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US passport supremacy might be over

Telling Americans they can’t travel to Europe this summer is like telling a high school kid he can’t buy a ticket to prom because he flunked health science. Americans don’t take “no” very well. And why should they? The US passport grants access to 184 of the world’s 195 countries, and Americans have grown pretty comfortable viewing the world like a neighbor’s yard with no fence and no trespassing laws. Thanks to the US’s poor response to the pandemic, however, that reality is about to change.

Freedom of travel feels like something engraved in our Bill of Rights — an amendment that says, “Americans can go wherever they want without filling out any dumb paperwork.” But travel was never an inalienable right. It’s a privilege that can be revoked. European countries are starting to welcome tourists again, only now there are bouncers at the door. Once, Americans were the group of well-heeled, attractive women guaranteed entry to any nightclub. Now they’re more like the group of out-of-shape, desperate men who definitely aren’t on the list.

In the throes of the pandemic, the US lost the one thing that made its passport so strong: trust. International travel is a relationship like any other, built on mutual trust and respect. Falling woefully short in its containment, mitigation, and testing of the coronavirus, the US shirked its obligation to the international community. Now, instead of sending tourists abroad whose only danger is spreading the Yankees hat fashion trend, the US is sending untested travelers who might be asymptomatically spreading coronavirus. And you can’t blame other countries for telling us, “Yeah, we’re full,” while simultaneously waving a group of New Zealanders through the velvet ropes.

The problem of American “freedoms”

Every country in the world has lived under travel restrictions during the pandemic. But in the US, these restrictions aren’t just inconvenient — they feel contrary to our national identity.

Americans cling to “freedom” as a distinctly American ideal, as if other free countries are just infringing on our intellectual property. Freedom is America’s civic religion. It’s at the heart of our American exceptionalism, and when someone tries to take it away, we risk becoming, well … unexceptional. That’s why the travel ban hits us so hard.

Our problem with freedom is that we have trouble distinguishing between “rights” and “privileges.” When privileges are taken away, even temporarily, it threatens the national myth that Americans can do whatever they want and go wherever they want. If freedom of travel isn’t guaranteed, then we may wonder what other freedoms aren’t guaranteed.

Some countries, like Spain, have already announced that visitors from high-risk countries won’t be permitted. Greece has released its list of who will be allowed to enter from June 15, and the US isn’t on it. Others may impose two-week quarantines on visitors from high-infection countries, which would be prohibitive to most leisure travel. Whatever the new regulations, more doors will be closed to American travelers than ever before. But for many countries, this has been a frustrating reality for years.

Wildan Adani, a relationship manager at a Jakarta bank, described the complex process of traveling abroad with an Indonesian passport.

“Visa requirements are different for every country,” he told Matador Network. “Generally, the consulate will ask for a valid passport, visa application form, itinerary with proof of plane tickets and hotel bookings, and the visa application fee. Sometimes they even ask for proof of occupation from your current workplace. And if you plan to stay with a friend abroad, you must supply a recommendation letter from that friend.”

Sometimes, prospective travelers aren’t just asked for documents but also in-person interviews.

According to a 30-year-old Istanbul resident, who chose to remain anonymous, Turkish passport holders are required to supply detailed itineraries for most international trips and show up at the consulate for an interview.

“You first visit the consulate’s website,” he said, “and check which documents are required to visit the country, including itinerary information, plane tickets, train tickets, and accommodation bookings. Once submitted, you wait for approval. If approved, they invite you for an interview, and if you pass, you’re good to go. I’m used to it. You have to do it in my country.”

For many passport-holders around the world, the luxury of visa-free travel is simply unheard of. It’s a time-consuming process, especially when it comes to traveling to the US. Though the doors of the world may typically be open to US citizens, our own door is padlocked with 16 deadbolts and a gatekeeper asking for a secret password.

Even Europeans, whose passports are among the world’s strongest, have to jump through hoops to visit the US. Marie-Louise Deutschmann, a university student in Linz, Austria, discussed the tedious process of getting an ESTA for her last trip to the US.

“Depending on the duration of my stay,” she said, “I either have to apply for an ESTA or a visa. To apply for an ESTA, I need to provide personal information, emergency contact, a personal ID number, employer address and phone number, and contact info for where I’m staying in the US. The visa is only necessary if my ESTA is denied or if I plan to stay longer than 90 days. There are also different types of visas depending on the purpose of your travel — B-1, J-1, CW-1, D, O, Q, B-2.”

Adani, an avid traveler, has always wanted to visit the US but postponed his trip several times due to the difficulty of obtaining entry.

“The US is the country I most want to visit, but I don’t want to deal with the hassle of applying for a visa,” he said. “They will ask to come to the embassy for an interview; the visa fee is expensive, it takes a month to process, and there’s no guarantee that the visa will be approved.”

An opportunity to focus on domestic travel

Americans might be denied entry to some countries during the pandemic, but no one is suggesting the US passport will become worthless. Our travel freedoms will be restored to us eventually, but in the interim, we have a unique opportunity to explore our own backyards. No, not the same backyard you’ve been pacing restlessly since quarantine started.

An abundance of history, natural beauty, and diverse cultures are available here at home, and it’s much more accessible, and safer if you can forgo a plane, than traveling abroad right now. The US draws around 80 million visitors each year, and that’s not just because of the Statue of Liberty. Deadwood, South Dakota, might sound a lot less sexy than Bali, but this is the perfect opportunity to take that cross-country road trip you keep postponing and discover more of your own country.

Adani, who longs for a trip to the US, envies the ease of our domestic travel.

“The US has so many awesome spots for traveling,” he said. “It’s like six countries in one. I think US citizens should start paying attention to domestic destinations and explore their own country. Once this pandemic is over, and if I can figure out the paperwork, it’s the first place I’ll be going.”

Gabrielle Nicholson, duty manager at a Dubai-based hotel group, told Matador Network that domestic “staycations” are on the rise, and people around the world are learning to appreciate the beauty within their own borders.

“International travel restrictions may be disappointing for Americans at the outset,” she said, “But ultimately I think it will encourage a rise in domestic travel. We are seeing an increasing trend for ‘staycations’ here in the UAE, with many residents opting to visit hotels in their local area for a weekend break.”

International travel bans are disappointing no matter where you’re from. But they’re forcing people around the world to look domestically for adventure, perhaps for the very first time. And with the ethical quandaries of international travel concerning public health — not just government restrictions — staying home is a good thing, even if the notion of “home” expands to the other side of the country.

Restrictions make you appreciate travel

American travelers live in a world of “yes.” It’s an enviable position we should appreciate more than we do, and sometimes we need to be reminded how lucky we are. That means hearing the occasional “no.” We may hold our US passports close to our hearts, but this period of restriction — however long it may last — forces us to take a step back and view the world through the lens of a passport that doesn’t have the bald eagle crest.

“As an Indonesian citizen,” said Adani, “I can’t travel as freely as Americans or Europeans do. But this has actually made me appreciate traveling more due to the added effort, expense, and the anxious feeling on whether or not your visa will be approved or not. When you arrive at your destination, the experience sinks into you more, and you have more fun while it lasts.”

Many EU citizens endured some of the strictest lockdowns in the world. Now that their borders are opening, they’re looking at traveling through new eyes.

“I think that I’ll travel a bit more thoughtfully,” Deutschmann said. “I took it for granted to just hop on the plane [from Austria] and go wherever I wanted to. I think it’s important to realize that traveling is a huge privilege.”

Some countries will always enjoy greater travel freedoms than others, and this pandemic won’t change that. But maybe, when all the doors are flung open again, we’ll realize how lucky we are to have a universal key and treat the destinations we visit with an increased respect.

Until then, what does it mean to be American in a time when freedom of movement is limited? It means waiting in line with everyone else. It means listening to the bouncer at the door when he tells you to wear a facemask. It means restoring our relationship with the rest of the world and earning back their trust.

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Trump rules allow hunters in dens

The Trump administration is rolling back an Obama-era regulation that prohibits hunters from shooting animals in their dens. The 2015 order protected bears, wolves, coyotes, and their cubs and pups from hunters in some Alaskan national preserves, as well as in Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.

Conservationists are alarmed by the new rule which they deem cruel. Jesse Prentice-Dunn, policy director for the Center for Western Priorities, told The Guardian that the rule change was “just the latest in a string of efforts to reduce protections for America’s wildlife at the behest of oil companies and trophy hunters.”

The trapping and hunting laws in the new regulations are otherwise permitted by Alaska state and federal law. The 2015 regulation was believed to be in conflict with state laws.

Alaska’s leaders praised the change that they believe restores sovereignty to the state and will expand recreational opportunities.

The Anchorage Daily listed the scope of the new rules, explaining that it will allow hunters to take “Black bears, including cubs and sows with cubs, with artificial light at den sites; Black and brown bears over bait; Wolves and coyotes, including pups, during the denning season; Swimming caribou; Caribou from traveling motorboats.”

The Tanana Chiefs Conference, a local tribal consortium, also agreed with the ruling, saying the Obama regulation was implemented without sufficient tribal consultation. They cited Alaska’s dependence on wild food resources as a reason for rolling back the policy.

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Airbnb’s 10 most wish-listed houses

Just because traveling this summer might look a bit unusual doesn’t mean people stopped bookmarking Airbnbs for their wish lists. In many countries around the world, Airbnbs are still up and running and will soon be welcoming international visitors.

In a statement, Airbnb said, “While lockdown still prohibits us from holidaying beyond our own four walls, there’s nothing to stop us dreaming about the incredible places we’ll travel to once it’s safe to do so — and lots of people across the globe have been using Airbnb to do just that.”

The home-sharing giant just revealed its most wish-listed homes around the world between March 11 and May 4, 2020. The list makes it pretty obvious that just because people are grounded, they’re still daydreaming about a treehouse vacation or an epic Iceland getaway.

10. Marrakesh, Tensift-El Haouz, Morocco

Photo: Airbnb

One of the most authentic ways for visitors to experience Morocco is by staying in Dar Ahwach. “The best way of traveling,” the listing states, “of knowing a country and people, is to share their way of life. By living in DAR AHWACH in the traditional and typical housing environment of the medina, you enter into the heart of the Moroccan ancestral culture.” The house comes complete with a pond, terrace, and easy access to the local medina.

9. Oia, Greece

Photo: Airbnb

This cave house was initially used by regional craftsmen. Its architecture is defined by local techniques and antique furniture, making it one of the most traditional Airbnbs in Greece. Its most defining feature is the cave room — an old cistern transformed into a bedroom. Every room in this quirky abode has its own distinct character, which evokes Greece’s unique architectural past.

8. Akureyri, Iceland

Photo: Airbnb

Iceland is set to become one of the first countries welcoming tourists this summer, so you might want to make special note of this cabin in Akureyri. This modern take on rural cabin life offers visitors solitude, a view of Akureyri’s bay, and the opportunity to truly commune with nature. From the cabin, you can hike to Sulur, the nearby mountain, or even take a horseback riding tour of the countryside. In the winter, it’s the perfect place from which to view the northern lights.

7. Mount Washington, Los Angeles, California

Photo: Airbnb

Sure, you could fork over $20 million for your own LA mansion, or you could just rent this Airbnb for a weekend and get a taste of the high life. Located close to Downtown LA and Hollywood, this private pool house has high ceilings, an open layout, and oriental-inspired decor, as well as access to a pool and spa.

6. Balian Beach, Bali, Selemadeg Barat, Indonesia

Photo: Airbnb

If you close your eyes and imagine heaven, chances are it looks something like this treehouse in Bali. The Balian Treehouse has a private pool, panoramic countryside views, and is just a few steps from the beach. The nearby village is within walking distance, but you can also rent a sightseeing bike to give you greater access to the island.

5. Orondo, Washington, United States

Photo: Airbnb

No, it’s not New Zealand. It’s just Washington. This Hobbit-hole-inspired dwelling is nestled in the Columbia River Gorge mountainside. Its iconic round doorway will make you think you’re in Middle Earth, and the “Underground Hygge” home doesn’t sacrifice comfort for rustic simplicity, either. It sleeps six, is equipped with modern amenities, and you won’t have to worry about 13 dwarves dragging you off to the Lonely Mountain.

4. Selat, Bali, Indonesia

Photo: Airbnb

Bali is no stranger to this list. The Indonesian island is often considered the perfect affordable beach escape for world travelers, and this eco-friendly villa is no exception. Tucked away in the mountains of the Gunung Agung volcano, and situated among the rice fields, this house is the ideal relaxing getaway for those eager for some peace and quiet.

3. Santorini, Greece

Photo: Airbnb

When you dream of a Greek island getaway, you’re probably dreaming about Santorini. The Hector Cave House was carved into the caldera cliff over 250 years ago and was originally used as a wine cellar. Now, it’s a family-owned complex consisting of three different properties that host travelers from all around the world. The house has its own plunge pool, a private veranda for outside dining, and, of course, scenic views of the Mediterranean.

2. Governador Celso Ramos, Santa Catarina, Brazil

Photo: Airbnb

This house is located in a quiet natural park, with panoramic views of the ocean and direct access to the main beach, as well as a private beach. If you’re lucky, you might see dolphins and whales breeding off the coast. It also has floor-to-ceiling windows, smart interiors, and sleeps eight people.

1. Singaraja, Bali, Indonesia

Photo: Airbnb

This luxury villa in Bali has 360-degree views of the Indian Ocean. It sits in an elevated position in one of the few untouched parts of the island, located in the relaxing area of Sanglung. The villa sleeps eight people and comes equipped with an infinity pool and its own staff and security.

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Types of American cheese to try

American cheese is more often the butt of the joke than the centerpiece of a cheeseboard. It conjures thoughts of yellow squares in flimsy plastic — great for burgers and melting on sandwiches like grilled cheeses and tuna melts, terrible for nearly anything else. Instead, people in the United States often defer to European cheesemakers in France, Italy, Switzerland, and Ireland for the fancy stuff. While those imported cheeses have an admirable reputation, homegrown American cheese deserves a more prominent place on the table.

Cheesemaking in what is now the US dates back to English settlers in the 1700s. They brought cattle with them, for one, as well as homestead versions of the techniques used to make styles like England’s beloved cheddar. That puts cheesemaking in North America at more than 300 years old, which is plenty old enough for a distinctly American cheesemaking tradition to arise (Italian pizza with red sauce, for comparison, is about the same age).

Despite having time on its side, American cheese — for this story we’re talking about the specialty cheeses, not Kraft Singles — hasn’t earned the same respect as its European counterparts. This is true for a number of reasons, Robert Ralyea, a senior extension associate at Cornell University’s department of food science, tells me over email.

“I would not necessarily say that there is not popularity and attention given to American cheeses, as there are some very popular American companies that make well-known cheese,” Ralyea says. “Though there are several obstacles in the United States that France, Italy and other European destinations don’t face.”

Many European countries have Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) guidelines for cheese. These designations mean that only producers in a specific area can make a certain type of cheese — Parmigiano Reggiano can only be made in Italy’s Parma, Reggio Emilia, and Modena regions, for example. It’s the same type of classification that makes Champagne unique to Champagne, France. These are easy to market as special expressions of a place to consumers, though it makes it difficult for cheesemakers in the US, where many early producers named their cheeses after the European styles they were imitating.

According to Raylea, there’s no shortage of artisan cheesemakers in the US, but they receive less attention at restaurants and grocery stores compared to those in Europe.

“It is also quite difficult for the entire nation in the United States to purchase an abundance of cheese,” Raylea says. “If you go to a standard grocery store in rural America, artisan cheeses are not often carried so the exposure is just not there unless people are out there looking for it.”

Lastly, the infrastructure just isn’t there for American cheeses to get the same promotion as European cheese. Cheesemaking is time and resource intensive, especially when it comes to farm-style cheeses. It takes specialized knowledge to make a consistent product that sells well. Ralyea compares it to Formula 1 drivers: They go to a specialist when they need a mechanic, not a jack of all trades.

Yet stateside cheesemakers are prevailing nonetheless. In 2019, an Oregon cheese, Rogue River Blue Cheese from Rogue Creamery, won the top prize at the World Cheese Awards — the first time an American cheese has won in the competition’s 32-year history. That same year, 131 cheeses from the US got recognition among the best of the best from more name-brand cheese producing countries.

In other words, great American cheese isn’t necessarily non-existent or underrated, it’s just a little harder to find.

“Our distribution system in the US doesn’t focus on the local markets like they do in Europe,” Ralyea says. “Everything here flows through distribution warehouses, especially for the large grocery chains. Often you are hard pressed to find local cheeses in the big ‘box’ grocery stores.”

To find these cheeses, think local. Like many regional products, the best way to find classic American cheeses is to go to the small local business owners (in this case, cheesemongers) who know the producers best. The American Cheese Society has a list of award winners and their business locations, and there are also in-person (or, during pandemic times, online) tastings from major cheese producing states like New York and Wisconsin. On an even more local level, there are the great cheesemongers across the country, like The Cheese Shop in Williamsburg, Virginia; Murray’s Cheese in New York City; Cured Boulder in Colorado; Glanbia Cheese Marketplace in Twin Falls, Idaho; and The Cheese Board Collective in Berkeley, California.

To start, these are four types of American cheese to keep an eye out for that can be found at many reputable shops or ordered online.

Kunik from New York

Photo: Nettle Meadow & The Kemp Sanctuary/Facebook

Kunik is a triple cream cheese of goat’s milk and cow’s cream that comes from Nettle Meadow Farm in New York. It’s got the accolades (second place at the 2019 US Cheese Championships and a gold medal at the 2016 World Cheese Championship) and the flavor to back it up. It’s creamy, slightly crumbly, and spreadable if you choose to eat it with crackers, and the rind is tangy (and yes, you should almost always consider eating the rind).

Original Blue from California

Photo: Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese/Facebook

Variations on blue cheese can be found around the world. Consider Original Blue from Point Reyes the next time you’re on the hunt for the perfect one. This rindless cheese is made with unpasteurized (also called raw) cow’s milk and is aged for three and a half months. It’s creamy with a characteristic strong blue flavor.

Humboldt Fog from California

Photos: Cypress Grove/Facebook

Named after the famous fog of Humboldt County in northern California, Humboldt Fog cheese from Cypress Grove is a soft-ripened, creamy goat cheese that carries the weight of a long string of medals going back to competitions in 2002. You’ll spot it in the grocery store by the characteristic gray line of vegetable ash that runs through the middle.

Reading from Vermont

Photos: Spring Brook Farm Cheese/Facebook

Spring Brook Farm Cheese first made Reading in 2010, and it hasn’t looked back. It’s in the style of Raclette, which is the cheese from the Swiss and French Alps that’s melted and scraped on top of meat and potatoes. Reading is made from raw Jersey cow milk, aged around three months, and tastes creamy and nutty. You can melt it over your food like Raclette or leave it at room temperature on a cheese plate.

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Appalachian Trail reopening

Sections of the Appalachian Trail started closing in mid-March, and after two and a half long months, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) announced the trail’s gradual reopening. The ATC collaborated with trail management partners and experts in outdoor recreation and medicine to create a set of guidelines for day and overnight hikers. Thru-hikers, who complete the hike in a months-long trek, are still being told to stay away.

Sandra Marra, ATC president and chief executive, told The Washington Post, “Day hikers can mitigate exposure, but there is no feasible way thru-hikers can because of the closures.”

Around 98 percent of the trail is reopened, though many services long-distance hikers depend on — like overnight shelters and restrooms — are still closed, making thru-hiking impossible.

In contrast to thru-hikers, day and overnight hikers have the flexibility to work around these closures. They can more easily avoid enclosed spaces with high-touch surfaces, and reduce the risk of contamination.

According to Marra, “When you go into those facilities, all bets are off. The picnic tables and privies are teeming with bacteria on the best day. We can’t station enough people to sanitize them.”

However, the ATC is recommending that all hikers, no matter their ambitions, to ask themselves the following questions before setting out for the trail: Have you experienced coronavirus-like symptoms? Does your route include closed portions (an updated list can be found on the ATC’s website) of the trail? Do you have masks and hand sanitizer?

Hikers are also being advised to avoid narrow paths not conducive to social distancing, and to not go hiking if the trailhead’s parking lot is full.

If you decide to ignore the ATC’s advice and thru-hike the Appalachian Trail, the organization will not acknowledge your accomplishment. So keep that in mind before deciding to break any rules.

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Mexico to welcome back US tourism

Good news for your tropical summer vacation plans. Like several European countries, Mexico is planning to start its tourist season in June. However, it will only be welcoming tourists to areas of the country that aren’t still in the midst of a serious coronavirus outbreak. Domestic travel will be encouraged first, followed by tourism from the US, Canada, and then the rest of the world.

Since mid-May, some regions in Mexico have been allowed to lift lockdown orders and reopen essential businesses, restaurants, and cafes. These regions, including the popular holiday destinations Quintana Roo, Cancún, and Los Cabos, will reopen to international tourism with enhanced safety protocols.

Although Mexico’s land border with the US will remain closed until June 22, Southwest plans to resume flights from Denver, Houston, Baltimore, and Washington DC to Cancún on June 7. Delta is also planning to roll out June flights to Mexico.

In some places, however, finding a hotel as an international traveler could prove tricky. In Los Cabos, hotels plan to accept domestic travelers starting in July, while international visitors might not be welcomed until August or September. The ultimate goal is to restore 80 percent of hotel bookings, and 60 percent of air connectivity, by early 2021 reports Lonely Planet.

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Animals that take hallucinogens

Perhaps, at some point, you’ve dabbled in the world of hallucinogens. Maybe it was at a high school party. Maybe it was at a music festival. Maybe it was because you wanted to make the most out of your night in watching The Lego Movie. Whatever your motivation, it wasn’t something exclusive to you as a human being. Ingesting hallucinogenic plants — both for recreation and medicine — isn’t uncommon in the animal kingdom, and as Joel Locke, the Primate Farm Keeper at the Great Plains Zoo in Sioux Falls explained, it’s something you’d find from the plains of South Dakota to the depths of the Amazon jungle.

1. Reindeer seek out mushrooms.

Photo: Andrei Stepanov/Shutterstock + ressormat/Shutterstock

When the snow in Siberia first begins to thaw, reindeer native to the region will hoof up fly agaric mushrooms sitting just below the surface of the snow.

“They have these big red caps; they look a little like Toad from Super Mario Bros,” says Locke. In addition to looking like they come from a trippy video game, the mushrooms are also known to cause visions, and reindeer that eat them often run aimlessly, have random muscle spasms, and make weird noises.

Not deterred, local herders want in on the action too, and they’ve found a way to do it without having to dig through frozen tundra.

“Hereders would capture the reindeer, because the hallucinogen doesn’t go away from [the reindeers’] system and goes straight into the urine,” says Locke. “So they drink the urine from the reindeer to get their own hallucination.”

2. House cats get high on catnip.

Photo: Anna Hoychuk/Shutterstock

The most obvious and easy-to-spot animal that partakes in hallucinogens is the common house cat, which, as anyone who watches Instagram stories knows, goes absolutely bonkers when it gets around catnip. This is because the chemical in catnip — nepetalactone — mimics female pheromones and drives cats into intense fits of arousal. Both females and males react to it, though, doing everything from chasing invisible mice to rolling on the ground uncontrollably.

Anecdotally, Locke says strong colognes and perfumes can have similar effects on big cats he’s worked with at the zoo. The stuff that makes you gag when you’re stuck in an elevator with someone drives these cats crazy.

3. Bighorn sheep break their teeth to get lichen.

Photo: Danita Delmont/Shutterstock

In the Canadian Rockies, lichen grows in some of the most inhospitable, hard-to-reach terrain in the region, a.k.a the perfect place for bighorn sheep to climb and get high. The sheep have been known to traverse paths far too risky for humans — or other animals — and find lichen growing on rocks. Some will chip their teeth all the way down trying to scrape lichen off the rock.

4. Rough-toothed dolphins play with pufferfish.

Photo: Ramil dolphin/Shutterstock

We already know that dolphins, cute as we may find them, are completely sadistic when it comes to catching their prey and often toss them around for a while before making them lunch. This might not seem such a wise idea when trying to eat, say, a pufferfish, which emits one of the deadliest poisons in the world when it feels it’s being threatened. That said, in small doses its tetrodotoxin can be mildly hallucinogenic, and juvenile rough-tooths pass it around like a spiny, swimming joint to get high.

“They don’t really kill it; they just bite it to get it to release its neurotoxins,” says Locke. “I can’t explain why they do that, but considering pufferfish is one of the most venomous fish in the world, it’s just random and weird.”

5. Red-fronted Lemurs chew on millipedes.

Photo: ANDRZEJ GRZEGORCZYK/Shutterstock + Artush/Shutterstock

Though they’re not necessarily using them to get high (or so they tell their parents) Madagascar’s red-fronted lemurs have been observed picking up highly toxic millipedes, rubbing them all over their nether regions, and eventually swallowing them. While primates routinely use insects as a sort of topical ointment to relieve irritations, chewing them is far less common, and Locke says little is known about why lemurs do this.

“The [millipede’s] toxin is not scientifically known to be a hallucinogenic,” he says. “But some will ingest the millipede to help with parasites. It’s pretty much a medicinal use.”

6. Jaguars are fond of ayahuasca vines.

Photo: Jamen Percy/Shutterstock

In the same way that people flock to the Amazon for ayahuasca ceremonies with mystical shamans, the jaguars native to the region eat yage (ayahuasca vines) to get a greater understanding of the world around them. Or maybe they do it because it looks delicious. No one is exactly certain why jaguars do this, but the yage vines contain harmala alkaloids — a key component of the ayahuasca drink recipe which activates DMT (dimethyltryptamine) in other ingredients. So while the jaguars aren’t having full-fledged conversations with dead ancestors and going through a year’s worth of therapy in one weekend, they are getting something out of eating the plants. And it turns these fierce predators into rolling goofballs.

7. Cows and horses appreciate a little locoweed.

Photo: OneSmallSquare/Shutterstock + CShepard/Shutterstock

In the great plains of America’s Midwest, one of the first plants to bloom in the spring is locoweed, a low-growing, high-protein plant with colorful flowers and a deadly phytotoxin. It produces swainsonine, which can cause grazing animals to go into a calm trance where they just kind of stand around doing nothing.

Animals don’t eat it to chill out but rather because it’s a high-protein food that’s readily available when other food sources are scarce. Cows, horses, bighorn sheep, mule deer, and other plains-dwellers are particularly susceptible, and it’s a big problem for farmers.

“Farmers have to watch out for their cattle and horses,” Locke says. “It’s really bad for domesticated animals because they’re on a pasture and just eat all they can. You really have to watch out, loco means ‘crazy’ in Spanish and there have been instances where livestock eat too much, and act a little crazy and energetic, then soon after their toxicity level is too high and they’re lethargic and disoriented.”

And nobody likes a disoriented cow.

8. Wallabies have a taste for opium.

Photo: Daniel Peet/Shutterstock + demamiel62/Shutterstock

Humans are mostly to blame for Australian wallabies’ relatively newfound penchant for poppies. In its rush to become one of the world’s leading producers of legal poppy plants, Australia cleared much of the wallaby’s natural habitat. The displaced wallabies still often wander into poppy fields in much the same way alligators wander into Florida backyards, and many of them eat the opiates and get high. It’s thought to be the reason the wallabies return again and again, though the phenomenon has not been conclusively studied.

“I don’t know if it’s because humans are constantly pushing wildlife aside for farming, so maybe it popped up in their habitat?” says Locke. “Or they eat it for medicinal uses. Or they’re eating it because it wasn’t usually there, and now they’re figuring out how to eat this new plant that’s growing there.”

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Japan's rollercoasters ban screaming

If you’ve ever been on a scary rollercoaster, you probably know that when the fear and adrenaline kick in, screaming is the standard reaction, and it’s not one that is easily controlled. But if you decide to spend any time in a Japanese theme park these days, you’re going to have to reign it in.

Japan is lifting its state of emergency this week, and theme parks will be allowed to reopen after being closed since February. But to remain vigilant and prevent the spread of coronavirus via droplets, a group of 30 theme park operators in the country, called East and West Japan Theme Park Associations, is asking that guests not cheer or shout on outdoor attractions.

And as if the screaming rule wasn’t already tough enough to enforce, employees are also being encouraged to keep conversations short and instead communicate with hand gestures or eye expressions with customers.

Other more reasonable and expected measures will also be introduced, like mask requirements, heightened cleaning measures, temperature checks, social distancing guidelines, and limiting entry to visitors from certain prefectures.

Although many of Japan’s theme parks are reopening, Tokyo Disneyland and Universal Japan haven’t yet announced reopening dates.

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Portugal is reopening to tourists

Portugal will be one of the first European countries opening their borders to tourists this summer, vowing to welcome overseas tourists as soon as June. Unlike many other countries, which require visitors to undergo a two-week quarantine upon arrival, Portugal is waiving that requirement, making it easier for people to travel to the country. Some health checks will nonetheless be introduced at airports.

The country has now specified which countries will be welcome in Portugal, and it’s good news for American travelers. Portugal will allow access to travelers from the Schengen Area (except nearby Spain and Italy), as well as the US, Canada, and Brazil.

A statement on VisitPortugal.com reads, “Continuing general restraint and containment behaviour, the resumption of economic and social activity will take place in stages, allowing the analysis of the development of the outbreak and the implementation of new measures where necessary. The civic duty of home confinement and social distance (two metres) is maintained, and the use of face masks are mandatory in public transport and services, shops and supermarkets, in enclosed spaces or outdoor gatherings. The enclosed spaces will have a maximum capacity limit of five people/100 m².”

TAP Airlines, Portugal’s flagship carrier, resumed some international operations earlier this month, although flights to and from the European Union are still suspended until June 15. Spain’s border with Portugal will also remain closed until then.

A big part of resuming Portugal’s struggling tourism sector is the reopening of hotels and resorts. The NAU Hotels & Resorts hotel group announced that it will resume activity in the Algarve and Alentejo regions on May 31, reopening 10 hotels that had been closed due to the pandemic. Their occupancy, however, cannot exceed two-thirds.

Beaches in Portugal will reopen on June 6.

A version of this article was previously published on May 26, 2020, and was updated on May 28, 2020, with more information.

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Israeli archeological discovery

You might think that only professional archaeologists are capable of making significant historical discoveries, but this six-year-old boy proved otherwise. During a hiking trip with his parents to the Tel Jemmeh archaeological site in Israel’s Negev Desert last March, Elya picked up a small clay object with an engraving. The first-grader showed the discovery to his parents, who then contacted the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA).

The object turned out to be a rare and unique 3,500-year-old object — a 1.1 inch by 1.1 inch tablet dating back to the Canaanite civilization.

Photo: Emil Aladjem + Israel Antiquities Authority/Facebook

IAA archeologists believe that the tablet depicts a man leading and humiliating a captive. The captive is emaciated, naked, and his hands are tied behind his back while the captor is healthy and clothed. Experts also noticed the ethnic differences between the two figures — the prisoner is Canaatie, and his captor is Egyptian. The clay impression is thought to be a souvenir of victory of the Egyptian Empire against Canaan, like an honor badge or medal.

For his discovery, Elya received a certificate of good citizenship from the Israel Antiquities Authority.

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