2008 Eurotrip

London is the capital and largest city of both the United Kingdom and of England, and is the largest city in Western Europe. Situated on the River Thames in southeast England, London is historically one of the great world cities and remains a global capital of politics, culture, fashion, trade and finance. London will serve as the host city for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.

London boasts a vast number of attractions for the traveler. Among the most famous are Westminster Abbey and the Palace of Westminster (including Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament) in Westminster. Shoppers can head to Portobello Road, which claims to be the world’s largest antiques market, for antiques, souvenirs and other knick-knacks or simply a walk through time.

London has a large variety of shows from fringe to Broadway-like musicals and productions. The West End district is where you’ll find the last type, with famous imported Broadway shows and some very good local productions.

Paris is the cosmopolitan capital of France and - with 2.2 million people living in zone 1 (Central Paris) and another 9.9 million people in the suburbs (la banlieue) - is one of the largest cities in Europe. Located in the north of the country on the river Seine, Paris has the reputation of being the most beautiful and romantic of all cities, brimming with historical associations and remaining vastly influential in the realms of culture, art, fashion, food and design. Dubbed the City of Light, it is among the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

Central Paris is officially divided into 20 districts called arrondissements, numbered from 1 to 20 in a clockwise spiral from the centre of town. Each arrondissement has its own unique character and selection of attractions for the traveler.

One of the best value and most convenient ways to see the sights of Paris is with the Paris Museum Pass (previously known as Carte Musées et Monuments), a pre-paid entry card that allows entry into over 70 museums and monuments around Paris. Those there are too many to list, highlights include: Notre Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, Père-Lachaise Cemetery, the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay and the Picasso Museum.

Madrid is the capital of Spain and is located on the Manzanares River. The city is considered by many as the world center of bullfighting.

Aside from its famed bullfighting hosted at the largest Plaza de Toros (bullring) in Spain, Madrid is known for its array of art museums such as Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía and Museo Nacional del Prado (Prado Musem), which includes exhibits that display the city’s cultural and artistic heritage. Madrid is also famous for its architectural art, like the Palacio Real de Aranjuez, which houses a collection of medieval weapons and armor.

Other major tourist attractions include Puerta del Sol, the Plaza Mayor and Plaza de Colón. To purchase some traditional crafts or artwork, walk along the upscale shops on Gran Vía, which is one of the main shopping streets in Madrid. Or ride a Segway (personal transport device) past the chic restaurants and historical buildings along the streets of Madrid on a Madseg tour.

Barcelona is the capital of Spain’s Catalonia region and is the second largest city in the country. With a wealth of unique historic architecture and a modern flair, it has emerged as one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe.

Barcelona has many quarters, but the most important and interesting for visitors are: Ciutat Vella, Barcelona’s old town, with the medieval Barri Gotic; Eixample, the modernist quarter noted for its art nouveau buildings; Gràcia, a lively, gentrified working class neighborhood; and Barceloneta, historically a fisherman's quarter.

The most famous boulevard in Barcelona is La Rambla, where visitors can see street performers jump out at unsuspecting passers-by, enjoy the flower and pet stalls or just sit back and watch all of Barcelona walk by. La Plaça Reial is located next to La Rambla in the Ciutat Vella, and is considered to be one of the most beautiful squares in the world.

Barcelona is a mecca for fans of world-famous architect Antonio Gaudí. La Pedrera (or Casa Milà) is a Gaudí creation which hosts a large exposition of his works. Park Güell is a large park with a sculpture portion, full of walkways and distinct and colorful Gaudí sculptures. Finally, there’s Gaudí’s life project and grandest undertaking, the still-unfinished La Sagrada Família. This massive cathedral has been under construction for over 125 years!

If you’re a soccer freak, you can’t miss a visit to Camp Nou, the home ground for Barcelona’s biggest and most popular team (FC Barcelona), and one of Europe’s greatest soccer ‘cathedrals.’ 

Rome is the capital of Italy; its center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk among the ancient ruins of the Forum and the Colosseum, pay homage to Michelangelo’s famous ceiling frescoes in the Sistine Chapel and Vatican City, stroll among the bustling streets until you find the perfect sidewalk café to stop and sip an espresso. Family travelers can’t go wrong with the food options: pasta, pizza and gelato.

The “Eternal City” sits on the River Tiber, between the Apennine Mountains and the Tyrrhenian Sea, and was the administrative center of the mighty Roman Empire, which ruled from Britain to Mesopotamia. According to mythology, Rome was founded by the twins Romulus and Remus. They were abandoned as infants in the Tiber River and raised by a mother wolf before a shepherd found them and adopted them as his own.

Aside from the ruins, there are awe-inspiring churches, bustling public squares, numerous fountains sure to trigger memories of Anita Ekberg among Fellini fans and museums everywhere waiting to be discovered.

Dubai is one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates. It is rather like an independent city-state, and is probably the most modern and progressive emirate in the U.A.E.

A relatively new tourist destination, Dubai has made a name for itself among travelers in recent years. It is essentially a desert city with superb infrastructure, liberal policies and excellent tourist amenities. Just five hours from Europe and three hours from most parts of the Middle East, the Near East and the sub-continent of India, Dubai makes a great short break for shopping, partying, sunbathing, fine dining, sporting events and even a few sinful pleasures. It is a city of superlatives: for the fastest, biggest, tallest, largest and highest, Dubai is the destination.

For example, the Burj Dubai skyscraper, scheduled for completion in 2008, will be the world's tallest building once completed. It already has more floors than the Sears Tower in Chicago, and upon completion the tower's height will surpass that of both the Taipei 101 in Taiwan (currently the world's tallest building) and the CN Tower in Canada (currently the world's tallest free-standing structure).

Besides elegant accommodations and shopping centers, Dubai offers beautiful white sand beaches, the largest artificial islands in the world (Palm Islands), nearby desert adventures and opulent golf courses. Break for some tee time on the 18-hole desert-style grass course at the Arabian Ranches Golf Course or one of the many courses offered by hotels and resorts.

Grab a pair of binoculars and look up to spot some of the 400 bird species that fly over the U.A.E. skies; challenge your travel-mates to a camel race; take a stroll along the banks of The Creek or hail a water taxi for a faster trip past many of the city’s historic landmarks. Spend time with the family at the 44-acre Wonderland Family Fun Park or make some waves at Wild Wadi Waterpark.

Remember Du-bai souvenirs for friends and family from one of the many malls and street souks.