Lesotho, known as the “Kingdom in the Sky,” is a landlocked nation entirely surrounded by South Africa, famed for its dramatic mountain landscapes and rich cultural traditions.

Farther from a continental landfall than any other group of islands on earth, the twelve Marquesas jut out of the open Pacific just south of the equator, shrouded in a constant cloud cover.

Manzanillo, located on Mexico’s Pacific coast, is a port city known for its beautiful beaches, excellent seafood, and world-class fishing. It is one of the country’s busiest ports, and is often called the "Sailfish Capital of the World."

Who would have thought, back in the tumultuous coup and counter coup days of the 1970s, that Burkina Faso would become the cultural darling of West Africa? Unlikely as it seems, Burkina Faso has become the Utah of West Africa, hosting a biennial film festival that rivals the Sundance Film Festival for cultural clout. When it's not hosting film festivals, it's busy organizing its other biennial cultural festival.

Aguas Calientes, officially called Machupicchu Pueblo, sits in a narrow valley below the ruins of Machu Picchu, shaped almost entirely by geography and access. The town grew around the railway and hot springs that give it its name, becoming a necessary stopping point rather than a destination planned in advance. Its identity is closely tied to movement, with most people arriving on foot or by train and staying briefly before heading uphill.