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Slow Adventure

In Chile, adventure is what happens on the way to having an adventure. Pedal the chunky gravel of the
Carretera Austral and end up sharing a ferry with SUVs and oxcarts, or take a wrong turn and find heaven
in an anonymous orchard. Serendipity takes over. Plans may be made, but try being just as open to
experience. Locals never rush, so maybe you shouldn’t either. ‘Those who hurry waste their time,’ is the
Patagonian saying that would serve well as a traveler’s mantra.

Wine Culture

Before wine became an export commodity for the luxury set, humble casks had their place on every Chilean table
and grandparents tended backyard orchards. Now Chile has become a worldwide producer catering to ever more
sophisticated palates. Rich reds, crisp whites and floral rosés – there is a varietal that speaks to every mood and
occasion. But at home, it’s different. Chileans embrace the concept of la buena mesa. This is not about fancy.
Beyond a good meal, it’s great company, the leisure of overlapping conversations with uncorkings, and the gaze
that’s met at the clink of two glasses. ¡Salud!

BRAZIL

One of the world’s most captivating places, Brazil is a country of pow-
dery white-sand beaches, verdant rainforests and wild, rhythm-filled
metropolises. Brazil’s attractions extend from frozen-in-time colonial
towns to otherworldly landscapes of red-rock canyons, thundering wa-
terfalls and coral-fringed tropical islands. Then there’s Brazil’s biodiver-
sity: legendary in scope, its diverse ecosystems boast the greatest col-
lection of plant and animal species found anywhere on earth. There are
countless places where you can spot iconic species in Brazil, including
toucans, scarlet macaws, howler monkeys, capybara, pink dolphins,
sea turtles and thousands of other living species.

Landscapes & Biodiversity
One of the world’s most captivating places, Brazil is a country of pow-
dery white-sand beaches, verdant rainforests and wild, rhythm-filled
metropolises. Brazil’s attractions extend from frozen-in-time colonial
towns to otherworldly landscapes of red-rock canyons, thundering wa-
terfalls and coral-fringed tropical islands. Add to that, Brazil’s biodiver-
sity: legendary in scope, its diverse ecosystems boast the greatest col-
lection of plant and animal species found anywhere on earth. There are
countless places where you can spot iconic species in Brazil, including
toucans, scarlet macaws, howler monkeys, capybaras, pink dolphins,
sea turtles and thousands of other living species.

Days of Adventure
Brazil offers big adventures for travelers with budgets large and
small. There’s horseback riding and wildlife-watching in the Pantanal,
kayaking flooded forests in the Amazon, ascending rocky cliff tops to
panoramic views, whale-watching off the coast, surfing stellar breaks
off palm-fringed beaches and snorkeling crystal-clear rivers or coastal
reefs – all are part of the great Brazilian experience. No less entranc-
ing is the prospect of doing nothing, aside from sinking toes into warm
sands and soaking up a glorious stretch of beach, with a caipirinha –
Brazil’s national cocktail – in hand.

Brasil

sensational!

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Joie de Vivre

Brazil’s most famous celebration, Carnaval, storms through the country’s cities and towns with hip-shaking
samba and frevo, dazzling costumes and parties that last until sun up, but Brazilians hardly limit their
revelry to a few weeks of the year. Festas (festivals) happen throughout the year, and provide a window into
Brazil’s incredible diversity. The streets are carpeted with flowers during Ouro Preto’s Semana Santa
(Holy Week), while in the north, Bumba Meu Boi blends indigenous, African and Portuguese folklore. For
a taste of the old world, hit Blumenau’s beer- and schnitzel-loving Oktoberfest, the largest outside of
Germany. Several cities, such as Recife, Fortaleza and Natal even host Carnaval at other times of year.

The Rhythms of Brazil

Wherever there’s music, that carefree lust for life tends to appear – whether dancing with cariocas at Rio’s atmospheric samba clubs
or following powerful drumbeats through the streets of Salvador. There’s the dancehall forró of the Northeast, twirling carimbó of the
Amazon, scratch-skilled DJs of São Paulo and an endless variety of regional sounds that extends from the twangy country music of
the sunbaked sertanejo to the hard-edged reggae of Maranhão.

GERMANY

Prepare for a roller coaster ride of feasts, treats and temptations experiencing Germany’s soul-stirring
scenery, spirit-lifting culture, big-city beauties, romantic palaces and half-timbered towns.

Bewitching Scenery

There’s something undeniably artistic in the way Germany’s scenery unfolds – the corrugated, dune-fringed
coasts of the north; the moody forests, romantic river valleys and vast vineyards of the centre; and the
off-the-charts splendour of the Alps, carved into rugged glory by glaciers and the elements. All of these are
integral parts of a magical natural matrix that’s bound to give your camera batteries a good workout. Get
off the highway and into the great outdoors to soak up the epic landscapes that make each delicious, slow,
winding mile so precious.

Simply 28
inspiring

Pleasures of Civilisation

You’ll encounter history in towns where streets were laid out long before Columbus set sail, and in castles that loom
above prim, half-timbered villages where flower boxes billow with crimson geraniums. The great cities – including
Berlin, Munich and Hamburg – come in more flavours than a jar of jelly beans but all will wow you with a cultural
kaleidoscope that spans the arc from art museums and high-brow opera to naughty cabaret and underground clubs.
And wherever you go, Romanesque, Gothic and baroque classics rub rafters with architectural creations from modern
masters such as Daniel Libeskind, David Chipperfield and Frank Gehry.

Gastro Delights

Experiencing Germany through its food and drink will add a rich layer to your memories (and possibly
to your belly!). You’ll quickly discover that the local food is so much more than sausages and pretzels,
schnitzel and roast pork accompanied by big mugs of foamy beer. Beyond the clichés awaits a cornucopia
of regional and seasonal palate-teasers. Share the German people’s obsession with white asparagus in
springtime, chanterelle mushrooms in summer and game in autumn. Sample not only the famous beer but
also world-class wines, most notably the noble Riesling.

High on History

Few countries have had as much impact on the world as Germany, which has given us the Hanseatic League, the
Reformation and yes, Hitler and the Holocaust, but also the printing press, the automobile, aspirin and MP3 technology.
It’s the birthplace of Martin Luther, Albert Einstein and Karl Marx, of Goethe, Beethoven, the Brothers Grimm and other
heavyweights who have left their mark on human history. You can stand in a Roman amphitheatre, sleep in a medieval
castle and walk along remnants of the Berlin Wall – in Germany the past is very much present wherever you go.

JORDAN

Yes, it’s
Jordan

A safe haven in a region of conflict, Jordan has delighted visitors for centuries with its World
Heritage Sites, friendly towns and inspiring desert landscapes.

Ancient Hospitality

Jordan has a tradition of welcoming visitors: camel caravans plied the legendary King’s High-
way transporting frankincense in exchange for spices while Nabataean tradesmen, Roman
legionnaires, Muslim armies and zealous Crusaders all passed through the land, leaving behind
impressive monuments. These monuments, including Roman amphitheatres, Crusader castles
and Christian mosaics, have fascinated subsequent travellers in search of antiquity and the
origins of faith. The tradition of hospitality to visitors remains to this day.

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Petra: A World Wonder

Petra, the ancient Nabataean city locked in the heart of Jordan’s sandstone escarpments, is the
jewel in the crown of the country’s many antiquities. Ever since explorer Jean Louis Burckhardt
brought news of the pink-hued necropolis back to Europe in the 19th century, the walk through
the Siq to the Treasury (Petra’s defining monument) has impressed even the most travel weary
of visitors. With sites flung over a vast rocky landscape and a mood that changes with the shift-
ing light of dawn and dusk, this is a highlight that rewards a longer visit.

Desert Landscapes

Take a ride through Wadi Rum at sunset, and it’s easy to see why TE Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) was
so drawn to this land of weathered sandstone and reddened dunes. But Jordan’s desert landscapes are
not confined to the southeast: they encompass a salt sea at the lowest point on earth, canyons flowing
with seasonal water, oases of palm trees and explosions of springtime flowers scattered across arid hills.
Minimal planning and only a modest budget is required for an adventure.

Safe Haven

It takes tolerance to host endless waves of incomers, and Jordan has displayed that virtue amply, ab-
sorbing thousands of refugees from the Palestinian Territories, Iraq and most recently Syria. Despite con-
tending with this and with large numbers of tourists who are often insensitive to conservative Jordanian
values, rural life in particular has managed to keep continuity with the traditions of the past. While Jordan
faces the challenges of modernisation and growing urbanisation, it remains one of the safest countries in
which to gain an impression of the quintessential Middle East.

I wish
Iwas
in finland

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FINLAND

Inspired design, technology and epicurean scenes meet epic stretches of wilderness here in
Europe’s deep north, where summer’s endless light balances winter’s eerie frozen magic.

Call of the Wild

The Finland you encounter will depend on the season of your visit, but whatever the month,
there’s something pure in the Finnish air and spirit that’s vital and exciting. With towering
forests speckled by picture-perfect lakes, as if an artist had flicked a blue-dipped paintbrush
at the map, Suomi offers some of Europe’s best hiking, kayaking and canoeing. A fabulous
network of national parks has well-marked routes and regularly spaced huts for overnight-
ing, and you can observe bears and elk deep in the forests on nature-watching trips.

Summer Days

Finland’s short but sparkling sunny season sees the country burst into life. Finns seem to
want to suck every last golden drop out of the summer in the hope that it will sustain them
through the long, dark winter months, and there’s an explosion of good cheer and optimism.
With surprisingly high temperatures for these latitudes, summer is a time for music festivals,
art exhibitions, lake cruises, midnight sunshine on convivial beer terraces, idyllic days at
remote waterside cottages and bountiful market produce.

0

After the Snowfall

Winter has its own charm as snow blankets the pines and lakes freeze over. The best way to
banish the frosty subzero temperatures is to get active. Skiing is great through to May. Other
pursuits include chartering a team of dogs, a posse of reindeer, or a snowmobile for a trek
across snowy solitudes, lit by a beautiful, pale winter sun; catching the aurora borealis (North-
ern Lights) after your wood-fired sauna; drilling a hole for ice fishing; and spending a night in a
glittering, iridescent ice hotel.

City Lights

Finland isn’t just vast expanses of pristine wilderness. Vibrant cities stock the country’s south-
ern areas, headlined by the capital, Helsinki, an electrifying urban space with world-renowned
design and music scenes. Embraced by the Baltic, it’s a spectacular ensemble of modern and
stately architecture, island restaurants and stylish and quirky bars. And the ‘new Suomi’ epi-
curean scene is flourishing, with locally foraged flavours to the fore. Beyond Helsinki, Tampere
and Turku in particular are lively, engaging cities with spirited university-student populations.