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Cell # 205
Many years ago, my travel friend and I, on a quick tour of Europe with Contiki, landed in Lucerne late in the evening. And as the whole aim of traveling with Contiki was for a unique experience, our accommodation for that night sure lived up to the whole ‘unique experience’ feel. Inside Cell # 205 Barabas Jail Hotel was an actual prison in the heart of Lucerne. It was purpose-built in 1862 and was a functioning prison until it was decommissioned in 1998. It had 60 cells, including five for women. Before that, convicts were usually rounded up and locked away in monasteries or towers. When the authorities closed the…
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Tantallon Castle
If your idea of an ideal castle is one with sheer cliffs and unparalleled views of the sea, then you are in luck. The castle offers sheer cliffs and unparalleled views of the sea. Tantallon Castle is about an hour’s drive from Edinburgh. Strategically located high on a cliff outside the town of North Berwick, it overlooks Scotland’s east coastline. Like many across Scotland, this castle would be attacked many times. It was originally built somewhere in the 1930s by William, 1st Earl of Douglas, and would, for much of its use, remain in the hands of his descendants. Despite being in a state of ruin, the castle has remained…
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African Burial Ground
Walk through lower Manhattan, on Duane Street, and you will come across a unique burial ground amongst all the high-rise buildings that surround it. The African Burial Ground Iwas forgotten for more than a hundred years until its discovery in 1991 when the city was excavating the area for a new building. The African Burial Ground is a unique memorial that is dedicated to all the African slaves who created a sacred space to bury their loved ones. It also acknowledges the role slavery played in helping build this city while recognizing their heritage and the hardship they had to endure. In the 17th and 18th centuries, this site was…
