Riviera - July 21, 2023

Reykjavik, the largest city and capital of Iceland, is a city full of history, great theatre, and exciting nightlife. For a dose of Icelandic and Viking history, visit the National Museum and visit Hallgrimskirkja, a church that features a famous statue of explorer Leif Erickson and a great spot to view the entire city.

Isafjordur, capital of Iceland's Westfjords, dates back to the 9th Century and is one of the country's main fishing ports. Isafjordur also boasts a lively cultural scene and the West Fjords Folk Museum is definitely worth a visit. Take a walk down the harbor and see local fisherman at work or see many of the nearby homes that date back to the 18th Century.

On this cruise through the dramatic fjord and glacier scenery, you'll enjoy the dramatic glacier landscape of the fjord at the tip of Greenland.

Frozen, gleaming white fjords and glaciers, looming icebergs, pale green fields dotted with sheep farms and towns of brightly painted blue, red, yellow, green and white houses are the hallmarks of Southern Greenland, and especially Qaqortoq, the 'White Palace'',one of the region's largest villages. Greenland's only fountain splashes gently in a pleasant square while the harbour is alive with locals bringing in the day's catch.

On this cruise through the dramatic fjord and glacier scenery, you'll enjoy the dramatic glacier landscape of the fjord at the tip of Greenland.

Named for Thos, the god of thunder, this Danish outpost in the middle of the Atlantic has much of interest to see. Visit a farmhouse with a 900-year-old smoke room, the unfinished Gothic-style St. Magnus Cathedral, a medieval church still in use, and a fascinating Maritime and Historical Museum containing boats from the Viking period to the present.

Lerwick is a town in the Shetland Islands, an archipelago north of the Scottish mainland. Historically a major fishing port, Lerwick today attracts those drawn to the combination of Norse and British culture in the area. Every January, the Up-Helly-Aa fire festival features a Norse ship that is dramatically dragged through the town and burned.

Haugesund and its vicinity present attractions both ancient and modern. History buffs can take a trip back to the 9th century and explore numerous Viking monuments, including the grave of Harold I. It is also home of a 928-foot drydock, which, at its completion in 1979, was the largest in Scandinavia. For those more interested in contemporary Nordic achievment, the port boasts both fish and aluminum processing industries.

Sweden's second city, Gothenburg - situated on the country's west coast - has a magnificent harbour and a brilliant showpiece boulevard. The most popular attraction in Sweden, Liseberg is one of the world's best amusement parks. Gothenburg is easily accessible by air, bus, train and boat and, once you're there, a bunch of spanking new hostels in the city center awaits your weary head.

Norway's political and cultural capital, Oslo was recently selected as the city with the highest quality of life in Europe. It's not surprising, considering the city's treasures: beautiful Frogner Park filled with modern sculpture, the emotional power of the Munch Museum, the Viking Ship Museum, forested mountains and secluded coves, all within the city limits.

Haugesund and its vicinity present attractions both ancient and modern. History buffs can take a trip back to the 9th century and explore numerous Viking monuments, including the grave of Harold I. It is also home of a 928-foot drydock, which, at its completion in 1979, was the largest in Scandinavia. For those more interested in contemporary Nordic achievment, the port boasts both fish and aluminum processing industries.

It is the northernmost town of Europe, but its harbor is always ice-free. Tourists are attracted by its uninterrupted daylight from May 17 to July 29. Chartered in 1795, Hammerfest was heavily damaged by British naval bombardment in 1809, by fire in 1890, and by retreating German forces in 1944.

Welcome to the top of the world! The village of Honningsvag, bathed in the eerie light of the midnight sun, is the northernmost community in Europe, set in a land of vast forests, dramatic fjords, and crashing waterfalls. Just up the coast is North Cape, Europe's northernmost point, with breathtaking views towards the Barents Sea and the North Pole.

Tromso, the home of the famous Northern Lights Observatory, is beautifully situated on a forest-covered isle. Take a leisurely island drive and visit the Tromso Museum and an ultra-modern cathedral, whose design was inspired by the ice of the Arctic. Again, the preservation of old ways and integration with present-day technology is remarkable.

Harstad is located on Hinn-ya, the largest island of Norway. It is a fishing center and a bunkering place for coastal steamers and trawlers. Nearby is the fortified church of Trondenes built in the 13th century.

Narvik is an ice-free port on the Ofotfjord, just opposite the Lofoten Islands. It was founded in 1887 as the Atlantic port for the Kiruna and Gallivare iron mines in Sweden and was known as Victoriahavn until 1898. The city is now a tourist center. A great way to enjoy this serene area is to row out onto the fjord on a calm day and enjoy the peaceful lapping of the clear waters.

In Svolvaer, discover a picturesque harbor overlooking the Vestfjord. The towering islands of the Lofoten Wall stretch for more than a hundred miles along Norway's coast. Visit a Norwegian Fishing Village where age-old seagoing traditions are preserved. The merging of old and new is harmonious and refreshing.

Named for Thos, the god of thunder, this Danish outpost in the middle of the Atlantic has much of interest to see. Visit a farmhouse with a 900-year-old smoke room, the unfinished Gothic-style St. Magnus Cathedral, a medieval church still in use, and a fascinating Maritime and Historical Museum containing boats from the Viking period to the present.

Kirkwall is the capital of the Orkney Islands, and is a major regional seaport located off the northern coast of Scotland. The Cathedral of St. Magnus, a red sandstone structure, is the town's most prominent landmark. Other architectural specimens, such as Earl's Palace, Bishop's Palace, and Tankerness House, add to Kirkwall's picturesque quality.

Entrenched in history and yet very much part of the 21st century, Portsmouth features the best that England has to offer. Take in the sky-blue seas and refreshing breezes of Pompey. Snap a photo of the majestic fountain by Alders. Dance your cares away at the glitzy Underground nightclub. Shop for hours amid the unique and colorful stores of the Commercial Road precinct.