michaelsballard's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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Places visited in Chattanooga, Tennessee
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Places visited in Casma District, Peru
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Ghent, Belgium

Werregarenstraat

This narrow Ghent alleyway is an officially sanctioned street art tunnel.
Brussels, Belgium

Comic Strip Route

This collection of over 50 murals celebrates Brussels' rich history as the self-proclaimed home of the "comic strip."
Ghent, Belgium

Gravensteen

This fairytale castle was built as a show of power but was nearly torn down thanks to its history of torture.
Minsk, Belarus

Isle of Tears

A beautiful and moving memorial set on a little island in the middle of the river in Minsk.
Minsk, Belarus

Fountain of Three Storks

A sculpture of graceful storks sits atop this fountain in Independence Square.
Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands

Bonaire Botanical Garden

Part home garden, part sculpture field, part pseudo-science experiment, a trip to this place will leave you wondering if sea water isn't actually the elixir of life.
Khasab, Oman

The Desert Fjords of Oman

Take the most scenic fjord landscape in Norway and add dramatic red cliffs, warm clear water, and playful dolphins.
Vienna, Austria

Ampelpärchen

Vienna's diversity-themed traffic lights were inspired by the Eurovision Song Contest.
Lohmen, Germany

The Bastei

Ruins of a German Castle on top of a towering stone pillar.
Gablenz, Germany

Rakotzbrücke Devil's Bridge

This jaw-dropping 19th-century bridge uses its reflection to form what appears to be a perfect circle.
Sevan, Armenia

Sevanavank

This ancient monastery complex was transformed from an island to a peninsula when the lake was partially drained.
Panama City, Panama

Mercado De Abastos

A huge, bustling local market in Panama City.
Roatán, Honduras

Bay Islands Underwater Museum

This collection of historical artifacts and tropical wildlife waits just beneath the surface of the water.
Belize

Great Blue Hole

A massive underwater sinkhole made famous by Jacques Cousteau.
Funchal, Portugal

Madeira Botanical Garden

A lush oasis full of vibrant plants and striking geometric displays.
São Miguel, Portugal

Hotel Monte Palace

This abandoned five-star hotel is now a five-star urban exploration destination.
São Miguel, Portugal

Chapel of Nossa Senhora das Vitórias

This fairy-tale, neo-Gothic church in the Azores is a world of magical realism.
Vila Franca Do Campo, Portugal

Islet of Vila Franca do Campo

A perfectly circular lake is formed by the crater of an ancient underwater volcano.
Porto, Portugal

Livraria Lello

One of the most beautiful bookstores in the world hides a neo-Gothic interior behind an art nouveau facade.
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

The Sundial of Santo Domingo

The first official clock in North America, it kept time for the Spanish government of Santo Domingo.
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Ruins of San Nicolás de Bari Hospital

The first hospital in the New World.
Havana, Cuba

Callejon de Hamel

A colorful narrow alley in Cuba is full of street art and sculptures made of found objects.
Havana, Cuba

Viaje Fantástico

No one knows the meaning behind this giant sculpture of a nude woman with a fork riding a rooster in Havana.
Havana, Cuba

Statue of Cecilia Valdes

Standing in this historic plaza is a statue representing one of Cuba's most iconic literary characters.