And sat atop the range like a rocky prong is the peak of Naranjo de Bulnes, its shape more akin to the mountains in the windy wilds of Patagonia than the northern coast of Spain.

BBC: Spain��s mountains made of cheese

Back at the fork, go left and tackle the intense ascent to 2, 800m, where the house is perched in the mountains facing the 3, 450m peak of picturesque Morro Gacho.

BBC: Colombia��s valley of the palms

He was referring to the Hudson River School as we stood in a gallery that included not only "Heart of the Andes" but also Albert Bierstadt's "The Rocky Mountains Landers Peak" and Emanuel Leutze's monumental "Washington Crossing the Delaware, " which dwarfed both.

WSJ: American Idyll

Forested mountains cascade down to the lake shore, the mist-covered peak of Mount Nkungwe rises up in the background and crystal-clear waters teeming with fish lap against white sand coves.

BBC: Search the