all around the world

Vanuatu Post has created an official Post Office with a difference: It is the world’s first Underwater Post Office. Situated within the Hideaway Island marine sanctuary, the Post Office sits in around three metres of water and both divers and snorkellers are able to post special “waterproof postcards”. Visitors know that the post office is open for business when a flag is flown at the surface.

North-east of the small city of La Paloma, the tiny, east-coast beach hamlet of Cabo Polonia is one of the more remote places of Uruguay and famed for being home to its second-biggest sea lion colony. Unspoilt by mass tourism, Cabo Polonio retains the raw, natural beauty of the Rocha region on Uruguay’s Atlantic coastline. Cabo Polonio is a place to slow down. Take in the natural beauty, walk everywhere barefoot, surf, watch the sun go down and completely switch off from the outside craziness of the world we live in today.

Iridescent pools of water gather on beds of rust-colored travertine. The colorful puddles top each layer of rock at Iran’s Badab-e Surt, blanketing the naturally formed terraces and transforming them into an exquisite sight alight with fiery hues. The scenery is breathtaking. These beautiful travertine terraces in northern Iran are an incredible natural phenomenon that developed over thousands of years. Travertine is a type of limestone formed from the calcium deposit in flowing water, and in this case it's two hot springs with different mineral properties. The unusual reddish colour of the terraces is down to the high content of iron oxide in one of the springs.

Set on an Andalusian mountain plateau, the town of Ronda is just over an hour – and a whole world away – from the beach resorts of Spain’s Costa Del Sol. Despite being a growing town, Ronda retains much of its historic charm, particularly its old town. Ronda is close enough to Seville and Málaga for a day trip, but as well as stunning views, there are more than enough things to do in Ronda to make it worth staying a night or two...

Affectionately nicknamed Beagá by its residents (pronounced 'bay-ah-gah'), Belo Horizonte was named for its beautiful view of nearby mountains (Beautiful Horizon). Brazil’s third-largest city has considerable charm and a blooming street art scenario. Its streets are knitted with art, museums, theater, dance, music and literature, making the city standout as contemporary and culturally rich. The countless dimensions to ‘beagá’ and its touristic diversity attracts people from all over the world.

A stunning history, fascinating culture, and some of the most unique sites in Texas can be found in the dynamic and vibrant city of San Antonio. San Antonio has many popular attractions, welcoming over 26 million tourists every year who come to enjoy its Spanish colonial Missions which include the Alamo, an 18th-century Spanish Mission now preserved as a museum that marks the 1836 battle for Texan independence from Mexico, as well as the annual San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, to name but a few.

The Rainbow Mountains, Peru

The world's oldest functioning Swahili city, Stone Town, is the cultural heart of Zanzibar. This atmospheric and mystical town was constructed from coral stone during the 19th and 20th century, and was declared a World Heritage Site in 2000. The grand old Arabian homes lining the narrow streets and winding alleys give the city its own unique charm. It is a very lively place where you’ll find a mixture of Arabic, African, Indian and European cultures living comfortably together. As you walk through the labyrinth of streets too narrow for cars to pass, you can see mosques, churches and temples side to side.

On the west coast of Grenada, a short drive north of St. George's at Moliniere Bay, the Underwater Sculpture Park is a unique submerged gallery that also serves as an artificial reef in a marine protected area. Molinere bay is currently home to over 70 such sculptures, the first of which were sunk to the Grenadian sea bed by sculptor and environmentalist Jason Decaires Taylor in 2006. In doing so, Jason created the world’s first underwater sculpture park.

Imagine a sparkling blue lake surrounded by mountains, a car-free medieval old town, covered bridges, waterfront promenades, frescoed historic buildings, and sun-splashed plazas with bubbling fountains. No wonder the quintessential Swiss town of Lucerne is a top favourite for tourists. One of the city's most famous landmarks is the Chapel Bridge, built in the 14th century. In a small park, lies the famous Lion Monument, a poignant sculpture of a dying lion, which honors the heroic death of Swiss Guards during the attack on the Tuileries in the French Revolution. And if you wish to enjoy the town’s beauty, ride a funicular to Dietschiberg on the northern side of Lake Lucerne and take the cableway to Mt. Pilatus.

Riding the Merida Cable Car is something that every visitor to Venezuela simply must do. It is the world’s longest and highest cable car. The “teleférico” route is almost 12 km (7.5 miles) and soars more than 4,700 meters (15,600 feet) in the air. There are stops along the way, so visitors can get out and do a little trekking if they wish. You can also stay in the town of Mérida, that has both fantastic mountain vistas and an unhurried and cultured vibe. Merida is also known to be a hotspot to adventure sports lovers. There are tons os options if you enjoy rafting, canyoning, mountain biking, hiking, or paragliding – the city’s specialty.

Oran is a lively port city with heaps of character and beauty. Admire the imposing French colonial-era architecture of the public buildings and watch giant containers being unloaded in the port.  Oran is also a great place for scuba diving, sampling Algerian cuisine and listening to lively Rai music which has its origins in the city.

for more info visit https://africanrockart.org/

Stretching for around 100 miles along the Adriatic coast, with hilltowns to rival those of Tuscany and Umbria, Le Marche is a gorgeous and affordable region to explore. Le Marche (in English 'the marches') is 1 of 20 regions in Italy and received its name in reference to the Medieval march (borderland) of Ancona, Camerina and Fermo. Le Marche region is centrally located which means you can get around the rest of Italy with (relative) ease and also enjoy a fused variety of cuisine from these polarized adjacent regions. Beyond that, Le Marche is steeped in its own food culture that can be traced back hundreds of years. Many of the methods remain the same today! If you’re hankering for something a little more modern, you can visit 1 of 9 Michelin star restaurants that are dotted across the region or enjoy some of the freshest fish you will ever have in coastal towns like Fano.

Te Rerenga Wairua is also a sacred site for Maori people. It is only there that the souls of the departed undertake their final journey to Hawaiiki-A-Nui, the land of their ancestors. Information signs that share the stories of this area along the path, and you can feel this spirituality as you walk down towards the seas.

Located next to Lake Wakatipu and known as being the adventure capital of the world, the colourful Queenstown has been attracting visitors for decades, and now this once-sleepy little village tucked away in the mountains is one of the most popular tourist destinations in New Zealand.