People sunbathe on a beach in the southern city of Nice, France July 11, 2004 Among the many things France is know for - its heritage, art, markets,

People sunbathe on a beach in the southern city of Nice, France July 11, 2004 Among the many things France is know for - its heritage, art, markets, shopping, festivals, food and wine top the list. The city of Nice

has the advantage of an exceptionally mild climate, due to the protection from the wind by the Mountains to the west, and the north-

western barrier of the Mercantour Alps.

A tourist photographs the temple of Olympian Zeus with the ancient Acropolis hill in the background in Athens, Greece, March 14, 2004. The areas around the ancient sites of Greece's capital have been

upgraded for the summer Olympics.

People walk past the Latina Cafe, near the Champs Elysees in Paris, April 18, 2003. Famous as one of the most romantic

places on Earth, Paris also boasts renowned museums, exciting shopping, unforgettable restaurants, cafes and some of the best nightlife and evening activities on the

planet.

A tourist smokes at a coffee shop, where a part of the Ocean's Twelve movie was recorded, in the center of

Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The lit-up historical Coliseum in Rome, on June 28, 2002. An extra 250 lights were added to the 350 that were installed 24 years prior as part of a new effort to better illuminate the 2,000-year-old arena at night.

Icelandic horses graze on an overlook of the Hvalfjoerdur Fjord near Akranes, Iceland, May 11, 2002. Iceland is the America's closest European

neighbor. Thought of as a chilly destination, in January, the average temperature in the country's capital of Reykjavik, is warmer than that in

New York.

A crowded street in Stockholm's Old City. Sweden - also called The Land of the Midnight Sun, is a small nation in terms of population,

but large in geographical area. Sweden has won worldwide recognition for its achievements in design, music, fashion, IT and

more.

One of Venice's most famous symbols, Gondolas, glide along the Grand Canal. Gondolas are the way to get around this

street-free city. In the fall, especially in October and November, the tide often rises and the water overflows the

banks of the canals, flooding the city.

European tourists stroll at the Ottoman era Spice Market in Istanbul, Sept. 29, 2005.Turkey has an ideal climate for

tourists from April to October, and has varied landscapes, cultures and tastes to explore and discover.

People walk past a 15th century fountain by the St. Antao church in the Giraldo Great Square in the heart of Evora's historical center, in the Alentejo region, Portugal, May 18,

2002. A world away from the cultural sophistication of Lisbon, the capital, or the mass sun-and-sand tourism of the southern Algarve coast, the Alentejo covers an area the size

of Greater Washington D.C.

A pod on the London Eye Ferris Wheel, dressed up to look like an underground train, is seen in front of Big Ben on Sept. 19, 2005 in London. The new look pods form part of a 1million GBP advertising campaign entitled 'Everyone's London' which aims to encourage

visitors to the capital with discounts on various attractions.

People walk by the entrance to the underground trains at Potsdamer Platz Sept. 27, 2005 in Berlin. Berlin is among

cities that will host the FIFA World Cup soccer championships in Germany in 2006.

Tourists crowd in the middle of Charles Bridge in Prague, Aug. 19, 2005. Bridge is a stone Gothic bridge that connects the Old Town

Quarter and Mala Strana or Lesser Quarter and Hradcany Castle and Saint Guy Cathedral (background) over Vltava (Moldau) River. Prague

continues to be one of the most popular cities in Europe.