Today we begin our virtual trip around the world in Chicago, where the Festival of Maps is taking place through January. It looks awesome.

Heading east, we find the Pirates in Paradise celebration going on this weekend in Key West. Arrrr! Then actoss the pond, cute orphaned baby bats are being saved. You may not think bats are cute, but have a look and try to deny it. In Switzerland, the sixth annual Santa Claus World Championship is taking place, while Italians are all agog at the newly publicized temples a man has constructed beneath his house.

The Ogoh Ogoh monsters of Bali make for an amazing parade each year; meanwhile, one of the mascots for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver is a sasquatch. He's a friendly sasquatch, though, and seems unlikely to kidnap any of the athletes.