Europe 2009 - (Page 52) Key Ports of Call s c e n ic cruising & sAmpLe sHore excursi o n s Holland America Line has purposely designed our itineraries to allow guests maximum time in each port. To make the most of it, we’ve also sought out shore excursions that showcase the city or region at its best. And as true mariners at heart, we are proud to place an emphasis on scenic cruising, offering some of the world’s most spectacular sights from the decks of our ships. Booking shore excursions online You can view excursion information, as well as book your favorite shore activities in advance, at www.hollandamerica.com, where online reservations are processed prior to requests made on board. A Coruña, Spain Amsterdam, The Netherlands Aurlandsfjord (scenic cruising) Charming cafés serving delicious Galician cuisine beckon, as does Santiago de Compostela, one of Christianity’s holiest sites. Sample shore excursion: Santiago de Compostela Highlights. Akureyri, Iceland Along with its graceful canals and gabled houses, Amsterdam offers such world-class sights as the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum. Sample shore excursion: Windmills & Edam. Antalya, Turkey A World Heritage Area and part of Norway’s 127-mile-long Sognefjord. Prepare for dramatic mountain vistas, steep-sided walls, lush valleys and sparkling waterfalls. Barcelona, Spain Snowy peaks surround the town’s picturesque houses. Nearby is Lake Myvatn, a famous bird sanctuary. Sample shore excursions: Polar Flight to Grimsey; Lake Myvatn. Alexandria (Cairo), Egypt Immerse yourself in the Greco-Roman past. Sample shore excursions: Aqueducts & Colonnades: The Roman Ruins of Aspendos; Perge & Antalya Archaeological Museum. Argostóli, Cephaloniá, Greece One of Europe’s most dynamic cities, Barcelona offers Antoni Gaudí’s modernista architecture, Picasso and Miró museums, and great peoplewatching on Las Ramblas, the city’s main walking boulevard. Sample shore excursions: Gaudí’s Barcelona; Picasso & the Gothic Quarter. Bat’umi, Georgia Founded in 331 bc by Alexander the Great, Alexandria offers access to the Pyramids and Sphinx as well as museums filled with mummies and ancient tapestries. Sample shore excursions: Giza Pyramids, The Sphinx & The Pyramid of Sakkara; Classical Alexandria. Alicante, Spain Capital of the Ionian isle immortalized in Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. Sample shore excursion: Melissani Lake & Drogarati Cave. Århus, Denmark Maiden call. This balmy Black Sea port is a popular health resort known for its beaches, mild climate and pretty botanical gardens. Sample shore excursion: The Best of Bat’umi. Belfast, Northern Ireland Step back to the Middle Ages in Old Town. Shop for Danish handicrafts near the port. Sample shore excursions: Hans Christian Anderson & Fiden Village; Fyrkat Viking Fortress. Arrecife, Lanzarote, Canary Islands Stroll among the palms, shops and cafés along the beachfront. Explore the high-baroque cathedral or the Castillo of Santa Barbara. Sample shore excursion: Elche & Huerto del Cura. Almería, Spain This unusual volcanic landscape is a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. Sample shore excursions: César Manrique & Canary Culture; Islands of Fire Mountains and Camel Ride. Ashdod (Jerusalem), Israel Discover The Murals, vividly painted on the gable ends of houses, the famed shipyard where the Titanic was built, and excellent shopping for Irish linen and china. Sample shore excursions: A Day in St. Patrick’s Country; Giants Causeway & Old Bushmills Distillery. Bergen, Norway This former Barbary pirate outpost today offers dazzling white houses, a Gothic cathedral and the Moorishinspired Alcazaba Palace. Nearby is Granada with its wondrous Alhambra. Sample shore excursions: Cabo de Gata & Nijar; Granada & the Alhambra. Your jumping-off point for Biblical lands that are sacred to Christians, Jews and Muslims alike. Sample shore excursions: Jerusalem — the Old City; Tel Aviv & Jaffa; Leisurely Jerusalem. Stroll Bryggen pier, lined with wooden warehouses dating back to the Middle Ages. Board the funicular to the top of Mt. Floien for spectacular views. Sample shore excursions: City Tour Bryggen; Hardanger & Voss; Mt. Floien Hiking Tour. 52 e-brochures available online http://www.hollandamerica.com
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