By Francisco Collazo

Compared with the bull fights in Mexico City, where they carry names like "Jalapeno," "Guajillo," or "Habanero", or whether they are killed at the end of the festival, as in Spain, the bulls in the Colombian corralejas are simply beasts that will live to see another day and another corraleja. They are the protagonists of this event and the memories it produces: 20 bulls in all, offering a true spectacle of entertainment and horror, four hours of danger and fury that characterize the bull fights, Colombian style.

By Francisco Collazo

In preparation for the festival of the bulls, also known as "la corraleja," an endless number of vendors set up their stands, like members of a circus traveling from one town to another, in search of an opportunity to sell their wares.

The diversity of the vendors and the products they sell are as varied as the fauna and folklore of Colombia, especially here in Mompox, a town located 175 km from Cartagena along the banks of the Magdalena River.

By Julie Schweitert Collazo

By Julie Schweitert Collazo

Every country has its important dates. One of Cuba's is September 28, which marks the day on which the country's CDRs were founded 47 years ago. CDR stands for Comite de la Defensa de la Revolucion (Committee for the Defense of the Revolution), and every block has its own CDR. Think of it as a neighborhood watch association.

By Dawn DelVecchio

Deafening fireworks, raucous drums, colorful flags, floats and flowers, the pungent smell of Chinese herbs, not a stitch of meat in sight, and a procession of trance-induced young men and women, bodies and faces punctured by objects as diverse and bizarre as swords, mechanical tools or plant life. . . welcome to Phuket’s Vegetarian Festival!

By Dawn Delvecchio

My long-awaited journey to visit the ancient ruins of central Cambodia had left me with but one day for the nation’s capitol, Phnom Penh. The 24 hours came to an end quickly, but during it, I shared with the Khmer people the most significant event that will happen in many of their lives. On Friday, 29 October, 2004, a new king was crowned. The old monarch, Norodom Sihanouk, 81 years old, has stepped down, passing the royal mantle on to his second son.

By Dana McMahan

Maybe the devil wears Prada. But Dana wearing Prada brings out the devil in my husband.

By Dana McMahan

You can't have a trip as long and covering as many miles as my three-week Mediterranean adventure centered around a cruise with my husband Brian last summer and not have a rock bottom low point. Mine came at a bus stop in Lyon.

I developed a nasty sinus infection about a week or so into the trip. I tried self-treating by eating dangerously large dabs of wasabi (it's supposed to clear your sinuses!) and with a saline nasal rinse. In the ocean. Gross, I know but I was desperate. My antibiotics weren't working. And you can't buy Benadryl in Italy.

By Brett Hetherington

Hamid led me towards the sound of thumping drums. We left the main

square, Place Moulay Hassan, and moved quickly through the medina’s

maze of narrow lanes and alleys, the rhythmic pulse sounding clearer as

we went.

Turning a sharp corner, we came to one of Essaouira’s many small squares.

The daylight had now almost faded completely, but what I saw needed no further

illumination. Dozens of people were dancing around singing and clapping

loudly, forming a circle around colourfully-dressed musicians. The

By Christine Cantera

I took the Eurostar first class (only seat left) due south. Received complimentary newspaper and snack. Gazed at passing scenery (mountains and the Med). Arrived in Sapri over four hours later.

Vincenzo picked me up. He had come down to vote over the weekend, and was very excited to show me where he grew up. The first stop was up a mountain to see a statue of Christ at the top. The trip featured ridiculously sharp hairpin turns and signs painted on the paved road on the way up that simply said CRISTO with an arrow.