Hamburg's port on the river Elbe has been busy since medieval times, when it was a cornerstone of the Hanseatic League. It is a graceful city of parks and lakes, and grand old buildings like the Rathaus (City Hall). Brahms and Mendelssohn were born here, and Hans Leip, who wrote Lili Marlene.

A crossroad in the English Channel for centuries, Zeebrugge is the entry to Flanders, whose golden age heritage resides in three historic cities: Ghent, Antwerp and Bruges-a jewel of a town beribboned with picturesque canals and a truly charming medieval beauty. In this region, museums proudly display the glories of the old Flemish masters, from Van Dyck to Rubens, and summertime is delightful when window boxes boast colorful flowers and the graceful arcs of windmills can be seen.

This is a city of incredible lights and sights, a place of dreamy sunsets and gorgeous scenery.The wildlife is remarkable, and the museums are outstanding.Although Funchal is quite built up, the surrounding area is remote and made up of dense jungle.

The port of Santa Cruz has colorful markets and fine museums, but be sure to drive through the island's lush landscapes or enjoy the amazing views from the snow-capped peak of Spains highest mountain, 11,600-foot Mount Teide.

Walvis Bay is an outpost on the empty stretch of Southwest Africa they call the Skeleton Coast. It was named for the whales once hunted here. Behind the town is the Namib Desert with trackless dunes inhabited by hardy, exotic desert plants and, now and then, a hungry lion or a ghostly herd of elephants. There is only one road, and it leads to Windhoek, Namibia's capital.

One of the world's most scenic harbors, the "Mother City" has welcomed sailors since Portuguese navigators first rounded the Cape of Good Hope in the 15th century. Take a cable car ride to the summit of massive, flat-topped Table Mountain, the city's dominating landmark, for a panoramic view of the Cape from 3,300 feet. At nearby Stellenbosch, the university town famous for its Cape Dutch architecture, sip crisp local vintages at one of the well-known wine estates.