97-Day World Cruise - Los Angeles to Ft. Lauderdale

Situated along Africa’s northernmost coastline, Agadir enjoys a year-round temperate climate and all the delights of a modern city. Relax on one of the many excellent beaches, browse through the shops and marketplaces in town and sample some of the local cuisine. You can also venture on a fascinating excursion to the 16th-century Bedouin city of Taroudant, cradled against the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains. From the ancient walls there’s an incredible view
of the city, port and ocean far below. In the heart of the old medina, you may explore one of Morocco’s liveliest souks, a labyrinth of shops featuring local handicrafts.

Crete, an island of Greece, southeast of the mainland, constituting a region of the country. The island is oblong in shape. Its area is 8335 sq km (3218 sq mi) and the population is 536,980 (1991). The capital city and principal seaport is Khania. Iraklion is the largest town. Crete has a mostly mountainous terrain. The northern coast of Crete has a number of good harbors, notably the Gulf of Soudha. The southern coast, consisting largely of precipitous escarpments, is inaccessible to shipping. Agriculture is the chief source of wealth in Crete.

Wacky architecture, cultural contrast, call it what you will: In “KL,” as this town is widely known, it is not unusual to, say, see a modern skyscraper situated next door to a centuries-old shophouse. It’s one of the things that make Kuala Lumpur unique.

Superficially, KL may appear to be a modern Asian city of gleaming skyscrapers, but it retains much of the character and local colour which has been so effectively wiped out in cities such as Singapore. It has plenty of colonial buildings in its centre, a vibrant Chinatown with street vendors and night markets, and a bustling Little India.

The real heart of KL is Merdeka Square, the site of the city’s parades and celebrations and home to a 95m (312ft) high flagpole. In colonial days, Malaysia’s administrators used the square for cricket matches, but it was also here that Malaysia’s independence was declared in 1957. On the eastern side of the square is the moorish Sultan Abdul Samed
Building, topped by a 43m (141ft) high clocktower. KL’s magnificent railway station is built in a similar moorish style, with its full quota of minarets, cupolas, towers and arches, and may be construed as a delightful example of British colonial humour. The Petronas Towers building is less decorative but impossible to miss. It’s almost half a km (1640ft) high and is one of the tallest structures in the world.

The picturesque, striped onion-domed Masjid Jame (Friday mosque) is set in a grove of palm trees overlooking Merdeka Square and is neatly reflected in the new mirror-glass office building nearby. Just south of Jami Masjid are the teeming streets of KL’s Chinatown – a crowded, colourful area with the usual melange of signs, shops activity and noise. At night the central section is closed to traffic and becomes a brightly lit, frantic night market.

Budget hotels and hostels can be found in Chinatown and Jalan Pudu Lama. Mid-range hotels are concentrated in Chinatown and on Jalan Bukit Bintang. The night market in Chinatown is the most interesting place to eat in the evening.

This island represents man’s triumph over a hostile environment. A pock-marked lunar surface with over 300 volcanoes, Lanzarote startles with crops of melons, potatoes, and tomatoes that thrive in the black volcanic ash.

Madeira is an island of unbelievable beauty set in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, about a one and one half hour flight from Lisbon. As it lies parallel to the coast of Africa, it has gentle weather — a moderated climate all year round. Perfect for golf. Mountains drop abruptly into the sea and surround small fishing villages at their base. Just west of Funchal, the capital city, lies Cabo Girao, the second highest cliff in the world. Discovered in 1420 under the sail of two officers of Henry The Navigator, Madeira has been a port of call for many ships over the centuries. The island is volcanic in origin, and the flowers that have been brought here have multiplied greatly over the centuries. The spectacular Blandy Gardens, northwest of Funchal and the neighboring property to Palheiro Golf and Casa Velha do Palheiro is a tribute to this flora.

After a round of golf at either of Madeira’s championship golf courses, Santo de Serra or Palheiro Golf, you can enjoy a glass of famous Madeira wine. Perhaps a visit to Camara de Lobos (Winston Churchill’s favourite place), a little fishing village at the base of Cabo Girao. How about a trip to Porto Moniz at the far northwest end of the island where you can soak in the natural pools. Funchal is the capital of Madeira. Ancient streets, beautiful churches, great shopping and many great restaurants dot the city.