Brandon Blythe

Belgium
THE Meuse River meanders through the tiny town of Dinant, its banks lined with sweeping lawns, tangles of wild roses and steep cliffs topped by an 11th-century citadel. It's here that crowds gather for one day every August to watch La Regate des Baignoires, a race of eccentrically decked-out bathtub-craft notable more for their creativity than their speed. Motors are forbidden, as is deliberate sinking of rivals. Water antics and lots of Belgian beer combine to create a raucous free-for-all.