ST MAARTEN Half French and half Dutch, St. Martin/Saint Maarten is one of the Caribbean’s most diverse and interesting islands. The Dutch capital Philipsburg is a delightful warren of narrow streets called steegjies, where you will fi nd interesting shops and leafy courtyard cafés. Start your exploration at Wathey Square, which is home to a fi ne collection of traditional West Indian ‘gingerbread’ houses. If you would prefer to enjoy a little French ‘je ne sais quoi’, take an island tour to the pretty French capital Marigot, worth visiting for its markets, lovely café-lined waterfront and the chic boutiques of Marina Port La Royale.
ST VINCENT Cape Verde Islands Located 500 miles off the coast of Senegal, in the remote and peaceful Cape Verde Islands, the beautiful volcanic island of St Vincent is about as far off the beaten track as you can get. The capital of St Vincent, Mindelo, started life as a British refueling port in the 19th century and its architecture still bears strong British infl uence. The town has a collection of intriguing markets and some excellent bars, and nearby Catfi sh Bay is a majestic sight. The sandy beach of this broad sweeping bay sits at the foot of rugged mountains and is dotted with colourful fi shing boats. It’s also a great place to watch windsurfers demonstrate their skills in the fabulous breaking waves.
Ushuaia
SUVA Fiji
The capital of Fiji is Suva, a beautiful harbour city built on a hilly peninsula, which stretches out into the sea. Although Suva is the commercial and political centre of Fiji, and the largest city in the South Pacifi c, its tall modern buildings are beautifully balanced by its rich traditional colonial architecture. There is plenty to do and see in this exotic destination. You can discover some of Fiji’s unique fauna and fl ora at the cultural centre on Orchid Island and visit Albert Park, where Charles Kingsford-Smith landed the ‘Southern Cross’ on his trans-Pacifi c fl ight in 1928.
SYDNEY Australia One of the world’s great cities and harbours, Sydney always lives up to great expectations and the fi rst glimpse of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House will stay in the memory forever. From the waterside restaurants fringing the historic Rocks district, take an easy walk around Sydney Cove past the Circular Quay ferry terminal to that remarkable Opera House and the beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens. Travel to the top of the 300-metre-high Centrepoint Tower for a bird’s eye view of the city. Or catch a harbour trip to Manly for some top beaches. Brash Bondi is the classic Aussie beach experience while Darling Harbour offers museums, an aquarium and shops. Further afi eld, you can get right away from it all in the Blue Mountains.
TENERIFE Canary Islands Tenerife is blessed with one of the world’s most dramatic and varied landscapes, ranging from verdant valleys to glorious beaches and the volcanic ‘moonscape’ of Mount Teide National Park. Tenerife’s port Santa Cruz has grown from a fi shing village to a splendid city with classy bars and restaurants, varied shops, fi ne architecture and interesting museums. For a family day out, make sure you don’t miss Loro Park, home to many exotic animals including killer whales, sea lions, gorillas, tigers and the world’s largest collection of parrots.
Xingang
TOBAGO Tobago is a real Robinson Crusoe island. There is not much of it – just 26 miles by nine – but there’s a beautiful scene around every corner. Sometimes it is a waterfall cascading from a volcanic hill, and then it will be a long, white, sandy beach with the translucent waters refl ecting a coral reef below. The capital, Scarborough, is laid-back even by Caribbean standards and a great place for a quiet drink and to watch the world stroll by.
Tenerife
USHUAIA Argentina At the tip of Tierra del Fuego with only Cape Horn and Antarctica beyond, the Argentinean settlement of Ushuaia has a history as fascinating as its location, as a visit to its ‘End of the World’ Museum entertainingly displays. It’s also the gateway to Argentina’s only coastal national park: Parque Nacional Tierra Del Fuego. This stretches west of Ushuaia and north of the Beagle Channel and contains rivers, lakes and glaciers, forests and swamps which are home to a rich variety of marine, bird and other wildlife.
VIGO Spain Spain’s busiest fi shing port, Vigo, sits on the rugged west coast of the province of Galicia, with the best view of the town being from the fort (Castillo del Castro) built on the hill overlooking the harbour. Walking through the steep, narrow streets of the old town (Barrio del Berbes) you can see (and smell) the daily fi sh market. Why not join an excursion to the nearby historic fi shing village of Bayona? Stroll through the streets of the old quarter and enjoy delicious tapas at the Talaso Atlantico Spa Hotel. From Vigo you can also visit the beautiful medieval city of Santiago de Compostela, with its stunning cathedral centrepiece.
NEW FOR 2013 VIRGIN GORDA British Virgin Islands Named by Christopher Columbus because it reminded him of a reclining woman, Virgin Gorda (Fat Virgin) is an island that invites visitors to sit back and relax. A hidden treasure of tiny coves, secluded beaches and luxury resorts, it also boasts The Baths where you can explore mysterious grottos and saltwater pools created by huge granite boulders. Explore a little further and you’ll discover rugged island trails, unique plant life and a nature sanctuary of exotic birds.
WALVIS BAY Namibia Though the pretty town of Walvis Bay is well- endowed with restaurants, bars and shops, nature is the big attraction here; Walvis Bay’s lagoon, salt fl ats and sand dunes are home to a fabulous array of birds, including pelicans and fl amingos. You can see the bay at its best from the top of Dune Seven – the highest in the region.
WELLINGTONNew Zealand New Zealand’s capital is blessed with a wonderful setting, overlooking a glittering harbour fi lled with bobbing sailing boats. Behind the gleaming modern skyscrapers of its centre, you’ll fi nd the city’s history well preserved in some outstanding old buildings – notably the old Government Building, built in 1876. But to see New Zealand’s story brought most vividly to life, visit the Te Papa Museum. Make time, too, to enjoy lunch with a view on the city’s lively waterfront, then take a four minute ride on the cable car to see the marvellous views from the top of Kelburn.
XINGANG (for tours to Beijing and The Great Wall) China Beijing is a microcosm of modern China and all its contradictions and with so much to offer, you can but dip your toes into the culture and sights – the architecturally magnifi cent Forbidden City, the equally impressive Beijing National Stadium (Bird’s Nest), the elegant grounds of the Summer Palace and the stately buildings of Tiananmen Square. For a different experience you can forego the city for The Great Wall which snakes magnifi cently through the surrounding countryside, desert, hills and plains.
108 WORLD CRUISES 2013
PORT GAZETTEER
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