Thank goodness that portions of Tutankhamun's treasured tomb artifacts are traveling now on exhibition to other museums around the world, and not at home in Egypt. Given the chaos there and the fact that - as happened in Iraq - museums are being vandalized or looted (albeit at the hands of government-sponsored thugs - ugh), it seems a blessing that these spectacular and priceless pieces of Egypt's history are safely abroad. For the moment.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - debbieaspin - photo - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Manchester, England ★
Photo courtesy of debbieaspin

When my brothers and I were kids, more than a few people asked my mother if we were Yemeni. And then in junior high school I met a girl who actually was from Yemen. And I didn't think we looked remotely alike, but seeing these kids in this beautiful photograph, I do see a resemblance.

Recent events in the Middle East have me reading up more on the region, and I learned that Yemen is the poorest country in the area. Nearly half of all Yemenis live on less than $2 a day.

I have a friend who's vowed she'll never visit Israel so long as its treatment of Palestinians remains unchanged. She doesn't want to support current policy there with her tourism dollars. I'd really like to see Israel, North Africa, and other parts of the Middle East. But after reading articles like this one from 2009 on Dubai, I am conflicted.

I don't know. Smiling faces like these and the opportunity to make connections with people and exchange ideas and something of one another's culture seems more important, to me.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - .ash - photo - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Hajjara, Yemen ★
Photo courtesy of .ash

As the Egyptian people continue to protest and call for political change, my thoughts are with them and others in the region who have been inspired by recent developments in Tunesia. May the demonstrations be peaceful, and may the outcome democratic.

I love the color and calm of this Felucca sailing down the Nile. This is just the sort of picturesque moment I hope to experience one day, on my first visit to Egypt. Seeing Egypt has been a lifelong dream. I very much look forward to that future trip.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - Matt Champlin - photo - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Aswan, Egypt ★
Photo courtesy of Matt Champlin

Inspired by the last image in Nichole's Paris Purple post, I thought a little trompe l'oeil was in order today. Love this one. Brilliant!

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - R H Kamen - photo - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Paris, France ★
Photo courtesy of R H Kamen

What can I say about this photo, other than I think it's fantastic? The colors, the composition, the aloha. It's a beautiful photos and it makes me smile. How can you not look at it and feel happy? Fantastic, fantastic shot.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - Kanaka Menehune - photo - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Honolulu, Hawaii ★
Photo courtesy of Kanaka Menehune

Looks cozy. Love the colors.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - g@-s - photo - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Treviso, Italy ★
Photo courtesy of g@-s

Last night I caught a half-hour program on "The 13 Wonders of Spain" where this particular installment was all about Tarragona. I've been to Tarragona, and I didn't like it. And after seeing this show about it, I can't figure out why I didn't like it! I think it was my fault. I went on a day trip from Barcelona and didn't know a thing about the city or its history and I both went without a map and didn't pick one up. I literally just wandered around, which can sometimes be a fine way to discover a place, but clearly it wasn't right for my visit to Tarragona on that particular trip. I shall return. It looks, on second viewing, amazing.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - Charlie Manton - photo - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Tarragona, Spain ★
Photo courtesy of Charlie Manton

What an installation! Is that a painting? Whatever it is, I love it. And this photo, as well. The composition with the silhouettes is just wonderful. A work of art in itself!

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - Lemoox - photo - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Paris, France ★
Photo courtesy of Lemoox

There really isn't a corner of the European continent that I'm not interested in visiting, I think. And Latvia is definitely on my list. I don't know how I stumbled upon "The Three Brothers" - the oldest complex of domestic dwellings in Riga - this morning via Flickr, but I first found a painting of the buildings and then did a search to see the real thing. Sold. Based on this and other photos I found, I would go to Riga in a heartbeat. Looks 100% lovely.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - matteo_dudek - photo - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Riga, Latvia ★
Photo courtesy of matteo_dudek

Listening to the coverage of the political turmoil in Tunesia, I sincerely hope that in the years to come the Tunesian people will be able to enjoy a more free and democratic government and society.

Like many Americans and citizens of the world caught up in their own lives and national politics, I was completely clueless with regard to what the Tunesian people were suffering under the former dictator and his wife, and her family.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - Slim Letaief - photo - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Tunis, Tunesia ★
Photo courtesy of Slim Letaief

It's difficult not to find yourself caught up with Camogli like a fish in the net. All of Italy, all of Liguria is special, but Camogli has a little something extra, if you ask me. Can't wait to get back there and explore again.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - perypezye - photo - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Camogli, Italy ★
Photo courtesy of perypezye

I love a curvaceous coastline.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - LaTraveNell'Occhio - photo - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Cefalù, Sicily ★
Photo courtesy of LaTraveNell'Occhio

Of the many wondrous places in the world I'm dying to see, Petra is in the top ten. No question.

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Location: Petra, Jordan ★
Photo courtesy of aussieontour

Fog is a fun feature of where I'm from, too (the San Francisco Bay Area).

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - Jared Ropelato - photo - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: San Francisco, CA ★
Photo courtesy of Jared Ropelato

I love me some nebbia (italiano for fog). There's nothing more magical, in my humble opinion. And looks perfect for this bike ride!

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - deangeli.federica - photo - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Genova, Italy ★
Photo courtesy of deangeli.federica

As always, I wish I could capture a place with style, charm, and (most importantly) a vague likeness with something other than a camera. I can't draw. I can't sketch (is sketching drawing?). And I sure as heck can't paint. But thank goodness there are folks out there who can. What a wonderful way to travel and remember the world. Watercolors like this are my favorite. So lovely.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - rufusdos - photo - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: London, England ★
Photo courtesy of rufusdos

I could really go for a gondola ride today.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - carol.fletcher - photo - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Venice, Italy ★
Photo courtesy of carol.fletcher

It isn't often, but sometimes I do miss Los Angeles. To be clear, I do not miss living there, but there are pockets and facets of Tinsel Town that remain near and dear to my heart after living there for five formative years of my young adult life.

For example, the many Palm-peppered lanes and large boulevards one finds throughout L.A. and Southern California in general. Reaching to the sky, such streets are viewable from pretty much anywhere on high, and even more magical from a lower vantage point, as captured in this pretty picture.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - jean luc dushime - photo - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Santa Monica, California ★
Photo courtesy of jean luc dushime

Happy 1-1-11! May all your dreams come true in 2011.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - gfabbri - photo - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Paris, France ★
Photo courtesy of gfabbri