Gjirokaster is Albania's second museum city, where you can see the Fortress with its Armory Museum and the Teque Mosque and Bazaar. A city of stone, the peculiarities of its construction have led many to call it the "The Silver City". Gjirokaster is the birthplace of Enver Hoxja who was, until recently, Albania's infamous dictator.
French Guiana, tucked between Brazil and Suriname on the northeast coast of South America, offers an unexpected blend of Amazonian wilderness, colonial intrigue, and French flair. As an overseas department of France, it uses the euro, speaks French, and has croissants alongside cassava bread at breakfast. Yet just beyond the cafés of Cayenne, vast rainforest stretches for hundreds of kilometers, home to rare wildlife, remote rivers, and Indigenous communities.
Pula, a historic city located on the Istrian Peninsula in Croatia, is renowned for its impressive Roman heritage and vibrant cultural scene. The city's centerpiece is the Pula Arena, one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheaters in the world. This monumental structure, built in the 1st century AD, offers visitors a glimpse into ancient spectacles and gladiatorial contests. Today, it hosts various events, including concerts and film festivals.
Bear Mountain State Park occupies a rugged section of the Hudson Highlands on the western bank of the Hudson River, about 45 miles north of New York City. The park covers roughly 5,000 acres of forests, mountain slopes, lakes, and riverfront, making it one of the best-known public recreation areas in the Hudson Valley. Its landscape supports hiking, biking, fishing, boating, swimming, picnicking, and winter activities.