Luxury Lifestyle, Design & Architecture blog

Above the town of Kalambaka, on the north-western edge of Greece’s Plain of Thessaly, giant rock formations reach nearly 400m into the sky, like something out of a science fiction movie. Balanced across 24 pillars are monasteries, visible through the clouds. Related video: The Greek monasteries 'suspended in the air' Numerous geologists and historians have tried to fathom how the giant rock pedestals were created an estimated 60 million years ago, but no theory has been fully proven. Today, the enormous fingers pointing to the heavens are a protected Unesco World Heritage Site and go by the name Meteora – which literally means “suspended in the air”. It is said that the first people to inhabit Meteora arrived in the 9th Century. In a bid to escape everyday life, they braved fierce storms and climbed up the cliffs with their bare hands. Grabbing at trees as they went, they eventually settled in small caves and crevices and embarked on a life of solitude, meeting ...

A 2012 report from the Economist Intelligence Unit recently named Vancouver, British Columbia North America’s most expensive city for residents . But for budget-conscious travelers – and belt-tightening locals – there are plenty of ways to save a buck and still have a good time in western Canada’s largest metropolis.   Freebie nature No cash is needed to appreciate the totem poles and vista-hugging seawall trail in Vancouver’s giant Stanley Park . But a visit to its admission-free Lost Lagoon Nature House is also recommended if you want the lowdown on the region’s multitudinous flora and fauna. Aside from wildlife exhibitions and chatty staff, there are regular bird watching walks through the park for a suggested five Canadian dollar donation. In many of Vancouver’s free-entry, volunteer-run attractions, donations are usually gratefully accepted. Nature-lovers should also check out Chinatown. The neighbourhood’s Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden charges ad...

It’s what I always remind visitors to the Happiest Place on Earth. Be it a visit to Walt Disney World in Florida, Disneyland in Anaheim or Paris — always look up and appreciate — admire — the craftsmanship of the Walt Disney Imagineering Team. It’s easy to miss the nuisances, the attention to details, as you rush — with your family — from queue to queue to queue… Take in the beauty of these true artists. They’ve created atmospheric experiences — amazing destinations — that teleport us to different times and places. Pause, take your time and look up. See the inspiring work of men and women inspired by Walt Disney. Here’s our photo tour of Disneyland Paris, as we spotlight the architecture and design of the Parisian Disney Park. At the Pursuitist, we look up, and showcase, the hand-crafted design, brilliance and artistry of Disney Imagineering....