TRANSATLANTIC CROSSING

Barbados
On the wild and rugged east coast of Barbados, the isolated beaches are the color of sunrise, the red sands having blown all the way across the Atlantic from the Sahara. The eastern most island of the Windwards, and indeed, of the entire Caribbean, reaches out to Africa and the Old World, as if not quite part of the New. Bridgetown, Barbados is an interesting town full of contrasts. George Washington actually slept here! Trafalgar Square reminds you that the laid back, rumand- fun-loving island’s British-influenced heritage includes revered traditions like cricket and high tea.

Casablanca, Morocco
Long before Ingrid Bergman and Bogie made Casablanca a symbol for romance, the city was famous for intrigue and mystery. Veiled by overlapping mantles of French, Arabian and African culture, Casablanca reveals new faces at every turn. The enormous Hassan II Mosque (holding 70,000 worshippers) is the new Morocco, while the fanciful Mauresque buildings in the Medina impart visions of pre-war Casablanca.

Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
St. Peter’s, with its breathtaking Sistine Chapel, newly restored to its former glory, the Spanish Steps, where all Rome passes by, the Colosseum, where the real gladiators fought to the death, the Pantheon, considered to be the most perfect architectural statement of the ages. Life is not lived if you haven’t been to Rome!

Essaouria, Morocco
The beaches around Essaouria are beautiful. The town itself is famous for its fresh seafood and now a popular place to take part in most forms of watersports.

Lisbon, Portugal
The capital of Portugal since its conquest from the Moors in 1147, Lisbon is a legendary city with over 20 centuries of history. Spreading out along the right bank of the Tagus, its downtown, the Baixa, is located in the 18th-century area around Rossio. The Alfama, one of the oldest quarters in Lisbon, still retains much of its original layout since it largely survived the earthquake of 1755.

Mahon, Menorca
You can see why Lord Nelson choose this spot as the base for the British Mediterranean fleet during the Napoleonic Wars. Imagine dozens of ships of the line, being fitted out for battle in this historic harbor. Reminders of those times can still be seen in the gracious Georgian buildings that climb the steep hills backing the Moll Ponent. Mahon's heritage also includes the invention of mayonnaise and the first distillation of gin from juniper berries.

Malaga, Spain
When the Moors crossed over from Africa to Andalucía in 714, they were to establish a kingdom that would become the glory of the Middle Ages. Malaga's fortress palace of the Alcazaba and the Castillo de Gibralfaro are splendid examples of Moorish architecture. But it is in Granada that you can see the most romantic and magnificent expression of the Arabesque style in the glorious Alhambra Palace. Ferdinand and Isabella lived here for a while, as did Washington Irving, author or Tales of the Alhambra.

Palma, Majorca
Towering over the harbor, Palma's enormous Gothic cathedral is a powerful symbol of the religious fervor which gripped all of Spain shortly after the defeat of the Moors. Built by Jaumé I, its vast open nave and soaring Gothic columns have been added to over the centuries. Behind the Cathedral, a maze of twisting streets leads to designer boutiques and open-air markets.

Punta Delgada , Azores
The Azores have long played host to transatlantic yachtsmen, traders and explorers. It stands on the pretty green and fertile island of Sao Miguel. 16th and 17th century economic growth saw the construction of lavish palaces and churches of the period, many still surviving.

Safi , Morocco
Today, Safi is mainly modern, as it is housing a fishing port and diversified industry. The old town which lies within the city is still very much alive. Here you may be tempted to buy pottery typical of the region.

Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
The island of Tenerife is bisected by steep volcanic mountains cut by garden-like valleys lush with flowers and vegetation. In the capital of Santa Cruz' anthropological museum, learn about the original inhabitants of Tenerife, the stone age Guanche people, who eked out an existence as shepherds. Not to be missed is a spectacular drive into the mountains, where 3,718-metre Mount Teide, Spain's tallest mountain, is covered in snow much of the year.

INDIAN OCEAN CROSSING

Safaga, Egypt
From Safaga on the Red Sea coast, take an optional journey back in time to Luxor and the unforgettable Valley of the King's, where the Pharaohs created their gargantuan mausoleums on the banks of the Nile. Explore 3,000 years of history in the stupendous tombs of Ramses and Tuthankhamen, Luxor's Theban Temple of Karnak and the Colossus of Memnon.

Port Said, Egypt
From Port Said at the entrance to the Suez Canal, an optional tour takes you to Egypt's capital of Cairo and the ancient monuments of Giza and the Pyramids. More than 18 million people are jammed into the teeming city split by the River Nile. In Cairo's famed Egyptian Museum, be dazzled by the multi-colored sarcophagus and golden mask of King Tut. At the desert's edge in Giza, the Great Pyramids of Cheops and the staring face of the Sphinx offer up a whole new perspective on eternity.

Salalah, Oman
With crescents of white sands stretching as far as you can see, it's no wonder the Sultan chose Salalah as Oman's summer capital. The other reason is Salalah's wondrous climate. Watered copiously by summer monsoons, coastal Dhofar is green and inviting, while just beyond the hills lies the arid desert. See the Tomb of the Prophet Job and follow the Frankincense Trail to Mughsail, where you can walk through ancient groves of gnarled frankincense trees older than Job himself!

Colombo, Sri Lanka
A teardrop sliding off the nose of the Indian sub-continent, Sri Lanka was once known as Serendib (from whence serendipity came), and then Ceylon, the resplendent land. Colombo is a graceful city dominated by sprawling colonial buildings and its often-photographed clock tower. Explore the Pettah bazaar, stroll through Cinnamon Gardens, or visit the ancient hill capital of Kandy, home of the sacred tooth of Buddha.

Goa, India
The port city of Goa is a lovely throwback to earlier era, retaining a faded elegance from the time when it was the pearl of Portugal's spice trade empire. The Manueline architecture and imposing structures of Goa's several 16th century cathe drals attest to the colony's importance. See the remains of St. Francis Xavier in the Basilica de Bom Jesus. Goa's world famous beaches are a haven for hippies and partygoers alike.

Cochin, India
India's seductive Malabar Coast entices visitors to enter an exotic and languorous world. Chinese fishing nets with wings spread to the sun and the old Portuguese fort greet you to Cochin's harbor. Take a backwater cruise through winding canals. Visit the tomb of Vasco da Gama. Marvel at the splendor of the Dutch palace of Mattancherry or the treasures of the ancient Jewish synagogue and catch a riveting performance of Kathakali dancers.