Bulgaria is a republic in southeastern Europe. The capital and largest city is Sofiya. Bulgarian culture has been influenced successively by Byzantine, Greek, Russian, and Western cultures.
Some of the most spectacular scenery is found on a trip to the San Juan Islands. No wonder. This 100-million-year-old mountain range turned archipelago, located a few miles northwest of Seattle, changes dramatically with the tide. There are 743 islands at low tide--and 428 at high tide.
Sífnos is a Cycladic island in the southwestern Aegean, known for its whitewashed villages, stone-paved lanes, terraced hillsides, pottery workshops, and well-marked walking trails. Apollonia, the island’s main settlement, spreads across several hills at the center and serves as its cultural and social hub. Smaller villages such as Artemonas, Kastro, and Exambela retain traditional houses, churches, courtyards, and narrow alleys.
Coa Valley lies in northeastern Portugal near the Douro River, in a landscape shaped by steep hills, schist cliffs, vineyards, olive groves, and almond trees. The area is best known for its open-air prehistoric rock engravings, spread across the banks of the Coa River and protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.