It's hard to describe a place that has everything. Once at the heart of the civilized and imperial world, Portugal is steeped in hundreds of years of tradition and culture. However, prior to their imperial days, Portugal represented an important strategic outpost for the Roman Empire as well as a key foothold in Europe for the Moors. How's that for a historical trajectory?

Today, it's evident that Portugal's history as a world conqueror is in the past, and that it's recent economic woes have left parts of the nation rather disconnected from the major cities. However, this takes nothing away from the beauty and culture that still thrives in all corners of the nation.

Through the economic struggles of the 2010s and the recent rampant wildfires springs forth the opportunity for evolution and renewal. For example, while Port remains a key export of the nation, they have acknowledged that the market for other wines is larger and have returned to producing un-fortified wines with more frequency. Expect to see more Vinho Verdes and Portuguese reds in the years to come. They are delicious.

Portugal is a wonderful place. The natural and man-made beauty is unique and unparalleled. The food, the pastries (oh my gosh, pasteis) and the wine are worth the trip along. 

Taipei is the capital of Taiwan. 

It has a bad rap for not being visually pleasing. I would beg to differ. Once you look past the seemingly endless cookie-cutter residential low-rises from the mid 20th century, the city is full of gems.

Taipei 101 stands 1667 feet tall above the city and serves as an omnipresent. Lost? Just look up.

What Taipei lacks in skyscrapers and modern buildings, it makes up for right on ground level. The city is full of beautifully ornate temples as well as wonderfully diverse food temples -- or as they are actually called, the night markets. Thousands of people pack these nightly bazaars to enjoy the vast and varied local cuisine. 

It's not much on a map. Yosemite Valley just appears to be just a gap in the vast Sierra Nevada mountain chain. You start to feel something special driving up CA-140 through the Merced River canyon, as if you're leaving the world behind. Once you cross through the NPS gates and into Yosemite Valley itself, you realize you were right. Colossal rock structures like El Capitan and Half Dome adorned with gushing waterfalls and towering redwoods and sequoias. I can't help but find myself wondering -- is this place real or a dream?

Paris is magical. Even in the peak of tourist season, on some of the hottest days of year -- there is so much energy and life to the city. In fact, there is much energy that I'm not sure how the Parisians keep up with their surroundings. Everyone is outside and everyone is fascinating. Quite a city, I can't wait to go back.

Luxembourg is a small but distinct country, tucked in the valleys and gorges between France, Belgium and Germany. The language is Luxembourgish -- which is a confused mix of French and German ... which consequently describes nicely how this country feels. The lush green slopes, ancient castles and multitudes of wildflowers seem perfect for a fairy-tale setting. Even though you can fairly easily explore this country in two or three days, that certainly doesn't mean there isn't much to see.