Southampton, Lerwick, Alesund, Flam, Bruges (Brussels - Zeebrugge)

Southampton is the largest city of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Southampton is a major port.  It was the point of departure for the RMS Titanic in 1912.

Lerwick is an anchorage port, the capital of the archipelago of the Shetland islands, the most northerly of the British Isles, over one hundred in number, of which a mere 16 are inhabited. The town is located on the eastern shore of Mainland, the largest Shetland Island and it was largely developed by Dutch herring fisherman in the 17th century. The islands are well- known for their superb crafts, ranging from woolen and cashmere knitwear to intricate lace shawls and fine jewelry.

Ålesund is a picturesque fishing port at the mouth of Stor Fjord located between Bergen and Trondheim in the district of Sunnmøre and is the gateway to the surrounding fjords- Geirangefjord and Hjørundfjord- and the stunning Sunnmøre Alps. A massive fire, which burst in 1904, destroyed 800 buildings in this fishing port, which was reborn with the support of Germany's Kaiser Wilhelm II and rebuilt in the then-popular Art Nouveau style, known as Jugendstil. The result is one of the prettiest ports in Norway, boasting llovely buildings with medieval facades, elegant turrets and spires along the streets of the city center. Today, it is still one of Norway's most important fishing harbors and the world's largest supplier of Klipfish - dried cod. Your walk will lead you through Gågata pedstrial way, canalι Brosundet and Aalesunds Museum, while Aksla hill in the heart of the city (a mere 418 step climb if you are feeling mildly energetic!), offers a great panoramic view.

Centrally located at the head of Aurlandsfjord, the-17-kms-long tributary of the 204-km-long and up to 1308-m-deep Sognefjord, Flåm is surrounded by snowcapped mountains, isolated farmsteads and waterfalls and offers some of the most popular attractions in Norway, the famous Flåmsbana – the Flåm Railway- which is widely recognized as one of the steepest and most beautiful railways in the world. One of the most dramatic train rides in Europe, the Flåmsbanen takes an hour to cover 12 miles, hugging cliffs, plunging through tunnels and pausing for its passengers to admire the views as it ascends the Flåm Valley to a desolate mountain plateau. Kjosfossen is the waterfall highlight of the Flam Railway. Flåm is also home of the spectacular Nærøyfjord, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Zeebrugge is Belgium's main gateway to Europe on the coast of the North Sea- 10 miles north of Brugge and 60 miles from Brussels- and has evolved into one of the fastest growing ports in the range of ports between Le Havre and Hamburg, which together handle more than a billion tonnes of cargo a year. From here, you can visit Bruges, the idyllic Unesco World Heritage city, founded in the 9th century by the Vikings. It has been beautifully preserved and charms its visitors by its medieval character.

The sky is dominated by the tower of Our Lady's Church (O.L.V-Kerk) that hosts the famous Madonna by Michelangelo. During your visit at the charming town, don't miss St. Salvator's Cathedral, with the eye-catching wall tapestries which were woven in the Brussels weaving manufactory Van der Borcht in 1730, the market place (Grote Markt) with the the Belfort or belfry tower - Visitors can climb the 350 steps to the top for a beautiful panoramic view of the city- the Cloth Hall - where the Flemish cloth which was manufactured in different other cities was sold to the rest of the world - and the neo-gothic style Provincial court. In the center of the Market stands the statueof Jan Breydel and Pieter de Coninck and several medieval-looking houses. The second largest square is the Burg Square with the gothic Town Hall (1376) and the Chapel of the Holy Blood. Chocolate lovers should visit the Chocolate Museum and Diamond Lovers, the Diamond Museum. 

Southampton is the largest city of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Southampton is a major port.  It was the point of departure for the RMS Titanic in 1912.