The Prado Museum in Madrid houses paintings that give an eye-pleasing overview of Spain’s rich history from its golden age to its slow fade. Highlights include multiple works by Titian, Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights, Velazquez’s Las Meninas, and Goya’s Second of May. For more information on the Rick Steves’ Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.

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by gapysphoto

Spain As A Shopping Travel Destination

It may not be on the top of your list when you think of shopping travel destinations, but Madrid has the best of Spain to offer in its shops. If you are looking for upscale chic shopping experiences, there are a number of exclusive shops available in the city. If more organic shopping is your style, there are flea market atmospheres or a number of quaint antique shops available for perusing.

The main shopping area in Madrid is the Gran Via. This street is full of shops that seemingly never close. Even when the night life kicks up, there is still shopping to be done in this area in many of the stalls around the Plaza Mayor. A word of caution, make sure you know how to bargain. Some of these booths are just looking to make a buck off those in the tourism market and are selling the same tourist junk you can buy at any airport kiosk. Look around, and look for a good deal.

photo credit: Francisco Antunes

If you love the idea of shopping in the open air visit El Rastro, the massive outdoor flea market in Madrid. In addition to the same touristy things you expect to find everywhere, there are treasures to be found including jewelry, old books, clothes and antiques that need new homes. If you are in the area on a Sunday there is also a coin and stamp fair nearby.

Check out the La Latina Metro Stop. This is located between the Ronda De Toledo and the Plaza de Cascorro and Ronda de Toledo. You will know you are there when you see the massive Eloy Gonzalo statue in the center of Cascorro Square.

This place is packed on the weekends, as it is a travel destination, but while the crowds are big, so are the deals to be had! There are many, many shopping opportunities. There is also some shopping potential during the week, but not nearly as lively an experience as on the weekend.

Want the latest in style and fashion? Then you want the Alcalá area. You will be able to roam from boutique to boutique filled with dresses, shoes, and all the latest accessories. If you are using the metro as your transport, get off at the Sol or Sevilla.

Another fancy shopping destination is Calle Serrano. This street is full of the finest in shopping including art, gifts and a variety of designer clothing items. You can find a precious gift for yourself, and don’t forget to get something for those back at home that were not lucky enough to be vacationing in Madrid.

The high fashion shopping in Madrid is not just for women. Both genders of the tourism market are appreciated where fashion is concerned. The Calle Princessa, which can be accessed by the Argüelles and Ventura Rodríguez metro stops, is lined with a number of men’s boutiques selling suits, accessories and shoes for the classiest of men.

For a quaint shopping experience, try the Calle Preciados. It is a shopping area that is only accessible by walking. To get there, take the Metro to Sol.

Finally get a real feel of Spain at the Mercado de San Miguel. This was once just a fish market, but now it offers a wide variety of foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, and other delectable items to experience.

Find More Travel Destinations Articles

From OffToEurope.com:

Museo Nacional del Prado – Photo: fdodelvalle

Madrid is a cosmopolitan city in the centre of Spain which is known for its amazing art galleries and high-achieving football team, as well as for having a nightlife which is unequalled anywhere else in Europe. Madrid is a large city with many mighty buildings which stand comparison with the best architecture anywhere else on the continent. Residents here enjoy a mostly temperate climate though it gets very hot in summer and can also be subject to snow in the winter. Many tourists tend to head for Spain’s beaches along the coast and never venture into Madrid. Here’s a look at what they are missing.

1. The Golden Triangle

Three of the world’s best art museums are all within a stone’s throw of each other. The Museo del Prado is the jewel in the crown and at any one time 1,000 of its 10,000 paintings are on display. They include masterpieces by El Greco, Velazquez and Goya as well as lots of Dutch and Flemish artists. The museum has long opening hours from 9am to 8pm so just be patient if you have to wait to get in. It costs 6 euros to see the permanent collection.

The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum has paintings from almost every important art movement right up to the 1960s. It was named after a wealthy baron who amassed a formidable art collection. Senior and students can get a reduced price and children under 12 get in free.

The beautiful Queen Sofia Museum is home to Pablo’s Picasso’s huge painting Guernica which reflects the horrors of the Spanish civil war. Simply a must-see if you are in Madrid, it is open every day.

2. The Malasaña

Madrid is truly an insomniac city and it has one of the most vibrant bar and club scenes in the world. Following the death of the dictator General Franco, ‘La movida madrileña’ took off, fuelled in part by the avante garde movie director Pedro Almadovar. Punk bars and sex clubs popped up as well as fashion boutiques and funky outdoor parties. Near to the Chueca neighbourhood, Malasaña is centred around the Plaza del Dos de Mayo. Try the La Vía Láctea for an unforgettable night out.

3. El Retiro

Every busy city needs a place to get away from it all. El Retiro is an oasis of calm, a huge central park with a lake where you can go boating during the hot summer months. There are performance artists aplenty and a somber memorial to the fallen victims of the 2003 terrorist bombings.

4. The Bernabeu

It’s difficult to get tickets, but watching Real Madrid play football is like seeing the Harlem GlobeTrotters at work. Last year the city spent over 260 million Euros on its football team making modern stars like Cristiano Ronaldo the most expensive signing in history. Many of their games are won comfortably but the real spectacle is ‘El Clásico ‘ against arch-rivals Barcelona, the world’s most famous football match.

5. The Corral de la Moreria

One of the best Flamenco bars in the world, you can eat sumptuous food and drink delicious Spanish wine here. Enjoy the melancholy energy of the Flamenco for a truly cultural experience right in the heart of Madrid.

From OffToEurope.com:

Many people think the best way to see the great cities of Europe is through their museums, their fairytale castles, and their historical monuments. Personally though, I think a lot can be understood about a cities character by seeking out their public parks. I think you can tell a lot about a culture from how they spend their leisure time.

After a day of battling the urban jungle, it is refreshing to visit the parks. Europeans love their green space. In addition to being free, these public spaces offer an insight into the tastes, styles and history of a community.

Here are ten great public parks worth seeking out.

Parque de Retiro – Madrid, Spain

The Palacio de Cristal (Crystal Palace) in Madrid’s beautiful Parque del Retiro

Located in the heart of downtown Madrid, Retiro is a beautifully landscaped recreation spot for the city’s workers. Scattered through the greenery are gems like the elegant rose garden, the fragile Palacio de Cristal and the only known statue of Satan in Europe. The centerpiece is the imperial Monument to Alfonso XII, which overlooks a lake of rented paddleboats.

Photo: Danny VB

Hampstead Heath – London, UK

A Viaduct pond in Hampstead Heath

The Heath, as the locals call it, is more than just a park; it’s a piece of wilderness just outside of central London. Unlike the rich manicured parks downtown, Hampstead Heath is a sprawling, ramshackle spread of field and forests. Locals come here to let their dogs run free, take in the fresh air and enjoy spectacular views of downtown from Parliament Hill.

Photo: CAWG

Villa Borghese – Rome, Italy

The Temple of Aesculapius in Rome’s Villa Borghese gardens

Originally the well manicured English gardens of a palace of the same name; the Villa Borghese is now a pretty public park (the palace is now an art gallery). Strolling the gardens is like walking through an 18th century landscape painting, with ponds, fountains and neoclassical temples.

Photo: rickymor

StadtPark – Vienna, Austria

A peaceful day at Stadtpark, Vienna

StadtPark is home to the most photographed monument in Vienna, the golden Johann Strauss Monument. Parts of the park are thick with vegetation while other spots are carefully landscaped with nods to the art-nouveau style. Other attractions are the Renaissance style Kursalon building and the Mierei milk-drinking hall.

Photo: jmenard48

City Park – Budapest, Hungary

Winter in Budapest’s stunning City Park

In addition to having the first metro system in continental Europe, Budapest has the distinction of creating the first public park in the world. Long a center of recreation for the city, the park is full of interesting sites including Heroes Square (a UNESCO World Heritage site), the stunning art nouveau zoo, and the Széchenyi thermal bathhouse.

Photo: sweetal

Kalemegdan – Belgrade, Serbia

Kalemegdan Park, Serbia

City Park may be the oldest public park, but Kalemegdan has what must be one of the oldest attractions. The park surrounds Kalemegdan fortress, which has existed in one incarnation or another for over 1000 years. The castle, which was captured a staggering 45 times, is now over run with locals who make out in the grass, play chess in the shade or jog through the old ruins.

Photo: donlandes

Jardin du Luxembourg – Paris, France

Jardin du Luxembourg is a great park to visit in the Springtime

The carefully planned Jardin de Luxembourg features wide gravel paths and well-manicured expanses of grass, dotted with over a hundred statues, monuments and fountains. Most beautiful is the baroque Medici Fountain, designed in 1630. There is a playground for children, as well as frequent puppet shows and a lake where they can rent toy boats.

Photo: zorroz

Hyde Park – London, England

A view of Serpentine Lake in London’s Hyde Park

London is home to many beautiful green spaces but Hyde Park is a favorite. The man-made Serpentine Lake, which winds its way through the park, is home to an abundance of swan and other birds. Hyde Park is a popular spot for protestors (particularly at Speaker’s Corner) and open-air rock concerts.

Photo: joebelle

Vondelpark – Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Lovers embrace in Amsterdam’s popular Vondelpark

Amsterdam actually has 30 parks, but Vondelpark is the largest and most popular. It is a sprawling green space full of dog walkers, joggers and sunbathers. Recently Vondelpark made headlines when the government considered de-criminalizing public sex within its boundaries, making it a sanctuary for nature and people lovers alike!

Photo: siebe

Englischer Garten – Munich, Germany

Locals and tourists enjoy Munich’s Englischer Garten

At 3.6 square KM, Englischer Garten is one of the largest public parks in the world. Not unexpectedly, the huge park contains a large variety of attractions. There is a Japanese teahouse, a Greek temple and an enormous Chinese pagoda. There is an open-air theater, a flock of sheep and a manmade lake. The Schönfeldwiese meadow is a popular spot for nude sunbathers.

Photo: Harald HAEUSLER

While similar in intent, all of these parks have a different character and design that reflects the personality of their city. So next time you are in a new place be sure to check out it’s park, you may see a side of the city you never knew was there!

This guest post was written by Stephanie Yoder.  Stephanie runs Twenty-Something Travel, a travel blog dedicated to assisting new or young travelers with the skills, resources and opportunities available to them for travel abroad. When not traveling the world she lives in Washington DC.

Jet-setters from both North American neighbors are still enamored with the big hitters of Europe and the US, with London, New York City, Paris and Dublin all falling in the top seven spots for each, and London unanimously at number one.

Travel search site Skyscanner (http://www.Skyscanner.com) reveals the Top 50 most searched for destinations from Canadian and the US airports.

Jet-setters from both North American neighbors are still enamored with the big hitters of Europe and the US, with London, New York City, Paris and Dublin all falling in the top seven spots for each, and London unanimously at number one.

With two monumental world events in the same year – the 2010 Winter Olympics in February and the World Cup in June – Vancouver and Johannesburg (South Africa) have turned up on both lists, with Canada’s also including Cape Town.

Travelers from both countries are also interested in Poland, though Canadians prefer the current capital, Warsaw, while Americans want to see the former capital, Krakow.

Canadians seem to be especially keen on checking out the Far East this year, with numerous destinations in that region of the world sprinkling their results. Manila, Ho Chi Minh City, Seoul, Bangkok and Tokyo, as well as several Australian locations, were popular.

Americans continue to be intent on getting some Caribbean sun, with even Havana sneaking into the 49th place on the US chart. It seems that American tourists are eagerly waiting for the border to open up again, and the sooner the better, especially with many growing tired of the extreme winter temps by now. Canadians are clearly enjoying the island already, with the Cuban cultural center showing up in the 27th position for them.

Top 10 Most Searched for destinations for 2010, from US airports

1. London, UK
2. New York City
3. Las Vegas, NV
4. Paris, France
5. Dublin, Ireland
6. Los Angeles, CA
7. Orlando, FL
8. Rome, Italy
9. Madrid, Spain
10. Miami, FL

Top 10 Most Searched for destinations for 2010, from Canadian airports

1. London, UK
2. Paris
3. New York City
4. Bangkok, Thailand
5. Vancouver, BC
6. Sydney, Australia
7. Dublin, Ireland
8. Manchester, UK
9. Frankfurt, Germany
10. Amsterdam, Netherlands

For full top 50 report see: http://tinyurl.com/ya9r8x3