Cover: Minoan Magic
Mediterranean Odyssey to the mother of all cultures.

The Hidden Valley: Discovering the character that made the Napa wine country great requires a lot of planning and more than a little luck.

Hawaiian Five Ow!: A most intimate tale of getting really bugged in paradise.

The Last Hitchhiker: Specters of modern life have frightened Americans away from hitchhiking, but there also is danger in not taking the road less traveled.

News: Teach Your Children Hell
More than 20 years ago, Congress passed sweeping legislation to protect the civil rights of disabled children by guaranteeing them an education. California still hasn't gotten around to enforcing it.

Virtual Paradise: Strap on those thinking caps, backpacks and running shoes.

Dancing in the Light: Choreographer Sara Wilbourne flexes her kinesthetic muscles in "Leaving Impressions."

Notes From the Underground: New and practiced locals show off to touring bands.

Please don't forget to write! Metro Santa Cruz welcomes letters. Like any great work of art, they should be originals -- not copies of letters sent elsewhere. Include address and daytime phone (for verification purposes only). Letters may be edited for length and clarity or to correct factual inaccuracies known to us. Postal: Metro Santa Cruz Letters, 111 Union St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060. Fax: 408/457-5828. Email: [email protected]. Emailers, please include name, city of residence and phone number. Letters printed will list email address unless otherwise specified. Letters to the editor are not currently published in the online version of this paper.