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New Orleans, United States
Often referred to as "The Big Easy,"
the city of New Orleans radiates
charm and is renowned for its
Southern hospitality. Steeped in a
proud musical tradition, some of
the finest jazz and blues musicians
can be seen performing each
night at the many historic venues
found throughout the city. New
Orleans is also home to the oldest
continuously operating streetcar
line in the world, and its four
classic lines offer a convenient way
to explore the city's historic
homes, parks and museums,
which include the New Orleans
Museum of Art and the National
WWII Museum.
Regensburg, Germany
Having escaped major damage
during World War II, the town of
Regensburg is one of Europe's
best-preserved medieval cities, the
oldest city along the Danube and a
UNESCO World Heritage Site. The
Old Stone Bridge, constructed in
the 12th century, is a masterpiece
of medieval engineering with its 16
arches. St. Peter's Cathedral is
widely considered Bavaria's best
Gothic architectural work. The old
town's Neupfarrplatz square is a
cross section of history—it was
once a thriving Jewish quarter, a
bustling marketplace and the site
of Nazi book burnings.
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Luxor, Egypt
Luxor lies amid what is arguably one of the world's
largest archaeological sites: Thebes, once a thriving
imperial capital. In antiquity, the Nile River ran through
Thebes, dividing it into a "City of the Living" and a "City
of the Dead." The former referred to the east bank
(modern-day Luxor) as this was where the majority of
the city's population—and at times, Egypt's rulers—
made their home. The west bank (known today as
Kurna) was designated the latter as it served as a
necropolis, dotted with the lavish resting places of
royalty and other nobility.
Casablanca, Morocco
Casablanca lures visitors with its heady mix of neo-Moorish splendour and French influence. Known as
"Casa" to locals, its streets exude an atmosphere of bygone days. Made famous by the 1942 eponymous
film, today it is one of Africa's most important ports. Parisian-style boulevards unfold past cafés and
colonial buildings. The city's medina is a maze of warrens pulsing with old-world energy, the hollers of
carpet merchants and the fragrance of incense. The most impressive structure is the Hassan II Mosque,
the country's largest and most magnificent.
