In which Robin applauds National Geographic

I don't typically sit down with a catalog and flip through the pages slowly, savoring every picture, calculating in my head when and if I could ever afford the things inside. Not usually. But then we got the National Geographic Expedition catalog.

Why yes, NatGeo, I would like to take a Family Expedition down the Amazon river to find pink dolphins, exotic butterflys, and let my kids play soccer with the local children. A train through the Swiss Alps? Absolutely! A manor house in the French Countryside? Sign me up!

And when Kara Dio Guardi cries because a (cheesy) song is sung so beautifully, or Mary Murphy breaks down over the breast cancer dance - I just don't get it. I truly don't. But my eyes did tear up when I saw this picture of the Lukula camp in a private reserve in Tanzania - designed to replicate the spirit Africa's early explorers with lush Victorian furnishings and textiles. It looks like Amelia Peabody would be right at home.











Sometimes it's just nice to know these places exist.