
Breathtaking video shows cherry blossoms brightening up Washington DC as they reach peak bloom
The footage posted to X on Thursday (27 March) shows the magnificent trees in Tidal Basin, the focal point of the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival.
Cherry blossoms remain in bloom for around 10 days, depending on weather conditions. However, warmer temperatures expected in the city this weekend may speed up the bloom process.
The Japanese government gifted the US with about 3,000 cherry trees in 1912. First Lady Helen Herron Taft and Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador, planted the first two trees at Tidal Basin on 27 March of that year.

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Time Out
a day ago
- Time Out
This quiet coastal city in Australia is about to blow up – here's why you should visit
l wasn't surprised to discover that Townsville was named one of Australia's top 'up and coming' destinations for 2024. It might be the largest city in regional Queensland, but it still flies under the radar as a launchpad for exploring the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef. Last year, Townsville North Queensland saw an impressive 11.7 per cent spike in visitor numbers, making it one of the fastest-growing tourism destinations in the country. And it's only just getting started, with the coastal city set to shine even brighter as co-host of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games and 2027 Men's Rugby World Cup. Our advice? Get in before the rest of Australia catches on. Where is Townsville? Townsville is the largest city in North Queensland, sitting approximately halfway between Brisbane and the top of Australia, Cape York. It's roughly a 15-hour drive north of Brisbane or a four-hour commute south of Cairns. You can also skip the road trip and fly direct from Brisbane (one hour and 55 mins), Sydney (two hours and 45 mins) or Melbourne (three hours). What to do in Townsville? Townsville is an outdoor playground for exhilarating adventures, both on land and offshore. Hiking (or driving) to the top of Castle Hill is a must for breathtaking panoramic views over the entire city and the sparkling Coral Sea beyond. Just 45 minutes from the CBD, Paluma Range National Park also offers a bunch of scenic trails, including Jourama Falls, Mount Spec and Mount Halifax. Pack swimmers for a refreshing dip at Big Crystal Creek and Little Crystal Creek, on the way back. While in the city, take a stroll along The Strand, explore the Jezzine Barracks and brush up on history at the Queensland Museum Tropics. If you're up for a day trip, catch the 20-minute ferry to Magnetic Island, where 23 beautiful beaches, historic shipwrecks, snorkelling escapades, hiking trails and Northern Australia's largest koala colony await. Planning well ahead? You can also ferry over to Hinchinbrook Island – the largest island on the Great Barrier Reef that welcomes only 7,000 visitors annually. While the four-day Thorsborne Trail books out months in advance (capped at 40 hikers at a time), you can still explore the island's cloud-covered mountains, thick rainforest and white sandy beaches on a range of shorter trails. Where to eat in Townsville? With a growing collection of top-tier restaurants and bars, Townsville's dining scene outdoes most regional cities. At the heart of it all is Ardo, the city's first five-star hotel, which is home to not one, but two chef-hatted venues. On the ground floor is Terasu, a punchy Japanese bar and restaurant inspired by the bright lights of Tokyo. On the top floor, you'll find Marmor, an elegant modern Australian restaurant that brings together the best of the land and sea. For a perfect evening, start with a sunset cocktail at the neighbouring Ardo Rooftop, where sweeping views of the Coral Sea meet the city skyline. If you're after something more laid-back, head to Townsville Brewing Co for award-winning craft beers, Quarterdeck for breezy alfresco bites and bevs, Longboard for burgers and tacos with a view, or Shorehouse for relaxed waterfront dining. And don't leave without visiting Grandma's – a beloved local café serving brunch inspired by recipes from grandmas and grandpas around the globe. Where to stay in Townsville? With 180 kilometres of coastline extending out to the Great Barrier Reef, it makes total sense that most of Townsville's hotels and resorts offer views of the sparkling Coral Sea. But if you want to match those five-star vistas with five-star service, Ardo is the place to be. It's Townsville's newest and only luxury hotel, housing 132 elegant rooms and suites, plus the city's only rooftop infinity pool, a dazzling day spa, two fancy restaurants and an impressive rooftop bar with views that'll take your breath away. Guests also score full access to the facilities at the neighbouring The Ville Resort-Casino, which offers an additional 194 hotel rooms. Other popular hotels in Townsville include Rambutan Resort Townsville, Quest Townsville on Eyre, Oaks Townsville Gateway, Grand Hotel and Apartments, Mercure Townsville and Aquarius on The Beach.


Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Inside Love Island's Tom Clare and Molly Smith's stunning holiday with huge pool and swanky restaurant that's all FREE
Their relationship seems stronger together if social media is anything to go by TOP PRIZE Inside Love Island's Tom Clare and Molly Smith's stunning holiday with huge pool and swanky restaurant that's all FREE FORMER Love Island stars Tom Clare and Molly Smith are currently on a luxury getaway in Marrakesh. The former ITV2 reality pair fell in love when they appeared in the first ever All Stars edition of the series in 2024. 7 Molly Smith and Tom Clare found love in the villa, and now they are abroad once again Credit: Rex 7 The duo enjoyed a luxury no expense spared trip to Morocco Advertisement 7 The reality TV star showed off his impressive physique in the pool Over a year after being voted as the winners, their relationship is still going from strength to strength. Molly, 30, and Tom, 25, first jetted abroad to enjoy a stunning getaway at the Amalfi Coast in Italy at the beginning of August. They shared a series of romantic snaps from the balcony of their hotel as they enjoyed the summer months in Europe. Advertisement Now, the pair have been treated to a luxury getaway to the Moroccan capital with an extended stay at the Nobu Marrakesh. Both of the duo shared behind-the-scenes snaps as they continued to make the most of the summer months at the five-star resort. Tom was seen flaunting his six pack and bulging muscles as he took a dip in the rooftop pool. He wore rose tinted sunglasses, dark swimming shorts and a necklace as he posed on the seat. Advertisement Later, he posted a snap of Molly posing in a revealing white silk dress as they dined out at one of the hotel's restaurants. The duo were treated to identical plates of Nigiri sushi pieces at the world famous Japanese establishment. He captioned the snap: "If it's sushi I'm there." Inside Love Island star Tom Clare's boozy birthday bash with Love Island co-stars Molly later gave details of another meal as she posed with her boyfriend in a glam selfie. She wore a low-cut silk blue top as her hair was styled into thick waves while Tom showed off his chest in a cream vest. Advertisement Molly captioned the snap: "Rooftop dinner with my love @tomclare," which was accompanied by a white heart emoji. She also explored the famous markets of the city as she beamed with a special gift from her tour guide. The Love Island was presented with a miniature golden elephant as she explored the sights and sounds of the exotic location. Later, the pair enjoyed a lavish poolside breakfast in the sun at the swanky hotel. She posted another snap onto her story where they ate cold meats and freshly made omelettes. Advertisement Molly captioned the snap: "This morning's breakfast location, yes both them breakfast plates are for @tomclare," with a face of tears of joy emoji. All of the posts on both of their Instagram stories were accompanied with relevant tags. The accounts for Jet2holidays as well as the hotel's official profile were accompanied by the caption 'AD.' This suggested that the entire trip was given to the pair for free in return for advertisement on their accounts. How much would it have cost? The Nobu Hotel in Marrakesh is not cheap, according to rates given by the hotel's official website. Advertisement At the time of writing, the cheapest room available in August - a Junior Suite - goes for MAD 4,800 (£392.98) a night. For those going for a more expensive option, the Premium Family Suite costs MAD 12,480 (£1,021.75) per day. According to Jet2, flights to Morocco from London Stansted could set you back up to £326 per person. 7 The pair dined out at expensive sushi restaurants on their tip 7 All their posts were accompanied with the caption 'AD' suggesting they were given the holiday for free Advertisement 7 Molly soaked up the exotic sun before enjoying the sights that the city had to offer


Daily Record
4 days ago
- Daily Record
Celtic globetrotters used to brutal journeys even if first world problems get lost in the shuffle
Alistair Johnston isn't the only member of Brendan Rodgers' squad who regularly racks up the air miles in between matches It's the longest journey possible in European football to a city that's a hop and a skip away from China. But Alistair Johnston insists the mammoth trek to the far end of Kazakhstan will be a walk in the park for Celtic' s regular globetrotters. The Hoops are determined to go far in the Champions League but this wasn't quite what they had in mind. Brendan Rodgers men will face FC Kairat in Glasgow on Wednesday night for the first leg of their £40m play-off showdown. And they'll need to finish the job the following week more than 3,500 miles from home – before returning to take on Rangers at Ibrox. If the Celts went that far in the other direction they'd end up in Chicago. Johnston knows what's up ahead and he admits it's going to be BRUTAL. But there are plenty of Hoops stars who know what it takes to do the business on the pitch after going long haul. The defender – who will be 7000 miles from his Vancouver home – said: 'We've quite a few guys that do it pretty regularly. Obviously, the Japanese boys, myself, (USA aces) Auston Trusty and Cameron Carter-Vickers. 'It's not fun, I'll tell you that much. It's pretty brutal, it'll be a bit of an eye opener to the European boys who are used to a little hour or two's flight away. 'When you're crossing an ocean or going through five to eight different time zones, it really adds up and makes it difficult. 'I'm curious exactly what the plan's going to be with the travel, but ideally as you try and get there a little bit earlier, acclimate and just get ready to go. But then at the same time right after that you're coming back and it's going to be a really difficult test away at Ibrox. 'So, there's things like that where you need to be able to plan and rely on the squad. 'It's a big couple weeks here for us. But all of us international boys who are used to those long distance travels obviously will try and help out with some tips for the other guys. 'The longest I've travelled? Japan was a brutal one. I don't think people understand how far that is. 'It's like an 8-hour flight from here to Dubai then another 8 hour flight from Dubai to Japan. 'With Canada, anything on the West Coast is really difficult for us. We've had some travel days that have probably added up to about 24 hours and you come back a little groggy, then you're right back into the facility the next day to get training. 'You get used to just keeping the wheels going and getting back on the horse. 'Sometimes you can have a match on a Tuesday night for example, you can't fly out until the Wednesday, you land whatever time it is Thursday. And often I've come in on the Friday morning, trained then got on a bus up to Ross County and played Saturday morning. 'It's stuff like that that I think gets lost a little bit in the shuffle. But at the same time, we get paid pretty well to deal with that stuff. 'And it's definitely a first world issue so it's not something we complain about too much.' Johnston's not going to lose any sleep over the jaunt – it's all about the journey to the Champions League. And he's convinced Celtic are in top shape going into the first leg after an unbeaten start to the domestic season and a sizzling show against Falkirk in the Premier Sports Cup win on Friday. Johnston – who notched a stunning second goal in the 4-1 stroll – said: 'I think that that was exactly what we needed. Obviously, it was the first time playing under the lights at Celtic Park, It's a bit of a different atmosphere, a bit of a different feel with a night game. "I think it reminded everyone that this is what it's going to feel like. It prepared us well for what's to come. 'The pressure is going to come with it, it's a massive two-legged tie. We know everything is in the balance but we're excited for it and there's nothing more you could ask for than other guys getting a good performance, getting some more minutes into some of guys' legs. 'From guys who have played big minutes already so far this year and guys that came in, everyone's in a pretty positive note with their performances. We're in a really good place right now.' Johnston has been hooked on the Champions League since he landed at Parkhead and he reckons the Hoops new boys are in for a treat. He said: 'For the new guys that have come to the squad, there's that hunger. They're not really understanding what it is, they've heard of it but they haven't felt it. 'It's a great moment whenever you get to play at Celtic Park under the lights on a Champions League night. So that's something that is now our task over these next week and a half – to go out and make sure we get guaranteed a whole group stage of it.'