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Every Wednesday, discover something on our current theme or board games;)
Hello everyone !
A thousand kilometers, from Paris to Menton
This time, we are in 1954. Edmond Dujardin is a printer specializing in material for driving schools.
In his Arcachon cellar, he imagines this game whose title refers to the 996 kilometers between Paris and Menton by the National 7, the holiday route.
Seven years earlier, he had created another game, The Highway, where you had to pass your license, complete a course and arrive first at a wedding.
But, in the 1950s, there was La Canasta (The Basket), a card game from Uruguay, itself probably inspired by Touring, born in the United States in 1906.
Just in return, the Mille Bornes, in French in the text, works very well in the United States.
Made in France, it has sold nearly 15 million copies.
300 to 400,000 Dujardin Games boxes are still sold each year.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
Scrabble, a child of the crisis
The famous game to form crosswords on squares which bring more or less points is, him, well born from the crisis of 1929.
Alfred Mosher Butts, a New York architect in his thirties with a passion for anagrams (these words made up of the same letters), finds himself unemployed.
Idle, he imagines a game to put his passion for words within everyone's reach. He has the idea of token letters.
To determine the number of each letter and its value according to frequency in English, he analyzes a dictionary and three newspapers including the New York Times.
The game is called Lexiko. He deposited it in 1948, in the United States.
Now called Scrabble, it landed in France in 1955.
It got off to a mixed start, but Club Med activity leaders… gradually introduce holidaymakers to it.
Today, almost all French people (nearly 60% have one, according to its publisher Mattel) know Scrabble.
There is a French federation, a competition, a magazine...
Nearly 150 million Scrabble games have been sold in 121 countries, in 36 languages, including Latin and... Braille.
He would even be at the origin of the Trivial Pursuit.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
Monopoly, a socialist utopia
The genesis of Monopoly is one of the most amazing.
In the midst of the economic crisis, in Philadelphia, south of New York, an unemployed man had cobbled together, on a piece of cardboard, land to buy or rent.
From the start, there was a box for prison, one for making money...
Charles Darrow became the inventor of a game symbolizing capitalism.
The problem is that Charles Darrow copied Elisabeth J. Maggie's game.
When she registered her game in 1904, Elizabeth Magie's objective was to demonstrate the excesses of monopoly.
Cie Parker is going to redeem its rights for a pittance.
Since then, 275 million Monopoly, now owned by Hasbro, have been sold.
The game has several hundred versions in 111 countries in 43 languages.
Since 2009, Monopoly has also been played on screen.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
Asian crazy games !
Korean groups participate in fun events to make fans laugh: like singing with ice cubes in our mouths.
There are also games that consist of tasting your environment to guess if the objects around you are chocolate or not.
K-Pop groups and Asian culture are fond of this kind of experience which can be quite funny.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
A sloth bear that only exists in Asia
This lazy bear, hugging a ranger, is a vegetarian and eats only fruits, honey, tubers and insects.
This type of bear only exists in Asia anymore, and we are grateful to still be able to find some there!
Sloth bears are absolutely adorable!
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
One of the longest bridges in the world
And the longest bridge is the Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge in China.
He is huge !
This large bridge between Shanghai and Nanjing has a total length of 164.8 kilometers.
It took 4 years to build this amazing work.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
Original sports activities
To satisfy your cravings for extreme and unique experiences, head to Asia, as there are plenty of unorthodox activities to do.
Like SkyCycle in the Philippines, where your bike sits on a cable over 18 meters high and travels a distance of 200 meters in the sky.
You can also go to Huashan Mountain for an unforgettable experience by climbing the death trail, where you can touch the clouds and see incredible and impressive panoramas.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
Cascading China!
The desire to be the best is expressed in everything they do, especially in architecture and money.
For example, there is the 121-meter Liebian Building skyscraper.
But the particularity of the building is an incredible artificial waterfall 108 meters high, the maintenance system of the waterfall alone occupies 4 complete floors of the skyscraper!
Running the waterfall is quite expensive, and the electricity alone costs $116 per hour.
It is for this reason that the waterfall only operates during holidays.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
Sleeping everywhere is normal
When you're traveling on the subway in Tokyo, walking down the street, or working in a Japanese office, don't be surprised to see people sleeping everywhere.
People are real workaholics and therefore take advantage to take a 30-minute nap during their travels to feel better.
There's even a special name for sleeping on the job.
This is called inemuri and it is considered a sign of dedication to work.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
In South Korea, it is forbidden to use colored pens
Indeed, to send greeting cards, thanks, congratulations or birthdays, it is normal to use pens of different colors in order to brighten up the message.
Except that in South Korea, it is prohibited.
The reason remains a mystery to this day.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
Robot employees
There is a hotel where the employees are robots!
Henn-Na Hotel is a great place for kids and tech lovers.
You can stay there on your way to Tokyo and find a beautiful dinosaur robot that will welcome you at the counter when you arrive!
This will also avoid the problems of language barriers.
These staff can speak many different languages.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
Ohaguro: the fashion of black teeth
This Japanese tradition seems to be an effective version of dental care and is made to preserve teeth well into old age.
It prevents cavities, just like modern dental coatings.
In addition to dental care, it is also believed that blackened teeth differentiate humans from animals and can be a sign of beauty and evolution.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
Toilet shoes
There are different rules that govern cleanliness and order in Asia.
As proof, there are even special shoes for going to the toilet.
It may seem unnecessary at first, but these slippers are used to minimize contact between the dirty bathroom floor and the clean floor of the rest of the apartment.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
Live like in Avatar
There is a parallel universe that can transport you to the world of Avatar.
Asia is very rich in wonderful places!
And one of them is Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in China.
The pillar-like rock formations will transport you out of reality.
Hiking, photography and adventure lovers will find here a parallel universe full of beauty.
When you look at these formations, you feel like the hero of the movie Avatar.
When you first visit this awesome place, you will find it hard to believe that you are still on planet Earth.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
White temple in Thailand
One such miracle is the White Temple in Thailand.
This unique art exhibit is owned by Chalermchai Kositpipat, who designed, built and opened it in 1997.
When you visit it, you have the impression of being transported to an Asian fairy tale!
It is practically all white, which gives you a feeling of weightlessness.
To feel like the hero of an Asian film, this is the place to come.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
China, amazing time zone exceptions.
It may be hard to accept, but there is only one time zone in China, although geographically this country is huge and could include 5 zones – there is only Beijing time!
For those living on the east coast of China, it can be very easy to be in tune with the official time zone.
But people in the western provinces may be uncomfortable.
For example, in Kashgar, the westernmost city in China, you can enjoy sunsets in July until 11 p.m.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
In 2022, a new golden ace will appear at the Cannes International Games Festival.
The "Initiated" golden ace which rewards a game that is aimed at an audience accustomed to playing, turning to games with more elaborate mechanisms.
The rules require more attention, the set-up of the game is precise and the games can exceed one hour.
Living Forest is the first to win this award and ushers in a long list of future award-winning games that will follow it.
Throughout its evolution, the world of board games has been able to reinvent itself to celebrate more than 30 years of golden aces and Spiel des Jahres.
Children, beginners, insiders or experts, the world of board games has not finished surprising us.
Thank you to all these illustrators, creators, distributors and creators of fun content who bring a common passion to life.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
In 2021, due to Covid-19, the Cannes International Games Festival did not take place physically, but digitally via social networks.
It was possible to follow the ceremony live on the networks and the awarding of the prizes live from his living room.
The golden ace was won by Micro, macro, the expert golden ace by The Crew and the child golden ace by Dragomino.
The selection of the golden ace was composed of Top Ten, Ghost adventure, Carro combo and of course Micro Macro.
The children's selection was made up of House of Mice, Kraken Attack, Detective Charlie and of course Dragomino.
The expert selection was made up of Paleo, Tainted Grail, The King's Dilemma and of course The Crew.
It's not always easy to choose from good games, so hats off to the jury.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
In 1991, the Cannes International Games Festival did not take place.
The edition was postponed due to the Gulf War.
So you won't see a golden ace or game of the year in 1991, because there simply weren't any for obvious security reasons.
This did not prevent the world of games from renewing itself the following year and becoming more and more creative by offering, for example, interactive board games such as Atmosfear.
Also a lot of titles such as junior or youngest golden ace, board game golden ace, joker golden ace, etc.
Prizes that were precise in their selection and which have disappeared over time to become more restricted titles and make the gaming world even more relevant and professional over time.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
In 1991, the Saint-Herblain festival appeared, from which the Double 6 was born!
The town of Saint-Herblain, near Nantes, has two toy libraries, and spaces dedicated to games in two media libraries.
It has a gaming policy and has organized a gaming festival since 1991.
Since 2004, the Games Festival which takes place in February lasts 15 days, awards a Public Prize rewarding the family game having received the best votes from a non-professional jury and the public.
In 2012, the Public Prize changed its name to Double 6. It happens that by confusion the Saint-Herblain Games Festival is also called “Double 6” but this is a mistake.
Half of the score is awarded by a jury made up of motivated players, excluding all gaming professionals.
The other half of the score is awarded by the families who discover the games and their rules without any outside help (no explanation by a facilitator: the game must be self-sufficient), in places spread over several points department games.
The rating by the public is based on three criteria: the understandability of the rules, with a rating out of 5 (out of 10 since 2022); the aesthetics of the game hardware, and the game hardware itself, with a rating out of 10; gaming pleasure, with a score out of 15 (out of 20 since 2022).
In chronological order since 2004, we will find the games, Maka Bana, Saboteur, Lost objects, Siam, Le Trésor des Mayas, Wazabi, Dice Town, Boomerang, Takenoko, Noé, The little prince, Abyss, 7 wonders duel, Kingdomino , Twin It, Fertility, Draftosaurus, Top Ten and in 2022 Mot Malin.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
In 2016, the Grand Prix and the Jury Prize disappear as the expert golden ace makes its entrance.
The “expert golden ace prize” was then won by Pandemic Legacy, the child golden ace by Maitre Renard and the golden ace, game of the year by Mysterium.
The expert gold ace rewards games for an audience accustomed to more complex game rules and mechanisms.
Among these “expert golden aces”, we find for example games such as Scythe, Terraforming Mars, Detective, Res Arcana, The Crew or even Dune Imperium in 2022.
This golden ace further professionalizes the gaming world, which continues to progress and always offers more novelties and new game concepts.
Even outside of the golden aces, game creators always have a good idea running through their heads, we are not done being surprised. ;)
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
One year after the expert prize of the “KennerSpiel des Jahres”, the Cannes International Games Festival welcomes a new prize.
The “grand prize”, expert game of the year, arrived in 2012 after the creation in 2011 of the German expert game.
Rewarding in particular games such as Olympos, Myrmes, Brussels 1893 and Five Tribes.
Some often find themselves nominated for expert golden aces and Kennerspiel des Jahres.
The grand prize was then replaced in 2016 by the expert golden ace.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
In 2006, the “children’s game” golden ace appeared.
While Time's up won the golden ace in 2006, game of the year that year, the "children's game" category awarded the best prize to the youngest players.
Rewarding in particular games such as Splash attack from 2006 then later games such as, the night of the magicians, hide sheep, SOS octopus, master fox, dragomino or Bubble stories in 2022.
Some authors and illustrators often find themselves nominated for the as d'or enfants and the Kinderspiel des Jahres, and sometimes even win both prizes with different games such as Marie and Wilfried Fort who in 2019 won the "Kinderspiel des Jahres" with La vallée vikings and the "golden ace child game" in 2018 with Monsieur Wolf.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
In 2011, the Spiel des Jahres welcomes a new prize.
The "Kennerspiel des Jahres", game for expert of the year, arrives in 2011 while the Cannes IGF has just added the special jury prize to the golden ace and golden ace child.
Rewarding in particular games such as 7 wonders, Andor, Broom service, Wingspan, Paleo, or in 2022 Living Forest, many of these games are also nominated or even winners of gold ace as well.
The "Kennerspiel des Jahres" rewards the growth and development of the range of board games suitable for connoisseurs.
The IGF will follow this boom in expert games in 2012 with the Grand Prix.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
In 2004 and 2005, the "super ace d'or" (replaced by the "ace d'or" in 2003) and the "game of the year" merged to become the current "As d'or, jeu de the year”.
The game les aventuriers du rail then won the gold ace and game of the year for two consecutive years in addition to winning the Spiel des Jahres in 2004.
The Cannes International Games Festival and the Association Française de Promotion et d’Evaluation des Jeux de Société join their efforts by bringing together the golden ace for the FIJ and the game of the year for the AFPEJS.
The French gaming world then had a single quality label recognized by the profession and capable of seducing the public.
One price so audiences can navigate the ever-changing world of gaming with ease.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
In 1989, the Spiel des Jahres welcomed a new prize.
The "Kinderspiel des Jahres", children's game of the year, arrived in 1989 when the Cannes FIJ was in full swing.
Rewarding in particular games such as The Haunted Staircase, The Enchanted Tower, Beware of the Web, The Stone Age Junior, Icecool, Dragomino or The Hill of Wisps in 2022.
The "Kinderspiel des Jahres" rewards the growth and development of the range of board games suitable for children.
Some often find themselves nominated for the Aces d'or enfants and the Kinderspiel des Jahres, and sometimes even win both prizes like Dragomino in 2021 who won both prizes.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
The golden super ace was awarded for the first time in February 1988 at the Cannes International Games Festival.
Super Gang is then the first game in a long series of award-winning games for 35 years now!
There were also prizes such as the golden aces of "imagination game", "friendship game", "adventure game", "letter game", "hope gold game", " interactive board game", "benjamin golden ace", "junior golden ace", "innovation", "dice game", "golden ace of the decade", "family game" and " pawn game” to name a few.
The evolutions of the various prizes awarded have followed the evolutions of the world of board games which became particularly rich in the 80s.
In the early 2000s, the prizes were refocused on a smaller number and the jury became even more professional.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
Since 1978 in Germany the prize for the game of the year, literally the Spiel des Jahres is awarded.
Each year the prizes are awarded by a jury of specialized journalists to the German and foreign prizes of the previous 12 months.
The notations are made on the idea, the originality, the rules, the playability, the presentation as well as the mechanics of the game.
Nominations announced in May and prizes announced in June.
The Spiel des Jahres awarded special prizes such as "best complex game", "best fantasy game", "best historical adaptation", "most beautiful game" and many more!
They ended up disappearing later in favor of the creation of other awards in the late 80s.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
The Cannes International Games Festival took place for the first time from February 7 to 16, 1986!
The IGF brought together bridge, chess, tarot, checkers, Scrabble and Go tournaments.
It then hosted the Women's Ladies World Championship with 16 players from 10 different countries.
A bridge match between the Martell team, France, and Italy. The “Cannes Masters” of chess opposing 10 of the best chess players in the world.
At the IGF in 1986, we could then face champions such as -Victor Korchnoï, international grand master of chess in 1956 and for more than thirty years.
-the Martell team, the French bridge team at the time.
-Michel Duguet, French-speaking Scrabble champion.
-Tom Sinjbrands, ex Ladies World Champion.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
Sessho-seki Stone
The Sessho-seki stone, which according to Japanese legends “seals” the spirit of a vengeful demon from the outside world, has split in two.
According to Japanese mythology, the Sessho-seki stone, which is actually a large volcanic rock, had the power to instantly kill anyone who touched it.
In short, she is said to be the transmutation of the "demon" known as Tamamo-no-Mae.
According to legends, this demon was believed to have been a beautiful woman whose spirit was possessed by the nine-tailed fox, or kitsune, a spirit known for its tricks and traps.
Known for answering every question posed to her, Tamamo-no-Mae is said to have been part of a plot to seduce and kill Emperor Toba, who fell ill as a result of the plot.
The fox spirit was then exposed and hunted down by two mythological warriors, and then incorporated the Sessho-seki stone as a final obstacle, releasing poisonous gas.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
The evil eye
The evil eye is a belief that a look, praise or compliment from one person to another has the power to bring a curse or bad luck to the latter.
The "murderous gaze", capable of attracting misfortune, illness or death, appears in the texts of Sumer, Babylon and Assyria.
In Europe during the Middle Ages, witches were known to use the evil eye against anyone who had the misfortune to cross their path.
Their victims were then stricken with various ailments, lost the love of their spouse or were thrown into misery.
In this belief, witches – being associated with the image of old women – would be linked to menopause.
Since witches could no longer see their age expelling their "impurities" through natural channels, they did so through their eyes.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
An Italian knight is said to have stuck his sword in a rock in the 12th century.
Today, the sword can still be seen in Tuscany, but is it real? And was that the inspiration for Excalibur and the King Arthur saga?
The town of San Galgano bears the name of its knight, Galgano Guidotti, who lived there as a hermit during the last year of his life.
The story goes that his horse would take no orders from him and when he finally got on his horse he galloped straight to the top of Montesiepi.
Upon arriving in town, he stuck his sword he had used as a knight into a large stone up to the hilt as a symbol of ending his life as a knight.
The sword was actually deemed a fake, with some critics doubting its authenticity.
However, more recent studies from the University of Pavia have proven that the style, shape and material actually date back to the 12th century, between 1100 and 1200.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
The lake under Strasbourg Cathedral.
Legend has it that a real lake, where you can take a boat ride, stretches all along the Cathedral.
And some have tried to enter it.
In 1681, a soldier of Louis XIV learned that a well gave access to the lake.
At the time, the well was located inside a dark den opposite the Cathedral.
For some, this well would be the “Kindelsbrunnen” (dwelling place of departed souls), a cavity where souls die.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
Ghost Festival pays homage to spirits
In Chinese culture, the spirit of a person who drowned, died alone, died in battle, or suffered another death where they were not buried would appear bodily and could only be seen at night. in the light of a torch.
The spirit of an ancestor who wished to report information or give a warning would appear in a dream.
Chinese belief in ghosts was strongly influenced by their practice of ancestor worship and the belief that the deceased continued to exert a powerful influence on people's lives.
The Chinese afterlife was seen as a journey in which the soul had to cross a bridge over an abyss where it was judged.
If the soul was deemed worthy, it continued, stopping at a pavilion to look back one last time at the land of the living, and then drinking a cup of a brew called Mengpo Soup that made one completely forget their previous life.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
In ancient Rome, ghosts appeared in certain predictable ways and, usually, at certain times of the night
This phenomenon was known to the Romans as mirabilia (wonders or miracles) and included talking beasts, impossibly large female spirits, visions of gods, and ghosts.
Among the most famous of these mirabilia is the tale by Pliny the Younger (61-115 CE) which tells the story of the philosopher Athenodorus who comes to Athens and hears of a haunted house which goes cheap because everyone is afraid of the ghost that haunts him.
Athenodorus rents the house, and that night hears the rattling of the chains and wakes to find a man in his room beckoning him to get up and come with him.
Athenodorus follows the ghost to a place in the courtyard of the house where the spirit suddenly disappears.
The next day, Athenodorus asks the magistrate of the city to dig up the place where they find the remains of a man entwined in chains.
The body is buried with all the proper rites, and the house is no longer haunted.
This story is typical of a "haunting" in which a spirit appears to seek redress for a wrong. Improper burial of the dead – or lack of a grave – was believed to be the main reason for the return of a spirit from beyond.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
In Rouffach, we celebrate the festival of… witches every year.
It must be said that this commune of Haut-Rhin, in Alsace, has a long history with witches.
The witch's sauerkraut is not like the others.
Gourmet friends, lovers of smoked bacon, knacks (Strasbourg sausages) and thick shanks, if you have a vigorous fork and an appetite as wide as the imagination, get ready to commit this sin of good food which consists of coming and guzzling at the Haxakessel ("the witch's cauldron"), a pretty table in the center of Rouffach, where the walls are decorated with hooked-nosed dolls flying on broomsticks...
The mistress of the house will serve you her famous haxasurkrut: the witch's sauerkraut.
At the table next door, regulars will explain to you that this specialty combining fermented cabbage, charcuterie and spaetzel (Alsatian noodles) actually comes from the depths of time: in all the family pots, we have always decorated this way what is called "the sauerkraut of the next day", these inevitable leftovers from the day before which remind us that in Alsace we often have eyes bigger than our stomachs.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
The Minotaur's Labyrinth
In Crete is the island of King Minos, the labyrinth of the Minotaur built by Daedalus; it was indeed on the order of this king that it was built, in order to lock up there the monstrous creature born of the love of Queen Pasiphae and a bull.
Etymologically, the word would derive from the Greek term labrys which designates an axe, more exactly a double ax like those of which we found reproductions engraved in stone at Knossos.
Archaeological research carried out in Crete on the Minoan palaces, in particular that of Knossos, indeed reveals extensive constructions, the overall plan of which is complex.
The myth of the Labyrinth could only be a transposition of this architectural complexity.
A quarry located near Gortyn, called Labyrinth and mentioned by different authors since the Middle Ages, is also sometimes considered by them as the site of the mythological labyrinth.
According to legend, only three people managed to get out of the Labyrinth: Daedalus, Icarus and Theseus.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
Popular expression, "to fall into the arms of Morpheus" means to fall asleep
But who exactly was Morpheus and how does he refer to dreams?
Decryption of a well-known formula of the French language.
Who was Morpheus?
Falling into the arms of Morpheus is an expression that evokes a relatively unknown character from Greek mythology.
Indeed, many are convinced that Morpheus is an attractive young woman rocking sleepers.
However, there is nothing! Morpheus is a man.
It is more exactly the son of Hypnos, god of Sleep, and Nyx, goddess of the Night.
Morpheus is an illustrious character represented with butterfly wings, and touching the face of men and women with a poppy leaf.
Renowned for inducing dreams, in which he appears, he has the power to take the form of his choice.
Its wings, meanwhile, allow it to move quickly, without the slightest noise, so as not to wake anyone!
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
Filitosa, a mineral enigma frozen in granite
A green valley, planted with olive trees and oaks, where cows graze, at the edge of the Sardelle stream.
Country sweetness in Corsica. Anyone who enters here can only be disturbed by the serenity of the place.
And then, suddenly, at a bend in the path, a strange appearance: thirteen granite statues with human shapes...
First there is, seeming to stand guard, the imposing “Filitosa V”, massive, square, with a well-drawn spine, unequivocally carrying a sword and a dagger.
Then, at the top of a hill, a series of seven monoliths lined up like an army, including "Filitosa VI", with a stern look, wearing a hemispherical helmet, and "Filitosa IX", with a sculpted face, a disturbing realism.
Further, below, arranged in an arc, five statues stiff as spears, terribly expressive.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are certainly the most mysterious wonder of the world.
Their existence is still debated and if the unanswered questions remain, the fascination is intact.
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are, with the Pyramid of Cheops, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, the gold and ivory statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Tomb of Mausoleum at Halicarnassus and the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
Their construction would date back to the 6th century BC and they would be the work of Nebuchadnezzar II, king of Babylon.
The latter, who devoted a large part of his reign to the embellishment of Babylon, would have created these gardens to please his wife, nostalgic for the green mountains of Media, a region in northwestern Iran from which she originated.
Lush gardens overlooking the city Diodorus of Sicily, Strabo, Ctesias of Cnide, Clitarch, Berosus many Greek and Roman authors left descriptions of the hanging gardens of Babylon.
Few, however, have seen them, and most of these writings are reported stories.
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Hello everyone !
The kingdom of Cantre'r Gwaelod lives on the blurry line between fact and fiction.
Welsh legend speaks of a long-sunken kingdom known as Cantre'r Gwaelod, once discovered off the rocky shores of Cardigan Bay in the Irish Sea.
Although hard evidence for 'Welsh Atlantis' has been lacking, a new analysis of one of Britain's oldest surviving maps suggests there may be an element of truth to this much-loved myth.
As reported in the journal Atlantic Geology, researchers from Oxford University and Swansea University recently studied the Gough Map, a famous medieval map of Britain, and found that it appears to represent two mysterious islands off the west coast of Wales.
No one knows who made the map, how it was created, or even when it was published, although most current estimates say it was made around the 13th or 14th centuries CE.
Gough's map is a little sketchy on detail (to say the least), but it's one of the first maps to show Britain in a geographically recognizable form.
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Hello everyone !
The korrigan
An integral part of Celtic folklore, the korrigan, a word which means "little dwarf" in Breton, is a mischievous and legendary little being who takes refuge in the moors.
We tell you all about these fairy tale characters!
He plays his tricks at dusk, coming out of his hiding place in the caves or dolmens of Brittany to dance and scare visitors...
The korrigan, from the Breton “korr”, which means “dwarf”, is a puny being, close to the goblin, which is part of Celtic folklore.
Recognizable by its funny appearance – pointed hat, imposing nose and large ears, impressive hair in particular – the korrigan is characterized above all by its very playful side.
Very popular in Brittany, they are the subject of many books, tales and other comic strips, and are the effigy of many shops, cafes and other public places.
Today, many inhabitants and visitors go in search of these mythical creatures by criss-crossing the region, in the footsteps of Breton history.
Good day and good game ;)
Hello everyone !
Majority of Canadians live south of Seattle
Canada and the United States cross the continent.
They are believed to be parallel, but the United States goes further north than you think and the majority of Canadians live along the border, which marks the south of their country.
This means that, at 45 degrees latitude, Seattle is further north than Toronto and Montreal.
As a result, 64% of Canadians live south of Seattle.
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Hello everyone !
Canadian Pacific
Gathered under the Canadian Pacific (CP) banner, a group of Montreal businessmen developed the project for a transcontinental railway in 1879.
CP first chose Port Moody (formerly Moodyville) as the western terminus of its railroad.
Thus, on July 4, 1886, the first train from Montreal reached Port Moody after a tortuous journey of some 5,000 km.
The following year, the railway will be extended by 20 km to Vancouver.
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Hello everyone !
Figure: 1.8 meters
On a residual space at the entrance of Chinatown stands the Sam Kee Building, the narrowest commercial building in the world.
This is the Sam Kee Company procured a standard size pitch in 1903.
When the City expropriated 7 m of the front part of the land to widen the street, the owner swore that he would build anyway.
The building, 1.8 m wide, was erected about 10 years later.
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Vancouver or Hollywood North.
Vancouver is nicknamed Hollywood North because of the many American movies (and TV series) that are shot there.
The province is the third largest film and television production center in North America, behind New York and Los Angeles.
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Canada owes its name to a Frenchman.
Canada owes its name to the French navigator Jacques Cartier (1491-1557), the first European to explore the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the surrounding lands.
In 1534, he left Saint-Malo, where he was born, landed in Gaspé, a city located in the very east of Canada, and took possession of it in the name of the King of France, François 1er.
A year later, Cartier asked directions from two Iroquoians, who then pointed him in the direction of “Kanata”.
In reality, they allude to the village of Stadacona, the current location of Quebec City.
For lack of another name, Cartier then uses the term “Canada” to designate this city and the surrounding territory.
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Products from the Americas.
Tomato, potato, squash, bean, corn, peanut, pepper, cocoa, vanilla, pineapple... turkey, all these products were unknown in Europe, Asia and Africa before the discovery of America in 1492, by Christopher Colombus.
Our food memory is very short.
It is often limited to flavors and products discovered in childhood.
If we make an effort, we go back to a "very distant past", that is to say only to the childhood memories of our grandparents.
This is why the cuisine of the 19th century or the beginning of the 20th century seems to us to be a cuisine that has always existed, the one that our ancestors have always eaten since "the dawn of time".
Most of us are then very surprised to learn that our famous local products are sometimes a recent invention on a historical scale.
Can you imagine Mediterranean cuisine without tomatoes or zucchini? Savoyard cuisine without potatoes? Indian cuisine without chilli? African cuisine without cassava?
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The Statue of Liberty is a gift from France.
This monumental sculpture is one of the greatest symbols of the United States.
Proudly erected on Liberty Island in New York, it is known throughout the world.
But did you know that it had been offered to the Americans by the French people, as a token of friendship?
The iconic statue was built in France for 9 years before being unveiled to the public on October 28, 1886 to mark the centenary of the declaration of independence of the United States.
It was classified as a national monument in 1924 and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1984.
Its official name is "Liberty Enlightening the World", or in French "La Liberté illuminant le monde".
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Death Valley: the hottest place in the world!
On July 10, 1913, a temperature of 56.7 degrees Celsius was recorded in Death Valley National Park.
For 90 years, the record belonged to El Azizia, in Libya.
In 2012, the World Meteorological Organization challenged this fact and won after an investigation.
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The Okanagans.
The Okanagan (in Canada) or Okanogan (in the United States), are a population of Native Americans whose territory of origin extends on both sides of the border between the State of Washington in the United States and the province of British Columbia in Canada.
In their own language the Okanagan call themselves “Syilx”, they are part of the ethnological and linguistic groups called “Interior Salish”.
The traditional territory of the Okanagan people covers an area of approximately 69,000 km2.
Its northern boundary is near Mica Creek, just north of the city of Revelstoke, while it is bounded on the east by Kootenay Lake.
The southern boundary is near Wilbur, Washington, and the western boundary is the Nicola region.
In the United States, the Okanagan population is organized in an official structure called the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation whose constitutional texts were approved by the American federal government on February 26, 1938.
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The cemetery town of Colma has more dead than alive.
Located in the suburbs of San Francisco, the city of Colma is nicknamed "City of the Dead", "City of Souls" or "City of the Silent".
With chilling names like these, some explanation is in order, isn't it?
At the end of the 19th century, the gold rush rapidly increased the number of inhabitants of San Francisco and the population greatly feared the spread of contagious diseases, such as cholera.
The city's board of supervisors, concerned about lack of space and public health, voted to ban burials within city limits in the early 1900s.
Ten years later, the decision to exhume the corpses and transport them elsewhere was taken.
Therefore, the small municipality of Colma was officially created in 1924 to serve as a necropolis.
Today, there are 17 cemeteries in the small town where the number of buried bodies is a thousand times higher than the number of inhabitants.
No wonder the city's slogan is "It's great to be alive in Colma"!
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The United States: the 3rd most visited country in the world.
First, congratulations to the French, who (once again) hold the record for the most visited country in the world with 86.9 million international tourist arrivals in 2017.
The United States has long occupied the second position in this prestigious list, until it was dethroned by Spain last year.
Indeed, 73 million travelers have decided to visit the Americans, while 82 million vacationers have rather been seduced by Spain.
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The one that many also call the "California Dream Highway" runs very close to the Pacific Ocean, which gives way to absolutely magnificent panoramas.
The most impressive section is the one that crosses the Big Sur region from Monterey to Lucia.
Less than 30 kilometers from Monterey is the Bixby Creek Bridge.
Rightly so, it is the icon of this scenic drive and one of California's iconic places.
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Indian Summer
When it appeared in the United States, probably at the end of the 18th century, it referred to a peculiarity of the continental climate of North America.
This peculiarity occurs in Canada and the United States, between the beginning of October and mid-November.
The Indian summer corresponds to a period of surprisingly mild weather for the season and which arrives after an initial period of frost.
If the nights remain cool and the mornings misty, the daytime weather is then mild, sunny and dry.
Temperatures are at least 5°C higher than normal for the season and can exceed, sometimes briskly, 25°C.
The Indian summer can last between 3 and 8 days.
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Island of Niue: an original currency
An island state in the South Pacific, Niue's currency is the New Zealand dollar.
However, Niue has repeatedly released coins featuring Walt Disney, Pokemon, and Star Wars characters.
These gold and silver coins circulate legally on the island.
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Falkland Islands: natural
Known as the Falkland Islands, these islands have more marine mammals and sheep than people.
There are thousands of sheep and no less than eight species of penguins against only 3,400 inhabitants.
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Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: film set
Palm trees, turquoise water, fine sandy beaches...
The archipelago of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean reveals dream landscapes.
The place was also chosen to serve as a filming location for the five opuses of Pirates of the Caribbean.
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Peru: 3000 festivals per year
In Peru, no less than 3000 traditional festivals are celebrated per year.
Carnival and mermaid festivals in February, harvest festival and holy week in March, national holiday in July, Arequipa festivals in August...
You may be lucky enough to attend one of these festivities.
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Eritrea: no official language
A country in North-East Africa, Eritrea has the particularity of not having an official language.
It includes nine different ethnic groups, each with its own language and customs.
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Isle of Man: The Northern Lights
Nestled between England and Ireland, the Isle of Man is not an essential destination in Europe.
However, it is possible to observe sublime aurora borealis in winter on a clear day.
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Swaziland: high-flying law for witches
In Swaziland, Africa, the civil aviation authorities have passed a law that prohibits witches from flying above 150 meters under pain of a fine.
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Canada: thousands of lakes
Appreciated for its wide open spaces and breathtaking landscapes, Canada attracts thousands of tourists every year.
However, did you know that it has more lakes than all the other countries in the world combined?
There are nearly 32,000 lakes over 3 km2 and nearly 600 lakes over 100 km2.
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United States: the disappearance of a lake
Have you ever heard of Lost Lake?
A lake in the Mount Hood National Forest in Oregon, it completely empties each spring and fills up again in the winter.
A park spokesperson explained that the water is sucked up through a lava tunnel.
It is then necessary to wait for the winter season so that the river fills up again.
Intrigued by this phenomenon, several people would have tried to illegally plug the hole in Lost Lake.
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Lestotho: snow from May to August
A high altitude country, Lesotho is one of the few countries in Africa to see snowfall in winter.
When temperatures approach 0°C, the mountains are then covered with an immense white mantle.
An amazing sight to observe from May to August (the seasons are reversed).
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Iceland: no trains
Are you going to Iceland soon and want to travel from city to city?
Remember to book a car on site because it is the only country in Europe that does not have a railway!
The island's seismic activity does not provide passengers with optimal safety conditions for traveling by train.
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India: areas without selfies.
After dozens of selfie-related deaths, India has introduced "no selfie zones" in which it is forbidden to take a picture.
These risky places are often close to cliffs or railway tracks.
Failure to comply with this rule will result in a fine of 1200 rupees.
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Armenia, the importance of chess games
Country of chess par excellence, Armenia has made this discipline a subject in its own right at school.
Since 2011, primary school students have 4 hours of compulsory chess lessons per week.
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To finish our little selection of the dumbest DC Comics superheroes, let's talk about Zeep, The Living Sponge.
Something to end on a high note!
Indeed, when we translate its name it gives this: Zeep, the Living Sponge.
No, we are not talking about a cousin of SpongeBob but rather a superhero.
This character is part of the Hero Hotline, a group of heroes with diverse powers and ready to spring into action when icons like Superman or Batman are unavailable.
Thus, as its name suggests, Zeep, The Living Sponge has all the capabilities of a sponge but on a human scale.
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Color Kid is a superhero from DC Comics who has the power to change the color of any object to infinity.
Even if it may seem cool and funny, we must still admit that the usefulness of such powers is very limited and ridiculous during major battles essential for the survival of Man...
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Hailing from the 31st century, Bouncing Boy accidentally drank an experimental plastic-based soda-pop.
If his name means nothing to you, it's probably because his superpowers aren't extravagant.
He actually only has the ability to turn into a ball.
A power that is obviously useful for crushing your enemies, but it still has to be able to land on them before they have time to flee...
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A DC Universe superhero, Matter-Eater Lad, real name Tenzil Kem, is a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes.
He has the power to eat matter in all its forms, as do all the natives of Bismoll, his home planet.
For example, when he was imprisoned, he just had to eat the grids and the various obstacles that presented themselves in front of him.
Nothing extraordinary, is it?
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Onomatopoeia is a character who demonstrates a lot of tactics.
This is a supervillain appearing in DC Comics comics.
He is usually depicted as an enemy of Green Arrow and Batman.
Indeed, he notably organized the escape of the Joker.
He is also an athlete and a martial artist.
However, he has the annoying habit of only expressing himself in onomatopoeia, which is not easy to understand...
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Thor once hit an enemy so hard with his hammer that a black hole was created and sucked in his opponent.
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Aquaman's trident is indestructible.
He can manipulate water and pierce Superman's invulnerable skin.
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Deadpool survived a zombie apocalypse at a Mexican restaurant because he fell into a coma after eating too many chimichangas.
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Harley Quinn once had her own gang: the Quinntets!
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Magneto once dropped a 170 ton tower on Iron Man.
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Flash has already turned on all the radios on Earth in a zeptosecond.
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In the Marvel universe, Santa Claus is the most powerful mutant that exists.
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