NEWFOUNDLAND
Newfoundland and Labrador form the most easterly province of Canada, population 521,542 (2019). On Newfoundland island, the Norse archaeological site L'Anse aux Meadows is the reputed settlement of Viking explorer Leif Erikson. Gros Morne National Park, on the Gulf of St Lawrence, has cliffs, waterfalls and glacial fjords. Southeastern capital city St. John’s is known for the 17th-century Signal Hill citadel.
Formerly a colony and then a dominion of the United Kingdom, Newfoundland gave up its independence in 1933, following significant economic distress caused by the Great Depression and the aftermath of Newfoundland's participation in World War I. It became the tenth and final province to enter Confederation on March 31, 1949, as "Newfoundland". On December 6, 2001, an amendment was made to the Constitution of Canada to change the province's name to Newfoundland and Labrador.
COSTA RICA
Located in the Central American isthmus between Nicaragua and Panama, tiny Costa Rica is a rugged, rainforested country with coastlines on the Caribbean and Pacific. Costa Rica is known for its beaches, volcanoes, and biodiversity and owes its physical origin to the movement of the plates in earth’s crust. Volcanoes and frequent earthquakes are typical of this unstable zone. Roughly a quarter of its area is made up of protected jungle, teeming with wildlife including spider monkeys and quetzal birds. It has been a democracy for over 100 years and abolished its armed forces after Civil War in 1948, remaining free of the coups and dictatorships which beleaguer neighbouring countries.
PROVENCE, France 2019
Provence, a region in southeastern France bordering Italy and the Mediterranean Sea, is known for its diverse landscapes, from the Southern Alps and Camargue plains to rolling vineyards, olive groves, pine forests, and poppy and lavender fields. Mountains drop down to the sea, communities perch on crags or cling to remote hillsides (perched villages). To the south is the Côte d'Azur (or French Riviera), where the elegant city of Nice and glamorous resort towns such as Saint-Tropez and Cannes line the coast. It largely corresponds with the modern administrative region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and includes the departments of Var, Bouches-du-Rhône, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, as well as parts of Alpes-Maritimes and Vaucluse. While it has been part of France for more than five hundred years, its historical background (from being a Roman province to being ruled by Counts of Provence until 1481 to becoming part of France) continues to give it a unique character. From natural wonders and historic architecture to the cream of modern art, Provence is a region with something for everyone while retaining its distinct cultural and linguistic identity, particularly in the interior of the region.
PROVENCE - Camargue, Nîmes, Gorge Verdon, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie - La Chambre
ARIZONA
Arizona, a southwestern U.S. state, is best known for the Grand Canyon, the mile-deep chasm carved by the Colorado River. Flagstaff, a ponderosa pine–covered mountain town, is a major gateway to the Grand Canyon. Arizona’s spectacular landscape dominates the eye and floods the senses. No place in the world has so many unique and bizarre geological features - and the canyons, deserts, and mountains are more than just a backdrop to the journey.
Morocco
Morocco’s varied geography, multicultural atmosphere and rich history make it a fascinating country. Its towns offer a striking contrast of ancient kasbahs, mosques and souks, and modern architecture, with a mix of Berber, Arab and African peoples. The landscape includes beaches, mountains, lakes , forests and desert.
