The Hudson Review has always had an international focus. Travel and reports from abroad have figured prominently in the journal, including essays on exotic and picturesque locales, as well as accounts from war-torn areas and the experiences of exiles. Many of these are pilgrimages; others are harrowing memoirs. What unites even the most devastating of these accounts are intellectual curiosity and a spirit of adventure. Places Lost and Found is a treasury of distinctive and compelling essays selected from six decades of the Hudson Review. From a description of the gardens of Kyoto and a portrait of Syria just before its civil war to reflections on Veblen and the Mall of America, these essays explore an array of places that are deeply layered with history and meaning. The stunning cover photo of the Semper Opera House in Dresden encapsulates many of the themes of the book: war and its aftermath, the importance of the built environment in any discussion of "place," the endurance of civilization and resilience, and of course the romance of travel.

Tales of the Crystal Sailor Log 1 This story is a combination of factual places and sailing experiences. Located in the Santa Barbara Island group off the California coast. During a passage from San Diego to Ventura, California I was struck with an epiphany concerning collecting and doing research on the rare Lemurian Seed Crystals from Brazil. Later I am to learn we are to build a lemurian Grid on a Vortex I must locate on Santa Cruz, Island. The adventure builds as we must locate an Earthkeeper Crystal that is necessary to open Portal to the next dimension. This will be fought over by Alien's and Men in Black. We are assisted in our quest by Atlantean Warriors and the might of the Marine Mammals that are taking a place along side "Terrians" for the opportunity to pass through this Portal before the 2012 Earth Shift. Later I am told to locate a Vortex so a subsequent "Portal" can be opened to the next dimension. This will allow passage of people that have the name of the sacred Earth Keeper Crystal. This can only be accomplished by changing raising one's vibrational rate through meditation or accepting Compassion as a new way of life. Pursued by Men in Black and later Alien who has been mining Santa Cruz Island for thousands of years with genetically enhanced survivors of Atlantis. We have to deal with injured Blue Whales from ships propellers, help from new brotherhood of Marine Mammals. All the while gathering people from across the world to assist in creating the necessary Crystal Grid that will allow the opening of the Portal once the Earth Keeper Grid is found. New alliances formed with a group called "Mothers of Mammals" that try to shield us from M.I.B's while in our home port. Coming in direct contact with captain of Submarine that has almost caused us to lose our boat twice. Working with survivors of Atlantis that shape shift to Telepathic Dolphins who align with us in our Quest. Learning we have a much larger family on Earth than we ever knew. Fighting for our survival from hostile Alien that want control of Portal for their own "storage" miners before the Dec. 21, 2012 Earth Shift. Geographic locations are real, sailing terminology is explain as is the folklore of the sacred Lemurian Seed Crystals. Crystals are real, boat is real, people are real, only segments are fantasy to make story entertaining.