Amsterdam to Barcelona

Alicante lies 225 miles (362 km) southeast of Madrid. It is a small city boasting beaches and warm weather most of the year. Alicante is a haven of sidewalk cafes nestled beside little piazas or set out on the palm-lined Explanade. Marvelous views are yours from the castle of Santa Barbara, perched on a rocky peak, and in the Museum of 20th-Century Art,
with masterworks by Picasso, Miro and Braque.

Amsterdam: A good time! That’s what you’ll have in this beautiful capital of the Netherlands, which feels at once like a 17-century city and a bustling modern metropolis. Famous for its canals and extraordinary museums, Amsterdam is also an intimate city with strangely alluring streets and squares.

The airport for Puerto La Cruz in northeast on the Caribbean. Isla de Margarita is off the coast.

Bilbao, city and seaport in northern Spain, on the Nervión River, near the Bay of Biscay, capital of Vizcaya Province, in the Basque region. Bilbao consists of an old section, lying on the right bank of the Nervión, and a modern section, dating from the late 19th century, on the left bank. Several bridges connect the old and new sections. Several railroads and highways and an international airport serve Bilbao. One of the major industrial centers of Spain, the city is within a large iron ore-mining region. The chief industries are shipbuilding and the manufacture of cement, chemicals, foodstuffs,
iron and steel, machinery, paper, and textiles. Bilbao is an important seaport, and iron ore, grain cereals, and wine are major exports. The chief imports are coal and timber.

The Semana Grande is a major annual bullfighting event in Bilbao each August. The city has several churches, among them the Gothic Church of Santiago, dating from the 14th century. It also has a number of museums, with collections ranging from archaeological finds relating to the history of the Basques to modern works of art. Among its educational
institutions is the University of Deusto (1886). The author and philosopher Miguel de Unamuno y Jugo was born in Bilbao.

Bordeaux (bôrdo¢), city (1990 pop. 210,336), capital of Gironde department, SW France, on the Garonne R. It is a busy port, accessible to the Atlantic, with important shipyards and industries. Wine is its major product, with Bordeaux the generic name of the region’s wine. A prosperous Roman city, it flourished (11th cent.) as the seat of the dukes of Aquitaine. Eleanor of Aquitaine precipitated war between France and the English, who ruled the city (1154-1453). The city reached its height of prosperity in the 18th cent. It was the temporary seat of French government in 1914 and 1940.

Channel Islands, archipelago (1995 est. pop. 151,000), 75 sq mi (194 sq km), 10 mi (16 km) off the coast of France in the English Channel. The principal islands are Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, and Sark; they are dependencies of the British crown. Agriculture, dairying, and tourism are the mainstays of the economy. English and French are the official languages. The natives speak a Norman patois and maintain Norman customs. The islands became possessions of the duke of Normandy in the 10th century and were joined to the English crown at the Norman Conquest. They were occupied by the Germans during World War II.

Portugal is for explorers. Its valiant seamen first charted the Azores, discovered Japan, and unlocked the major sea routes the world over. Now you can share the anticipation they must have felt as you explore this exciting city.

You’ll discover an 8th-century Moorish castle, quaint cafes and a palm-studded coastline. The Alfama district is a maze of narrow, twisting streets, whitewashed houses, flowered balconies, archways, terraces and courtyards that charm your socks off. (And if you can find your way out of this dizzying array, 20th-century Lisbon is just as intoxicating.)

Of course, if you’d rather play by the sea, the Portuguese Riviera lies just outside town, offering something for everyone, from sun, sand and surf to thrilling casinos. Lisbon is a vast garden abounding with flowers and tropical plants. The city’s appeal lies in the magnificent vistas from its many belvederes and in the tree-lined avenues and squares decorated with mosaic pavements.

Guernsey’s cliff town boasts a spectacular setting and charming streets filled with Regency-style houses. The quaint town is the main area for shopping. The winding, cobble-stone streets give the port a feeling of yester-year but with modern conveniences.