19th to 31th  May 2009

This etapa completes the round the world journey and it is fitting that it begins in the city that has always been the gateway between Europe and Asia.

Before you leave Istanbul take enough time to explore the city properly. The wealth of history and culture here is almost unrivalled in the rest of the world. The Blue Mosque, the Church of Santa Sofia, the Harem of the Sultan of Constantinople and the Topkapi Palace should all be on your list, not to mention the main bazaar.

The route through Europe will be much more familiar as you travel through Greece, Albania, Crotia, Italy and France before reaching Spain. However there are still many undiscovered gems hiding among the more well known parts of the continent and the sheer variety of the cultures that exist within this relatively small area will still astound you.

Greece as the real heart of Western civilisation is incredibly rich in ancient sites, from the Oracle at Delphi to the Parthenon in Athens. Less well known though are the amazing Meteora monasteries that stand perched high on columns of sheer rock. 

Albania is one of the most undeveloped countries in Western Europe, but it has a wealth of ancient remains, particularly in the city of Butrint where the fine mosaics date back to the 5th century BC, while at Apollonia there are fine Ancient Greek ruins.

Crotia´s Dalmatian Coast is renowned as one of the most beautiful spots in the world and appears largely recovered from the devastation of the most recent Balkan Wars. The unique architecture of Dubrovnik is well worth visiting, with its impressive walls and its main street, the Placa Stradun entirely paved in marble.

As you round the Gulf of Trieste you will be heading into the cultural feast of northern Italy. There is too much to choose from as you pass by Venice and the beautiful mountain setting of Lake Garda. In Verona you can pause for a cappuccino and see the famous balcony that was the setting for Shakespeare´s star crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet.

Travel along the Cote d´Azur full of famous towns of the French Riveria and marvel at the jet-set lifestyle from Monaco to St Tropez. The high passes of the Pyrenees make the final leg of the journey more difficult as at last you cross into Spain and set your compass south, to Madrid and the welcome home.