In the southern deserts of Peru, Nazca invites visitors to look beyond the horizon. This small city is world-famous for the mysterious Nazca Lines, enormous geoglyphs etched into the desert floor more than 1,500 years ago. From the air, shapes like hummingbirds, monkeys, and even a stylized astronaut come into view, some stretching over 300 meters. Their exact purpose remains a mystery, fueling decades of theories.

Cres is a large Adriatic island off Croatia’s northern coast, shaped by a long history of seafaring, pastoral life, and quiet isolation.

A favorite stop on South American and Antarctic cruises, Punta Arenas lies within the spectacular system of fjords that dot the coast of Chile. La Cruz Hill affords commanding views of the Straits of Magellan. Visit Punta Arenas for fascinating museums, quaint restaurants filled with fresh Chilean eats, and ample opportunity to watch local penguins!

Karpathos is marked by the peculiar Karpathian houses, built of carved stone, full of embroidery and characteristic interior decorations. From Pigadia you may visit Kyra Panagia, a picturesque bay with a marvelous beach and a monastery of the same name. A little further, on the northern promontory of Karpathos, lies the Diafani village; on the nearby little island of Saria we see Palatia, with ruins of the ancient city of Nisyros.

Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, lies at the crossroads of Central Asia and has long been a hub of culture, trade, and political life. Its history stretches back over two millennia, shaped by Persian, Mongol, and Russian influences.