Santiago de Compostela, Spain. October, 2009

In Spain, the rule seems to be if you can still find more room for ornamentation, then you haven’t yet completed your job. The swirly filigree of the stonework on the left. The patinated metal squares studding the door here at the town’s cathedral. And how’s that for a smart little door knocker?

Madrid. October, 2009

Guess which Spanish actor’s family owns this restaurant? Every one of the entrees on the menu is named for one of his films. A little corny, but nice.

Sea of Marmara, Turkey. October, 2011

One of the pleasures of having a stateroom on a lower deck of Windstar’s Wind Surf is that you really feel like you’re on the water. Sometimes in the water, actually, when the waves rise higher than the porthole, as happened very frequently on this sailing. The ship’s stabilizers neutralized so much of the “rocking” that no one felt queasy at all, allowing us to enjoy the adventure unimpeded.

Istanbul. October, 2011

None dare call it pizza. Actually, some do. “Turkish pizza.” As if such a thing existed. But I guess it’s effective shorthand for those who wouldn’t pick up on “pide with toppings.” Call it whatever you like, it’s still sensational. Seen here in a busy passageway behind the Spice Bazaar, just one of many offerings on every block in the City of the World’s Desire.

Barcelona. November, 2012

Yes, Spanish will get you by in Barcelona. But the official language is Catalan, closely related but not the same. The written language is one thing, the pronunciation quite another. Here’s the daily menu at Tapas, 24, a wonderful place to eat in the Eixample neighborhood of the city. Count the Catalan Xs. As their napkins say, "ñam, ñam!"

Ephesus, Turkey. October, 2011

Dr. Blake onstage at the beautifully preserved Roman theater of this ancient town. Unlike yours truly, he resisted the urge to break into song. Admirable.

Istanbul. October, 2011

As I write this in summer 2013, Turkish Airlines has just announced that it will begin a new non-stop, Boston-Istanbul flight starting next May. Yippee! No more changing planes in New York, Frankfurt or Zurich. Does this mean that another welcome trip to the City of the World’s Desire is in my future? I hope so. (Seen here, our 2011 Windstar cruise leaving the Bosphorus, Topkapi Palace on Seraglio Point in the background. Update: We did return to the City of the World’s Desire, and on Turkish Airlines, in September 2014. Yippee again!)