Flamboyant architecture from the turn of 20th century.

A former Latvian headquarters of the brutal KGB secret police is now open as a grim reminder of their atrocities.

A stone marker and sculpture in the city of Riga stake a claim for the very first community Christmas tree.

The reconstruction of this prominent building fulfilled a long-written command.

A subtle memorial marks where a human chain protested Soviet control in 1989.

This celebration of Latvia’s freedom and independence avoided demolition over half a century of Soviet occupation.

An open-air art gallery that aims to share the stories of the people who live around it.

A memorial to the murdered Jews of Kaunas.

The pyramid and dome deep inside the Dzūkija forest are believed to channel divine energy.

View the California coastline (and the home of Barbara Streisand) inch by inch with stunning, government-sanctioned aerial photography.

The dramatic upward-curving roof is one of the most iconic examples of Googie architecture that still stands today.

An historic and oft-filmed spot for musclebound iron pumpers on the Pacific coast.

Legendary frontman of the Doors looms in this giant mural by famed Venice muralist, Rip Cronk.

A giant donut stands as a popular symbol of Los Angeles iconography.

This quirky UFO-shaped curiosity is often mistaken for the airport’s control tower.

A second generation sun-powered marvel lights up the night.

Where a great scandal unfolded with a famous female revivalist at its center.

A three-story, three-dimensional hobo clown in a tutu welcomes CVS shoppers.

The oldest funicular in Lithuania has been climbing this steep hill since 1931.

Open-air museum with a large collection of Soviet-era statues.

A creepy statue of a hooded ghost hauls itself up from the water in a historic Lithuanian city.

In Kazakhstan, a colorful cathedral with many lives once survived the most powerful earthquake in the region.

This sprawling market is a one-stop shop for traditional Kazakh foods, from mare’s milk to sheep’s head.

Mysterious spherical rocks in the semi-desert of western Kazakhstan.