Iquique, perched between the Pacific Ocean and the sweeping sand dunes of the Atacama Desert, offers more than just sun and surf. This coastal city in northern Chile is a duty-free port, drawing visitors with its unique blend of high-end shopping, historic districts, and adrenaline-filled adventures. Whether wandering along the palm-lined Baquedano Boulevard or gliding down the towering sand dunes on a sandboard, Iquique surprises at every turn.
Sakkara, located just south of Cairo, is one of Egypt’s most important archaeological sites and the vast necropolis of the ancient capital of Memphis. Stretching over seven kilometers, it served as a burial ground for pharaohs, nobles, and high officials across multiple dynasties.
Set in a wide alpine valley beneath the north face of the Eiger, Grindelwald has long been a place where mountain life and mountaineering history intersect. The village grew from a farming settlement into one of Switzerland’s earliest alpine tourism hubs in the 19th century, when climbers, writers, and scientists arrived to study—and attempt—the surrounding peaks.
Fátima, a small town in central Portugal, has become one of the most significant pilgrimage sites in the world, drawing millions of visitors annually. The Sanctuary of Fátima, a sprawling complex of religious buildings and monuments, stands at the heart of the town. Pilgrims from all over the globe come to light candles, attend mass, and walk the sacred paths in reverence.
Photo Credit: Photo by Valery Balabanov on Unsplash
Photo Credit: Photo by Luba Ertel on Unsplash
Photo Credit: Photo by Monica Garniga on Unsplash
Photo Credit: Photo by Valery Balabanov on Unsplash
Veliki Preslav
Photo Credit: Photo by Ekaterina Nikolova on Unsplash
Bulgaria is a republic in southeastern Europe. The capital and largest city is Sofiya. Bulgarian culture has been influenced successively by Byzantine, Greek, Russian, and Western cultures.
Large libraries in Sofiya include the Central Library of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the library of the University of Sofiya, and the Cyril and Methodius National Library. The Ivan Vazov National Library is located in Plovdiv.
The country has more than 200 museums. In Sofiya are botanical and zoological museums and gardens; the National Archaeological Museum, with a collection of old coins and finds from many ancient burial mounds; and the National Ethnographical Museum. Other museums in the country are devoted to history, science, and the revolutionary movement.
Bulgarian handicrafts include rich folk embroideries and ornaments. Some of the best sculpture, wood carving, etchings, and painting are based on traditional culture and native subjects. The chief architectural monuments of Bulgaria are medieval churches and monasteries. The chief native musical instruments are the gaida (bagpipe) and the kaval (a wooden shepherd's flute). The characteristic folk dances are variations of the hora, a round chain dance, and the ruchenitsa, a lively dance of two couples. Modern Bulgarian orchestral and operatic compositions have occasionally gained recognition in other countries.
Most of Bulgaria has a harsh continental climate, with cold winters and hot summers. The average annual temperature is about 12.8° C (about 55° F).