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Charms of Madrid

Article by Harry Draco

I often wonder how wonderful it would have been if there was a time machine and people could travel through time. I would definitely take a step back and go back in history and see how things were in old times. You may not have the chance to visit the past, but you can definitely see the wonders of the past in present time. All you need to do is take a tour of a land that is rich with history, a land that has preserved the old beauty until today. And if you are wondering where you can come across something so magnificent, then Madrid is the place to go. Let your first stop be the Cathedral de Santa Mar?a la Real de la Almudena. The construction of the building started in the late 1800′s and was finished in 1993. The building is a combination of both neoclassical and gothic design. The primary material of construction is granite as well as marble. One interesting feature of this church is that it is oriented north and south, not the usual orientation of a church that is east and west.

If you are in Madrid for a big surprise, then Templo de Debod is the place to go. There you will find an exquisite Egyptian temple. Now brace yourself for the surprise ? the temple is not a replica, it is authentic. This sanctuary was built in the 4th century BC at the Debod village, which is located near the Philae Island. The island is considered as a sacred temple island. This temple is was dedicated to the gods Amon and Isis. Now this is something you do not see every day.

Passionate about theater? Then royal theater is the place to go. This 3-storied building is reputed for being one of the greatest opera houses in Europe. Great performers like Wagner and Verdi have walked the stages of this theater. But that is not all, many of the great opera singers of Europe have performed in the theater, thus enhancing its glory and making it a great monument. Do not miss the chance to enjoy opera in such a great theater.

Adventure lovers will definitely not want to miss Plaza dew Colon, two gigantic monuments dedicated in memory of Christopher Columbus and his journey to America. This monument was established in 1893, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus?s journey. The first monument has a statue of the great explorer on top of a tall column. The statue faces the east looking at the vast open sea. There is a beautiful fountain at the base of the column, and steps beneath the fountain that lead to a cultural center called Cultural de la Villa. There you can enjoy concerts, ballet shows and much more. Puppet shows are also organized there for children.

Not far from the monument, there is another monument that is shaped slightly like an anchor. This anchor is made of cement and on its body are quotes from famous philosophers. Along with the two monuments, there are several gardens there that are called the gardens of discovery. In spring time the gardens are filled with colors. Make sure you take lots and lots of pictures, as the combination of so many colors together is hard to find.

I believe reading will only give you a bit of knowledge. If you want to enjoy the beauty and charm of any place, you would have to visit it. So what are you waiting for? Take a break from work and go see the beauty Madrid has to offer.

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Madrid, the capital city of Spain, has not always been a hot tourist spot. With a population well over 3 million, though, it has certainly stayed full of things to do and activities to be enjoyed. More recently, it has focused on becoming an international destination, so you should be able to find something to do on your vacation to this bustling city. [youtube:0p2UqVoUEcY;[link:Madrid Travel Tips Video];http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0p2UqVoUEcY&feature=related]

World Famous Food

Madrid is very famous for some of its food. There are many different restaurants that are able to be found throughout the city serving some of the best local cuisine in the world. There is also a variety of international cuisine to check out while in town.

There are a variety of restaurants throughout the city offering the finest food that you’ll find in the country. In addition to local flavors, you’ll also find plenty of international restaurants, including French and North African dining.

There are restaurants and cafes all around the city, featuring a variety of styles of cuisine and environments to choose from. Whether you want bustling restaurants and bars or quaint cafs, you can find it all.

Historical Attractions

Madrid is striving to become an international Mecca for tourism, fashion, and more, so their history is a little less important to them than it might be in other places.

In addition, you can find history throughout the city showing different stages of Madrid’s life. Whether you want to see classic history landmarks or famous sites, there are plenty to see in this city that has been around for centuries.

You’ll also find three of the most important art museums in Madrid: the Prado Museum, the Reina Sofia Museum, and the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum, which boast artwork from some of the most famed artists in history.

Other Entertainment Options

Finding things to do in Madrid is NOT difficult. If you’re looking for nightlife and entertainment, you can find plenty to keep you entertained.

The city of Madrid has a rich musical culture, and you can find them at any number of theaters that are available. It isn’t uncommon for the locals to spend a night out on the town and not go home until the morning, guaranteeing you entertainment galore.

Shopping is one more type of entertainment that you can find in Madrid. From upscale boutiques to large department stores, there is something out there for almost everyone. Madrid features some of the best cuisine, but also offers plenty of shopping, night life, and other entertainment for travelers to enjoy.

Need some additional Madrid travel tips for travellers? Why don’t you visit our travel tips blog?

There are 50 countries in Europe ” so you cannot visit all of them on a trip to Europe (unless you have several months). Instead you should focus your energy on a few large cities. In the following you can read about 4 cities in 4 countries, which have unique sights, food and/or nightlife.

Amsterdam, the Netherlands. If you are looking for a very liberal minded city with legal hash and sex, Amsterdam is the place to go. You can buy hash in the so-called coffeeshops or sex (which comes in all kind of sizes and nationalities) in the Red Light District.

But Amsterdam is much more than a city of sins. You can also find museums with great art from Van Gogh and Rembrandt. Or you can visit the Anne Frank House ” the place where the Anne Franks Diary was written.

Barcelona, Spain. The capital of Spain is Madrid ” but the most interesting city is without doubt Barcelona. The city has everything: great food, interesting sights and a very fine nightlife. And then there is FC Barcelona ” the famous football club with the amazing stadium Camp Nou.

On a visit to Barcelona you also have to see Sagrada Famlia ” the unfinished cathedral by Antoni Gaud. Finish your day by a stroll down the La Ramla to the great harbor area, and eat tapas in Barceloneta.

Budapest, Hungary. The capital of Hungary is divided in two parts by the famous Danube (know for the waltz by Johann Strauss). The hilly Buda-part is on the left side while the Pest-part is on the right. The best sights are either located on the Castle Hill in the Buda-part or in central Pest.

Sights not to bed missed are the National Gallery and the Royal Palace. On Margaret Island there are great parks to relax and wander. For shopping you should go to the Vci Street or the largest shopping centre in Central Europe, Westend City Center.

Prague, the Czech Republic. If you need a cheap vacation, Prague could be the place to go. Even though the prices have gone up since the Cold War, you can still find cheap accommodation and eating in Prague.

The city has many great sights. A good place to start is Star Mesto, which is the old part of the city. Here you can see the impressive Astronomical Clock. From there you can follow the Charles Bridge over the Vltava River ” remember to look at the paintings and souvenir. On the other side you find the Prague Castle ” known as the biggest ancient castle in the world. Other great sights are the Jewish Museum, the Kafka Museum and the historical Jewish ghetto Josefov.

Madrid is known for the Palacio Real, which means Royal Palace, not only because of the monuments, sculptures, and gardens that encompass it but also for its elegant design. The Palacio Real, took nearly a quarter century to build and was once the seat of power in the 1700′s, where the kings and queens of Spain ruled from. The Palacio Real was filled with Spanish royalty until the early 1930′s.

Even though less than 10% of the palace is open to the public, there is still far more than you could see in a single day. Palacio Real is composed of almost 3000 rooms, over 40 staircases and 240 balconies, as well as extravagant decorations, furniture and other objects that line every space.

You can see the Throne Room, which once operated as the war room for the world’s primary superpower, and also the Royal Armory, which features a large quantity of armor and weaponry in addition to implements of torture left over from the Spanish Inquisition.

You’ll look at first editions of important Spanish literature in the Royal Library, learn about past medical procedures in the Royal Pharmacy, and see where famous Europeans dined in the Banquet Hall.

Outside of Palacio Real, you can walk through the Royal Gardens (which are the most famous in Madrid), enjoy the sight of the Manzanares River, and watch the changing of the guards.

The greatest way to enjoy the exhibits and become versed in the history of the palace is by taking a guided, two-hour tour. These $30 tours sell out quickly, mostly during the summer, and it is best if they are reserved ahead of time. Although photography is not allowed, you can purchase photo books and postcards to keep the memories of Palacio Real with you forever.

Dream vacations can be described as vacations where the person does what his heart desires. These are the vacations where you really make your vacationing dreams come true; it may be driving up the coast of California, going to a bull run in Spain, or visiting the Taj Mahal in India. A person can find true happiness and joy when his heart is light. Happiness creates a load of endorphins that make travelers feel happier and live longer.

In these current economic conditions, many people feel too stressed to spend money on a vacation. They would rather save the money for an emergency situation. As a result, they end up feeling stressed out and as times get harder, they get more and more depressed. This takes years off of your life by assisting with the aging process. It is a well known fact that stressed out people not only look older, but age more internally.

For those who have the means to take vacation, they feel like they have no extra time. They spend time between working and looking after their family. Children are busy with after school activities and keep their parents on the run. The dreams of family vacations seem far removed.

If money or time is your problem, there are vacation solutions for you. Selecting the right airline in addition to the right travel package can help you save dollars without affecting the quality of the vacation. Moreover, most online travel websites will work with your scheduling needs. These are both important for having a stress free vacation. When you remove stress, again, you add years back to your life. Plan your vacation far in advance. This will help you take advantage of early bird specials.

Voyages to Africa, if planned ahead of time, can give you a big bang for your buck. There are numerous exotic locations in Africa that cater to different types of vacationers. They have safaris, hunting trips, mountain climbing, white water rafting, and bird watching in places ranging from Kenya to Egypt. An African vacation is sure to excite and titillate, promising an exhilarating vacation. An Australian vacation can introduce a vacationer to wonderfully magical scenery and deep sea diving off the Great Barrier Reef. Seeing kangaroos in the outback can definitely fulfill childhood dreams.

Some travelers much prefer the laid-back atmosphere of Europe. They’d rather visit cities like Paris, London, Milan, Madrid, and Venice. These trips offer lots of history, museums, and luxury. This can definitely be a relaxing vacation option of planned the right way.

The airline that you choose can make a difference in the price of your trip and therefore the feasibility of your trip. An excellent example is Emirates Airlines. They are based in Dubai and are a top carrier in the airline industry. With more than 100 destinations, they are not only a safe airline, but a luxury carrier as well. Their destinations are great, but their star quality service is even better.

If a vacationer picks Emirates Airlines as their carrier of choice, the have the opportunity to take an exotic Arabian adventure, which means tours, safaris, deep-sea fishing or cruises. As an addition feature, a vacation with Emirates Airline can win a vacationer a free stay at Atlantis The Palm, which includes access to Aquaventure and The Lost Chambers. Both are new and exclusive vacation hot spots.

No matter where you choose to vacation, always plan ahead, and be prepared for any surprises. Choose an airline like Emirates Airline that offers affordable tickets, vacation packages, and superior service. After your vacation you will be amazed at how much younger you feel.