Capitals often show you the worst version of a country. They're where tourists concentrate, where prices inflate, where authenticity gets buried under a mountain of souvenir shops selling the same mass-produced crap. Meanwhile, second cities—the places travelers skip...

A bucket list isn't just about checking off places like items on a grocery list. It's about collecting moments that change how you see the world and yourself. I've spent years dreaming about destinations that promise transformation—places where history whispers...