Cong is a small village in western Ireland, set where the River Cong flows between Lough Corrib and Lough Mask. Its history is closely tied to monastic settlement, most notably Cong Abbey, founded in the 12th century and later shaped by Norman influence.

Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is one of Africa’s most vibrant and unpredictable cities. Sprawling along the banks of the Congo River, it’s the third-largest city on the continent and pulses with music, art, and personality at every turn. Across the river lies Brazzaville, making Kinshasa part of the only pair of national capitals facing each other across a single waterway.

Vieques Island is found in the northeastern Caribbean, roughly 8 miles east of the Puerto Rican mainland. Its beaches are commonly acknowledged as some of the Caribbean's best. The Bioluminescent Bay is especially alluring given the undeveloped nature of the island.

Located at the foot of the Pyrenees in southwestern France, Lourdes is best known for the Marian apparitions reported by 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous in 1858. These events transformed the small market town into one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the world. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, which includes the Grotto of Massabielle, the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, and the underground Basilica of St. Pius X, draws millions each year.

Wales is a country where centuries-old castles rise above green valleys and coastlines are marked by rugged cliffs and quiet coves. Its capital, Cardiff, combines modern architecture with historical landmarks like Cardiff Castle, which has Roman origins and a Victorian Gothic interior. Just outside the city, St Fagans National Museum of History offers a walk-through experience of Welsh life over the past 500 years, with original buildings relocated from across the country.