In Asmara, Eritrea, preservationists are grappling with the tricky task of celebrating Futurism.
Source: When Gorgeous Architectural Landmarks Are Also Monuments to Fascism
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10 holiday destinations for 2019 that will surprise your friends; Gavin Haines; Telegraph
Eritrea’s Modernist architecture: a striking reminder of years of oppression; Charlie Lawrence Jones; Citymetric
Should Eritrea be on your horizon?; Stephen Lioy; Lonely Planet
Eritrea is a Dreamland for Railroad Nostalgics; TesfaNews
In Eritrea, steam locomotives from the Italian colonial era are still operating. The railroad route is also spectacular: it goes over mountains and through
How to use Unesco world heritage sites as gig venues; Megan Townsend; Independent
What is it like to manoeuvre a Unesco World Heritage site and turn it into an arena? Its everything you would imagine; incredibly restrictive and challenging but equally motivating and rewarding. Our production team have refined the show each year and know the sites limits and its weakest spots, but you cannot by any means rest in your laurels with a site as important as this. What special rules do you need to follow in the planning?
Eritrea dares to dream of change as Ethiopia peace dawns; Chris Stein; AP
Crushed tanks and trucks destroyed in Eritrea’s war for independence from Ethiopia are piled up on the outskirts of Asmara, a rusting testament to a long and bloody history of conflict.
Source: Eritrea dares to dream of change as Ethiopia peace dawns
Asmara: the Unesco-listed African city you’d never thought to visit; Chris Leadbeater; Telegraph
World’s least visited countries and why you should visit; MSN
Not everyone wants to visit heavily trafficked locales on vacations, bumping shoulders with thousands of other travelers to visit crowded tourist spots. If you are looking for some unique experiences, here are some of the world’s least visited countries for your next adventure.
*The annual figures are for 2016 and taken from United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) 2017 Tourism Highlights. Click here for the full report. Check your government’s advisory before planning to travel.
Brunei (219,000 visitors)
With some of the finest Islamic architecture in the world, the Asian country is known for its lively mosques, the grand palace and lush rainforests.
Bhutan (210,000 visitors)
The Buddhist nation is equally well-known for its happy inhabitants and its stunning hiking trails that go through verdant hills, tumbling rivers and towering mountains.
Eritrea (142,000 visitors)
The country in Horn of Africa has a rich heritage and wows visitors with its Red Sea coast and capital Asmara, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Center due to its architecture.
Republic of Moldova (121,000 visitors)
The former Soviet nation is home to Mileștii Mici, a commune with some of the biggest wine cellars in the world.
Off-the-radar cities to explore in 2018; Larry Bleiberg; USA Today
Obscure destinations can be the most memorable.
If your new year’s resolution is to travel, you might want to follow in the tracks of Sal Lavallo, who at 27 is one of the youngest Americans to have visited all 193 U.N. member states. During his explorations, which were partially underwritten by Marriott International, he found that obscure destinations were the most memorable, and he shared many on his Instagram feed, @sallavallo. He recalls some favorites with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY. But before booking a trip, check U.S. State Department warnings because some destinations are near trouble spots.
Baku, Azerbaijan
This oil-rich capital city has invested billions in culture and modern architecture, making for a surprising stop in the Caucasus. “Walking around the city is like an open-air museum. They have these ancient ruins and in the background are modern buildings,” Lavallo says.
