Prague was both an unusual trip and also the best I’ve taken. Unlike parts of Western Europe, especially London where old buildings have been replaced by glass skyscrapers, almost all the very old architecture was still in place. While there were aspects of cities like Copenhagen and Paris, it was also heavily Bavarian. Especially on the coldest days, it looked like a gingerbread city. Gingerbread could have been purchased, too, along with hot wine or grog. That was only

The interesting thing about the Andes is how dry they are. I had heard about the Atacama, but I didn’t necessarily realize that the balance of the range was similar. There aren’t any trees. Spiky little shrubs are the extent of plant life and even that’s limited. Even birds were limited. We saw a few, but it was nothing like hiking in the Cascades. There were times I thought: if it wasn’t for the sound of the wind and people talking, this would be the quietest place aro