Visit Oran

Oran quarantined, Dr Rieux at work; Camus's novel of the Occupation and every epidemic since.

Visit Constantine, Algeria's historic city built on dramatic cliffs. Explore the Sidi M'Cid Bridge (one of the highest bridges in Africa, spanning the Rhumel Gorge), see the Palace of Ahmed Bey (19th-century Ottoman-era palace with intricate mosaics and gardens), and wander the Casbah (ancient fortified medina with narrow alleys and traditional markets).

Five fortified Mozabite towns in the M’zab valley, a thousand years of cubist architecture in the Sahara.

The Andalusian capital of the Maghreb: the Great Mosque, the Mansourah ruins and the El Mechouar palace.

Visit Algiers, the capital of Algeria on the Mediterranean coast. Explore the UNESCO-listed Casbah (a historic citadel with narrow alleys and Ottoman-era architecture), see the modern Martyrs' Memorial (a concrete monument commemorating the Algerian War of Independence), and stroll along the seafront Corniche for views of the Bay of Algiers. Try local dishes like couscous or merguez sausage at a traditional restaurant.

Visit Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands. Cruise the UNESCO-listed canal ring (17th-century waterways with over 1,500 bridges), see masterpieces by Rembrandt and Vermeer at the Rijksmuseum, explore the Anne Frank House (historic hiding place during WWII), and wander the Jordaan district (picturesque streets with cafes and boutiques).

Visit Barcelona, capital of Catalonia in Spain. See the Sagrada Familia (Antoni Gaudí's unfinished basilica with intricate facades and towering spires), stroll down La Rambla (tree-lined pedestrian street with street performers and La Boqueria market), explore Park Güel (Gaudí's whimsical public park with mosaic-covered structures and city views), and admire the Gothic Quarter (medieval streets with the Barcelona Cathedral and Roman ruins).

Visit Bangkok, capital of Thailand. Explore the Grand Palace (home of the Emerald Buddha and intricate Thai architecture), take a boat ride along the Chao Phraya River (passing temples and local life), shop at Chatuchak Weekend Market (one of the world's largest markets with over 15,000 stalls), and sample street food like pad thai and mango sticky rice at Yaowarat (Chinatown's vibrant food scene).