Norie Quintos

I remember being in Chile’s Atacama Desert with friends on a clear, cold, and moonless night. Instead of standing and looking up at the distant stars, we lay on our backs, Earth behind us, and looked straight ahead. With that shift in perspective, we realized instantly that space is not remote at all; in fact, we float within it, tied by gravity to our living marble in the immense universe. The place made the moment possible.

Berlin Cultural Capital Germany’s thriving metropolis continues its march toward the future, even as it incorporates its past. Take the new Humboldt Forum, which combines ultramodern design with the reconstructed sculptural facades of a former Baroque palace. Two major museums have moved in: the Ethnological Museum and the Museum of Asian Art. Those are in addition to an already staggering number of world-class art institutions, including the cluster of five in Museum Island.

Couples planning a last hurrah before the baby comes might jet off to Greece or Italy. But when you’re pregnant, it’s much more relaxing to vacation close by. Some romantic ideas a quick drive away. Distances are measured from the Washington Monument. In the Country Savage River Lodge Frostburg, Maryland The woods are lovely, dark, and deep in this part of western Maryland.