Eat baklava

Straddle Byzantine domes, Cappadocia chimneys, and turquoise coasts of Turkey

Try traditional layered eggplant dish

Visit Istanbul, Turkey's historic city straddling Europe and Asia. Explore the Hagia Sophia (a 6th-century Byzantine cathedral turned mosque and museum), marvel at the Blue Mosque's six minarets and 20,000 Iznik tiles, wander the Grand Bazaar (one of the world's oldest and largest covered markets with over 4,000 shops), and cruise the Bosphorus Strait for views of palaces and bridges linking continents.

Stand by pyramids, sail the Nile, and snorkel Red Sea reefs of Egypt

Bask on beaches, walk Troodos trails, and explore ancient sites of Cyprus

Walk layered holy cities, desert fortresses, and Mediterranean beaches of Israel

Savor mountain terraces, coastal ruins, and Beirut nights of Lebanon

Recall ancient souqs, Roman theaters, and resilient culture of Syria