Cotachi is an undiscovered village of about 9,000 between two volcanic peaks. It can be viewed from the Pan-American Highway as one travels on the way from Quito and Otavalo north to Ibarra. There are a number of quaint old colonial structures among the shops and residences that comprise most of the village.  Expatriates like living in this area for…...

Victoria is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Canada, and for good reason. It has a stunning downtown on the harbor with resplendent government buildings like the one shown above.  Cruise ships arrive in town and when they do the streets and shops hum with activity. The city has 78,000 residents but the metro is over 300,000. The…...

Boerne is an affluent town in the beautiful Texas hill country northwest of San Antonio. This small town of just over 10,000 is popular with retirees and is growing fast. Boerne offers small town charm in a quaint, historic, picturesque setting. Stroll through European architecture and discover a world of specialty shops. Hauptstrasse (Main Street) has antiques, gifts, home accessories,…...

The title of the most artistic little town in west Texas would probably be awarded to Marfa. Marfa was actually named after Marfa Strogoff, a character in Jules Verne's novel Michael Strogoff. This little town of about 2,000 near the Big Bend is home to a vast array of artistic treasures, thanks to the efforts of Donald Judd. This minimalist…...