italy

I laughed. A lot.

Photographer Eva Koleva Timothy describes her style as positive, optimistic, and full of light. You would never guess that she was raised behind the Iron Curtain under communist rule.

From appetizers to entrées, food lovers can taste the world in one little bean. For more than 7,000 years, chickpeas (or garbanzo beans) have been a staple food across a dozen different lands such as the United States, Italy, India, and the Middle East. The chickpea’s wonderful versatility makes it a useful ingredient in a delicious variety of food categories, including soups, salads, desserts, dips, entrées, and breads.

Since 1924, the Winter Olympic Games have preserved a time-honored tradition of inviting world-class athletes to come together in friendly competition. As the world prepares for the Winter 2014 Olympics in Russia, check out these Winter Olympic sites from recent years and take note of the activities that you can still enjoy there.

You don’t have to book a light-speed flight to Endor to see amazing locations featured in the epic Star Wars saga. Locations on our own planet provided the backdrop for the scenes in these beloved movies—and you can visit them. Here’s a sample:

The Trevi, one of the most famous baroque fountains in Rome and home to the oldest Roman aqueduct. Art by Denise JonesBy Jennifer JonesIn order to get accepted as an undergraduate into the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence, Italy, Denise Jones needed $12,000 in cash, fluent Italian, and an exceptional score on a grueling three-part exam. Like most college students, she was broke when she applied. Thanks to an $11,000 mural commission for the public library in Agoura Hills, California, she pulled the cash together in less than three months.

Researchers at Cambridge University are trying to link the consumption of chocolate with the prevention of heart disease. Although the link isn’t definitive, why risk it? Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, and if something as common (and delicious) as chocolate might help prevent it, you may as well give it a try.

Venezuela

Ruth Baptista considers herself a citizen of the world. She was born in Angola, moved to Portugal when she was two, spent time in England, and now lives in the United States. While growing up, she attended a boarding school that took her to various parts of the world; living in Europe also allowed her to travel to many different countries. But living in and visiting various countries are not the only reasons she feels like a world citizen.