Western Europe

Last Sunday, I climbed more than 760 steps to get to the top of the world's tallest church steeple (Ulm's Münster).  On Tuesday, I hiked for a hour to reach a simple white church that is perched on top of a hill in the middle of the Swabian Jura (Tübingen's Wurmlinger Kapelle). And on Thursday, I hiked to a bridge that crosses a 170 ft. waterfall to see an enormous palace in the distance (King Ludwig of Bavaria's Neuschwanstein).

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 I've been traveling through southern Germany for almost two weeks now, and I finally feel like I've gotten the hang of it. Booking a nice room in which to stay—easy. Finding the best places for cheap food—no sweat. Taking the trains—piece of cake.

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Soon, hordes of athletes and tourists will flock to China for the 2008 Summer Olympics. While they may or may not arrive hungry for victory, they are sure to arrive hungry, and as regards food, they may be in for a surprise.  For a satisfying culinary experience, foreigners should come with minds as open as their mouths, and try their best to eat like locals. A few must-haves include:

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So you've got one day left to kill in Rome and have completely maxed out your credit cards and blown your savings. You can either sit in your hostel room sulking or take advantage of the many things Rome offers da gratis.

1. A stroll up to the Colle Oppio Park provides fine views of the Colosseum and contains ruins from the Domus Aurea.

2. The Colosseum, the granddaddy of Roman sights: Walking around and peering in are free, and also enough to get a sense of its grandeur. Admire the nearby Arch of Constantine.

3. The Roman Forum displays 2000-year-old ruins, as well as the Mamertine Prison where the apostles Peter and Paul were imprisoned. Notice the nearby Arch of Settimio.

4. Witness the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II. Inside, visit the Museum of the Italian Renaissance, housing Italian historical art dating from renaissance times through WWI.

5. Gawk at Michelangelo's Capitoline Piazza and steps. Enjoy the piazza's copy of the bronze statue, Marcus Aurelius on Horseback. View the Roman Forum from the terrace.

6. Finally, on the last Sunday of each month, the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel are free. Visit other Roman churches for mosaics, sculptures, paintings, and relics.

It may take a lot of patience and time to see all the châteaux in the Loire Valley, but it's certainly possible for those up to the challenge. Some determined chateau-crawlers spend hours traveling by bike or car, but more intrepid souls can save themselves the long haul and visit the chateaux via hot air balloon. From the air, all parts of the estates can be fully appreciated, from the gardens' exquisite patterns to the buildings' turrets and facades.

Total excursion time is 3½hr., and actual flight time approximates 1hr. Balloons take off in the early morning, a few minutes after sunrise, and in the evening before sunset. As they prepare for departure, patrons savor the anticipation (and a complimentary champagne toast) before embarking on their once-in-a-lifetime adventure. For the most fearless travelers, the romance of a hot air balloon may seem too tame. Luckily, some companies also offer helicopter tours of the valley or opportunities to skydive onto the lawns of Chambord or Cheverny.

For hot air balloons, contact France Montgolfières, 24 r. Nationale, 41400 Montrichard. (02 54 32 20 48; www.franceballoons.com. €250.) For helicopters, contact Jet Systems, Aérodrome d'Amboise, 37150 Dierre. (02 47 30 20 21; www.jet-systems.fr. €57-229.)