Alphabet Series: K - Kathmandu, Nepal

In Kathmandu stop at the Boudhanath Stupa to see one of the largest domed stupas in the world.

Alphabet Series: I - Istanbul, Turkey

In Istanbul, visit the Hagia Sophia. It has been an Eastern Orthodox cathedral, a Roman Catholic Cathedral, an imperial mosque and now a museum. Originally constructed in 537 CE under orders of Emperor Justinian in the Byzantine Empire, it remained the largest cathedral in the world until 1520 CE and is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture.

Alphabet Series: J - Jerusalem, Israel

View the gold dome and mosaics of Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, Israel.

Alphabet Series: F - Florence, Italy

The Florence Cathedral (officially The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, unofficially Il Duomo) was begun in 1246 CE according to the designs of Arnolfo de Cambio and completed in 1436 with Filippo Brunelleschi's dome. You can read more about the drama of engineering the dome in Ross King's Brunelleschi's Dome. (I had to read it in college.)

Alphabet Series: A - Agra, India

In Agra, India, you can find the Taj Mahal, a beautiful combination of Islamic, Persian, Ottoman Turkish and Indian architectural styles. And the beautiful peacock is the national bird of India.