ABERDEEN -- Scotland's third-largest city (pop. 187,000) is characterized by buildings of beautiful white granite. Set beside the North Sea, Aberdeen is both a university town and the capital of the Scottish oil boom. It is also one of Scotland's largest seaside resorts (though its appeal is confined to those who like their water well-chilled).

The Canyon valleys of the Waimea River and its tributary were once heavily populated, and the town was an early center of native government. It was here that Captain James Cook, English Navigator-Explorer, made his first landing in the Hawaiian Islands on January 20, 1778. Waimea developed as a provisioning port for whalers and sandalwood traders. A ruined Russian fort, built (1815) in a futile attempt to seize the isle, occupies a coastal bluff aboe the Waimea River. A rich sugar-plantation

Seen from the train, Durham presents a magnificent sight, with cathedral and castle perched atop a bluff enclosed by a loop of the River Wera, and linked to the suburbs by a series of sturdy bridges.

Whether exploring ancient ruins, spotting wildlife along the dramatic coastline, or simply soaking in the calmness of this unique destination, the Shetlands provide a truly extraordinary travel experience.

Egypt’s Port Said sits at the northern entrance of the Suez Canal, where the Mediterranean meets one of the world’s most famous waterways.