2 . Getting around Valencia can be exhausting on foot if you want to see it all, but luckily, the city is very bike-friendly.

This 3-hour Valencia bike tour takes you on a lovely journey from the historic center to the beach where you’ll enjoy a drink at the end. If you’re looking for a truly personalized experience, this is it. The guide is super knowledgeable and gives lots of inside information about the sites you pass and local culture along the way.

With the warm lights of the historic center’s cobbled streets, cycling around Valencia is so different than in the day. The tour takes you through Turia Park to the City of Arts and Sciences which is impressively lit up at night. As you cycle past different tourist attractions, the guide will let you in on the history and culture of the city.

Being one of the classical guided bike tours Valencia offers, this takes you to the main tourist attractions in the old town like the Valencia Cathedral, the Silk Exchange, and the Serranos Towers. You’ll bike in Valencia’s longest park, Turia Park, which leads to the City of Arts and Sciences and a must-visit on any trip to the city. On different stops, the guide will fill in with history and anecdotes about the places you pass.

This tour takes you through the old town of Valencia where you’ll see the top tourist spots like the Valencia Cathedral and the Silk Exchange along the way on your own. You’ll pass the City Hall and the complex on your way to Turia Park where Valencia’s bike paths are at their best. Eventually, you’ll reach the City of Arts and Sciences where you can admire the modern architecture and learn more about the impressive complex.

3 . From Milan to Riyadh, these culture-packed cities offer creative experiences, whether through interesting street arts, innovative exhibitions or award-winning architectures.

Milan

Milan’s fashion heritage dates back to its days as an important trading center, when rich businessmen would bring luxurious clothes to the city and improve their bartering (以物易物) skills in its streets. The area’s fashion-forward reputation was later strengthened by design masters such as Giorgio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana and Versace, all of whom grew their brands here.

Shanghai

Shanghai has a long history in the fields of art and architecture, and has long attracted creative professionals both domestically and internationally. But today, the integration of traditional temples into the surrounding modern metropolis (大都市) continues to attract tourists. Begin with a wander through the streets of the original Old City, taking in the 600-year-old City God Temple and the nine-bend Jiu Qu Qiao. Then, make for the Shanghai Museum, where more than a million artifacts — including ancient sculptures, china and calligraphy — are on display.

Copenhagen

Copenhagen’s architecture has been awarded many honors over the years, including UNESCO World Capital of Architecture 2023. Today, many of the city’s most popular tour routes centre on these eye-catching aspects. The harbour-front Copenhagen Opera House presents a neo-futuristic style while the Black Diamond Royal Library and the Bicycle Bridge dot the skyline with their distinctive designs.

Riyadh

Saudi Arabia’s largest city Riyadh has actively positioned itself as a global destination for creative travellers and to this end, it has established the Riyadh Art initiative. The first public art project of its kind in the country, Riyadh Art aims to transform the city into a “gallery without walls” through public art installations, festivals and workshops.

5 . Plastic is everywhere, from the Arctic ice to vital organs in the human body. In fact, previous estimates suggest that the average person swallows a credit card-worth of microscopic plastic particles(颗粒) every week. But new research shows that this could actually be an understatement.

Microplastics are plastics smaller than 5 millimeters, found in industrial waste, beauty products, and formed during the degradation of larger plastic pieces. Over time, they break down into even smaller nanoplastics. These tiny particles can pass through our intestines and lungs into our bloodstreams, reaching vital organs like the heart and brain.

While the idea of eating plastic is unsettling in itself, the major concern here is that these plastic particles contain chemicals that can interrupt our body’s natural release of hormones, potentially increasing our risk of reproductive disorders and certain cancers. They can also carry toxins(毒素) on their surface like heavy metals.

In the past, researchers have shown bottled water can contain tens of thousands of identifiable plastic fragments in a single container. However, until recently, only the larger microplastics were detectable with available measuring tools, leaving the area of nanoplastics largely a mystery.

Using Raman microscopy (显微镜学), capable of detecting particles down to the size of a flu virus, the team measured an average of 240, 000 particles of plastic per liter of bottled water, 90 percent of which were nanoplastics, a revelation 10 to 100 times larger than previous estimates.

These plastics likely originate from the bottle material, filters used to “purify” the water, and the source water itself. “It is not totally unexpected to find so much of this stuff, ” the study’s lead author, Columbia graduate student Naixin Qian, said in a statement. His team hopes to expand their research into tap water and other water sources to better inform our exposure to these potentially dangerous particles. “The idea is that the smaller things get, the more of them I reveal, ” he added.

9 . Enveloped by history, style and culture, the City of Light has more than enough to draw visitors all year around. But there are certain times of year when a trip to Paris can be extra-special.

Paris Fashion Week

When: Men June/July; women March and September/October

In 1943 the world’s first “fashion week” took place in New York. The idea? To offer the Big Apple’s fashion buyers alternatives to the French dresses they were missing out on during the war. Today Paris can claim to be the world’s style capital, with people pouring to its annual fashion weeks. Wear your best dress around the Tuileries Garden and a street-style photographer may even stop you for a shot.

Music Festival

When: June

The streets of Paris come alive with the sound of music every June as free parties and concerts ring throughout the city. The Arab World Institute, the Louvre and Place Denfert-Rochereau are among the best party spots-though we recommend simply wandering. Expect surprises around every corner.

Bastille Day

When: July

On July 14 France marks the storming of the Bastille prison — a turning point in the French Revolution. In the morning crowds gather to watch a military parade along the Champs Elysees. Come evening, up to a million people gather as fireworks are set off from the base of the Eiffel Tower. Advantageous position? The top of the Belville Park. Get down early and bring a picnic chair.

Grape Harvest Festival

When: October

You may have dropped by the Montmartre Museum. But what about the private grape plantation around the back of Paris’s hilliest neighborhood? Every year locals come together to celebrate the distinctive grape wine produced here. There’s a charity wine sale, dance parties and, of course, plenty of tasting.

10 . Curtis retired from the police force, but he never stopped being a true hero.

He was sitting in a car in the Chick-Fil-A drive-thru (汽车餐厅). Suddenly, he saw ________pouring out of the truck in front of him. Without thinking twice, Curtis leapt from the ________ and ran to help.

Inside the restaurant, employees saw Curtis pull out the terrified ________ John, mere seconds before the truck exploded.

When Chick-Fil-A owner David ________ the restaurant’s security footage (录像), he saw the full extent of Curtis’ ________ actions. Not only did Curtis pull John from the truck, but he also helped direct ________ customers and staff members once firefighters arrived. Hoping to thank Curtis in person, David________ a call for help on social media to ________ the hero.

After Curtis was found, David ________ invited him to come to Chick-Fil-A for a meal with the driver he ________ . They all celebrated Curtis being in the right________ at the right time to save at least one life! John and his family are incredibly grateful that Curtis was so ________ to help, and Curtis said he was just pleased no one was ________.

“As far as he is safe, that’s all that ________,” said Curtis.

Once a first responder, always a first responder! Curtis still has those cop instincts (本能), and we’re glad he happened to be there to put them to good ________.