History

(Part 1 of 2 on Portugal)

Entrancing, historic Lisbon beckons, then discreetly seduces first-time visitors with a trifecta of charm, beauty and civility.

(First of three parts)

Of the many Roman emperors who ruled between the first century BC and the sixth century AD, it is extraordinary to me that 17 of them were born in what is now Serbia.

An Alps-backed setting, fairy-tale villages and a benign climate have long contributed to Lake Constance’s reputation as a compelling southern Germany travel destination. To that list, I had another reason to make my way to Europe’s third-largest body of water: gardens, including an entire island turned spectacular garden, Mainau.

by Lew Toulmin; Contributing Editor

As a tour operator, I was on Midway Atoll in March ’11 escorting a group of 15. Part of the Hawaiian Archipelago, the atoll is an unincorporated US territory, but everyone needs a valid passport to visit, even US citizens. Midway is probably best known as the site of the Battle of Midway, during WWII the turning point of the war in the Pacific.

The 15-day “Paradores and Pousadas” tour with Odysseys Unlimited (Newton, MA; 888/370-6765), Oct. 18-Nov. 1, 2010, cost $4,095, including airfare from Miami, 10 dinners and two lunches, plus I paid a single supplement of $1,295.

My husband, Bernie, and I visited eastern Germany, Sept. 16-26, 2010, to attend his class get-together. After the reunion, we went to Dresden.

by George Nevin, Oakland, California

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?

Most every reader who sent in an answer this month had one comment: this place stinks! (Literally.)

July’s photo depicts the Chouara Tannery in Fes, Morocco. Barbara McIntosh of Roseville, California, who contributed the photo, wrote, “The tannery has been in use since medieval times. With the natural dyes in reds, yellows and blues, the mud-brick vats are beautiful.

by Paula Prindle, Orient, OH

It was raining at Auschwitz — not a hard rain, just a dreary drizzle — fitting, I thought, for a concentration camp.