Seattle Monorail

The Seattle Monorail is just under a mile long and probably one of the world’s shortest urban railway lines. It was built to shuttle passengers between downtown Seattle and the Space Needle, which was the site of the 1962 World’s Fair. The two trains, called the Red Train and the Read more…

Space Needle

The Space Needle in Seattle is tall, but doesn’t reach anywhere near space. Its exterior style is typical of 1960’s futurism with an enthusiasm for human progress. The observation tower is 184 meters tall, but the highest floor only stands at 158 meters. It was originally built for the 1962 Read more…

Ottawa Tulip Festival

The Ottawa Tulip Festival comes into full bloom every May. The display contains 10,000 tulips sent by air from the Netherlands to show their gratitude for the Canadian Armed Forces that liberated them from German occupation during World War Two. The flowers are planted along Commissioner’s Park, a waterfront public Read more…

Philip Zimbardo

Yes, the Professor Zimbardo that conducted the infamous Stanford Prison Experiment gave a lecture in the Chinese University of Hong Kong once and I had the rare opportunity of a lifetime to attend it. For those who don’t know, the Stanford Prison Experiment, much like Milgram’s compliance experiment was highly Read more…

Romanshorn, Switzerland

Right on the short of tri-national Lake Constance, Romanshorn is Switzerland’s gem of the lake. It’s no match for Germany’s bustling Konstanz or Austria’s festive Bregenz, but it is an important gateway for the Swiss to enjoy the lake. The ferry pier at Romanshorn is just a stone’s throw away Read more…

Bregenz, Austria

On the easternmost end of Lake Constance, Bregenz is the largest Austrian city on the lake it shares with Germany and Switzerland. You can either get there by train within Austria, but the best way to get there from Germany or Switzerland is to ride one of their ferries from Read more…

Aachen, Germany

Aachen is one of the most historic cities in Germany. It was first a Roman town, the ruins of which can still be seen on the streets of modern Aachen. The famous Aachen Cathedral saw the coronations of 31 Holy Roman Emperors and 12 queens. It is easily the most Read more…