Auf wiedersehen, Deutschland! So long golden beers and roasted pretzels. See you again, schnitzels and currywurst. We'll miss your wonderful train and metro systems. Your old houses and cobblestone streets. Your high tech and ultra efficiency. Your rivers and forests. Your single-mindedness and your infinite complexity. In short, life in Germany is comfortable and enjoyable.

Let's start with the obvious: when you come to Egypt, you have to visit the pyramids. It's a given. Most of us learn about the country's ancient history in school. Pharoahs, pyramids and mummies live on in our dreams ever after. When I was twelve years old, I turned in a written assignment on Egypt that was supposed to be one page, but ended up being twelve. I couldn't help it. I had seen mummies and funerary artifacts at the British Museum when I was younger and it made an impression. I was hooked on Egyptology, as I expect many people are. When the King Tutankhamon exhibition came to Los Angeles, I was there. But, it was never enough. I knew I would have to visit Egypt one day to truly appreciate it.

Let's cut to the chase: we love Italy. It has it all--arts and culture, wonderful food, a strong identity and friendly people. Most of all, there's a pace of life that you have to embrace. Italians enjoy life and they live as if there's no tomorrow. Being present in the moment and savoring life--whether drinking a cup of coffee at a neighborhood bar or trying to get to your destination in time for an appointment--is all-important. La dolce vita is alive and well.