For more than 1,000 years, pilgrims from as far away as Zagreb, Budapest and Bergen have made their way to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain to stand in the church that holds the relics of St. James and pay homage. For many, the walk on the Camino de Santiago (The Way of St. James), itself, is reason enough for the journey. Today’s pilgrims embrace the Camino trek not only as a time for self reflection but also for the brief return to a simpler way of life.

Pop quiz: What do Bob Dylan, Ernest Hemingway, Cyrano de Bergerac, Queen Victoria’s eldest son, the Bloody Mary and the independent Nation of Texas have in common? Answer: All play a part in the rich lore of Paris, as presented by the outstanding walking tour organization Discover Walks.

I became interested in Central Asia many years ago when reading about the Silk Road. Bukhara and Samarkand always seemed like mystical places to me. More recently, I read a book about Genghis Khan by Jack Weatherford that made me, more than ever, want to pay a visit to the area.