Europe 2009 - (Page 56) The Medallion Collection These exclusive tours focus on offering an in-depth perspective and privileged access to events and sites not readily available. Details at www.hollandamerica.com. Isafjörður, Iceland Kiel (Hamburg), Germany Explore the mountains and villages of Iceland’s Westfjords region or get really off the beaten track visiting the puffins and eider ducks of Vigur Island. Sample shore excursion: Off the Beaten Track: Cruise to Vigur Bird Island. Iskenderun, Turkey From Kiel, travel to Hamburg, a busy port city on the Elbe River. Highlights: the baroque St. Michael’s church; the St. Pauli district; and gardens, cafes and music around Alster Lake. Sample shore excursions: Hamburg — Germany’s Gateway to the World; Medieval Lüneburg by Horse & Carriage. Kiel Canal (scenic cruising) La Goulette (Tunis & Carthage), Tunisia Tunis, the nearby capital, offers a bustling medina as well as the Bardo Museum, famed for its collection of mosaics and finds from Carthage. Sample shore excursions: Sidi Bou Said & Carthage; The Best of Tunisia. La Spezia (Cinque Terre), Italy The city Alexander the Great founded, once a trading post for goods from Persia and India, today offers a pleasant Mediterranean climate, delicious Turkish cuisine and a stunning setting at the foot of the mountains. Istanbul, Turkey This 61-mile passageway connecting the North Sea and the Baltic is the busiest man-made waterway in the world. Sample shore excursion: Hamburg — Germany’s Gateway to the World. Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, Scotland Your jumping-off point for exploring Italy’s Cinque Terre, five enchanting villages hugging the hilly Ligurian coastline. Sample shore excursions: Discovering Cinque Terre. Le Havre (Paris), France Known in the course of history as Byzantium and Constantinople, this city’s rich past is evident in the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia Church and Topkapi Palace, home of the Ottoman Sultans. Sample shore excursions: Istanbul Highlights & Lunch at Ciragan Palace; Cultural Treasures & Cuisine. Katákolon (Olympia), Greece Ancient wonders await: the 5,000year-old stone village of Skara Brae . . . the Standing Stones of Stenness and Ring of Brodgar. Sample shore excursions: Skara Brae & Skaill House. Kristiansund, Norway Tour through the Normandy countryside to D-Day landing beaches. Or head for Paris’ grand sights. Sample shore excursions: Land of Impressionism — A Day with Claude Monet; Landmarks of Paris & Views from the Seine. Leixões (Porto), Portugal Step back 2,000 years and imagine the roar of the spectators as athletes took their marks on the marble starting blocks in the stadium at ancient Olympia. Sample shore excursion: Ancient Olympia & Zorba. Kérkira, Corfu, Greece This colorful, cosmopolitan fishing town is set across three islands connected by bridges. Explore the old quarter with its 17th-century customs house. Sample shore excursions: Christiansholm and Ravenedalen; Setesdal Vintage Railway. Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey ¸ Inland from Leixões is the Rio Douro Valley, where the world’s finest, oldest port wine is made. Sample shore excursions: Guimaraes — Birthplace of a Nation; The Charm of Minho. Lerwick, Shetland Islands, Scotland Fortresses flank your entrance to this fertile isle. Explore the Venetian old town or head north for dramatic seascapes. Sample shore excursion: Achillion Palace & Private Villa. Gateway to Ephesus, one of the old best-preserved archaeological sites in the world. Explore grand colonnaded marble streets, the Celsus Library and the Baths. Sample shore excursions: The Village of Sirince; Ancient Ephesus & the Virgin Mary’s House. Discover the islands’ history and culture at the new Shetland Museum. Stop for a pint at the pub. Pause to pet the ponies that hail from here. Sample shore excursion: Scenery of Western Shetland. 56 e-brochures available online http://www.hollandamerica.com
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