I am drawn to maps.

These graphic depictions of our world fascinate me. Cartographers manage to cleave, crunch, and ultimately compress our 3-dimensional planet into 2-dimensional drawings, a goal that, if it were not vitally necessary, would seem absurd from the outset.

Yet despite these Herculean hurdles, most maps include lines and colors that reflect the map-makers' attempt not only to describe reality, but also to expand a bit beyond it. In so doing, maps often impose human social order on the land itself, where objectively, there really is none.

Yet after all is said and done, I mostly enjoy maps because of what they are not: They are not the territory they purport to depict. Instead maps only hint of what you may find when you finally venture forth. Gobs and gobs of important info has been omitted from each cartographer's handiwork, and the discovery of these morsels are what make travel so enjoyable.

So I'm off again to explore some places where the maps have only teased me.

Over the next two weeks I will visit some of the oldest civilized places on earth. I'll begin in Rome, Italy, whose rulers and armies once governed the entire Mediterranean basin, and then some. Then after 4 days doing as the Romans do, I fly to Cairo to meet my friend Toby. We will for the following 10 days venture to become acquainted with Egypt, both its ancient culture represented by mummies, sphinxes, and pyramids, and its current Islamic culture, more well known for the Quran, calls to prayer from minarets, and being misunderstood among Westerners.

I invite you to join me/us via this blog, and along the way I'll try to fill in some of the gaps that don't fit into the maps you have known. I hope you enjoy the reading at least half as much as I enjoy the writing.