I had been to Armenia and Georgia in 1974, when they were still part of the USSR, and when I met some fellow dermatologists from both countries at a recent meeting held in San Diego and they were kind enough to invite me to visit them, I declared the Caucasus to be my May 2018 travel destination.

Zulya Rajabova, President of Silk Road Treasure Tours, had arranged a superb trip to Uzbekistan for my wife, Yuki, and me, so she seemed the right person to call to plan this upcoming trip....

Oaxaca is a great place to spend the winter holidays. During a 2-week, self-planned trip in December 2017, I found delightful weather, clean air and friendly people who loved to party.

And December is party month in Mexico. It starts with the Feast of Guadalupe on the 12th, followed by festivities for a local favorite, Our Lady of Solitude, and winds up with Christmas and New Year's celebrations. During this time, there are fairs, festivals, craft shows, parades, processions and...

After a 45-year hiatus, my husband, Phil, was eager to return to Japan, which had had a profound effect on him during a brief visit in 1972. And after a number of trips to other Asian countries, I was more than eager to visit it for the first time.

Our two-week trip began in early November 2017, a time we had chosen for typically good weather conditions and for the relatively few major holidays or festivals scheduled. However, as it was autumn-color time (magnificent), it drew crowds...