sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½

LOS CABOS, Mexico — The southern tip of the Baja California peninsula looks good and lively these days, but let me remind you how bad it was. Hurricane Odile struck Los Cabos late Sept. 14, howling at 200 kilometres per hour.

BROWN BLUFF, Antarctica Go ahead.

A farmer was turning his field with two oxen yoked to a plow; a flock of seagulls flapped behind. The landscape was a soft, rolling green, dotted with fluffy sheep and yellow gorse.

I’m all about travelling efficiently, and a great way to do that is by savouring local cuisine as you soak up the splendor of the place you came to see.

ERG CHEBBI, Morocco The bright black silhouettes of our three-camel caravan shone against a tall sand dune like a background drawing of the Three Kings in a Nativity scene.

If there’s an industrial wasteland where a great European city hits the water — London, Berlin, Amsterdam, you name it — it’s slated for a major makeover. Derelict areas on the wrong side of the river — what we in the U.S.

There are three basic types of vacation in my household. A family vacation entails going to visit far-flung relatives. A learning vacation means exploring a new place with my husband, with lots of sightseeing and guide-book consulting.

Nina and Fred Fenton have gone on 40 cruises, including five times through the Panama Canal since 1998, but they keep coming back.

Looking for a hiking vacation that’s off the beaten track but guaranteed to delight with an array of trails for all skill sets, amazing views, quaint accommodations, a wealth of history and top-notch cuisine? Consider Wales.

Germany and Austria are a work in progress — each country has great and innovative museums and galleries to share its culture with its many visitors.