Antwerp, Belgium

Blarney, Ireland

Brussels, Belgium

Krakow, Poland

Dublin, Ireland

Florence, Italy

Glasgow, Scotland

Interlaken, Switzerland

Killarney, Ireland

Kinsale, Ireland

The picture shows the port of Antwerp. It's the second largest port in all of Europe. Along with being industrially important, Antwerp is also known as the diamond center of the World.

This is the Blarney Castle -- home to the famous blarney stone. Blarney Castle was originally a timber hunting lodge built in the 10th century, which was replaced by a stone castle in 1210. The present day construction was completed by Dermot McCarthy, King of Munster in 1446. The Castle remained the ancestral stronghold of the McCarthy family until the arrival of Oliver Cromwell with cannon guns in 1646. Fifteen years later with the arrival of King Charles II on the English throne saw the return of the McCarthys to the Castle.

The above photo shows the Grand'Place (Grote Markt) which is located in the heart of the city. Along with being 1000 years old, Brussels serves as the European capital and is the home to the European Commission and the council of ministers of the European Union.

Above is a picture of the Cloth Hall, located in the heart of Krakow. It is the world's oldest shopping mall has been in business in the middle of Krakow's central Grand Square for 700 years. The roof was put over two rows of stalls to form the first Cloth Hall where the textile trade used to go on. After catching fire in 1555, the Cloth Hall was rebuilt as a splendid Renaissance edifice with an ornate roof adorned with grotesque masks. Nowadays, it houses stalls on the ground floor and shops in the arcades, which is where I bought most of my Polish souvenirs.

Above is a picture a long view of the O'Connell Bridge in Dublin.Originally designed and built by James Gandon, O'Connell Bridge was built in 1794-98 and named aftyer the then Viceroy - Lord Carlisle. The original bridge had a hump and was much narrower and Gandon had designed obelisks and plinths for the four corners. In 1880 it was widened and the hump removed - it is now almost square - being as wide as it is long. In 1882 it was renamed after Daniel O'Connell when the statue in his honour was unveiled.

This is a picture of Ponte Vecchio or The Old Bridge which is the oldest bridge in Florence crossing the river Arno. Today, the bridge is home to numerous jewelry shops selling antique and designer jewelry. The central point of Ponte Vecchio opens up into an area with vaulted pillars and stunning views of the river Arno.

Glasgow is Scotland's second largest city. Dynamic, energetic and friendly, Glasgow brings together proud Victorian architecture, ensuous art nouveau, 18th century warehouses and minimalist, avant- garde buildings. Having prospered in turn from the tobacco trade, cotton production and shipbuilding, the city has an amazing portfolio of museums, galleries, theatres and concert halls.

The latin sound of the name Interlaken recalls the clerical origin of the town; it grew up between the two lakes frm the 12th century onwards, around an Augustinian monastery. The town is surrounded by crystal-clear lakes, sparkling streams, fantastic falls and by the Eiger, Mönch & Jungfrau. And between these captivating contrasts, a treasure trove of holiday delights is just waiting to be discovered. The area offers both, in summer and in winter, a variety of attractions and activities, which never fail to fascinate visitors to the Interlaken region of Switzerland.

Killarney's tourism role has changed very little in the present day. The homey charm of family-run bed and breakfasts gave way to large, purpose built guesthouses and international hotel chains. The development included several acres of the National Park, on "loan." A groundswell of local opposition forced the Club to eventually abandon the plan and purchase land elsewhere. Some argue that many new developments have brought revenue at the expense of Killarney's old-fashioned country appeal. To the fleeting visitor this may seem to be the case, but those willing to step off the beaten track find the same warmth and genuine hospitality that helped make Killarney famous.

Known as the Gourmet Capital of Ireland, Kinsale can easily claim its place amongst Ireland's most historic locations for this has been a centre of population, commerce, trade and fishing far beyond memory and record. The town nestles between the hills and the shoreline, a maze of narrow streets, never far from the water and little changed in many hundreds of years. While here, I visited Desmond Castle, which was used as a prison in the 1700s for French and American seamen and later as a jail, workhouse and other uses.