Places lizziecmporter Wants to Go

A marvel of Byzantine engineering under the streets of Istanbul.

These tombs were built into the side of a mountain so that ancient angels could reach the dead.

Live a night as a Byzantine King, with a minibar and private jacuzzi.

The largest dam in the world and the site of a potential disaster.

This ancient Silk Road outpost overlooking the Wakhan Valley is miraculously still standing.

This remote, abandoned Soviet observatory promises spectacular views for those who can reach it.

This fortress sits atop a centuries-old well system.

A private collection of over 30,000 ancient and modern items showcasing the beauty of Islamic calligraphy.

Wander among the ghostly ruins of an island where civilization flourished for thousands of years.

Centuries before the modern seismograph, Armenian monks measured quakes with this tilting pillar.

The world's longest nonstop reversible cable car soars through spectacular scenery to the medieval Tatev Monastery.

After visiting hours, this picturesque waterfall is essentially turned "off" to be used for hydroelectric power.

A 2200 year old vessel may have been able to keep a charge.

Colorful mineral deposits turn these mountains into an Impressionist fantasy.

Neighborhood in Jerusalem is home to the ultra-orthodox haredim.

Sitting right on the border between East and West Jerusalem this modern art museum is in itself a symbol of Israel's hoped-for unity.

Hidden out of public view in the National Library of Israel is a collection of "Stalag's," 1960s Nazi themed porno paperbacks written and consumed by Israelis.

A massive, heart-shaped, wind-carved crater in the middle of the Israeli desert.

The bluer than blue waters in these natural Israeli caves are reached via the world's steepest cable car.

A stunning mosque owes its design to an Ottoman ruler nicknamed "the Butcher."

This ancient tomb in the West Bank is a holy site for Jews, Muslims, and Christians alike.

The abandoned shell of what would have been the Jordanian royal family's summer palace.

The only quarter of the Old City not dedicated to a major world religion.

A geometric jumble of homes.