10 Strangest Travel Stories of 2015

A Church Rose Out from the Water in Mexico

Locals celebrated the reappearance of the Temple of Santiago in 2015, a mid-16th century church in the Chiapas region of Mexico, which emerged from the depths of the Netzahualcoyotl reservoir due to a drought that dropped the water level by 82 feet. The last time the church resurfaced was in 2002, when the water level was so low that people could actually walk through it.

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(Photo: @exploringchipas via Instagram)

A Hotel Run by Robots Opened in Japan

Robots are becoming part of everyday life in Japan—they're in stores, restaurants, and now you'll even find them running a hotel near the city of Nagasaki. The Henn-na Hotel, which translates to strange hotel in Japanese, is the world's first hotel staffed almost entirely by robots. It opened in July. Behind the reception desk, there are English-speaking dinosaur robots and a disturbing humanoid that bows to you and is programmed to speak Japanese. There's also a robotic bag-check and concierge service. If you're looking for an off-the-wall hotel experience, you'll undoubtedly find it here. (This may also become ground zero for the inevitable Robopocalypse.)

(Photo: TripAdvisor, LLC)

A 91-Year-Old Man Smuggled $1 Million of Cocaine Into Australia

You don't hear a story like this every day. Victor Twartz, a 91-year-old retired surgeon, is one of the world's oldest recorded drug mules. He was traveling from New Delhi to Sydney in July when he was arrested at the Sydney airport and charged for importing cocaine that was disguised as bars of soap. Twartz has attended multiple court hearings (in his 1960s sports car, of course). If convicted, he could face life in prison.

(Photo: Thinkstock/Creatas)

The Philippines Invented a Brand New Airport Scam

There were about 30 alleged cases of travelers who were victims in a scam that involved security personnel planting bullets in their luggage at Manila International Airport in the Philippines. Passengers were threatened with criminal charges and detention, and were asked to pay fees ranging anywhere from $10 to over $1,000 in order for staff to turn a blind eye. One American man was even detained for six days after refusing to pay the penalty.

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(Thinkstock/iStock)

JFK Spent $48M on a Terminal You Can't Even Use …

… unless you're an animal (literally).

New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport announced it will open a $48 million extravagant terminal in 2016, dubbed The Ark, that's exclusively for pets. The178,000-square-foot animal haven will have flatscreen TVs, a full-service salon, a doggy swimming pool, and a 20,000-square-foot ultra-luxe resort and lounge.

(Photo: Spa Dog via Shutterstock)

The Infamous Plane Breakup

We can't forget the epic plane breakup that earned itself its own hashtag: #PlaneBreakup. In August, Kelly Keegan, a passenger aboard a flight out of Raleigh, live-tweeted the dramatic break up between a couple which served as some of Twitter's best entertainment for 2015. Months later, I still find myself wondering: Who breaks up with someone on a plane? #weird

RELATED: 10 Signs You're the Worst Person on Your Flight

(Photo: Woman Upset in Airport via Shutterstock)

Two Brave Souls Spent Halloween in the Paris Catacombs

Weird? Terrifying? Fun? You decide. In October, Airbnb launched a sweepstakes for anyone brave enough to enter for a chance to win a one-night stay for two in the Paris Catacombs on Halloween, which included breakfast, dinner, and a private concert. This marked the first time anyone (aside from its 6 million permanent residents) spent the night in the underground labyrinth filled with skulls and bones.

(Photo: Thinkstock/iStock)

Floating Hotels Became a Thing

It looks like some sort of spotted vertebrate, but it's actually a model for a hotel that floats on water. Unlike a cruise ship that takes you from point A to point B, the MORPHotel, is designed to travel with the ocean's current, providing guests with an ever-changing view from their guestroom. And, since its location is always changing, you can only get to it via helicoptor. While no plans to build this revolutionary hotel have been announced, the idea alone may bring the future of hotels to a whole new level of crazy.

RELATED: 10 Quirkiest Hotels Around the World

(Photo: Rendering by MORPHotel, Gianluca Santosuosso)

Moscow Will Offer Free Wi-Fi … at Cemeteries

Apparently in Moscow, having an Internet connection is necessary when paying your respects to the dead. Earlier this month, Moscow's local government announced that free Wi-Fi will be available next year in three of the city's best-known cemeteries: Novodevichy, Troyekurovskoye, and Vagankovo. Why? Authorities believe it will attract more tourists and encourage them to research the famous Russian figures who were buried there.

More from SmarterTravel:

• 11 Weird Laws That Could Ruin Your Next Trip
• 10 Totally Unique (or Wacky) Ways to Travel
• America's Most Haunted Restaurants and Bars

To read more by Olivia Briggs, follow her on Twitter @Olileibri.

(Photo: Moscow Cemetery via Vlad Ozerov/Shutterstock.com)