Kosmos

A roadway separates the pitch at Singapore’s Floating Stadium from the grandstand. And no, it wasn’t a mistake; the idea was to make it a venue for Formula 1 racing, too. Another fascinating fact: Only the grandstand is on dry land, the soccer field is mounted on a pontoon, floating in Marina Bay.

With space for 250 000 fans, Strahov Stadium was once the largest arena in the world. These days, Sparta Prague’s B team plays there – to a few hundred spectators.

When goals elude other teams, the coach is fired. The Chinese city of Guangzhou’s top-league club took the advice of a feng shui expert and painted the stadium seats gold – and before long had a series of home victories.

Once you left your computer screen to swim in the cenotes and inspect Mayan ruins in Tulum, Mexico, it’s time for something new. We recommend the excellent beach clubs in Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific coast.

Rio? Sure, that’s a place you won’t want to leave in a hurry. But if you have to work, Florianópolis, a small town on the South Brazilian coast, is more relaxed and fast becoming a mecca for startups.

The perfect place is sometimes closer than you think: Las Palmas, the capital of Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands, has it all: culture, beaches and high-speed Internet – plus a fast flight home for the European nomad whose business partner insists on a personal meeting.