Winter Solstice - Newgrange, Ireland

In honor of the winter solstice next week, I wanted to showcase Newgrange, the prehistoric stone structure from circa 3200 BC. Located north of Dublin in County Meath, the 5,000 year old Newgrange is older than both Stonehenge and the Pyramids of Giza. Covering an acre of land, the Neolithic structure is topped with grass and the face of the mound is a mixture of white quartz stone and soil.

While little is known about the exact intention of this site, it is widely believed to have been built for spiritual purposes. During the sunrise of the winter solstice, the cross-shaped inner passage and chamber of the mound glow with light from the sun for approximately 17 minutes. Undoubtedly built to highlight the shortest day of the year, the precise engineering design aligns the inner passage and chamber with the roof box above the entrance allowing the weak winter sun to shine through to its core.

Tours are allowed for this spectacular occurrence, but only 100 lucky people are selected each year. So make sure you plan well in advance to see this event.

Underground Cistern - Istanbul, Turkey

Who doesn’t like the idea of getting a glimpse of what lurks beneath the ancient streets of Istanbul? I don’t know about you, but it makes me just a tad bit giddy when I think of the layers of history just aching to be explored in this bewitching city.

The sheer number of remarkable riches scattered around every corner in the historic Sultanahmet neighborhood in Istanbul, can be daunting to even the most seasoned of travelers. The city is thought to be at least 2500 years old and as you can imagine, has acquired an abundance of cultural masterpieces during this time. When you need a break from poking around the harem in Topkapi Palace, absorbing the awe-inspiring grandeur of Hagia Sophia, pausing for a moment of reflection at the Blue Mosque, or haggling with the exuberant shopkeepers in the labyrinth of stalls known as the Grand Bazaar, head underground.

Located at the foot of Hagia Sophia, the Basilica Cistern (or in Turkish known as Yerebatan Sarayı) is a Byzantium underground water tank that dates back to the 6th century. Hundreds of cisterns exist in the subterranean world of Istanbul, with Basilica Cistern being the largest of the bunch.