February 2022

Known as the Colossus of Barletta, the bronze Byzantine statue seen in our December mystery photo is about 16-1/2; feet tall and stands near the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre of Barletta in the town of Barletta, located in the Puglia region of Italy, in the "heel."

According to local mythology, the statue washed ashore after a Venetian ship sank while returning from the Fourth Crusade (1202-1204), in which case the statue's original home was most likely Constantinople (now known as Istanbul, Turkey).

My husband, Jerry Vetowich, and I took a custom tour to Alaska, July 19-Aug. 1, 2021. As our travel agent, we chose ITN advertiser Varini de Silva of Ceylon Express International (Huntington Beach, CA; 800/423-9566, www.ceylonexpress.com). She had previously arranged trips for us in Sri Lanka and China and was great at following up, when necessary.

14-day, 13-night conservation-focused tour in Patagonia, Oct. 16-29, 2022. Group limit, 8-12. Highlights: Fly from Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA, to Posadas for Iberá Wetlands/travel to Fernandez Lagoon by kayak and boat to look for pampas deer/Iberá Lagoon, home to caimans/Experimental Jaguar Breeding Center/fly to Santiago, CHILE, then to Punta Arenas for Torres del Paine Nat’l Park, home to pumas, condors, guanacos/puma-tracking at sunset, sunrise.

9 days, 8 nights, Nov. 2-10, 2022. Highlights: Transfer from Kilimanjaro to Arusha/game drives in Lake Manyara Nat’l Park, home to tree-climbing lions, baboons, flamingos/Serengeti Nat’l Park, home to buffalo, cheetahs, leopards/picnic in Ngorongoro Crater, home to elephants, rhinos, lions. $3,195. Single supp., $395. Lion World Travel (Toronto, ON, Canada; 800/387-2706, www.lionworldtravel.com).

10-day, 9-night archaeological tour of mainland Greece. Departures May 7 & Sept. 10, 2022. “Moderate” fitness level required. Group limit, 10-22. Highlights: Transfer from Athens to Nafplio for ruins at Tiryns, Mycenae, Fortress of Palamidi/5th-century Temple of Apollo in Arcadian mountains/temples of Zeus, Hera at Olympia/Oracle of Delphi on Mt.

8 days, 7 nights in Umbria, ITALY. Departures April 30, May 7, Sept. 17, Oct. 13, 2022. Avg. 9 miles daily (7 days). Highlights: In Terni, Cascata delle Marmore waterfall/Abbey of San Pietro in Valle/town of Spoleto/in Poreta, olive oil tasting/open-air museum in Trevi/walled town of Spello/Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi. €2,600 (near $2,951) ppdo. Single supp., €500 ($568).