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ERG CHEBBI, Morocco The bright black silhouettes of our three-camel caravan shone against a tall sand dune like a background drawing of the Three Kings in a Nativity scene.

If there’s an industrial wasteland where a great European city hits the water — London, Berlin, Amsterdam, you name it — it’s slated for a major makeover. Derelict areas on the wrong side of the river — what we in the U.S.

There are three basic types of vacation in my household. A family vacation entails going to visit far-flung relatives. A learning vacation means exploring a new place with my husband, with lots of sightseeing and guide-book consulting.

Nina and Fred Fenton have gone on 40 cruises, including five times through the Panama Canal since 1998, but they keep coming back.

Looking for a hiking vacation that’s off the beaten track but guaranteed to delight with an array of trails for all skill sets, amazing views, quaint accommodations, a wealth of history and top-notch cuisine? Consider Wales.

Germany and Austria are a work in progress — each country has great and innovative museums and galleries to share its culture with its many visitors.

ORLANDO, Fla. It seems like everybody knows somebody coming here for vacation. And that’s no illusion. Orlando is the No. 1 U.S. destination booked by travel agents, according to a fall survey by the giant travel agent group Travel Leaders.

LENNO, Italy Silvia Givera is standing on the picturesque bank of Lake Como. She winds up, underhand, to throw a tennis ball to her dog, Diego. The dog stands transfixed until the ball sails far out into the lake, and then he happily swims after it.

The first sign that it was going to be a weird day was the taxi driver’s name: Elvis. Elvis had a shock of red hair and a battered Lada.

Paris celebrates Christmas with its typical urban flair: extravagant lighting, yummy window displays and ice skating in the heart of the city. If you go, here are 10 ways to have a Joyeux Noel in the City of Light … without breaking the bank.