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The Narenjestan Ghavam Museum in Shiraz was built 1879-1886 as a home for the Governor's Court of Fars, they tell you when you visit. Filled with elaborate ceramics, detailed and intricately painted decoration and relief work, it was a live-in work of art. Everywhere you look you see art, beauty. This mirror hall, the docent said, is recycling as art, when a creative use was found for broken pieces of mirrors imported from Venice. How to capture the awe and remember the feeling of being within this regal place? The mirror mosaic made it possible, a self-portrait in mirrors.

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Reflection
by Dorothy Thompson, Richland Center, WI

Dorothy's Dream Trip
My life goal is to see as much of the world as possible before I die. For two decades, I've relied on Condé Nast Traveler for news, inspiration, advice, and as a how-to guide to navigate the world. I like walking and talking with local people, exploring a destination's iconic places, activities, foods, and of-the-moment highlights. A luxury hotel can do a lot to alleviate fatigue. Interesting, unique, or historic hotels make me happy. Hotels safe for a woman traveling alone are important. I would need local guides. Because I'm not getting younger and there's a lot of world to see, I prefer country clusters, which also helps put cultures into regional context. My ultimate dream trip is any trip designed with your expert assistance. (Would I really get to talk travel with Wendy Perrin?)

My to-do list of clusters is handy. Here's my top ten:

• Laos, Burma, Bangladesh, Sikkim—including the Irrawaddy via the Road to Mandalay

• Slovakia, Romania, Slovenia, Moldova—visiting the Painted Monasteries of Bucovina and having lunch with my former intern Irina in her hometown of Chisinau

• Latvia, Lithuania, Kaliningrad, Belarus, Poland—exploring the Wieliczka salt mine

• Andorra, Luxembourg, Lichtenstein, San Marino—could I walk across some of them?

• Jordan, Lebanon, Syria—seeing Petra and the head of John the Baptist

• New Zealand, Tasmania, Lord Howe, Norfolk and Chatham Islands—walking part of Milford Trail and seeing fairy penguins

• Botswana, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe—walking with San bushmen, seeing wildlife and Victoria Falls

• Albania, Bosnia, Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro—exploring this recently reorganized region

• Fiji, Kiribati, Tuvalu, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands—the area where my late father served in World War II

• Uganda, Rwanda—for gorilla trekking

So much world. So little time.

Dorothy's Travel Tips

• PREPARE your mind and spirit. Research your destination and read about the culture. Summon your tolerance, patience, perseverance, curiosity, sense of adventure, sense of humor, fun and playfulness.

• PRESERVE your experience. Pack a small spiral notebook and pen. Jot down details, names, and offer space to locals to give you information and directions—especially useful when you speak different languages.

• PREVENT problems on the road with a travel medicine appointment before you go. Take liquid pelargonium drops (an herbal remedy) to help you stay healthy.