Originally I was going to name this entry “Pedal Power” since it is about the start of my 14-day cycling tour of Vietnam.

But when I joined the group and saw that all ten of my co-riders were women, I thought it was appropriate to change the name.

Marrakech (Morocco) is one of those places that cast a spell on you long after you’ve left this desert metropolis.

It’s one of the most memorable and enigmatic places I’ve been to, and I miss this labyrinthine city tremendously.

Champagne sales may have gone a little flat in the recession, but a visit to this part of France is still a sparkling treat.

Georgia Hunter, one of our travelbite correspondents, raises a glass on a wine-tasting weekend break in the Champagne region of France.

A reader of the Britannica Blog recently suggested this sketch, and her suggestion is a fine one. (Thank you, “Elizabeth”!)

“Dinner for One” is a classic comedy routine from the British theatre, originating in the 1920s, that has (strangely) become a hit TV sketch broadcast each New Year’s Eve on German and Scandanavian television. The sketch revolves around the 90th birthday of Miss Sophie, who has outlived all of her dinner guests. So for Miss Sophie’s benefit — and ours — her equally aged butler, James, plays the role of each guest. Enjoy!

Each Saturday we highlight a humorous and sometimes poignant video, interview, comic, or skit concerning different “careers,” past and present. Click here for all of the videos and careers highlighted to date and click below for a larger viewing screen.

One of the many things I liked about Hong Kong was its organized chaos.

You need some herbal remedies or new fish for your home aquarium?

There are specific themed streets around town that are a one-stop shop for many specific, if not odd, items.

Oh, the patrons that bartenders have to contend with, such as Crazy Guggenheim, one of the favorite characters of the Jackie Gleason Show.

Each Saturday we highlight a humorous and sometimes poignant video, interview, comic, or skit concerning different “careers,” past and present. From W.C. Fields to Rowan Atkinson, from classic films and commercials to Monty Python—all and everything will be tapped for this look each week at various professions and pastimes (loosely defined).

Click here for all of the videos and careers highlighted to date and click below for a larger viewing screen.

Sourdough bread has filled an important role in the human diet for thousands of years.

It is, in fact, believed to be the world’s most ancient type of leavened bread.

Similar to many other fermented products with ancient origins, such as beer, wine, and cheese, microorganisms and their versatile metabolic abilities steal the spotlight when it comes to explaining the delightful flavor of sourdough.

Food shortages during World War I prompted the British to seek out other forms of nutrition. As recipes calling for rhubarb leaves became more prevalent, so did the reports of poisoning with some cases resulting in death.

Little did they know that the leaves of this seemingly harmless plant contain oxalic acid, a chemical compound found in bleach, metal cleaners and anti-rust products.

Tonight is Burns Night (or “Burns Nicht” if you’re a stickler).

Around the world Scots and Scots manquées like me will be celebrating by toasting the poet in good single-malt whisky, then eating of the haggis, then drinking lots more whisky in an effort to forget the haggis.

A trip to Israel is usually one that’s thought to be a religious, spiritual, cultural, or political journey. But rarely a spa destination.

I am here to convince you that health and rejuvenation tourism is alive and well in the Holy Land.