Europe:

France and the Channel Islands:

Many French explorers and fishermen have set out from the rocky coast of La Manche and their home ports of Honfleur in Normandy, Saint-Malo in Brittany, and the unmistakably British Guernsey.

Bordeaux and Biscay:

Southwestern France features lush countryside with vineyards and exquisite cuisine, best tasted in historic chateaux or the great city of Bordeaux and Saint-Jean-de-Luz in the Basque country.

Iberian Wonders:

The ports of Spain and Portugal resonate with traditional culture and remarkable new architecture, with sublime contrasts in Bilbao, La Coruña, Oporto, and Lisbon.

Ports of Spain:

Malaga, Seville, Cadiz: Amidst the faded might of the Spanish Empire remain classic cities, full of history and charm.
The Mediterranean Ports of Spain and France: Catalonia and its capital city Barcelona, is famous for its flamboyant architecture, versus the tranquil Palamós, the ancient port-city of Marseilles, and glamorous Saint-Tropez and Monte Carlo.

The Heart of Italy:

Florence and Rome: These cultural centers are alive with contemporary art and fashion, amid the august icons of Renaissance and Empire. Even today, recent archaeological finds in these historic cities keep the distant past alive.

Battles for Mare Nostrum – ‘Our Sea’:

Ancient and recent naval actions to control the Mediterranean from Pheonician galleys to Tripoli pirates, modern dreadnoughts and recent terrorism.

Islands in the Center of the World:

Cyprus to Crete to Malta to Majorca
The islands of the Mediterranean have been destinations for commerce and conquest for millennia, now in an era of peace with the problems of prosperity and refugges.

Gibraltar:

the Gate of Hercules, a strategic fortress at the entrance of the Mediterranean, that
is still in dispute after centuries of conflicts, the last bastion of the British Empire.

Roman Heritage in Tragedy and Preservation:

the historic Sorrento Peninsula, Pompeii & Herculaneum and the challenges of site preservation. and  and Strait of Messina, gateway to Sicily.

Aegean Gems:

the volcanic cliff edge island of Santorini, the Turkish port of Kusadasi and the Roman city of Ephesus.

Rhodes and Cyprus:

Islands of Contention: A history of the ancient trading centre of Rhodes and Limassol the main port of the divided island of Cyprus.

Modern and Historic Israel:

A view of the modern  port of Ashdodan, gateway to Jerusalem, and the garden city of Haifa, a peaceful respite in a troubled land.

Jerusalem:

City at the Center of the World The ancient city has been contested by religions for millennia, yet continues its precarious existence as a spiritual capital.

Crete and Athens – the centres of modern and ancient Greece:

a view of the Cretan Minoan heritage and the beautiful, if troubled capital Athens

The Magic Isle of Mykonos:

iconic beauties in the Aegean with remnants of the early Cyclades culture discovered on local islets.

Historic Nafplion:

the charming town on a peninsula of the Poleponnese has distinguished architecture and majestic Venetian fortresses, once site of battles for the independence of Greece.

Malta & Sicily, central islands of the Mediterranean:

the dramatic history of the fortress capital of Valletta, and views of Messina, Mt. Etna and Trapani of Sicily, the island that has seen more conquests than any other in the Mediterranean.

Tunisia and Sardinia – neighbors in the sea:

A view of ancient and modern Tunisia and the elegant capital Tunis, and the main city of Sardinia Cagliari.

The Balearic Islands – playground of  Europe:

the former British port of Porto Mahon and the art centre of Palma de Mallorca are contrasts in historic style.

Barcelona -the Catalan capital city:

fantastic Gaudi architecture and vibrant street life in the old quarters and along the re-developed sea shore have made this city a prime destination for culture afficianados.

Madeira:

the Hawaii of the Atlantic A province of Portugal and waypoint for sailors into the Atlantic

The Norse Heritage:

the enduring tradition with dramatic history and contemporary vitality, as the Scandinavian nations have become model of social planning and modern culture.

Oslo & Copenhagen:

introduction to the elegant capital of Denmark and Scandanavian cultural centre with striking new architecture.

Tallin, Estonia:

Introduction to the medieval capital of Estonia and its heritage amidst contemporary revival as an independent nation, in contrast with the modern capital of Finland.

Helsinki:

Capital of Finland, defended by the vast Swedish fort of Semolina, and graced with Russian churches ad handicraft markets along a scenic waterfront.
Gdansk and New Poland: The port city with Hanseatic medieval architecture and modern development, providing Poland with a renewed opening to the world.

St. Petersburg:

introduction to the grand palaces and tumultuous history of this former Czarist capital where much of Russia’s vibrant cultural life is too be seen today.



Stockholm :

introductions to this beautiful capital of Sweden with imposing fortresses and historic ships amidst lively street life.

Berlin and Rostock:  introduction to the old Hanseatic port and the nearby restored glories of the modern capital of reunited Germany.

Santorini:

the Greek island that survived the volcanic destruction of Atlantis and its Minoan heritage.
Africa