If you thought beer was a beauty product, you’ll appreciate this: Visitors to the Bjórböðin Spa in Iceland relax in wooden troughs filled with barley juice, water, hops and yeast. This unusual mixture cleanses the skin and boosts the metabolism. Beer drinkers, never fear: There’s a keg of beer conveniently placed right beside the bathtub.
Culture clash
Exploring Indonesia, Mexico or France can take years. If you’re strapped for time why not try a cultural theme park instead?
Island hopping
At the Taman Mini park near Jakarta, you’ll find Indonesia’s over 17 500 islands in miniature format plus architecture, dances, crafts and culinary specialties from across the archipelago.
Mexico Express
Enjoy dance and music shows, watch traditional potters and smiths at work, stroll the ruins of a real Maya settlement – all at Xcaret, the Mexican culture park near Cancún.
Showtime
Puy du Fou in Vendée, France, has been named the world’s best theme park multiple times. Its spectacular shows spotlight French historical and mythological heroes.
The best place to see and learn to dance the tango is Buenos Aires, where the sensual dance was born and where the annual International Tango Festival and world championships take place (August 9 – 22).
A master poised between Classicism and Avantgarde: MoMA New York is showing sculptures (photo: “Endless Column”) and photographs by the Romanian-French artist Constantin Brâncuși (1876-1957) through the end of February next year.
With their eclectic mix of house, hip-hop and indie pop, Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons, aka The Chemical Brothers, can still whip up a storm on the dance floor two decades on. The Manchester band’s videos and light shows are legendary. Catch them live in Munich on Aug. 17.