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Latin American plantain dishes

The story of Latin America’s love affair with plantains begins in the 15th century, when the green banana traveled from plantations established by Portugese colonizers in West Africa to newly established colonies in South American cities like Cartagena in Colombia. Bananas and plantains, however, were likely originally domesticated in New Guinea and introduced to Africa through Madagascar. As early as 1492, Portugese colonizers recorded encountering plantains and bananas in West Africa, and Tomás de Berlanga, who eventually became a bishop of Panama, brought bananas to his new post in 1534. The fruit didn’t arrive in the United States until the early 1800s.

The Portuguese loaded bananas and plantains along with enslaved people on the long journey to Brazil, a practice that mimicked Spanish slave traders traveling to Mexico and Panama. When the plantain arrived in South America, enslaved people quickly adopted it into their diet, where it became a staple alongside beans, yams, and corn. Today, Central and South America and the Caribbean Islands are famous for their plantain dishes. The adopted fruit has become a symbol of this region’s nourishing, plant-heavy cuisine. It sustained enslaved people over oceans, and continues to nourish families from Central, South, and the Carribean — people who have reclaimed plantains from their unhappy origins.

Green plantains are starchy, with a texture and flavor similar to a raw potato, and they have to be cooked before they can be eaten. Ripe yellow plantains, on the other hand, are much sweeter and can be eaten raw, though they’re often fried. Mofongo, a Puerto Rican plantain dish of mashed plantains cooked with garlic, formed into a half-dome shape, and served with shrimp, is likely the most well known and popular plantain dish, but throughout the Caribbean, Central, and South America, plantains are transformed into dumplings, soup, and even beverages.

Here are even Latin American plantain dishes beyond mofongo you need to know.

1. Bolon de verde

Photo: DANIEL CONSTANTE/Shutterstock

These green plantain dumplings filled with cheese or pork hail from Ecuador. The pork version contains chicharrones; in other countries in Central and South America, the term refers to fried pork rinds, but in Ecuador it actually means fried chunks of pork meat, according to Ecuadorian food blogger Layla Pujol. In Peruvian cuisine, plantain dumplings are known as tacacho. Especially popular in the Amazonas region, the plantains are mashed in a wooden mortar, formed into balls along with pork rinds, and served with breakfast.

2. Viche de pescado

This thick soup from Ecuador combines white fish with yuca, sweet corn, and ripe plantains. Its rich yellow-orange color is derived from the seeds of the achiote tree, and it’s seasoned with lime, oregano, and cumin. The soup is heavy on the root vegetables, and some versions include sweet potato or pumpkin. The dish likely originated in Manabí, but it’s popular all along Ecuador’s coast.

3. Pastelón

Photo: AS Food studio/Shutterstock

This Puerto Rican spin on lasagna is made by layering thinly sliced sweet yellow plantains; a ground beef mixture called picadillo that’s seasoned with oregano, cumin, and paprika; and mozzarella cheese. There are many different versions of pastelón all over Puerto Rico, and some versions add raisins while others mix the plantains with taro. In the Dominican Republic, where plantains are nicknamed guineo — perhaps a reference to the fruit’s origins in New Guinea — there’s a nearly identical dish known as pastelón de plátano maduro. Pastelón is often conflated with piñon, but the latter is an entirely different plantain dish. Piñon is closer to a casserole, in which fried whole sweet plantains are layered over picadillo.

4. Chapo

The Matsés indigenous peoples of the Amazonian region of Peru make a drink from roasted sweet plantains. The starchy plantains provide a boost of energy from carbohydrates. After the plantains have been cooked, they’re squeezed and strained through sieves constructed from palm leaves. The drink is then spiced with cloves and cinnamon and served cold.

5. Aborrajados

Photo: Anamaria Mejia/Shutterstock

These ripe plantain fritters come from Colombia. Like bolon de verde, aborrajados are filled with cheese, but before frying, they are dipped in a batter of egg and flour. Guava paste is another beloved filling, adding to the sweetness of the plantains. Venezuelan people however, contend that they should get credit for creating aborrajados, where they’re commonly known as yo-yos or sleeping kids.

6. Pasteles

Served in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, and all over the Carribean, pasteles resemble tamales in appearance. The masa, or maize-based dough, for pasteles is a mixture of green plantains, taro root (also known as malanaga or yautia), and sometimes pumpkin. Another version called pasteles de yuca are made with a yuca root mixture. The masa is spiced simply with oregano, and sometimes cubed pork is added to the dough. The dough is then wrapped in banana leaves and boiled.

In Puerto Rico in particular, the preparation and eating of pasteles with family is a beloved Christmas tradition. According to Cooking Channel writer Eden Grinshpan, “Puerto Ricans take so much pride in their pasteles,” but because they are so “labor intensive” to make, their preparation is typically confined to special occasions like the holiday season.

7. Alcapurrias

Photo: Carlos Diaz/Shutterstock

Alcapurrias are another way to fry plantains, this time from Puerto Rico. This fritter is made from a mixture of green bananas and yautia (taro root) and picadillo. Alcapurrias are one among many cuchifritos — which are fried snacks, their name derived from a Spanish fried pork dish called cochifrito — sold at kioskos, or beachside vendors that sell street food. Cuchifritos are covered in masa dough and then stuffed with the picadillo filling.

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Best architecture projects 2020

2020 was disappointing on many fronts, but the pandemic had nothing on the creativity of architects and their ability to bring grandiose and innovative projects to life. From terrifying pedestrian bridges to very unusual public bathrooms to spiral shaped museums, 2020 was filled with crazy architecture projects that challenged conventional aesthetics, added a touch of much-needed fun and fantasy to our daily lives, and produced rushes of adrenaline on par with the best amusement park attractions. Here’s a look back at the coolest architecture projects from around the world that were completed in 2020, and here’s to hoping we’ll all be able to check them out in person in the near future.

1. Dujiangyan Zhongshuge bookstore — Chengdu, China

Photo: X+Living

Many like to think that Amazon made bookstores obsolete and that soon enough they will all disappear. But if all local bookstores looked anything like Dujiangyan Zhongshuge bookstore in Chengdu, China, people would drop online book shopping forever.

Designed by Shanghai architecture firm X+Living, this 10,475-square-foot bookstore looks more like a church than a shop. It features an immense curved staircase built around a large, floor-to-ceiling column-cum-bookshelf; grand arches; and rounded walls covered in towering shelves, all of which seem covered in books. To give the illusion of a vast space and an infinite amount of books, the architect used mirrors on the ceiling and shiny black tiles on the floor, creating stunning reflections. However, what looks like thousands of books on the inaccessible top shelves is not only the result of an optical illusion, but also strategically placed wallpaper. The curvaceous walls and reading areas provide a sense of privacy so you can feel cozy despite the imposing and opulent structure while browsing the 80,000 volumes in the store.

2. The longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the world — Arouca, Portugal

Photo: Arouca 516

If you thought glass-bottom bridges were the most terrifying dangling structures, you clearly have not seen Arouca 516, the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the world. Although it isn’t made of glass, Arouca 516 has a see-through deck made of open metal grid so you can admire the Paiva River Canyon — if you dare to look down.

The 1,692-foot-long and 574-feet-tall bridge takes 10 minutes to cross. It’s located fewer than 40 miles southeast of Porto, and although it was completed in 2020, the bridge is not open just yet. It’s scheduled to open to the public in 2021.

3. Transparent public bathrooms — Tokyo, Japan

Photo: Tokyo Toilet

Modern Japanese toilets are some of the most technologically advanced in the world, with buttons that allow users to enjoy a warm seat, get a thorough cleaning and drying, and a multitude of other capabilities like playing music and deodorizing. Beyond the smart sanitary equipment, Japan also thrives at making public bathrooms that are a beautiful, functional, and intelligent piece of architecture.

The district of Shibuya in Tokyo is redesigning 17 of its outdoor bathrooms, and, since August 2020, two transparent public bathrooms have been completed in Yoyogi Park and Haru-No-Ogawa Community Park. Designed by architect Shigeru Ban, these two bathrooms — which have walls made of colorful, see-through glass — are both meant to look beautiful in their environment and provide reassurance to users. By being able to see inside the bathroom before entering, users can see whether the facilities are clean or not, as well as notice if someone is hiding inside. Once locked from the inside, the walls of the bathrooms become opaque, affording the privacy needed.

4. The Edge — New York City, US

Photo: Related Oxford/The Edge

Stunning views of NYC aren’t only for those who can afford a helicopter tour. Opened in March 2020, The Edge is a glass panelled angular observation deck located in the Hudson Yards neighborhood. Sticking out from a high rise like an 80-foot shard, The Edge hangs 1,100 feet above the ground, making it the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere. There’s even a glass-bottom section to add more excitement to those who dare to walk on it.

Located on Level 100, visitors can reach this impressive deck in just 52 seconds. You can stay for as long as you want to take in the views of the skyline, as well as the Statue of Liberty and Central Park.

5. Lotus-shaped soccer stadium — Guangzhou, China

Photo: Guangzhou Evergrande F.C (广州恒大足球俱乐部)/Facebook

While it has not been completed in 2020, the construction of Guangzhou’s new soccer stadium started earlier this year. The breaking ground ceremony took place on April 16, 2020, and the project is slated to be completed by 2022. Regardless, this is one 2020 architectural project that we feel deserves to be recognized.

The stadium is expected to be able to hold 100,000 spectators, making it the largest soccer-only stadium in the world. Though it’s not the seating capacity that has everyone ooh and aah, but its gorgeous design. Shaped like a colorful lotus flower, the Guangzhou stadium will be unlike any other sporting venue in the world. Designed by American architect Hasan A. Syed, the project is expected to cost $1.7 billion.

6. Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet — Le Brassus, Switzerland

Photo: BIG

Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet, located in the small mountain village of Le Brassus in Switzerland, was completed in the first part of 2020. The museum is situated next to watchmaker Piguet’s original factory established in 1875. The factory is still in function and employs hundreds of watchmakers.

The beautiful museum is a glass building that was developed by BIG. While the design is indubitably modern, it fits perfectly in the rural environment thanks to its discreet short height and green roof. While the shape is reminiscent of the circular face of a watch, the double spiral is meant to mimic the spring found in mechanical watches. The museum is home to 300 timepieces spanning over 200 years of local watchmaking history.

7. Gardenhouse — Los Angeles, US

Photo: MAD

Completed in August 2020, Gardenhouse is a mix of commercial units and private residences located in the Beverly Hills neighborhood. Designed by architecture firm MAD, Gardenhouse is one of the largest living walls in the US and features drought-tolerant succulents and vines that need little irrigation and maintenance.

While the facade of Gardenhouse is the most impressive feature of the structure thanks to undulating plants of contrasting colors, the building also has an inner courtyard that’s home to a garden hidden from passersby.

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Japan developing wooden satellites

We’re no stranger to pollution here on Earth, and humans are working hard to find ways to reduce waste. Now the same is true of pollution in space. Sumitomo Forestry, a Japanese company, is partnering with Kyoto University to create the world’s first satellites made out of wood. It’s an attempt to solve the problem of “space junk,” which has become a serious issue with the many satellites sent to space.

According to the European Space Agency, there are currently over 900,000 pieces of debris larger than one centimeter (0.4 inches) floating into space.

Wooden satellites, unlike current satellites that create debris and release harmful substances when they make their way back to Earth, would be able to burn up entirely into the atmosphere.

Takao Doi, a professor at Kyoto University, told the BBC, “We are very concerned with the fact that all the satellites which re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere burn and create tiny alumina particles which will float in the upper atmosphere for many years. Eventually it will affect the environment of the Earth. The next stage will be developing the engineering model of the satellite, then we will manufacture the flight model.”

The partnership is currently researching tree growth and the use of wood materials in space, and it hopes to launch the first wooden satellite by 2023.

In 2019, ESA announced that a self-destructing robot Designed by Swiss startup ClearSpace will be sent into orbit on the world’s first space cleanup mission in 2025.

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Boeing 737 Max flying again

The first Boeing 737 Max to fly again in the US with paying passengers left from Miami this morning. It’s the 737 Max’s first commercial flight in nearly two years, since two deadly crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia forced US regulators to ground the aircraft in March 2019.

American Airlines Flight 718 left Miami at 10:30 AM and arrived at Laguardia Airport in New York at 1:30 PM. To the passengers on board, it might feel like a relatively routine domestic flight, but for Boeing, the return of its 737 Max plane is huge.

The two crashes back in 2019 were attributed to an error in the automated flight control system, which made it difficult for pilots to regain control and altitude of the plane. Boeing has fixed the problem by rewriting the flight computer software, and the plane received approval to re-enter commercial service on November 18 by the Federal Aviation Agency.

So far, American Airlines is the only US airline to use the 737 Max in 2020. United Airlines will begin flying the plane out of its Denver and Houston hubs on February 11, 2021, while Southwest has said it won’t fly the 737 any sooner than March.

Passengers booked aboard any of these flights will be notified by the airline, and allowed to rebook with no change fee if they don’t feel comfortable.

According to the FAA, “Working closely with other international regulators, the FAA conducted a thorough and deliberate review of the 737 MAX. We are confident that the safety issues that played a role in the tragic accidents involving Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 have been addressed through the design changes required and independently approved by the FAA and its partners.”

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COVID-19 tests available at Costco

Bermuda is trying to make it easier for travelers to visit by offering mail-in COVID-19 tests. The island is partnering with Costco to help you meet the new rules, which require PCR test results within five days of departure to Bermuda. The test costs $139.99 including lab fees, and is available through Costco’s online pharmacy.

When you purchase a kit online, you’ll receive a code to register and complete a health questionnaire. The kit will then be shipped overnight via UPS directly to your home. You’ll be able to collect your own saliva sample with guidance over video chat, or simply go to a participating Costco pharmacy. Once the sample is collected, you can return it to the lab by UPS overnight delivery. Results will be available within 12 to 48 hours.

Starting with locations in New York and Boston, the COVID-19 tests will also be available at 100 brick-and-mortar stores where clients will be able to collect their samples under the guidance of pharmacists on site.

In addition to showing proof of a negative PCR test taken before arrival, Bermuda also requires an additional COVID-19 test when you arrive on the island, a quarantine until those results are available, and registering with public health officials. Visitors must alo check their temperature twice each day, report results on an online portal, and take yet another COVID-19 test on days four, eight, and 14.

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Japan's rajio taisō workout

Skiers think of the deep powder of Hokkaido. Foodies focus on the izakayas and noodle bars of Tokyo or Kyoto. Of course, there are also the onsens, ryokans, and many spiritual and cultural sites throughout the country. When one dreams of Japan, one thing that usually doesn’t immediately come to mind is calisthenics. But if you’re looking for a quick and easy exercise routine to add to your 2021 resolutions, look no further. While you can’t visit Japan right now, you can workout alongside millions of Japanese people every day with the country’s most popular exercise program, radio taisō. Here’s the lowdown on this quirky but effective calisthenics routine.

What is radio calisthenics?

Radio calisthenics, or rajio taisō, which translates directly as “radio exercise,” is a daily morning exercise show broadcast throughout Japan. It’s also available, though much less popular, in parts of Taiwan and China. Radio calisthenics has taken place nearly every morning at 6:30 AM for several decades. Each day, millions of listeners tune in to stretch and run in place with a simple repetitive routine alongside family, friends, coworkers, or even by themselves. Thanks to the advent of handheld video cameras, and eventually smartphones and YouTube, viewers around the world can now follow along and try to keep up.

The idea behind the broadcasts is to provide an easy morning wake-up exercise that nearly anyone can do. Radio taisō first broadcast in November of 1928 under the name National Health Exercise Program, inspired by similar broadcasts happening overseas. Allied powers banned radio calisthenics following the end of World War II on account of the communal exercises representing militarism (which is ironic as the original idea stemmed from the US), but radio taisō was revived in 1951 and, with few exceptions, has been broadcast daily ever since.

Workouts are narrated by a calm but firm male voice. For those watching with video, sessions are often accompanied by a group of fit hosts perfectly synchronized in both movement and dress. Characters like Pikachu or a large bunny occasionally stand-in for their human counterparts. Sometimes they’re in a park, other times the workout takes place in a studio. But the general format is the same: Each is three minutes long, punctuated by strict counts of “1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8” and accented by piano music. They’re easy to do anywhere and do not require exercise equipment or special training. If you have enough room to lift your arms above your head and do a few twirls, you have enough room for rajio taisō.

Where you can tune into rajio taisō

Photo: paulaphoto/Shutterstock

You’re totally justified if you add this quick daily exercise to your morning routine. Rajio taisō is often credited (at least partially) for the healthy and long lives enjoyed by many Japanese people. Charts in a Nature article on the country’s long life expectancy showed the average Japanese person can expect to live over 84 years, compared with 78 years in the United States and 82 years in Canada.

However, listening live is tough in the Western Hemisphere. The routine broadcasts on the national broadcaster NHK in Japan, which you can stream, but the programming doesn’t always match with what airs at home in Japan. But adding these few minutes of morning exercise to your routine is as easy as a YouTube search, your best option to try a variety of routines led by an equally entertaining variety of characters. The website Japan Kuru offers a breakdown of three different types of rajio taisō exercises, complete with videos, which you can then repeat daily. Here’s to a healthy — if regimented — 2021.

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8 of the coolest Midwest towns

The Midwest has beautiful landscapes, innovative restaurants, craft breweries, and vibrant towns. What it doesn’t have, however, is much of a marketing budget — and that means many folks don’t actually know how much the region has to offer. When California has a tourism budget that’s 25 times the size that of Iowa, you can see how the coasts manage to suck up all the attention. But never mind all that. In lieu of billboards, glossy magazine spreads, and Insta-influencers, let’s get down to it. Here are some of the coolest towns in the Midwest, brought to you by someone on the inside.

1. Munising, Michigan

Photo: Craig Sterken/Shutterstock

Sitting on the southern shore of Lake Superior, Munising lays claim to landscapes you might think were straight out of the Mediterranean. Its eastern stretches fade into Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, a place that contains entirely separate worlds of beauty each season, from jagged ice caves to soft, sandy shores and aquamarine waves. Head west and the scenery isn’t any less stunning.

Quests to find lighthouses, waterfalls, and shipwrecks will fill your itinerary. You’ll bike, hike, and snowshoe on the trails and back roads of Hiawatha National Forest. Maybe you’ll canoe the AuTrain River, swim off Sand Point Beach in Lake Superior, or dive the Alger Underwater Preserve. No one will believe you actually did all of these things, but you will have.

2. Iowa City, Iowa

Photo: Suzanne Tucker/Shutterstock

The University of Iowa houses one of the best writing programs in the world; names like Kurt Vonnegut, Flannery O’Connor, and Tennessee Williams burnish the school’s brochures. Fittingly, the city was named a UNESCO Literary City in 2008, a designation that’s shared by only one other US city (Seattle) and which you can feel in the city’s tortoiseshell vibe and list of things to do.

Libraries, secondhand and boutique-owned bookstores, and student-heavy cafes are all equally buzzy; poetry is engraved into the sidewalks; and international orchestras, world-famous musicians, and authors with household names grace community events at spaces like The Englert, Hancher Auditorium, Prairie Lights Bookstore, and the Iowa Memorial Union.

And when it comes to the food scene, please don’t expect casseroles and Jell-O salad. Grab bibimbap at Goosetown Cafe and state-famous hummus and kebabs at Oasis Falafel. And for a traditional Iowa City breakfast, that’s Hamburn Inn #2.

3. Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Photo: Gerald A. DeBoer/Shutterstock

Did the music festivals make Eau Claire’s hip, indie vibe, or did Eau Claire’s hip, indie vibe bring in the musical festivals? It’s hard to tell, but either way, this Wisconsin town is officially a burgeoning Austin or Portland, 80 miles east of Minneapolis.

Of course, you’re still in Wisconsin, so expect plenty of craft beer (Lazy Monk Brewing, The Eau Claire Brewing Project, $1 pints at The Joint) and, yes, cheese curds if you want ‘em. But rather than choosing between divey burger joints or the Olive Garden, opt for laptop-worn coffee spots like Acoustic Café, fine-dining options like the Cajun-inspired Stella Blues, and local, downhome mainstays like Norske Nook to keep your palate busy.

If you come, know that there’s one time of year when the hotels are full and the streets crowded with tourists: Bon Iver — Justin Vernon to those who grew up with him — started the Eaux Claires festival in 2015, and now it’s one of the nation’s favorite live-music weekends, with interactive art installations and insanely tasty food trucks adding to the mix.

4. Galena, Illinois

Photo: Nejdet Duzen/Shutterstock

If you confuse Galena for a Hallmark movie set, you’re not alone. The 19th-century town tucked in the bluffs halfway between Dubuque and Chicago doesn’t look too different than when General Grant set up shop here — although he definitely saw fewer shops, restaurants, and local boutiques.

Start on Main Street, which is also known as the “Helluva Half Mile,” and start counting. There are over 125 shops and restaurants to keep you busy, from breweries and bakeries to Italian bistros and coffee bars. Most of this main drag is historic-register worthy, but the Dowling House, an 1820s limestone home just off Main on Diagonal Street, collects the most history buffs at its doors. The Ulysses S. Grant Home State Historic Site and the DeSoto House Hotel, the oldest hotel in the state, are worth the trip back in time as well.

If you’re here in the warmer months, the Galena River Trail winds through these Mississippi bluffs, Grant Park is great for a romantic walk at sunset, and Gramercy Park has some serious aerial river views.

5. Hannibal, Missouri

Photo: Photos BrianScantlebury/Shutterstock

Hannibal was the setting for Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, so it’s no surprise you’ll find all the Twain regalia you could ever want here. Think riverboats, festivals, and even the author’s boyhood home. This pretty town has a thriving arts community, and the river views that Twain so often wrote about (“some of the most beautiful on the Mississippi”) are still serene, but now reminiscent of a bygone era.

If you’re familiar with Twain’s books, you’ll recognize the Mark Twain Cave, a National Natural Landmark about a mile south of town. The Rockcliffe Mansion is also worth a stop, as is Mark Twain’s Boyhood Home & Museum and the birthplace of the Unsinkable Molly Brown. Everything from art galleries, breweries, and barbecue restaurants to historic outposts and walking trails are connected via the trolley, and ghost tours are a facet of the town’s nightlife.

Speaking of ghosts, just south of Hannibal nearby Ilasco is an actual ghost town.

6. Rapid City, South Dakota

Photo: James Gabbert/Shutterstock

Western South Dakota is more Rocky Mountain than Great Plain, and that’s the first thing you’ll notice when you’re here. Sitting on the edge of the Black Hills National Forest, within minutes you’ll be driving along the incredible Spearfish Canyon, counting bison in the unparalleled Custer State Park, hiking through rock mazes and to waterfalls, or hanging out with presidents at Mount Rushmore.

Back in town, you’ll snap photos with apatosauruses at Dinosaur Park, be immersed in rainbows down Art Alley, catch live outdoor concerts on Main Street Square, and pop back brews in an old fire station. But odds are, you’ll be back outdoors tomorrow.

7. Medora, North Dakota

Photo: EQRoy/Shutterstock

You might think you’re in the Midwest, but Medora is full-on cowboy country. Right outside Theodore Roosevelt National Park, this town on the Little Missouri River is barely more than nine square blocks with a population of 112. Here, it’s all about the call of the wild.

Start at one of the three separate units of the national park. You can conquer the South Unit’s 36-mile scenic drive via the entrance that’s right in town. The North Unit is where you can count prairie dogs and bighorn sheep, or wander along the Painted Canyon Nature Trail through the park’s beautiful badlands. The Elkhorn Ranch Unit is a bit of a drive, but it’s where you’ll find Roosevelt’s backcountry. This is the 26th president’s home ranch, and there are no visitor centers, facilities, or scenic roads. All that remains is the wide-open ranchlands and the foundation of his cabin, along with a few displays of his writings on the site.

After your national park adventures, stop by the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame, and top off the day with a drink at Theodore’s Dining Room at the Rough Riders Hotel. You could stay there, but in true Roosevelt fashion, consider tent-camping on the edge of town.

8. Lanesboro, Minnesota

Photo: Michael Seiler/Shutterstock

Time slows down in Lanesboro. Here, it’s easier to find a B&B than a hotel, live theater than 2:00 AM nightlife, 19th-century architectural gems than contemporary art. Sitting below the high bluffs of the surrounding Root River Valley, you might wonder where (and when) you stumbled upon this tranquil Midwestern village.

Its population of 750 will add to your confusion. You’ll wonder how this little hamlet got a professional theater. Likewise, you’ll want to know how it happened upon one of the most scenic bike trails, Root River, and some of the best fly fishing in the Midwest. You may also be curious about how it holds onto art studios and Amish shops, as well as onto homegrown bakeries and craft breweries. Well, when you get here, you can ask.

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Pokemon-themed planes in Japan

“Gotta Catch ‘Em All” is more complex these days than it was back in the ’90s. Instead of just 150 Pokemon, there are almost 1,000, and for many of us the simple days of playing Pokemon Red and Blue on a GameBoy is a thing of the past. That’s why this Pokemon-themed plane is the perfect way to hearken back to a simpler time.

Photo: Solaseed Air / ソラシドエア/Facebook

Japanese carrier Solaseed Air, based on the island of Kyushu, debuted a Pokemon-themed plane on December 19 as part of a tourism collaboration with The Pokemon Company and various regions of Japan. The first flight took off from Miyazaki City to Tokyo’s Haneda airport.

Each Japanese prefecture is assigned a specific Pokemon, and a plane to go along with it, so wherever you travel in the country your Pokemon experience will be different. Eight prefectures have already joined the partnership, CNN reported.

Miyazaki Prefecture’s Pokemon, for example, is Exeggutor, who is featured on the plane’s livery and interior decor. Exeggutor also appears on buses in the prefecture. Other characters include Slowpoke in Kagawa and Chansey in Fukushima.

The Pokemon-themed planes and buses will operate at least through the end of 2021.

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US requires COVID tests from UK

Due to a new strain of COVID-19 in the United Kingdom that appears to be up to 70 percent more contagious, travelers from the UK will now be required to test negative before entering the United States.

Starting December 28, travelers entering the US will have to take a COVID-19 PCR or antigen test no more than 72 hours before their flight to the US, and provide written documentation of their lab results to the airline before boarding.

According to the CDC’s testing order, “Airlines must confirm the negative test result for all passengers before they board. If a passenger chooses not to take a test, the airline must deny boarding to the passenger.”

The CDC also recommends getting tested three to five days after you arrive in the US, and self-quarantining for seven days.

Whether this new rule will have any significant impact, however, is another matter. According to CNN, researchers on the CDC’s COVID-19 response team say that testing three days before a flight will only reduce viral transmission by just five to nine percent, while testing the day of departure “reduces the risk of transmission by 37 to 61%, according to the CDC scientists’ November report.” Dr. Paul Offit, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Pennsylvania, compared it to “putting up a chain link fence to keep out a mosquito.”

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German pilot traces a syringe in sky

With COVID-19 vaccines rolling out across the world for the past few weeks, everyone is celebrating in their own way. Some are privately waiting their turn, optimistically hoping this is the start of a return to relative normalcy, while others are taking a more active approach. Samy Kramer, a German pilot, traced a giant syringe in the sky to celebrate the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccines in Europe.

He told Reuters that his goal was not only to create some unique sky art, and celebrate the vaccine’s arrival, but also to get people thinking about getting vaccinated. “There are still relatively many people opposing vaccination,” he said, “and my action may be a reminder for them to think about the topic, to get things moving. Perhaps it was also a bit of a sign of joy, because the aviation industry has been hit pretty hard by the pandemic.”

Earlier this week, a pilot in Germany took to the skies to celebrate the availability of a #COVID19 vaccine. https://t.co/VQCzEjIz8a pic.twitter.com/RPAJx74YfA

— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) December 27, 2020

He flew 124 miles around southern the Lake Constance area of southern Germany to make his point. The syringe outline is visible on the flight tracking website Flightradar24.

Germany began its vaccination campaign on Sunday, December 27, 2020.

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