Archive for the ‘Cities’ Category

The spirit of Barcelona

Wednesday, January 3rd, 2007

Gothic architecture, cobbled streets, quiet mazes that open with a pleasant surprise into small squares and shopping malls, discos, parks, and museums. As with every historic city there is an old quarter and a new part of the town. Old Barcelona is a beautiful getaway with its museums and romantic feel. The streets invite you to take a stroll and there are charming spots such as Ramon Berenguer Square, Angel Square, Sots-Tinent Navarro Street, and Traginers Square that are waiting to be explored.

While in Barcelona, do make it a point to visit Girona, which is on the outskirts of the city and is famous for its coastline in the Costa Brava region and its mountains. It is a rugged country and a great favorite for day-trippers in Barcelona.

The Catalonian spirit manifests itself as much in Montserrat, which lies 30 miles from Barcelona, as it does in Barcelona. The city has inspired scores of artists who have based their creations on this “sawed mountain” which is accessible by a funicular that takes you straight to the top.

Sitges in Barcelona beckons everybody with its avant garde art boutiques, long sandy beaches, and several discos. The place has evolved from a sleepy fishing village to a hotspot that thrives to a very vibrant beat. The carnival here is famous and the large number of cafes and eating places in this area will quench your appetite for variety in food and they surely won’t break your wallet.

Traveling in Barcelona is hassle-free and a joy because of the efficient system of subways, buses and cabs. The weather in Barcelona is usually sunny and clear. In fact, Barcelona has perhaps the best weather of all the cities in Europe for all year-round travel; the average winter temperature is 10 degree Celsius and the average summer temperature is 25 degree Celsius. Barcelona is well-connected to other cities in Europe by a network of private buses as well as by trains and various low-cost airlines.

Vienna – a shopper’s paradise

Sunday, December 31st, 2006

Vienna is considered to be on par with the best shopping destinations of Europe. This cultural capital of Europe has something for everybody. There are flea markets and bazaars that are a throwback to the time when Vienna was a melting pot for Eastern and Western European cultural influences. You can spend many a pleasant day visiting the several stand-alone showrooms as well as the huge malls that have come up in Vienna.

If department stores and brand-name shops are to your taste, then a visit to the Mariahilfer Strasse is in order. This one-mile street is lined with shops and has been compared to Oxford Street in London.

If you wish to experience both the ritzy boutiques and the standard departmental stores, then head for Ringstrassengalerien. You can also take in the beauty of the architecture in this area because many of the buildings here are heritage structures.

Old Vienna comes alive at the Naschmarkt. Here you can buy exotic spices from far corners of the world; fruit from Turkey and India and nuts and pastries from regions that once answered to the call of the Hapsburg Empire. The eating joints here serve a smorgasbord of dishes that have something for everybody’s palate. Come early on Saturday mornings if you wish to pick up some real good bargains at the flea market here or head for the flea market near the Kettenbrückengasse subway station. This one is a throwback to the earlier days and if you are a souvenir hunter you are spoilt for choice given the wares on display by gypsies, vendors from China and India.

Do visit the Gasometer even if all your shopping has been done and you do not intend to buy anything. The Gasometer came into being when four massive gas towers were converted into a shopping complex.

The brand-conscious types can head for the Generali-Center which has thirty stores spread over two floors and houses stuff from the topnotch brands around. In case, you wish to buy traditional Austrian wear, head for Loden-Plankl, this landmark of a shop has been around for more than 175 years.

Readers of Business Traveler Magazine have chosen Sofitel as the “Best Hotel Chain in Europe”. Sofitel, which has more than 200 hotels all over the world, edged out Marriott and Starwood hotels.

Sofitel has long stood for high standards in service and gourmet cuisine. Amenities provided by the hotels of this chain reflect the thought that has gone into selecting the amenties. Sofitel has a presence in the major business locations of Europe, including London, Paris, and Brussels.