Cruises - Azores Cruise Club

st raPhael, France
Saint Raphael is the girl next door of southern France. Compared to its flashy
cousins down the coast, it’s more of a shy and retiring kind of place. The town sits
on the edge of 36 kilometres of unspoilt coastline, and it’s overlooked by acres of
natural forest and the terracotta-coloured peaks of the Esterel Mountain range.
• If you’re looking for a bargain, Saint Raphael is filled with farmers’ markets.
Rummage the stalls for fresh flowers, punnets of berries, and homemade cheeses.
• Dramont beach is a real favourite with families – head here with the little ones
to build a sandcastle.
tangier, Morocco
An extravagant tapestry of ancient mosques, colourful souks and friendly faces,
Tangier is a magical slice of Morocco. Once the preferred party playground of
the rich and famous, it's still one of North Africa's most vibrant cities. The Caves
of Hercules are named after the Greek god. Legend has it, he rested here before
attempting his 12 labours – almost-impossible tasks imposed on him as
punishment for killing his son.
• Inhale the scents of the orange, almond and pomegranate trees that surround
Tetouan. This city was built by Muslim refugees from Spain, and its architecture
is Moorish with a Hispanic twist.
toulon, France
Fusing French Riviera glam with the feel of a traditional old town, Toulon is
your gorgeous gateway to the Côte d’Azur. Follow the sound of popping corks and
clinking champagne flutes to über-stylish St-Tropez, a long-time glitterati favourite.
• Venture into Aix en Provence and find its dual identity. This place is known as
the Town of Water and the Town of Art because of its fountain and museums.
• See for yourself if there’s any truth in French poet Frédéric Mistral’s famous words
‘He who has seen Paris and not Cassis has seen nothing!’. Cassis is still much
the same little fishing port that first attracted artists like Signac and Derain.
Visit your local travel shop | 0871 230 2800 | thomson.co.uk/cruise
Calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras. The cost of calls was correct at the time of publication.
See page 3.
Costa Brava, Spain
Portimao, Portugal Tangier, Morocco
Toulon, France Villefranche, France
traPani, Sicily See page 65
Valencia, Spain
One minute you’re doing battle with a plate of the city’s trademark paella.
The next, ambling the airy galleries of tip-top museums. Then later, going for gold
on the silky sands that slide into see-through waters. At long last, Barcelona and
Madrid’s sandy sister is emerging from the shadows, Cinderella-style, and
demanding the world’s travellers take note. If you’re looking for a new city to get
excited about, then Valencia is most definitely the place. Take a wide-eyed wander
through the old town. The throbbing heart of the city, it’s the largest preserved
complex of its kind in Europe. On Plaza de la Reina, see the 13th-century cathedral,
said to contain the chalice used by Christ in the Last Supper.
• Pay a visit to the Lladro factory to find out how the well-known porcelain
is produced. Three brothers founded the company in a tiny workshop back in
the Fifties, and Lladro is now exported to over 120 countries.
Vigo, Spain
The Atlantic port of Vigo is famous for its fabulous seafood, sunny climate and
Galician hospitality. Take a wander through the old town and surrender to the
charms of its labyrinthine streets, tempting shops and sun-dappled squares.
• Take a trip to Santiago de Compostela, one of Christendom's most important
shrines. Inside the vast Gothic cathedral lies the body of St James.
Villefranche, France
Think of the French Riviera and what springs to mind? Expensive yachts?
Wide, palm-fringed boulevards? Glittering turquoise seas? Experience the
glamour and glitz of France’s most famous stretch of coast.
• Imagine you’re Lewis Hamilton as you drive along the Grand Prix circuit in
Monte Carlo. After you’ve negotiated the hairpin bends, you’ll find it hard to
believe the fastest lap time on this circuit is just over 13 seconds.
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