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In our roundup of journey tales this week: a life-changing DNA take a look at, a Georgia-to-Mongolia street journey with sudden challenges, plus a brand new report reveals Europe’s cleanest locations to swim.
Excellent news for wild swimmers: The overwhelming majority of Europe’s bathing websites have “glorious” water high quality, in accordance with a brand new report by the European Environmental Company (EEA).
For sea swimming, Croatia has the brine that’s most divine, adopted by Cyprus, Greece and Slovenia. Belgium and Bulgaria tied in fifth place.
For inland waters, Bulgaria, Greece, Eire and Romania are all tied in first place, with Austria and Finland not far behind.
For probably the most pristine waters total, Cyprus took gold, adopted by Austria in second place and Croatia at No. 3.
The water high quality of the Seine in Paris has been within the highlight after town spent $1.5 billion cleansing the river up for the Olympics. However are locals prepared to make the leap? Watch right here.
College lecturer John Portmann was taken in by nuns as a child in Arizona, however he by no means knew his household historical past. A DNA take a look at revealed his stunning origins and led to him getting a brand new passport, too.
For American Jews who can show their ancestry and collect the paperwork, there’s a path to German citizenship and, with it, citizenship of the European Union. For individuals who select to do it, it means connecting with a painful historical past, however some inform CNN it’s empowering and opens choices their forebears by no means had.
Listed below are three tales of epic street journeys by SUV, by bike and by camper van – as a result of it’s not concerning the transport however concerning the dream.
A US girl drove solo from Georgia to Mongolia by way of Russia, a 5,350-mile (7,000-kilometer) journey. It wasn’t the enjoyable journey she anticipated. Right here’s her tackle the challenges of overlanding.
A European couple met whereas engaged on a farm in Australia, then set off around the globe on a bike, falling off “many instances.” Now they’re within the report books because the youngest duo to go around the world on the identical bike.
Lastly, a CNN staffer fell in love with camper vanning when she and her husband drove throughout America on Route 66. Right here’s the way it helped her get a complete new perspective on life.
Destruction and rebirth
It’s been one 12 months since an out-of-control wildfire ripped by way of the historic city of Lahaina on Maui’s west coast, taking the lives of a minimum of 100 folks and destroying greater than 2,200 constructions. That is how vacationers may help.
Canada’s Jasper Nationwide Park was lately devastated by its largest wildfire in additional than a century. Outside guides James Gillese and Ryan Titchener each misplaced their houses. Right here’s how they’re feeling and why they consider in their city’s rebirth.
As climate patterns change, and with Debby impacting the US Gulf Coast and East Coast this week, emergency preparedness provides may help with peace of thoughts. Our companions at CNN Underscored, a product evaluations and proposals information owned by CNN, have examined and reviewed one of the best in the marketplace.
Why this city is likely one of the nation’s most underrated music meccas
CNN Journey lately unveiled its high 10 greatest US cities to go to for 2024. Our seventh slice of heaven is Macon, Georgia.
Not so way back, this hilly metropolis in central Georgia had fallen on onerous instances, however this former “ghost city” has regained its spirit.
The town’s been leaning into its musical heritage, opening attraction after attraction highlighting its ties to music legends, together with Little Richard and Otis Redding.
There’s additionally extra historical historical past to discover. Macon could also be on the verge of getting Georgia’s first nationwide park at Ocmulgee Mounds, a prehistoric Native American website.
Vacationers had been caught messing with valuable antiquity once more.
A man poured water on historical cave work, and in one other incident, a dad carved his household’s initials on a house in Pompeii.
All their associates noticed this picture and thought that they had been a pair.
Right here’s what was actually occurring.
They spent years researching their transfer overseas.
One location modified the whole lot.
It’s Australia’s deadliest animal.
And it doesn’t even exist.
