The capital of Syria may be the world's oldest, continuously inhabited city. Isolated from modernizing influences for decades, it retains an authentically ancient feel. Many highways are studded with historical markers that offer insights about those who have gone before. These tablets can be a cure for the boredom of long drives. But visitors these days are surprised by this city's green and growing grace.
Manners are a moveable morality, often changing without warning as a traveler crosses a border.
Table etiquette is more than a matter of using the correct fork. The village green of Middlebury, Vermont is an image from a New England postcard. In reality, it's an ideal place for idle wandering, especially on a fine Fall afternoon. Witnessing the rising tide of color wash across North America would be a glory to behold.