Todos Santos, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Two skilled craftsmen keep a folk custom alive in the pueblo of Todos Santos, where so many roofs are made of Mexican fan palms. In fact, roofs like this are used to feed the sense of place for a fast-developing tourist market. In the past, the palm trees would also provide wood and rope. [2016]

La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico

The Gonzáles brothers sell the best tacos in La Paz, and they sell them from a food cart on the street. Their specialties are shrimp, octopus and marlin, all from the Sea of Cortes, a.k.a., the Gulf of California. The master chef today speaks perfect English. Why? Because he grew up in the other California. [2016]

La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Right across the Bay of La Paz is a double-wide sand bar now populated by condos and a golf course. You can see it from the Malecon, where a plaque brags about the "islands and protected areas of the Gulf of California" being a World Heritage site. If ever there was a category of natural environments that needed protection, sand bars would be in it, but not here. [2016]

San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico

The Estero San José del Cabo is a lush green wetland at the very tip of the desert peninsula we call Baja California. For los pájaros it is an essential stopping point on their migratory journeys, and for the municipality of Los Cabos, it diversifies the tourism industry by appealing to ecotourists. Hundreds of species of birds use the marshes. What's this one? [2016]

San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico

A fire left seven families homeless in the town of Santa Rosalia just before Christmas. The bomberos of San José felt their pain and started to collect donations. As the New Year began, the donations were readied for the eight hour drive north. Here the firefighters are wrapping a basket for each of the seven families, and there was more to give in the station. [2016]

Bath, England, UK

Is 'become a volunteer' on your list of resolutions this year? Volunteering is good not only for the community, but also for your health. It makes you happier! In England, 30 percent of the population volunteer at least once a month. That would include these men: dedicated to Help for Heroes, a veterans' charity, here getting ready to paramedic a bicycle race. [2015]

Whangarei, New Zealand

The year ahead is finally coming into focus, but a haze still envelopes everything but the very-near future. Who knows? Maybe the year will end in a haze, too. [2011]