13 Night Canaries &
Morocco Holiday - Christmas
at Sea

Barcelona

The enchanting city of Barcelona is a visual delight, and has an
atmosphere that combines elegance and sophistication with
provincial charm. In exploring its streets you'll discover medieval
romance in its Gothic quarter and the awe-inspiring delights of the
fantastic and sometimes outrageous Art Nouveau architecture of
Gaudi and his contemporaries.

The funicular up to Tibidabo, or the cable car up Montjuic, both
offer breathtaking views over this attractive city. Its skyline is
perhaps most famous for Antoni Gaudi's masterwork, the still
incomplete church of the Sagrada Familia, as well as the city's
huge Gothic cathedral. The artistic legacy of Barcelona is one of
the city's most appealing attributes, with museums containing
extensive collections of the works of Miro and Picasso. Barcelona
is also a shopper's paradise, with the city's flair for style
reflected in its numerous boutiques and markets, open late into the
evenings. As the sun sets, and the city's many bars and restaurants
open, the night truly comes alive. Dinner is served at any time
between nine o'clock and midnight, and the festivities around the
bars and nightclubs carry on well into the early hours of the
morning.

Barcelona is the commercial centre of the popular holiday region
known as the Costa Brava, the northernmost Mediterranean seafront
in Spain, as well as the Costa Dorada to the south. The coast is
dotted with popular resort towns, many retaining their age-old
charm, which can be easily reached from the city.

Lanzarote

The most northeasterly of the Canary Islands,
Lanzarote has embraced the tourism boom with a more laidback feel
than its popular sister islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria.
Nature is still the biggest attraction on this small volcanic
island, which measures only 38 miles (60km) in length and 13 miles
(21km) across at its widest point.

Lanzarote's beaches are varied and dramatic,
including long stretches of golden sand, some good surf spots, and
some rugged, hidden coves. Camels are often used to transport goods
and sometimes tourists on this desert-like island, across the dry
volcanic ash that covers most of the landscape. UNESCO declared the
whole island a Biosphere Reserve in 1993, and visitors exploring
the dozens of enchanting and unique spots on the island will soon
see why.

Lanzarote's capital, Arrecife, is a small town on
the eastern coast, its harbour packed with fishing boats. Although
the town itself has little to offer in the way of sights or
nightlife, it does have a magnificent beach, El Reducto, which has
been granted Blue Flag status by the European Union. A promenade
runs along the beachfront around the San Gines lagoon with its fine
golden sand and placid waters.

Tenerife

Budget airlines and affordable fares have turned Spain into a beach resort haven for northern Europeans wishing to escape their own (sometimes) damp and dreary climates. With sun-bleached beaches and a favourable exchange rate for most travellers, it's easy to see why Spain is such a popular choice for an unforgettable beach holiday in Europe. An incredible 53 million people visit Spain each year (the second most in Europe after France), and the country deserves its formidable reputation as a tourist haven.

Some may feel that the Canary and Balearic Islands have been overrun by tourists, and this is true to some extent. Tenerife, Lanzarote, and Mallorca have become synonymous with cheap package holidays and warm beer, and Ibiza's reputation has been somewhat tarnished by the revellers frequenting its famous dance clubs and beach parties. However, even in these crowded resort areas you will find many magical, unspoilt corners awaiting discovery.

Spain is comprised of numerous autonomous regions, offering great variation within one country. The hundreds of miles of Mediterranean coastline provide ample opportunity to get off the beaten track, and the country's vibrant cities and colourful festivals will amaze and delight even the most seasoned traveller. Art lovers can get lost in the Spain of Gaudi, Dali, and Picasso, of Goya and Velazquez - proudly displayed in the country's museums and galleries.

Spain's Pamplona is a unique experience of thundering streets that vibrate to the rhythm of man and beast during the annual running of the bulls, and while the whole country celebrates each February with the Carnaval, no place does it better than Sitges.

Barcelona is Spain's showcase of the unique architectural style of Gaudi's bizarre organic turrets and balconies. For a more provincial experience, the Valencian town of Buñol goes wild every year with the La Tomatina festival, a time when the region's surplus tomatoes following the annual harvest are dumped on the streets and pelted about in a friendly riot.

Spain is also a country rich in heritage, and the historic cities of Toledo, Salamanca, Seville, and Granada promise a wealth of early Christian and Moorish buildings and monuments, as well as the remains of some incredible medieval sites. Spain has six cities that have been declared UNESCO World Heritage sites, more than any other country in the world.

Funchal, Madeira

Funchal is the capital and largest city on the island of
Madeira, off the coast of Portugal. Home to just over 100,000
people, the city was founded in 1424 and quickly became an
important port of call for European ships.

Named for the abundant fennel trees in the area, Funchal has
many beautiful parks and gardens, including the Madeira Botanical
Gardens, which offer a stunning view of the city as well as more
than 2,000 species of plant life. This is also a stopping point for
the Funchal Cable Car, which goes up the mountain to Monte. The
Madeira Botanical Gardens is one of the most popular attractions in
Funchal, but also worth a visit are the Jardins Do Palheiro and the
Monte Palace Hotel Gardens.

Funchal is home to lovely old buildings and cultural sites,
including the 15th-century Santa Clara Convent, the São Lourenço
Palace, the Colegio Church, and Sé Cathedral. However, even
aimlessly wandering through the 'Old' city centre is a pleasant way
to spend a day, with the port and promenade, and numerous shops,
cafés and restaurants lining the winding streets.

The city is known for its excellent cuisine and local Madeira
wine, and foodies will have no trouble finding treats like fresh
seafood and baked goods to satisfy their appetites. To burn off
those calories, there are plenty of active pursuits to enjoy in
Funchal including golf, swimming, paragliding, boat trips, and the
unforgettable Levada Walks.

Casablanca

Just looking at the city, there's no need to guess where the
port-city of Casablanca, meaning 'white house' in Spanish, got its
name. Made famous by the classic film, starring Humphrey Bogart,
this cosmopolitan, white-walled city is Morocco's largest and most
modern. Casablanca is not oriented towards tourists as much as
Morocco's other large cities, but under the hustle and bustle lies
a unique and charismatic history waiting to be discovered.

Founded by Berber fisherman over two thousand years ago,
Casablanca was used by both the Phoenicians and the Romans as a
port. The Portuguese then took over but after destroying the city
and rebuilding it, they abandoned it in the aftermath of an
earthquake. The city went on to be rebuilt as Daru l-Badya (Arabic
for Casablanca) by a Moroccan sultan, and was then given the name
Casablanca by the Spanish traders who used the port, and it retains
this function today as one of Africa's largest and most important
ports.

As a centre for trade and, consequently, the mixing of cultures,
Casablanca is unlike any other Moroccan city. Many women ditch the
conservative clothing and dress themselves in the latest designer
outfits. The infrastructure is modern and the city sophisticated.
Casablanca is where Morocco's youth move to make something of their
lives and is the centre for international trade and big business.
For a glimpse of its history, downtown is the perfect place to
admire the blend of French colonial architecture and traditional
Moroccan design.

Tangier

For decades, between 1920 and the late 1950s, Tangier was a
playground for the rich and famous as well as artists and
adventurers from all walks of life. Tangier attracted those seeking
a tax haven or a mystic destination, from authors and artists, to
spies and aristocrats. Regular visitors included the likes of
Truman Capote, Tennessee Williams, and Woolworth heiress, Barbara
Hutton.

When Spain relinquished Tangier back to Morocco in 1960, its
duty-free status went with it, and the city lost a great deal of
its flair. However, tourism is on the up once more, with visitors
succumbing to the city's proximity to Europe and discovering that
its decayed grandeur still has much to offer, from its palm-lined
promenade and sandy beach, to the old town and its outlying
villages and resorts. Despite its fall from glory, a stylish cafe
society has once again begun to build up in modern day Tangier's
boulevards, and the merchants in the medina (old quarter) are doing
good trade with tourists exploring its maze of narrow streets, all
of which are within sight of the Spanish coast across the straits
of Gibraltar.

Málaga

Malaga has long been a popular holiday destination for British tourists. Located on the Costa del Sol, along the southern coast of Spain, Malaga enjoys yearly warm weather and sandy beaches perfect for those looking for some relaxation.

Barcelona

The enchanting city of Barcelona is a visual delight, and has an
atmosphere that combines elegance and sophistication with
provincial charm. In exploring its streets you'll discover medieval
romance in its Gothic quarter and the awe-inspiring delights of the
fantastic and sometimes outrageous Art Nouveau architecture of
Gaudi and his contemporaries.

The funicular up to Tibidabo, or the cable car up Montjuic, both
offer breathtaking views over this attractive city. Its skyline is
perhaps most famous for Antoni Gaudi's masterwork, the still
incomplete church of the Sagrada Familia, as well as the city's
huge Gothic cathedral. The artistic legacy of Barcelona is one of
the city's most appealing attributes, with museums containing
extensive collections of the works of Miro and Picasso. Barcelona
is also a shopper's paradise, with the city's flair for style
reflected in its numerous boutiques and markets, open late into the
evenings. As the sun sets, and the city's many bars and restaurants
open, the night truly comes alive. Dinner is served at any time
between nine o'clock and midnight, and the festivities around the
bars and nightclubs carry on well into the early hours of the
morning.

Barcelona is the commercial centre of the popular holiday region
known as the Costa Brava, the northernmost Mediterranean seafront
in Spain, as well as the Costa Dorada to the south. The coast is
dotted with popular resort towns, many retaining their age-old
charm, which can be easily reached from the city.