Catania is labyrinth of narrow passageways and cobbled graffiti covered streets. At first glance it seems dirty and unwelcoming but spend enough time and it will grow on you.

Let’s enjoy the festivities associated with the Chinese New Year right here in Los Angeles, California.

Travel the Golden Circle of iceland to visit three incredible sites. Þingvellir National Park, the magnificent Gullfoss Waterfall which almost become a hydroelectric plant, and the Haukadalur Geothermal Area with its gushing, bubbling and steaming ground.

Iceland, land of fire and ice with it dramatic landscapes has been featured in many movies and TV series. Let’s explore the South Island with its multitude of waterfalls, glaciers, and a famous black sandy beach.

The Great Wall of Los Angeles at half a mile is considered the longest mural in the world. Designed and executed by Judith Baca along with 400 volunteers and artists it depicts the history of California as seen through the eyes of women and minorities. Far from the usual tourist attractions of Disneyland, Universal Studios and Hollywood it is definitely off the beaten path but so worth a visit.

Visiting the equator is definitely one of the major attractions of journeying to Ecuador. Besides it’s fame for the Middle of the World Monument and visitor site, Quito is the capital of Ecuador, at the highest elevation of any country’s capital and has one the largest and best reserved historical center in Latin America.

From the highlands to the Amazon rainforest, lets continue to explore beautiful Ecuador.

Starting from the coastal lowlands of Guayaquil let’s make our way through the cloud forests and lush vegetation to the Andes Mountains and the Andean Highlands.

Beautiful Santa Barbara, California perfect for a day of wandering off the beaten path and finishing up at a beach resort.

Auld Lang Syne! May this New Year take you to places you’ve never been before. Wishing you a year of good health, love, hope and joy.

Norway, a country I fell in love with over the 10 days or so. It might not be the first choice of country for many of you but do put it on your traveling map.

The natural beauty of Norway reached out and stole a piece of my heart. I hope I can share a bit of what I felt, saw and heard on this trip.

Sigtuna, Upssala, Falun are a walking encyclopedia of Sweden’s history and cultural roots.

Stockholm, the cultural, media, political and economic center of Sweden. Host to the Nobel Prize ceremonies and banquet it is a city that’s fun to explore and get lost in.

Back in Copenhagen for a couple of days for the start of my Spectacular Scandanavia tour. I skipped a few must dos but as always found new things to enjoy before heading onward to Gothenburg.

I’ve been traveling outside of Southern California, so it was wonderful to be back at the Huntington Library and Gardens on this perfect cool sunny winter afternoon. I couldn’t help contrasting this visit with my last one which was back in Spring where I met this delightful lady all pretty in period.

For our grand finale, let’s make our way through the English countryside enjoying and appreciating all that it has to offer.

Leaving Ireland behind we arrived in Wales and spent a couple of days exploring the fortified castles and keeps along the Welsh Marches. These might have been military outposts at one point but now they’re thriving towns with a lot to offer.

Dublin, one of the top 30 cities in the world epitomizes all that is Ireland, crowded, colorful bustling.

Let’s travel onwards, stopping to kiss the Blarney Stone and onto Cork, Cobh (the Queensland Story), Kilkenny to arrive in Dublin for our Irish finale.