The thought of my returning to a totalitarian regime was frightening and I tried to reason - "it cannot be as bad as in Romania" - after all Cuba has private restaurants and jazz clubs, and its communism seemed "tropical" compared to the Eastern European version.
The thought was soon invalidated by visits to local households, farms and villages. But despite the unfortunate political system, I was overwhelmed by the island's natural beauty and the richness of its culture.

History and heritage in combination with character and charm - Ireland is a place like no other.

We had the chance to explore this intimate land of stonewalled fields, thatched-roof cottages, and towering medieval Castles in a special tour hosted by NPR's Jackie Lydon and Michael Goldfarb of BBC.

The classical remains of Libya are amongst the finest and yet the least known in the world. While the Western part of the country was colonized by the Phoenicians, the east coast welcomed the Greeks. These crossroads of sea and land have witnessed the ancient commerce of goods and wares, slaves, grains, wild animals, ivory and the mysterious silphium - the healing plant used even by Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt, the wife of Caesar and Marc Anthony... After the Punic Wars, when Libya fell under the Roman control, the country was divided into Tripolitania (to the West) and Cyrenaica (to the East) We are going to visit both. The Roman cities of Leptis Magna and Sabratha. And the Greek cities of Cyrene and Apollonia. Going even further south to reach the desert town of Ghadames, belonging to the UNESCO world patrimony.

Join us for this discovery of Libya !!

The first time I went to Russia was in the winter of 1986. It was still the Soviet Union then. The grim Prebaltiskaya Hotel, was the best venue in town. The passports were kept at the reception and all hotel floors were monitored by a dijurnaia, sitting at a metal desk by the elevator. The streets were dark and deserted and so were the restaurants and shops. Russian champagne and black caviar were served at breakfast, and these may be the only features I miss about the old Russia. I went back, after the perestroika, after the August coup, after the fall... to a different world. Kirov became the Mariinksy Theater, Grand Hotel Europe competes with Four Seasons, and GUM houses Armani and Prada. The Balshoi plays at the Met and the Moscow Circus in London...

It seems that only the Neva River and the legendary White Nights have kept their beauty untouched.