Milan, Italy

Ice cream season never ends, but summer does. In America, our minds seem to reckon the last of August as the end of warm-weather frivolities. So, celebrate with an ice cream cone. As for me: I'll have stracciatella; I'll close my eyes; and I'll imagine myself in front of Milan's Galleria as I say good-bye to the sultry days of summer. [2008]

Vile Parle, India

Twine and trowels are among the workaday bonbons for sale in Vile Parle, one of Mumbai's suburbs.  India is a land of street-level earthiness with scenes in sepia tone and living color, but never in black-and-white. Whether you are buying or eyeing, do take time to savor the bonbons. [2011]

Crac des Chevaliers, Syria

It's looking good for a castle that has been on the landscape almost a millennium. It was built by the Crusaders and occupied by the Knights Hospitaller. 'Crac' comes from the Aramaic name for a fort.  Coincidentally, it guards a 'crack' in the mountain range that seals Syria off from the Mediterranean coast. [1996]

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Don't be late! But, if you are, just sneak in the back door. This is Toronto's St. James Cathedral. Is it a Roman Catholic cathedral or an Anglican cathedral? Hint: Last year, Queen Elizabeth II attended 11 am services here. [2010]

Seattle, Washington, USA

He's sleepless in Seattle, and homeless, too. Does it really take two officers and two canines to rid the street of one vagabond? No fair: four against one! Actually, though, the tone was conversational, and the dogs seemed to intuit his innocence. [2011]

Genoa, Italy

The facts of history are sometimes preposterous and hard to believe. For instance, this year Italy is celebrating its 150th birthday. Seems like Italy has been around longer than that, doesn't it? This is their first king, Victor Emmanuel II, who died in 1878. First king? Yes, as a unified state, Italy has been around only for a century and a half. Compleanno felice. [2008]

Jerusalem, Israel

The Romans would have called this street the Cardo, Jerusalem's main north-south thoroughfare. If you follow it into the Jewish Quarter you will have help peeling back the layers of time and getting down to the Roman pavement. These men may not look busy, but they are. Their business is socialization of the young, the next generation of boys-to-men. [2010]