One visit to Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park in Madagascar and you may find yourself feeling like you have stepped onto another planet. The mineral forest was formed nearly 200 million years ago and has become a popular destination for adventurous hikers from around the world. The hanging bridge, while not for the faint of heart, is one of the most photographed spots within the park.
The third largest city in Turkey, a cosmopolitan and lively city all year round, during the International Arts Festival (June/July) and the international Fair (August/September), Izmir bursts with an added vibrancy.
Kaunas is Lithuania’s second-largest city, located at the confluence of the Nemunas and Neris rivers in the country’s central region. Its historic center combines a compact Old Town of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque buildings with the broader streets and distinctive architecture of the New Town. Kaunas Castle, standing near the river confluence, is one of the city’s best-known landmarks, while Laisvės Alėja forms a long pedestrian boulevard through the central districts.
Andong-si is a city in North Gyeongsang Province known for its preserved traditions, Confucian heritage, and historic villages. The Nakdong River passes through the city, while surrounding hills and wooded areas shape its landscape. Andong is closely associated with Hahoe Folk Village, traditional mask dance, and Korean scholarly culture.
Dili is the capital and largest city of Timor-Leste, set along the country's northern coast between the sea and rugged mountain slopes. The city stretches around a broad bay, with beaches, government buildings, markets, residential neighborhoods, and busy streets forming its urban landscape. Mountains rise immediately south of the city, while the Ombai Strait extends north toward Atauro Island.
Photo Credit: Image by nenadkostic1975 from Pixabay
Photo Credit: Photo by Maria Krasnova on Unsplash
The popular resort Fethiye boasts an imortant marina at the head of a beautiful bay strewn with islands. A hill crowned by teh ruins of the crusader fortress built by the Knights of Rhodes overlooks the little port. Above the town, numerous Lycian rock tombs, reproducing the facades of ancient buildings, were cut into the cliff face. The Tomb of Amyntas, which probably dates from the fourth century B.C. is the most remarkable.
Other Popular Destinations in Turkey
Istanbul
Istanbul is a city built on layers of empire. Spanning two continents, it was once the capital of three major empires: Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman. Visitors walking through the Sultanahmet district can witness this timeline firsthand, from the Roman-era Hippodrome to the Byzantine mosaics of Hagia Sophia, and the towering minarets of the Blue Mosque. At nearby Topkapi Palace, rooms still display the jeweled swords, ceremonial robes, and handwritten Qurans once used by Ottoman sultans.
Çanakkale
The city of Canakkale lies at the narrow, 1,200 meter entrance to the Canakkale Strait that connects the Sea of Marmara and the Aegean. To honor the 500,000 soldiers who lost their lives at Gelibolu (Gallipoli), the peninsula was made into Gelibou Historical National Park.