UK and Spain 2009

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.

The 239-room Thistle Charing Cross is located in central London between the Strand and Thames Embankment and minutes from Covent Garden and the West End. The hotel is a Grade II listed Victorian railway hotel that has been completely refurbished.On-site dining venues include the Strand Terrace, the Strand Lounge, and the Comotion Coffee Bar. The hotel also offers room service through Room Express, its in-room dining program. Accommodations feature en suite bathrooms, satellite TV, in-room movies, fax/modem capabilities, radio, tea and coffee making facilities, trouser press, hairdryer, air-conditioning, and express check-out..

Known as both the London Eye and the Millennium Wheel, this huge 443-foot ferris wheel on the South Bank gives a fabulous bird's eye view of London. Its inception in the beginning of 2000 honored the Millennium; and the spectacular views stretch for 25 miles on a clear day to include views of Windsor and Tunbridge Wells. Up to 25 people can fit in each of the wheel's "capsules." The wheel turns surprisingly slowly; it takes thirty minutes to go round, so there's plenty of time to spot landmarks and take photos. Hours vary by season. Check website for timings.

Now open seven days a week, Camden Market sprawls across Camden High Street, Camden Lock Place and the Stables off Chalk Farm Road. The Camden Lock Market is great for arts & crafts and the Electric Market (Sundays only) is the place to go for the best variations on the latest high street trends. This is one of the two must-visit markets for anyone seeking street, alternative & hippie styles, the other being Portobello Market. Traders sell everything from second hand clothes to cheap antiques, records, clothes & accessories, as well as decorative items.

The British Museum is one of London's top tourist attractions as well as a major scholarly resource. Its collection was bequeathed to the nation in 1753 and the Museum's distinctive Greek revivalist structure was built during the 19th Century. The collection expanded massively during the heyday of the British Empire, leading to the Museum's notoriety for plundering sources all over the globe and leaving it with over 6.5 million objects to look after. The displays cover about 14 acres and it is simply too tiring to tackle them all in one visit. The best way is to pick a collection or exhibition that interests you, explore that, and make return visits. And if you haven't got time for a proper visit, drop in for a coffee at the lovely Court Restaurant. Admission is free but charges may be made for temporary exhibitions.

For over 900 years this impressive assemblage of Gothic buildings has been the home of the British government. The building covers an area of eight acres and consists of 1100 rooms, 100 staircases and 11 courtyards. The House of Lords occupies the southern end of the building while the House of Commons occupies the area to the north. The best view of this massive expanse can be seen from nearby Parliament Square. Within the Houses of Parliament there is Westminster Hall, the Crypt Church, Members' Lobbies, the Commons Library and the Peers Library. The tower containing Big Ben looms just outside. To attend PMQ (Prime Minister's Question Time) in the House of Commons, UK citizens need to contact their local MP in advance. Otherwise, there is a queue at St Stephen's entrance.

Westminster Abbey is regarded as a Medieval architectural masterpiece. It has been the venue for most of the country's coronations since 1066 and for numerous other Royal occasions. At present, it is still a church dedicated to regular worship and to the celebration of great events in the British nation. Westminster Abbey features the final resting places or commemorations of a large number of famous poets, scientists, musicians, artists, authors and more.

"Big Ben" is the name of the clock inside the famous tower that also forms part of the Houses of Parliament. Its impressive mechanism weighs in at over 13.5 tons, and the pendulum, which beats once every two seconds, is 13 feet long and weighs 690 pounds. The clock was named "Big Ben" after the First Commissioner of Works, and since 1885 a light above it has been lit while the House of Commons is in session. UK residents can schedule a time to climb the clock tower. Unfortunately, non-citizens of the UK are not permitted to climb the clock tower.

Buckingham Palace has been the official abode of British royalty since 1837. The forecourt is the setting for one of London's most popular tourist events: The Changing of the Guard. The Mews are working stables, where you can see the Queen's horses and state carriages. The Buckingham Palace state rooms are only open during certain days in August and September. Just outside the front of the palace, you can enjoy the Queen Victoria Memorial Gardens and the Victoria Memorial, a striking and impressive sculpture facing the Mall. The visiting hours vary seasonally.

The Tower of London is mainly perceived as a medieval place of imprisonment and execution. Nine hundred years of history are embraced within its thick, turreted walls. Even though the Tower's violent years are long gone, an aura of death and medieval torture remains. Today, guided tours are available. The main attraction for most visitors is the breathtaking Crown Jewels. It is also a chance to see the legendary ravens who live within the walls. Folklore has it that if they ever leave, Britain will again fall to foreign invasion. Interestingly enough, orders have been received to clip their wings!

The ancestral home of the Álvarez family of Toledo, the Counts of Oropesa, which was a refuge for soldiers, monks and nobles in other times, offers exceptional panoramic views of the Gredos mountain range. The historical value of the Keep backing on to the Parador, the columns and arcades of the courtyard, and the swimming pool, with exceptional views of the flat lands of the Campo Arañuelo, form a very attractive whole. Lamps, large chests and curtains dominate the interior decoration, in which the spaciousness and brightness of the bedrooms and the working and leisure rooms stands out. Game and seasonal products are characteristic of Oropesa, where the cuisine of Toledo offers lamb, roast kid, and other specialities such as 'migas del Arañuelo' (fried breadcrumbs), and 'perdiz escabechada' (partridge).

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.

The Room Mate Oscar hotel is located in the heart of the Chueca district of Madrid, Spain. The hotel is two blocks from the Gran Via, less than a mile from the Prado Museum, and a mile from the Royal Palace. The hotel is the newest addition to this innovative hotel chain. The decor is bright and contemporary with an emphasis on bold colors and fun, avant-garde design. A safe-deposit box and complimentary newspapers are available at the 24-hour front desk, where multilingual staff can assist with travel and tourist arrangements. A complimentary buffet breakfast is served each morning at Room Mate Oscar. Mediterranean dishes feature throughout the day at the Oscar restaurant. There is also a contemporary lounge and poolside terrace bar serving snacks and light meals all day. The hotel has a business center, and conference and meeting rooms. Complimentary wireless Internet access is provided throughout the hotel. Racquetball and fitness classes are available at a nearby gym and golfers will find a golf course in the vicinity of the hotel. The 75 air-conditioned guestrooms have light decor and modern design features. All have plasma TVs with satellite channels, direct-dial telephones, complimentary wireless Internet access, safes, and minibars. Hairdryers, bathrobes, and complimentary toiletries are provided.

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.’ 

The Apsis Aranea Hotel is near Barcelona Airport and within walking distance of Passeig de Gracia and Placa Catalunya. This hotel is located in the center of the city and is excellent option to consider for a business trip as well as for a tourist visit. It belongs to the Apsis Hotel group, which introduces innovative criteria to traditional management with a blend of modernity and tradition. Information technology and the most advanced communications integrated into all aspects of the hotel and offered to guests as a basic service, a very complete web site, and wireless Internet throughout the building. Hotel amenities include a lounge bar, coffee shop, and florist. Services include babysitting, 24-hour room service, concierge, currency exchange, and valet laundry service. Hotels common area has computers, multimedia equipments, desk, and a library. The hotel meets the highest standards of quality for sanitation, hygiene, and technical maintenance with an impeccable state of all its facilities. All rooms are equipped with air-conditioning, latest interactive TVs, modem and multimedia service, safes, and computers upon request.

Antoni Gaudí began this utterly surreal temple in 1882 and it is still being constructed. It was originally intended to be a modest, neo-Gothic church, but it has become the most famous building in Barcelona. Gaudí broke away from the reigning neo-Gothic style of the late 19th and early 20th centuries and imbued every element of the Sagrada Família with symbolic meaning. Turtles form the base of columns: the Chinese symbol of order within chaos, and the pillars are palm trees. The most outstanding feature of this building is its baroque style, and the mixture of colors and the diversity of materials used: plaster, ceramics, mosaic, iron and many types of stone.

Antoni Gaudí, the architect who built this jewel of Catalan modernism, wanted the facade to reflect his romantic and anti-classical ideas about design. It was built for the Milà family between 1906 and 1910. Neither the family nor the public were much impressed, and it was dubbed La Pedrera (stone quarry) as an insult. Only later in 1984, it won great acclaim when the UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site. Now internationally celebrated, Casa Mila is a prime example of Gaudi's civil architecture; it is aesthetically interesting and unique as well as outstandingly practical.

Built between 1910 and 1914 and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Gaudí's original aim in this 20-hectare (50-acre) park was to create a harmonious combination of urban and natural landscapes by building houses, gardens and public institutions, but the project was never completed. However, you do get to see a great mixture of architectural styles. For instance, the columns of the Sala de las Cien Columnas (Hall of the Hundred Columns) are purely classical, while the balcony they support is an example of romantic style; plus it's covered in colored mosaic tiles.

Plaça Catalunya once stood outside the city walls, between what is now Eixample and Ciutat Vella (Old City). It's an enormous square (50000 square meters), surrounded by huge buildings that house the headquarters of banks and other large companies. You'll find two outstanding sculptures here: Josep Clarà's La Divinidad and Pablo Gargallo's Pastor tocando el caramillo. If you're not a fan of pigeons, steer clear. If you're here in the spring, you'll find concerts taking place for the Festival Internacional de Jazz Terrassa.

Las Ramblas, a road cutting through the heart of Barcelona, is dominated by people traversing on foot, with two lanes for cars being narrow and the sidewalks being wide. This is the perfect first stop for travelers who enjoy walking and wish to get an overall sense of the city. During the day you will be absorbed by the bustling atmosphere--shops and restaurants line the crowded walkways--while at night the southern half of the street tends to transform into a slightly more seedy area. Meet new people, get some casual exercise, or just take in the views; preferably on a sunny afternoon.

The Room Mate Oscar hotel is located in the heart of the Chueca district of Madrid, Spain. The hotel is two blocks from the Gran Via, less than a mile from the Prado Museum, and a mile from the Royal Palace. The hotel is the newest addition to this innovative hotel chain. The decor is bright and contemporary with an emphasis on bold colors and fun, avant-garde design. A safe-deposit box and complimentary newspapers are available at the 24-hour front desk, where multilingual staff can assist with travel and tourist arrangements. A complimentary buffet breakfast is served each morning at Room Mate Oscar. Mediterranean dishes feature throughout the day at the Oscar restaurant. There is also a contemporary lounge and poolside terrace bar serving snacks and light meals all day. The hotel has a business center, and conference and meeting rooms. Complimentary wireless Internet access is provided throughout the hotel. Racquetball and fitness classes are available at a nearby gym and golfers will find a golf course in the vicinity of the hotel. The 75 air-conditioned guestrooms have light decor and modern design features. All have plasma TVs with satellite channels, direct-dial telephones, complimentary wireless Internet access, safes, and minibars. Hairdryers, bathrobes, and complimentary toiletries are provided.