Green Swamp MississippiThe State of Mississippi is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Alabama to the east, and in the west by Arkansas and Louisiana. Most of its western border is defined by the Mississippi River.

Much of Mississippi is part of the East Gulf Coastal Plain, which is composed of low hills and occasional higher elevations. The areas along the Mississippi River and the southern coast itself are lower lying and offer fine aquatic experiences to locals and tourists alike. There are lots of lakes and reservoirs too, providing opportunities for fishing and birding alike.

The prevailing climate of the state is warm and humid with long hot summers and shorter mild winters. Mississippi is a true nature lover's paradise. About 55% of the land is covered by forests of indigenous trees that are the home of white-tailed deer, beavers, opossums and more. During the winter, huge flocks of ducks, egrets, herons and terns nest on the Horn and Petit Bois Islands, while the rivers and lakes are alive with many different kinds of fish.

LuxembourgStrategically situated where the borders of Belgium, France and Germany meet, Luxembourg was able to extract heavy tolls on traders moving between her neighbors in times gone by - and so became immensely wealthy and able to build the mighty castles that preserved the nation's independence.

Geography

There is much of interest, even though the tiny country measures only eighty two by fifty seven kilometers. Many tourists enter from the north through the lush hills and valleys that merge into ancient forested landscapes. Further south are steep vineyards with rivers and villages below, and in between lay undulating farmlands dotted with fairytale castles.

HondurasAs the second largest country on the Central American Isthmus, Honduras is the original “Banana Republic” of the 20th Century. For nearly a century, the US American United Fruit Company helped to determine the country’s politics and shaped its fate.

Honduras is located north of Nicaragua and south of Guatemala, on the widest part of the Isthmus. The country’s geographical diversity is reflected in its people. The land is divided into three different regions: the Central Highlands, the Caribbean Lowlands, and the Pacific Lowlands.

Fish River Canyon NamibiaThe first time I visited the Fish River Canyon in southern Namibia I was standing just a few paces away from the edge of the reputedly second largest canyon in the world - and didn't realise that it was right there, because the ground is so incredibly level that it lines up almost perfectly across the vast chasm.

The Fish River Canyon was created around 500 million years ago when the bottom dropped out of that part of the world following serious movements in the earth's crust. Since then, wind and the occasional rain have sculpted the richly colored rocks into a work of art that exists nowhere else in such an arid environment.

Beach BelizeBelize is the second smallest country in Central America, on the Yucatán Peninsula,bordering Mexico and Guatemala. With only 5 million inhabitants it offers a spectacular mixture of cultures, a variety of activities to choose from and a natural diversity that is hard to beat.

Belize, a former British colony (Colony of British Honduras), gained full independence as late as 1981 following 20 years of negotiations between Guatemala and Great Britain regarding border issues. It is said that the first settlement was established by shipwrecked English seamen in 1638.

Zebras NamibiaThe indigenous peoples of Namibia refer to the deserts in which they live as The Land God Made in Anger, on account of the endlessly dry seas of sand that stretch out between rocky outcrops. This vast land is in many ways as inhospitable and unforgiving as it is beautiful – tourists die of thirst every year because they ignore advice and lose themselves in the shifting desert where there is no water. That said, Namibia is also an eco-tourist paradise waiting to be discovered by visitors who take reasonable precautions.

Geography

Namibia takes its name from the Namib Desert, which is said to be the purest desert on Earth. To the inexperienced eye, this haunting land is barren, arid and lifeless. Yet the moist coastal strip is home to exotic plants and animals that are perfectly adapted to desert conditions and thrive in the harsh climate. Namibia also has a wide range of other geographical features that include the Skeleton Coast with its lonely shipwrecks, the seemingly endless orange humming dunes at Sossusvlei, the stunningly arid Fish River Canyon, and several magnificent game parks that are set in the western parts of this huge land.

Elephant Rock Valley of Fire

Only a few miles from Las Vegas lies Nevada’s oldest and, according to this author, one of its prettiest State Parks. Valley of Fire offers fantastic scenery for photographers, pleasant hikes outside the scorching summer months, and petroglyphs for the historian in you.

The close proximity to Las Vegas makes this one of the most visited parks in Nevada, which still does not mean much by California standards. A few large coach busses shuttle people here every day and a couple of intimate tours from Las Vegas arrive as well, but you can easily avoid them if you come with your own car. Hike just a mile from the beaten path and you will find yourself alone amidst one of the strangest landscapes in the west.

Venice Sunset ItalyA city for meanderers, Venice rewards every minute devoted to penetrating its maze of intertwined lanes, narrow waterways and storybook bridges. While millions stream into this tiny city and succumb to its magic, it is easy enough to find peace and discover the extraordinary. After all, there is hardly a building that isn’t a unique monument or a palace.  Lose yourself in the labyrinth, that is part of the fun! Even the most imaginative theme park creator could never have come up with the extraordinary city that is Venice. It is a romantic, hedonistic, mysterious place, the setting for many novels and for even more films.