Nice his a vibrant night life, even in December, the time we last visted. It was a clear night, cool and crisp; the moon was high and almost full; people were out enjoying the Russian Christmas displays unique to this year's holiday celebration. Of course, we lugged the cameras around to give you a little idea of what was like. Take a look at our Nice at Night Pictures.

Picture of Nice, France, at night © 2009 by James Martin, licensed to About.com

Picture of Sfogliatelle in Naples, Italy © 2009 by James Martin, licensed to About.com.

Sfogliatelle are probably the most famous pastries in Naples. Look at their flaky, golden goodness, think of their inner ricotta creaminess. You get Sfogliatelle on your stroll through Naples historic center, in Spaccanapoli at a shop called Scaturchio.

Sure, you can go to Spain and share a narrow street with raging bulls, then watch a fight to the death between a guy in tight clothing and the horned animal. Lots of folks find this horrifying.

In Portugal, it's not like that. Bulls aren't killed in Portugal. Well, not in "bullfights" anyway. You see, in Portugal, bulls were instrumental in the training of horses to be skillful if not fearless in war. What you see today in festivals involving bulls is those skills refined into art. And there's no better place to see that art than on the small island in the Atlantic that's not all that far from Boston called Terceira.

In June, The Sanjoaninas festivals give the chance for tourists to rub elbows with the locals--and possibly the bulls. Find out more about Sanjoaninas and the Art of Portuguese Equestrian Bullfighting in the Azores.

More: Azores Map and Travel Information | Unusual European Festivals | The Azores - Before You Go

As the world economy sputters, pilgrimage is becoming more and more popular. My Italian neighbor Enrico is trying to get us to join him on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in the fall. He's done it before on a bike, but now wants to walk it.

But then there's this guy named Alan who is about to embark on his own pilgrimage soon, starting in Assisi:

In April 2010, I leave for Europe to attempt a walk that has been at the back of my mind for the past 8 years. I intend to undertake a pilgrimage from Assisi in the footsteps of St Francis of Assisi who walked to Santiago de Compostella in 1214.

Alan has a personal reason for his pilgrimage:

My daughter having been diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia in 2005, I decided to combine my pilgrimage with fund raising, and to seek sponsors to donate on a cents per kilometer basis to support the fight against leukaemia. I will cover all my own expenses, so all funds raised will go directly to the Leukaemia Foundation without deduction.

Alan has a web site called Assisi to Campostela. You can make a donation there.

You can also walk in the footsteps of St. Francis without wearing out your boots. We've written about a pleasant little Assisi walk you can take. You can also go to the Sanctuary of Laverna, where St. Francis received the stigmata, and walk the rolling hills. From the convent you can walk up to la Penna, the highest point on the mountain, where there's a chapel built on a precipice. From la Penna, the countryside is visible for miles around and the views take in valleys in three regions - Tuscany, Umbria, and the Marche. See our La Verna Pictures to see the sanctuary up close and personal.

Of course, it might take a whole vacation to see all the sites in Italy that feature a visit from Saint Francis. Here's a list of some of the best Saint Francis and Franciscan Sites in Italy