Konya has served as a spiritual center for centuries. Every December, the Şeb‑i Arûs festival marks the passing of Rumi, the Persian mystic, and draws Sufis and visitors from around the world to witness the Sema. Whirling dervish dance is performed to the sound of ney flutes and drums. In one of the country's most hushed and vivid traditions, performers spin in unison in flowing white skirts, a scene that blends meditation with graceful motion in a way found nowhere else.

Coos Bay is the Coast's largest urban community and a major wood products shipping center, thanks to the deepest harbor between San Francisco and Puget Sound. In addition to museums, shops and theaters, Coos Bay is well known for its myrtlewood and diverse activities in beautiful surroundings. Visit the Coos Art Museum; fish for chinook and coho salmon in the Coos River or the ocean; take a drive out to Golden and Silver Falls State Park.

Padua, a hidden gem in Northern Italy’s Veneto region, is a city where medieval splendor meets a vibrant modern atmosphere. Known for its ancient university, founded in 1222, Padua is one of the oldest and most prestigious in the world, having nurtured the minds of great scholars like Galileo Galilei.

Lebanon unfolds like an open-air museum, with ancient stones that tell stories from centuries past. In Baalbek, the Temple of Bacchus stands among the most impressive Roman ruins outside Italy, its columns framed by Beqaa Valley light. In Byblos, one of the oldest cities in the world, ruins sit beside a bustling harbor and modern cafés, blending past and present in a single stroll.

Greece’s southern coastline is home to Gythion, a historic port town nestled in the Peloponnese region. Once the naval base of ancient Sparta, Gythion has played a key role in maritime history for centuries. Today, its harbor is lined with colorful neoclassical buildings and fishing boats, creating a picture of daily life that remains connected to its seafaring roots. Just offshore lies Cranae Island, linked to the mainland by a stone causeway.