Caribbean: Curacao & Aruba

The second largest city in Panama, it is a major port in the Caribbean, located near the Gatun Locks and the Caribbean entrance to the Panama Canal.

Do you like fish? Not necessarily to eat. Just to look at. Because if you do, you’re going to love Cozumel, Mexico,where sheltered coral reefs make this one of the best snorkeling areas in the world. Abundant and colorful marine life turn the sea into a visual fantasy.

Of course, you might even love it if all you like are beautiful secluded beaches, great shopping, and authentic Mexican cuisine. That’s the deal with Cozumel; there’s a lot to like.

Built on a bend in the river (hence called the Crescent City), New Orleans is protected by levees. A major international port and a center of business and banking,it is one of the largest and most important cities in the South.

French influence (Creole culture) and the city’s reputation for glamour and gaiety have lasted to the present. The French Quarter (Vieux Carrée), around Jackson Square, is the oldest section of the city and retains much of its early elegance. Contemporary landmarks include the Superdome (1975) and the Hibernia Tower. Two manifestations of the city’s heterogeneous culture are its famous Mardi Gras festival and the development of jazz. The city was the site of the 1984 World’s Fair, and gambling was legalized in 1992, with the first casino opening on a riverboat in 1993.

Each of its five boroughs is a county: Manhattan (New York county), an island; the Bronx (Bronx county), on the mainland, NE of Manhattan across the Harlem River; Queens (Queens county), on Long Island, E of Manhattan across the East River; Brooklyn (Kings county), also on Long Island, on the East River adjoining Queens and on New York Bay; and Staten Island (Richmond county), an island SW of Manhattan across the Upper Bay.

The nation’s largest city, New York is a major U.S. port, the country’s trade center and with its banks and stock exchanges, the financial center of the world.

Theaters, nightclubs, shops, and restaurants draw millions of visitors. With all the sights to see, New York is sure to be a fun filled getaway!

They called it worthless. That’s right-the Spanish explorer Alonzo de Ojeda, who claimed Aruba for Spain in 1499, said the island wasn’t worth colonizing. What could he have been thinking? With beautiful beaches, fine snorkeling and watersports, today’s visitors to Aruba enjoy fabulous nightlife, delicious local seafood, and the genuine friendliness of Aruba’s unique population.

The Spanish may not have been impressed, but the Dutch were. Arriving in force in 1634, they’ve entwined their culture, language and cuisine with that of the natives, giving the island a flavor all its own.

The island is now home to fabulous resorts, a golf course, a casino and outstanding shopping. The scuba and snorkeling in the clear waters is world famous.