A former English colonial stronghold, Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados, will entice you with its unique Bajan flair and centuries-old English style architecture.
Bright red Molja Lighthouse beckons you to explore Alesund, the tiny seaside town along the western fjords of Norway. A popular destination for Norwegian cruises, this coastal jewel will charm you with a colorful harbor, verdant natural beauty, and fresh seafood.
Pushkar, a small town in the state of Rajasthan, India, is a unique blend of spirituality, culture, and natural beauty. Nestled around the serene Pushkar Lake, this holy town is a major pilgrimage site for Hindus, home to the rare Brahma Temple, one of the very few in the world dedicated to Lord Brahma, the creator god in Hinduism. The temple's striking architecture, with its red spire and intricate marble carvings, draws thousands of devotees and curious travelers alike.
Ilok, the easternmost town in Croatia on the Danube River, may be small but it has a lot to offer. A well-preserved Franciscan monastery and a 15th century castle make it a popular day trip for domestic as well as foreign tourists. Its wine-making tradition is even older; some say the region's viniculture dates back as early as 280 AD.
Eluding Ottoman oppression sure makes you beautiful! Besides breathtaking beaches and lovely pools, this Greek island in the Ionian Sea offers many charms, from its Old Town (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) to Venetian fortresses to cypresses waving in the ocean breeze.
Mozambique, republic in southeastern Africa, bounded on the north by Tanzania; on the east by the Mozambique Channel of the Indian Ocean; on the south and southwest by South Africa and Swaziland; and on the west by Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi. Mozambique gained independence from Portugal in 1975. It has a total area of 799,380 sq. km (308,641 sq. mi). Maputo is the capital and largest city.
The country has a 2470-km (1535-mi) coastline on the Mozambique Channel and possesses several good natural harbors.
Two-fifths of Mozambique is occupied by coastal lowlands. Inland the land rises to the west in a series of low hills and plateaus to reach high points of 2436 m (7992 ft) on Mount Binga near the western border and 2419 m (7936 ft) in the Namuli Highlands in the north. To the northwest, forming the western edge of Africa's Great Rift Valley—here occupied by Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the Shire River—is the Angonia Plateau. Soils are generally infertile except along river valleys and in parts of the Angonia Plateau.
The country's many rivers flow from the highlands of the west to the Mozambique Channel in the east. Chief among these is the Zambezi River; its upper reaches form a lake behind Cabora Bassa Dam. Other major rivers include the Rovuma, which forms part of the Tanzania border, and the Save and Limpopo rivers. Lake Nyasa forms part of the Malawi border and drains south through the Shire River into the Zambezi River. Mozambique has a tropical savanna type of climate, with a dry season that lasts from April to October. July (winter) temperatures average 21° C (70° F) at Pemba in the north and 18° C (65° F) at Maputo in the south. January (summer) temperatures average about 27° C (80° F) along the coast and lower in upland areas. Average annual rainfall decreases from 1500 mm (about 60 in) in the north to 750 mm (about 30 in) in the south, although amounts can be irregular.