Roundabout to Moscow: An Epicurean Journey

A leisurely continental tour moves from Mediterranean resorts and Italian cultural sites through Alpine passes and Swiss glacial valleys. City visits in central Europe are rendered with attention to museums, spas, and urban atmosphere. An extended section focuses on the capitals of the vast eastern empire, describing religious ritual, domestic customs, markets, public institutions, and memorable encounters with passports and officialdom. Scandinavian travel presents coastal fjords, inland waterways, folk life, and museum curiosities such as an ancient Viking ship. Throughout, practical travel impressions, culinary and shopping episodes, and quiet reflections on manners and administration are blended with vivid on-the-spot observation.