Ports of Call
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Barcelona
There's
nothing quite like
Barcelona. Especially
if you consider the
architecture. The city
lays claim to its very
own form of Art
Nouveau, known as
Modernisme. The
Sagrada Familia
Basilica is perhaps
the best example of
this beautiful and
interesting brand of
architecture, with its
bold color, beautiful
tile-work and swirling
lines. At the same
time, many find the
work at the Picasso
Museum and the
cathedrals of the
Gothic Quarter equally
inspiring.
Marseille
Stroll
the spirit and charm
of France's oldest
city - along La
Canabiere toward the
Vieux Port where ships
have docked for more
than 26 centuries, or
in Cours Julien, a
large pedestrian
square lined with some
of Marseille's
trendiest cafes and
theatres. And of
course, no trip to
Marseille would be
complete without
tasting its most
renowned dish -
bouillabaisse.
Nice
Situated
at the foot of the
Alps is the French
Riviera city of Nice.
Once you arrive here,
it will be clear why
this jewel of the
French Riviera is home
to some of the world's
most luxurious hotels
and terraced cafés.
Stroll along the
ultra-famous Promenade
des Anglais or see
masterpieces by
Matisse, Renoir, Monet
and Chagall in one of
Nice's many museums.
For a true taste of
Nice, sample the local
favorites, including
onion, anchovy and
olive tarts known as
pissaladières, along
with succulent little
black olives known as
caillettes.
Florence
Occupying
both banks of the Arno
River and situated at
the foot of the
Apennine Mountains, is
Florence. Founded by
Julius Caesar himself,
Florence is known as
the birthplace of the
Renaissance. History
and art shake hands in
this picturesque land
where masterpieces
like Michelangelo's
David can be seen in
the city's many
museums, churches and
galleries.
Rome
Once
the center of the
ancient world from
which emperors ruled
over nearly all of
western civilization
for hundreds of years,
Rome is still
considered by many to
reign over all other
European destinations.
Here you can breathe
the air once breathed
by great Roman
gladiators in the
ancient halls of the Coliseum.
Gaze upon the very
ceilings Michelangelo
painted at the Sistine
Chapel. Or visit a
monument to both size
and faith, St. Peter's
Basilica, the largest
church ever built.
Ajaccio, Corsica
Monuments,
avenues, squares, and
museums grace this
charming city which
fathered one of the
biggest conquerors in
history. The
birthplace of Napoleon
Bonaparte is an island
of rocky outcroppings
and sandy beaches, set
on a sunny bay
surrounded by citrus
groves, olive trees,
and vineyards, and
bursting with history
and cultural
diversity.
Tangier
If
you had to describe
Tangier's culture and
cuisine in one world,
it would probably be
"diversity."
You're likely to see a
little bit of
everything - from
traditional open-air
markets like the Grand
Socco, to world-famous
designer shops, cafes
reminiscent of the
1930's and trendy
discos, to swimmers,
on windsurf boards and
tourists on camels.
It's all here, and
it's all fascinating.
Casablanca
Modern-day
Casablanca retains
some of the atmosphere
and history of times
gone by yet is a
thoroughly modern
city. Frenetic yet
welcoming, Casablanca
remains a lively
destination.
Especially in Djemaa
el-Fna, the huge
square in the medina
is teeming with
open-air food stalls,
jugglers, storytellers
and snake charmers.
The architecture of
its French-colonial
past can be seen in
the graceful white
buildings, with their
soft lines and
attention to detail.
Valencia
One
of the country's
biggest and bustling
cities was defended
against the Moors by
the legendary Spaniard
"El Cid."
Work up an appetite
taking in la Calle de
Los Caballeros and La
Lonja, Valencia's old
stock-exchange
building of 1483, and
reward your
curiosities with a
Paella Valenciana,
Spain's most famous
contribution to the
world's tables.
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