Cape Verde's unique geographic location, tumultuous history of slavery and invasion, and fascinating mix of transatlantic cultures have given rise to a place unlike any other on the globe. A place as joyful as it is full of longing, a fact perhaps best reflected in Cape Verdean music and the hauntingly beautiful 'morna'. The sometimes harsh, drought-prone conditions of this mid-Atlantic scattering of islands have seen the flourishing of a fascinating Creole culture and the most stable democracy in Africa.

The narrow and often steep granite-paved streets of Cagliari’s Castello District are a reminder of a bygone age when the town was dominated at first by Pisans, and later by the Aragonese. Built from white limestone, the walls and towers of the Old Town shimmer in the sun and are a magnificent sight, especially if you are lucky and approach the city from the sea, as the English novelist D.H. Lawrence did in 1921 when he described the Old Town as looking like a "Jerusalem without trees".

Sydney is Australia’s most iconic city, known for the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and beaches like Bondi. But there’s more beneath the postcard views: diverse neighbourhoods, a buzzing food scene, and a strong connection to culture, sport and the outdoors. The weather’s good most of the year, and the vibe is laid-back without trying too hard, which makes it easy to feel at home, even just for a while.

A well preserved, colonnaded medieaval old town with its world renowned Golden Roof. Right next to this there's a brightly coloured, sparkling imperial palace, the Hofburg - baroque and monumental. A stone’s throw away is the Hofkirche, a court church containing larger-than-life bronze statues, the Schwarze Mander, standing guard around the (empty) tomb of Emperor Maximilian I., a truly breath-taking sight and unique in Europe. High above this superb architecture towers the Nordkette, a magnificent mountain range between 2300 and 2500 m.

The coastal barrier city of New Smyrna Beach is “Florida’s Secret Pearl” for good reason. Consistently given recognition on numerous “best surf town” lists, New Smyrna Beach was even ranked as "one of the world's top 20 surf towns" by National Geographic Magazine. Water sports remain its most popular feature, with swimming, scuba diving, kite-surfing, and surfing at the forefront. Outdoors enthusiasts have little fear, however: you’ll discover myriad opportunities to fish, sail, motorboat, golf, hike, and more at New Smyrna Beach.