For many people, Marsala must be dangerously close to their idea of paradise. It is on the western tip of Sicily, on a piece of land kissed by breath-taking sunsets over the Mediterranean. Across the sea, Africa on one side and Sardinia on the other. Just off the coast, the lush beauty of the island of Favignana.

It seems like summer flew by, but doesn’t it always? Although it’s one of the most admired seasons by many, I am among the group of people that welcomes fall with open arms. 

Located in northern Finland, Oulu is the country’s sixth largest city, and a vibrant administrative, financial and industrial center. Since 1984, it has been known for its technology campus, which forms part of the Linnanmaa university district.

At the southern edge of Los Angeles County in California is a wealthy city known as La Cañada Flintridge. Before the city’s incorporation in 1976, it consisted of two distinct communities, La Cañada and Flintridge. La Cañada derives from the Spanish word “cañada,” which translates to ravine or canyon, while Flintridge was named after its developer, former U.S. Senator Frank P. Flint.