magic, this new collection of delectable surprises is sure to hit the spot. LEARN MORE →