In the 1970s and 1980s, the Bronx looked as though better times would never come. The borough was mired in poverty, crime and urban decay. Today, the transformation is so profound and the urban environment looks so much better that, compared with the old footage, the neighbourhood is almost unrecognisable. City on the Brink: How New York Lost Itself, and Found Itself Again
After the whaleship Essex was sunk by a sperm whale, the survivors refused to set a course for the Marquesas Islands out of a fear of cannibals — a fear that, as it turned out, was entirely unfounded. Instead, they chose the longer and more difficult route, only to find themselves forced to eat their own crewmates in order to survive. The Whale, the Boats, and the Lot: The True Story Behind Moby-Dick
Getting the visa and permits for Europe is often the easy part. The real challenge comes afterwards - building a social life in which you genuinely feel you belong. Living in Europe: The Visa Is the Easy Part
El Camino de la Muerte, Bolivia, or as it is still known today, "Death Road", remains one of the most dangerous roads on the planet - in places barely three metres wide, with not even a single barrier between it and the sinister abyss below. Today, the road has been entirely replaced by a modern, far safer route, but thrill-seekers and extreme-sports enthusiasts continue to flock to it. El Camino de la Muerte, Bolivia: How the ‘Death Road’ Earned Its Name
By a number of measures, Spain ranks among the top countries for dogs' quality of life, thanks in no small part to the warm and tolerant attitude of its residents towards their four-legged companions. The World’s Top 10 Countries for Dogs: Where Would Your Dog Move If It Could Choose?