16 Nt Spain To Argentina Transatlantic

Formerly a sleepy Spanish city, Barcelona has recently been reborn as an eclectic fusion of the modern and medieval. Seek inspiration from the creations of its modernist architect, Antonio Gaudí, or the Picasso Museum. Or, take in the breathtaking cathedrals in the Gothic Quarter.

Tangier, a Moroccan port on the Strait of Gibraltar, has been a strategic gateway between Africa and Europe since Phoenician times. Its whitewashed hillside medina is home to the Dar el Makhzen, a palace of the sultans that's now a museum of Moroccan artifacts. The American Legation Museum, also in the medina, documents early diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Morocco in an 1821 Moorish-style former consulate.

This capital of Bahia state and fourth-largest city in Brazil was founded by the Portuguese in 1549, and its historic Pelourinho district is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The colorful center of Salvador is like a museum of colonial architecture, with more than 300 churches, including São Francisco, recognized for its grandiosity. The city has an unmatched energy and unadorned beauty, with street festivals breaking out routinely and drums pounding out the rhythms. This is the heart of the country’s Afro-Brazilian community, where the culture of those brought as slaves has been preserved, from music and religion to food and dance. Be sure to experience capoeira, the martial art that looks like dance. Out on the Atlantic coast, beautiful Bahia beaches beckon to bathers.

Samba on down to Rio, famous for its dramatic landscape and beach culture, easy going except for the four days of frenetic, feather-festooned Carnaval. From the summits of Sugarloaf and Corcovado, take in breathtaking views of a magnificent bay set against a mountain backdrop. Check out the activity at one or two of the 23 beaches, crowded with sunbathers and swimmers, and also populated by surfers, bikers, and the girl from Ipanema. Pull up a chair at a Churrascaria, and dine on the delicious grilled meat of your choice, washed down with a Caipirinha, the national cocktail.

If only one word could be used to describe this vibrant and richly cosmopolitan city, it would be "mosaic." Stroll along these broad thoroughfares, like the Plaza de Mayo, where famed first lady Evita Perón led fervent crowds to petition for her husband’s release from prison, or visit Pirámide de Mayo, the oldest of the city’s many national monuments.