The Mediterranean Sea was calm on December 3 at dawn, when we sailed past Stromboli, an active volcano off Sicily. The sea didn't stay that way for long!

by Wendy Perrin

I'm back home now . . . and wowed by those of you who figured out I was on a Mediterranean cruise on the Norwegian Jade. The voyage started and ended in Barcelona and, in between, called at the ports of Civitavecchia in Italy (where we went into Rome for the day), Izmir in Turkey (where we explored Ephesus), Alexandria in Egypt (our base for visiting the Giza Plateau), and Valletta, Malta (an island of enchanting harbors and medieval walled towns).

As clever reader Kiwiwriter has pointed out, the ship was supposed to call at Piraeus, Greece, as well. That's the port for Athens. Alas, rough seas between Italy and Greece led to the cancellation of that stop. (And if you're wondering what I was thinking sailing in the Med in December, I can assure you this wasn't a vacation. I was on assignment for Conde Nast Traveler . . . and to find out more you'll need to wait for the article.)

And now--drum roll, please--the moment we've been waiting for: Who won this Where's Wendy? contest? Click to the next page to find out.

My location the day before yesterday? The Mediterranean island of Malta.

by Wendy Perrin

Welcome to the final round of the Where's Wendy? contest. And congrats to those of you who deduced, based on yesterday's set of clues, that my last stop was Malta.

Grand Harbour, the island's natural, fortified harbor that has been in use since at least Phoenician times, was the base for the Knights of Malta during the Middle Ages. 

The island's skyline is dominated by churches, the most magnificent of which is St. John's Co-Cathedral, built by the Knights in 1577.

Here's the Co-Cathedral's facade. On the outside the church has the severe character of a fortress. On the inside (below) it's a stunning artistic expression of the High Baroque era, thanks to the Knights and Grand Masters, who enriched the cathedral with only the best works of art by leading artists of the time.

Ah, but there's no rest for the weary: I've now moved on from Malta to the final country of my itinerary, where I'm spending the night before flying home tomorrow. Can anyone guess where in the world I am now?  Click to the next page for clues.

The step pyramid of King Dzoser at Saqqara in Egypt, dating from 2,600 B.C., is arguably the world's oldest building, next to the world's largest sandbox.

by Wendy Perrin

Welcome to Round 8 of the Where's Wendy? game. Amazingly, some of you were able to nail yesterday's photographic clues and figure out that in the first photo I'm at the only remaining wonder of the ancient world, the Great Pyramid of Giza; in the second photo I'm next to the giant funeral boat built for the pharoah buried in that Pyramid; and in the third and fourth photos we're amid the tombs and pyramids of Saqqara, the necropolis for the ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis.

If you haven't been to Egypt yet, this might be more recognizable:

With Conde Nast Traveler's Egypt Iconic Itinerary in hand, I managed to get up close to the Sphinx, apparently the world's oldest monumental sculpture.

If it looks like I was alone at the Sphinx, it's only because we found a good photo spot, as I can assure you that the crowds were wall-to-wall.

This is the path that leads from the site entrance through the Valley Temple to the Sphinx.

Egypt was sweet but short. After only two days there we had to move on. (This is starting to feel like "The Amazing Race," huh?) Please click to the next page for clues as to which country we hit yesterday and post your guess as to where in the world I am!

This is just a slice of the world's largest reading room. It's in the magnificent state-of-the-art library in Alexandria, Egypt.

by Wendy Perrin

Kudos to those of you who managed to deduce, on the basis of yesterday's clues, that after Ephesus I moved on to Alexandria, Egypt. The day before yesterday, I stood inside its breathtaking Bibliotecha Alexandrina, inaugurated in 2002 and designed to commemorate its predecessor, the ancient world's largest library, founded in the 3rd century B.C. and lost in antiquity, its 700,000 manuscripts likely burned in a fire. As for yesterday's second clue, that photo was shot way down deep inside the 2,000-year-old Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa.

In Alexandria we also strolled along the Corniche to take in the views of Qaitbay Fort.

And we checked out the Italianate royal digs known as Montaza Palace.

Of course, while in Egypt, there was no way we were going to miss out on pyramids. Where did we go after Alexandria? After the jump, today's clues.

In case my employer thinks I've been posting too many pics of my kids.

by Wendy Perrin

Wow!  Amazingly enough, a few of you were able to figure out where I went after Rome: the ancient Greek and Roman city of Ephesus, in Turkey. The last time I was there (15 years ago), the fabulous terrace houses had not been excavated and opened to the public yet, so for me these were the highlight. Here they are from one angle:

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The terrace houses are a vivid example of Roman domestic architecture.

And from another:

Considering they're 2,000 years old, the mosaics and frescoes are in great shape (click here for a close-up).

If you're a "Where's Wendy?" veteran, you know I'm not allowed to stay in one place for very long. As much as I love Turkey, I had to move on to the next country.  Can anyone guess where I moved on to? Click to the next page for clues.

Can anyone guess where in the world I am?

by Wendy Perrin

Welcome to Round 5 of our latest "Where's Wendy?" contest, which began several days ago in Rome.  Since my last clue seems to have been a little too hard, here are a couple more hints as to the locale that my family and I have moved on to:

Remember: Don't worry about guessing wrong, as you're allowed to make as many guesses as you like. Just click on "Comments" to take a stab at it. After the jump, one more clue:

A rain-drenched visit to the Trevi Fountain.

by Wendy Perrin

Okay, it seems my clues are getting too easy. Reader AuntieCoco guessed my location right off: In yesterday's mystery photo the boys were climbing on the rocks you see at the far left of the Trevi Fountain. Clearly I'm gonna have to make my clues tougher. With that in mind. . .

We've now moved on from Rome to someplace slightly less damp. Can anyone guess our new locale?

Here's your first clue:

After the jump, your second clue:

Inside the Pantheon in Rome. (See how the floor in the center is shiny and roped off? That's 'cause it was raining through the oculus in the dome.)

by Wendy Perrin

Congrats to those of you who guessed that the carousel from yesterday is in Rome's Piazza Navona and that the fountain faces the Pantheon in the Piazza della Rotonda. If you walk out that door pictured at right, you'll run into it. 

Since there seem to be quite a few Eternal City fans among us, let's try one more round from Rome before we move on to my current location. Can anyone guess which monument my kids turned into a rainy-day playground?

Where exactly did we shoot this photo?

After the jump, a clue.

Where in Rome am I?

by Wendy Perrin

How great to hear from so many "Where's Wendy?" veterans, as well as so many clever new players! And CONGRATS to those of you who guessed Rome! Yes, that first pic from yesterday was of a car on the Rome Metro's A line.

But nobody's pinpointed the exact location of the second photo yet--the one of the stall selling Christmas ornaments. So above is another clue. This carousel is just a few steps from the stall. Can anyone pinpoint where I am?

And, for extra credit, who can guess where we shot the photo below?

And just for you, Mara, I'm posting another pic after the jump:

Where in the world am I? (Yes, those kids in the baseball caps belong to me.)

by Wendy Perrin

Okay, folks, it's time for another "Where's Wendy?" contest. This one is extremely informal, though. Yes, in the past we've awarded prizes ranging from cool new smartphones to free trips to the Caribbean, but you wouldn't believe the mountain of work such giveaways necessitate, and right now I'm too wiped out to cope with all those rules and lawyers, not to mention too busy trying to write my February Perrin Report while simultaneously completing the assignment for which I've hit the road. 

So this time the prize is simply lunch with me at the restaurant of your choice the next time I'm in your city (example here) or you're in mine (example here) or we both end up in the same place at the same time (as happens). The winner will be the person who, over the next ten days or so, most often correctly pinpoints where I am. (As in the past, there will likely be several winners.)

After the jump, a second clue as to my whereabouts.