Nestled in the Andes Mountains, Cuenca, Ecuador, is a city that seamlessly blends colonial charm, cultural richness, and natural beauty. Known as the “Athens of Ecuador” due to its vibrant intellectual and cultural life, Cuenca's historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that delights visitors with its cobblestone streets, whitewashed buildings, and red-tiled roofs.
The Gobi Desert, spanning across northern China and southern Mongolia, is one of the world’s most iconic and mysterious landscapes. Known for its vast stretches of arid plains, towering sand dunes, and rugged mountains, the Gobi offers a stark, breathtaking beauty that has captivated explorers and travelers for centuries.
The ancient region of Cappadocia lies in Central Anatolia, between the cities of Nevsehir, Kayseri and Nigde. Here, the traveler finds one of the most fantastic landscapes in the world. Wind and weather have eroded the soft volcanic rock with hundreds of strangely shaped pillars, cones and "fairy chimneys", often very tall, and in every shade from pink through yellow to russet browns.
Seven miles outside of historic Athens, the Greek coastal city of Piraeus lies upon the sparkling waters of the Aegean Sea and is the largest passenger port in Europe, servicing nearly 20 million passengers per year.
Valencia, located on the Balearic coastline of eastern Spain, is a Mediterranean haven replete with stunning art, striking architecture, immersive museums, and inviting beaches. The heart of Valencia is the perfect place to explore the best that the city has to offer.
Raise a glass and toast Würzburg, an enchanting, Franconian wine-producing area on the Main River, and one of Germany's oldest cities. Wine bars and cellars abound here, but there's also plenty of wonderful history and striking Baroque and rococo architecture to behold. The Würzburg Residence, a glorious palace, is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and visitors are encouraged to walk its gardens. Downtown, the rococo Falkenhaus, once damaged badly in WWII, now homes a library and tourism office. The Gothic Marienkapelle church is a must-see, as is the Alte Mainbrücke (Old Main River Bridge), which provides a stunning view of the cloud-touching ancient Fortress Marienberg.