Ukraine is nobody’s paradise, but nor should it be dismissed as colourless or uninspiring, as many of its visitors do. In the north-west of the central part of Kiev there is a district called Lukyanivska, where I lived for a year soon after arriving in the city. From the balcony of my apartment I could see the onion-shaped golden domes of a Russian Orthodox Cathedral in the distance. I never visited it until, returning to my old neighbourhood one winter morning, another sight of the domes through a gap in some buildings peaked my curiosity.

Like so many 80-mile Long Island, Bahamas has a rough side and a calm side. One side has the dramatic cliffs and caves of the east coast that front the crashing Atlantic waves. The west side has soft, sandy beaches that lead into the Bahamas Bank.

The start of the 7th Leg of the Volvo Ocean Race in Boston.

A travel adventure to most people means a climbing expedition, a safari or similar experience. Mine was much more modest – and economical.

The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University is the oldest public arboretum in North America and one of the world’s leading centers for the study of plants. A unique blend of beloved public landscape and respected research institution, we provide and support world-class research, horticulture and education programs that foster the understanding, appreciation and preservation of trees.