Barbados' Unique Dawn Horse Training Ritual

2025-07-17
Barbados' Unique Dawn Horse Training Ritual

Each dawn, a captivating spectacle unfolds on Barbados' Pebbles Beach: racehorses, guided by their grooms, take to the sea for a unique training regimen. Hailing mostly from the Garrison Savannah, one of the oldest racetracks in the Americas and Caribbean, these horses undergo a routine involving lunging in shallows, resistance training in deeper water, and extensive open-water swims. This unusual practice draws crowds of tourists and locals alike, highlighting the deep-rooted importance of horse racing in Bajan culture. Weekly races at the historic Garrison Savannah racetrack, including the popular Boxing Day Race, further solidify this vibrant tradition.

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Georgian Highland Villages: Tradition in Transition

2025-05-24
Georgian Highland Villages: Tradition in Transition

Over a decade, a photographer has revisited remote villages in Georgia's Adjara region, documenting the lives of a pastoral nomadic community. Facing challenges like limited access to education, healthcare, and essential services, these villages experience outmigration, and traditions like traditional weddings are fading. The photographer aims to showcase the community's adaptation and creation of new meaning in the modern world, not simply through nostalgia.

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Switzerland's Cold War Relic: A Nuclear Bunker and the Illusion of Survival

2025-05-06
Switzerland's Cold War Relic: A Nuclear Bunker and the Illusion of Survival

This article recounts a visit to Sonnenberg, a seven-story underground command center built in Switzerland during the Cold War to shelter 20,000 people. While impressively engineered, the 1987 trial run revealed significant shortcomings. The article explores the historical context of Switzerland's robust civil protection program, rooted in WWII experience and a unique national identity. However, it also questions the feasibility of surviving a nuclear war and emphasizes the importance of diplomacy and non-proliferation. The piece ultimately reflects on the complex legacy of Sonnenberg—a testament to both Cold War anxieties and a persistent hope for peace.

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