Croatia
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Before war broke out in the former Yugoslavia, Croatia's ancient cities and stunning Dalmatian coast attracted travelers from around the world. Now that a fragile peace has been restored, people are starting to return. The combination of cliffs, beaches, rocky coves, picturesque islands and lovely Mediterranean waters make Croatia's coastline an open secret among savvy travelers. Popular north-coast resorts include Porec, Pula, Opatija and Rovinj. To the south lies Split, a coastal city that dates back to the 4th century, where a vast palace built by the Roman Emperor Diocletian can still be seen. Pula boasts a Roman amphitheater still in use today for concerts and plays. Zagreb, the nation's capital, has a number of 13th-century buildings, as well as museums, theaters and two interesting cathedrals. But Dubrovnik is Croatia's real jewel. A walled medieval city located on the Adriatic very near the Bosnian border, it suffered extensive damage in the war. However, an international drive for its reconstruction has already shown remarkable success. While travelers to any of the Balkan states should exercise caution, it is possible once again to see Croatia's treasures. Formerly Serb-controlled territories are the least stable. Plan itineraries carefully.
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Egypt
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Many elements of ancient Egypt are so strongly present in the collective cultural imagination--the Nile river, the pyramids at Giza, the tombs of the pharaohs--that it can be overwhelming for visitors when they see how much the country's contemporary, and equally important, culture has affected these monuments. The capital city of Cairo has a population of more than 15 million people, and its boundaries now extend to the very base of the pyramids. Within this marvelous city are more mosques, medieval monuments, historic areas and interesting sights than one could ever imagine. The Nile valley, from the romantic seaport of Alexandria on the Mediterranean to the old city of Aswan in the south, houses most of the rest of the country, with farming villages and ancient river temples sitting side by side. The Sinai peninsula presents another fascinating juxtaposition, with its stark mountain interior and the white sand of the Red Sea beaches. The Bedouin settlements of the west add yet another element to the country's variety.
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France
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Charles de Gaulle said that it is impossible to rule a nation that produces more cheeses than there are days in the year. Of course he was flattering his compatriots, who pride themselves on their independent spirit and culinary artistry, but there is also truth in his words. Though many tourists think France is synonymous with Paris, it is in fact the largest and most geographically varied country in Europe. The nation encompasses cold, rainy northern regions, two snow-capped mountain ranges (the Alps and the Pyrenees), rolling pastureland, and the sun-drenched Cote d'Azur. Indeed, there are a number of distinct local cultures, most notably in Brittany and the Basque regions near Spain, which even have their own dialects. Nevertheless Paris, with its elegant architecture, opulent museums, posh restaurants and smoky, sophisticated cafes, is the first item on most travel itineraries. Even the most random stroll through the city is sure to impress, though the city itself is usually more popular than the inhabitants, who have a reputation--not always deserved--for arrogance. In recent years, a handful of writers have generated a vogue for Provence, though each of France's regions offers its own (often culinary) reasons to visit.
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Greece
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Most people are aware of Greece's importance in history, as well as its reputation as a trampled international tourist haven during the summer months. A visit to this historic and stunningly beautiful land can be many things; the key is to recognize what you want ahead of time and plan accordingly. As exciting as Athens is, it's also maddeningly noisy and polluted. Still, many timeless classical monuments are located within the city, such as the Theater of Dionysus, the Roman Forum, Hadrian's Arch and, of course, the Parthenon. Great, inexpensive eateries, serving delectable dolmades and calamari, and possibly the world's most famous flea market can be found in the old quarter, Plaka. Not far from Athens is Delphi, home of the legendary Oracle and an excellent museum. Greece's myriad islands are justifiably famed for their natural beauty and for perpetuating the wild Dionysian spirit through the summer. Corfu is relatively commercialized but beautiful, boasting handsome avenues and squares and diverse architectural elements. Also touristically developed is Rhodes, home to the Rhodes Acropolis and the 2nd-century B.C. Temple of Apollo. Archaeologists and hedonists have the best of both worlds in Greece.
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Italy
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Italy is so thoroughly civilized that, as Goethe put it, the soil itself seems to have been sifted. No place is perfect, of course, but it seems that in Italy, nature and art have conspired to enthrall visitors. In Rome, the splendors of the Vatican are built atop the ruins of a great pagan empire. Florence, while more austere, is even more picturesque, with the red-tiled Duomo standing guard over the capital of the Renaissance. And then there is Venice, where marble palaces seem to float upon the lagoon; combining Byzantine mystery with Renaissance order and baroque splendor, Venice seems more a miracle than a living, breathing city. Most visitors to Italy do not get past the Big Three, and they miss the sophistication of Milan, the holy beauty of Assisi, the lushness of Naples and Palermo. Forgetting the human element for a moment, the landscape alone would make Italy worthy of a stop on any grand tour. There are craggy mountains, hot springs and secret grottoes, and terraced orchards filled with apricot and olive trees. Except for the highest peaks, the entire land is blessed with a mild, dry Mediterranean climate.
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Lebanon
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After decades of agonizing civil war, Lebanon is once again at peace and is slowly but surely rebuilding its reputation as the Middle East's most sophisticated country. The one-time Paris of the East is still a bit pockmarked here and there, but has been recovering fast, and is making tremendous strides in restoring its allure for the discerning traveler. These are often high-end cruise passengers with a taste for antiquities, great natural beauty, and fine middle-eastern fare. The fabled warmth of the Lebanese welcome has never been absent, however. You may find yourself invited into Lebanese homes and talking to the locals, learning all about the latest efforts to repair the once-strife torn country, which had became synonymous with religious fanaticism during the 1970s and 1980s. Today, thankfully, the city boasts dramatic new beachfront resorts, luxury shopping, and an increasingly lively cultural scene. Geography alone makes Lebanon worth a trip, with its cedar-covered mountains alternating with typically Mediterranean valleys. Its ravishing scenery is dotted with ancient Phoenician, Egyptian and Byzantine ruins, as well as a number of well-preserved temples dating from Ancient Roman days. The country has a remarkably diverse population, ranging from Eastern Orthodox Christians to Shiite and Druze Muslims. While political factions both inside and outside the country have exploited these differences in recent decades, the Lebanese have historically prided themselves on their openness, tolerance and cosmopolitan spirit, and the country promises to become, once again, a destination of choice for the world's savviest travelers. That said, a quick check of local news and topical conditions is advisable.
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Malta
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Only three of the islands in Malta's archipelago are inhabited: Gozo, Comino and the largest island, also called Malta. This tiny island country in the middle of the Mediterranean offers an exceptionally interesting and diverse culture. Popular history relates that St. Paul was shipwrecked off the coast of Malta, bringing Christianity to the country around A.D. 60. Malta was subsequently ruled by the Roman Empire, the Arabs (who left a strong linguistic legacy), and the British, before gaining its independence in 1964. The white beaches and crystalline water of the islands are Malta's most popular tourist attractions, though the medieval ruins on Gozo and Malta, such as the Ta'Pinu Basilica, the Arab city of Victoria and the churches, catacombs and old Arab fortresses near Rabat are also worthwhile sights. The sparsely inhabited island of Comino lets visitors see a more pastoral side of the country, while the tiny capital city of Valletta on Malta, with its narrow cobblestone streets and fine architecture, is one of the country's more cosmopolitan pleasures.
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Morocco
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Possessing an ancient culture that combines Berber, Moorish, Arab and Jewish influences, Morocco is one of North Africa's most fascinating places. The country itself is huge, sprawling down from the Mediterranean Sea in the north to the Sahara desert in the southeast, and dramatically interrupted by the Middle Atlas and Rif mountains. Its past and present capitals, known collectively as the imperial cities, fascinate visitors with their evocative distillations of past glories: Rabat, Meknes, Marrakech and stunning Fez, with its huge, twisting walled medina, are filled with thriving markets, elegant mosques, picturesque alleyways, secluded palaces and exotic city squares where dancers, fortune-tellers and acrobats share space with the men sipping sweet tea at cafe tables. Tangier and Casablanca are the country's largest coastal cities, while smaller resorts and beach villages line the Atlantic and Mediterranean shorelines. The country's southern region is a striking expanse of mountain and desert, where the colorful rural culture of the Berbers still predominates.
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Slovenia
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It's not to be confused with Slovakia, or for that matter with Yugoslavia, especially since 1991--when Slovenia seceded from the rest of the Yugoslav federation. The pocket-size country is a prosperous land of mountains, lakes, green pastures, vineyards and a tiny but beautiful strip of coast on the Adriatic Sea, just south of the border with Italy. Slovenia was spared the brutal war that engulfed much of the former Yugoslavia following its breakup into warring countries and factions. Travel here is safe and its varied attractions make Slovenia a destination well worth visiting.The mountain resorts in the Karavanke Mountains and the Julian Alps, most notably the ski resort of Kranjska Gora, on the country's northern border, are just as beautiful and offer winter sports facilities equal to any in neighboring Austria or Italy. The mountain lakes of Bled and Bohinj are nothing short of breathtaking. The capital Ljubljana reflects in its architecture the country's long domination by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Finally, the famous Postojna Caves, possibly Slovenia's main tourist attraction, are a vast labyrinth of grandiose underground passageways and chambers, illuminated by electric light and easily accessible on a narrow-gauge electric train.
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Spain
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Dramatic in its scenery and dramatic in its history, Spain has captured the world's imagination for centuries. The stark plains of central Castile, which traditionally bred crusaders and churchmen, contrast sharply with rain-swathed Galicia, invariably likened to Ireland by all who visit it--even the sound of bagpipes, a lingering reminder of its Celtic antecedents, permeates the region. Backed against the Pyrenees, the Basque country is a land of a robust, independence-minded people who speak a language totally unrelated to any other. Sophisticated Barcelona, a city with "its back turned to the sea," is the capital of Catalunya, another individualistic province whose key sensibility is seny--an indefinable concept that involves stoic realism, thriftiness and scatological humor. In the south, Andalusia is the most emblematic region for those unfamiliar with Spain--a land of white stucco villages, passionate flamenco and tragic Gypsy stories, where the memory of Arab rule lingers in the Moorish architecture. And holding it all together is Madrid--a lively European capital whose brilliant blossoming, called the movida, in the aftermath of Franco's death has made it a sophisticated cultural center whose attractions rival those of London and Paris.
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Tunisia
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Known in Arabic as Tunis al-Khudra, or Tunisia the Verdant, this North African country is a stunning land of green mountains, blue seas and vast, white deserts. The capital of Tunis, on the country's Mediterranean coast, is a small and vibrant city, on whose outskirts lie the ruins of Carthage, Rome's rival and the ancient capital of Queen Dido in Virgil's Aeneid. Within the city is the medieval medina, or walled city, whose tiny streets are filled with tiled cafes, high-ceilinged mosques and old bathhouses called hammams. The beaches around Tunis and the Cap Bon peninsula, along with the resort towns of Hammamet, Bizerte and Monastir, attract swimmers and sunbathers from all over Europe, as does the island of Djerba, off the southeastern coast of the country.Those who travel south can visit the sun-baked city of Kairouan, the fourth-holiest city in Islam. The troglydyte dwellings of Matmata and the surreal landscape of the Sahara Desert with the dusty, sand-colored towns at its fringe, like Douz, Tataouine and Borj Borguiba, are fascinating examples of nomadic Bedouin culture, which has existed in Tunisia for centuries.
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Turkey
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With a fingertip in Europe and its bulk in the Middle East, Turkey has historically been known as a crossroads linking the two continents. Istanbul (once Constantinople) was long a contested seat of power for both the Holy Roman and Ottoman empires, and the cultural legacy of these and other civilizations is still evident today in both the city and the rest of the country. The famous mosques in Istanbul, including Haghia Sophia, are intact, while important Christian sites are scattered throughout the country, ranging from the purported birthplace of the Virgin Mary to Ephesus, the city where St. Paul provoked a riot. Turkey is also home to Troy, Pergamon, Mount Ararat, the cliff dwellings of Cappadocia, Black Sea villages, Mediterranean and Aegean resorts, stark Anatolian plains, ancient Hittite settlements and mystic Sufi dervishes. Modern Turkish culture is also rich; the cosmopolitan elements of Istanbul and the relaxed, charming atmosphere of the towns along the Aegean Sea attract many visitors.
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