Palenque, nestled in the lush jungles of Chiapas, Mexico, offers an enthralling glimpse into the grandeur of the ancient Maya civilization. The city is renowned for its well-preserved ruins, which include the majestic Temple of the Inscriptions, where the tomb of the ruler Pakal the Great was discovered in 1952.
Bariloche, tucked into the foothills of the Andes in Argentina’s Patagonia region, is a town that feels both alpine and uniquely Argentine. With its wooden chalets, Swiss-style architecture, and chocolate shops on every corner, many visitors are surprised to find a lakeside town that resembles parts of Europe. But Bariloche’s identity is all its own, shaped by deep indigenous roots, waves of immigration, and the striking presence of Lake Nahuel Huapi.
Although not accessible by road, it is Peru's most important commerical center in the east. It is on the Amazon which is wide enough to allow freighters at their busy port. The 1880's saw the rubber boom and recently oil has been the boom.
Located among the calcareous plateaus covered with Mideterranean scrub and alluvial deposites from the coastal plains, Nîmes appears as a city with various faces. First and foremost, the city is known as the 'French Roma', because of its famous history and its well conserved antique monuments. Nîmes is also, for many 'aficionados', the 'French Madrid' when the spanish music spreads into the streets and the arena, during and long after the 'corridas' or bullfights when comes the time of the Feria. It is also the most righteous of the mediterranean cities , never forgetting its protestant heritage, even under the wild rythm of 'flamencos'.
This set of faces in the countryside of Provence and Languedoc gathers the main lines of a higly coloured land : the french 'petanque' game, 'le pastis', terraces under shaded boulevards, animated arguments concerning bull races or the peaceful quietness of the Fountain Gardens. A whole set of traditional elements admirably displayed in an exceptional background of antique and middle aged architecture.