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.
Piti is a coastal village on the western side of Guam, located around Apra Harbor and the island’s central western shoreline. Its landscape includes limestone hills, mangrove areas, coral reefs, and sheltered coastal waters, while the village itself contains residential neighborhoods, historic sites, and small commercial areas.
Weligama is a coastal town in Sri Lanka’s Southern Province, centered on a broad, gently curving bay between Galle and Matara. The sheltered shape of Weligama Bay creates relatively manageable waves along much of the beach, making the town especially well known for beginner-friendly surfing. Fishing remains an important part of local life, with traditional boats operating from the shoreline and the surrounding coast still associated with stilt fishing. The town combines a working coastal setting
Located approximately 50 miles west of Chester, along the northern Welsh coast, is the beautiful small town of Conwy. In 1283, King Edward I set out to build a series of magnificent castles, of which Conwy was one of the largest. In addition, the town was fortified with walls which still exist today, making this one of the finest surviving fortified medieval towns in the world.
Bartolomé Island, one of the most iconic destinations in the Galápagos archipelago, is known for its dramatic volcanic landscape and the postcard-perfect view from its summit. Just off the east coast of Santiago Island, this uninhabited islet draws visitors for its unique terrain with lava flows, spatter cones, and a rust-colored cinder cone that rises sharply above the sea.
Photo Credit: Photo by Nicole Wreyford on Unsplash
Grey Heron
Photo Credit: Photo by Nicole Wreyford on Unsplash
White Breasted Cormorant
Photo Credit: Photo by Nicole Wreyford on Unsplash
Photo Credit: Photo by Ed Wingate on Unsplash
Halfway between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth in the heart of the famous Garden Route, nestles the seaside town of Mossel Bay. A bustling holiday resort in summer and the ideal retreat in winter, it is situated on a spectacular sunwashed peninsula embraced by the warm Indian Ocean. Also called the "Karoo-by-the-Sea town", Mossel Bay features in the Guiness Book of Records as having the mildest all-year climate in the world, second only to Hawaii. But it's the fascinating history of Mossel Bay which grants the town its status as the historical capital of the Garden Route and one of the most significant towns in South Africa.
Other Popular Destinations in South Africa
Cape Town
Cape Town, located at the southern tip of South Africa, is one of the world’s most striking coastal cities. Towering over it is Table Mountain, a flat-topped landmark that can be reached by cable car or on foot, offering sweeping views of the city, ocean, and beyond.
Johannesburg
Travel to Johannesburg, the cosmopolitan city at the heart of South Africa, and find some of the country’s most iconic landmarks. Replete with cultural excursions, historical sites, and superb restaurants, Johannesburg has plenty to explore.