A shot of religion in the Holy Land
Purim is a holiday celebration like no other
The novel Winter Holiday may have been written nearly 80 years ago, but this is a rousing adventure with well-drawn male and female characters that fans of Harry Potter will find irresistible. The fourth book in a series called Swallows and Amazons by British author Arthur Ransome, Winter Holiday is a tale of self-reliance and bold action, all in the frozen English countryside. The children build igloos, communicate via semaphore and go on a daring rescue in a blizzard -- and the lack of modern details makes it feel timeless, not out of date. (Random House)
Florence’s unlikely artistic win 
On the road: San Pedro de Atacama 
How human error can cause a crash 
Under-explored European day trips 
Dubai’s ping pong nightclub 
Reader Q&A: Three days in Delhi 
Epicurean Slovenia makes its mark 
Walking with Jesus in the Galilee 
Vancouver’s revamped night market 
New Mexico’s hospital turned hotel 
Business trip: Denver 
Four apps encourage smarter detours 
Are the French really arrogant? 
What makes air passengers happy? 
A salty offering to Polish saints 
