Travel to Barcelona for a unique cultural, historical and sensorial experience. It is a throbbing, vibrant city at once firmly grounded in its rich heritage and looking to the future. A tour to Barcelona promises an eclectic palette.

The second largest city in Spain, Barcelona is situated in the northeastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula bordering the Mediterranean Sea.

As you travel to Barcelona, it is interesting to note that the city has its roots in a Roman colony founded way back in the 2nd century B.C.

You will be struck by the architecture of the city on your voyage to Barcelona. It is the seat of Modernist Architecture and the city skyline sports a dynamic and dramatic look courtesy the concrete creations of Master Anton Gaud and his contemporaries.

You will surely discover the amazing history of Barcelona traveling through its lanes. Its Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance monuments are lovingly conserved, as are the labyrinth of narrow alleys.

Such curious mixes of the old and the new make a travel to Barcelona in Spain a truly enriching and enchanting experience.

In Barcelona, take a tour to La Rambla. This busy boulevard houses a bird market, a grand 19th century opera house, a marine museum stocking an extensive collection of navy items including 16th century galleys and a monument dedicated to Christopher Columbus.

The history buff’s tour of Barcelona will remain incomplete without a voyage to Barri Gotic, which is an area of medieval Gothic structures including the Cathedral, one of the greatest examples of Gothic architecture in Spain and the numerous museums dotting the city.

Fundaci Mir is a veritable treasure-trove of contemporary art, while the Barbier-Mueller Museum of Pre-Columbian Art is the only European museum dedicated to artworks from this era. For the art aficionados, a voyage to the Picasso Museum housing his early works and the residence-turned museum of Gaudi with its marvelous pink-hued Alice-in-Wonderland structure, is a must when on a tour to Barcelona.

If you are a music maniac, Music Palace definitely awaits your voyage. An elegant colorful structure, this Music Palace is one of the world’s most extraordinary music halls and an epitome of Modernistic Architecture.

When you travel to Barcelona in Spain, let music be your Muse. The SONAR and the Primavera music festivals are treats for the ears.

Are you travelling to Barcelona some time soon? Don’t miss the full article. Discove Barcelona Inside Out! The Blog about Barcelona vacations and more.

Windsor Castle is assumed to be the largest inhabited castles in the world & the oldest in continuous occupation (around 900 years). It is one of Queen Elizabeth’s 3 authorised homes, and is often commented to be her preferred home. The Royal colours flutters over the Round Tower of Windsor Castle whenever Queen Elizabeth the 2nd is at the residence - though, at alternative periods, the Union Jack flag flutters as normal.

Samuel Pepys proclaimed Windsor Castle to be “the solitary most loving castle around.” That was thought in sixteen-sixty-six & the same is true still..

Windsor Castle Electrifying History:

The construction of Windsor can be found in the seventh century Saxon hamlet of Windlesora, where the existing day village of Old Windsor can be located. The town of Windsor is accurately recognised as “New Windsor” - the phrase “new” being used in a strictly loose way! Enjoy an amazing day out in London by visiting Windsor Castle with Enjoy England.

Windsor Castle in the beginning was put up by the distinguished William the Conqueror, as a result of his invasion of England in 1066. The original building was put up from timber with ground fortifications. The Castle held an understandable strategic position on a tall mound on top of the River Thames, & was a fraction of an assortment of strongholds surrounding the Capital, with the Tower of London, one day’s trek away, at its centre.

The Castle was soon after redesigned in rock, & rose in worth over the following years. Later on Henry 2nd erected the Round Tower and the original stone outer wall. Following the English Civil War, the Castle’s crucial role became that of a royal palace. The Castle has remained essentially unbothered ever since the early 19th century, apart from the restoration job after the terrible fire in 1992.

A new BBC site has launched a new great green website. It focuses on combating climate change & focuses into organic skincare. Sales of organic pears are really booming on the back of perceived benefits to the nations health and the global environment. Organic lettuces are really produced according to a tough production standard. In times gone by organic farms have been relatively little family run farms- and it is why organic bread rolls was once merely for sale in small stores and markets. Mansion House Market in North London is one of the very best farmers markets around. On a Sunday dinner time there is a hefty queue at the organic salad bar. Nowadays you yourself will probably buy organic products from a wide range of specialist stores.

Since the early 1990’s organic mushrooms has had growth rates of around 0.2 a year, somewhat ahead of the rest of the food industry, in both developed and developing countries. For plentiful consumers there is an understanding that munching on organic leeks might improve your health, different people have different opinions on that. One detail that could be proved is that organic farming makes use of less pesticides than established agriculture. Getting organic plums aint just about health, for innumerable folks it’s about helping to save the planet. Some organic farming certifications schemes are stricter than others. The Soil Association are definitely most rigours, particularly for turkey and pork. Soil Association certifies chickens are secured in smaller flocks, & appreciate more space indoors and out than others. The greater part of the other organic poultry standards are definitely closer to free- range.

Organic shower gels is now something that is popularly used. With organic it means it is all naturally organic ingredients. Organic beauty products are really much more beloved and more effective than some ingredients which is located in normal day to day beauty skincare. With natural and no manmade ingredients organic beauty products will work in harmony with your body and skin to enhance your body’s natural healing & regenerative capabilities. Just like when you feed your body fatty food, it will let you know its not happy- your skin is not that different. Explore your natural eating habits with Organic Foods at BBC Green.

You might well find varying choices of accommodation that our capital benefits from. Many are of a comparable calibre to each other, but will have differing services to offer, hence you may well want to be specific concerning what you’re specifically looking out for. Does one need to be treated, go for afternoon tea someplace extraordinary or possibly delight in a smattering of infrequent days off & loll about in lavishness?

Younger generations presently are after attractive venues which are rather fresh & different from your standard hotel. These establishments are oftentimes recognised as boutique hotels & there’s some enterprising places that were endorsed as some of the top abodes to hang out at in the capital.

The Pavilion is a delightful thirty room place based in the city centre and is targeted at a discerning, artistic resident. The bedrooms present a newfangled and ritzy aura. Honky Tonk Afro is simply an accolade to the nineteen seventies. The Casablanca Nights hotel is stationed near Oxford St., so, if you’re on the hunt for straightforward access to the centre of London then this establishment is purely a fabulous place. The location is merely fifteen mins. stroll from Paddington Stat., and it is also accessible direct from the airport via the quick rail line & from Waterloo Station. The hotel rooms are all chock-full with offbeat eccentricities and they benefit from having the necessities of up-to-date life, like, en suite services, direct call phones & sat. telly. The Pavilion’s popular amongst the media, fashion & music realms. A varying collection of performers, pop acts and also thespians have dropped by at the place. See all reviews of London hotels with Time Out London!

An additional principal venue these days is known as The Beaufort Hotel. This is situated amid the fashionable locale of Knightsbridge - a diversion from the turmoil of this incredible capital. When entering the building, one is enveloped in soft, calm colour schemes - one will discover delightful maple wood furniture and also a general d©cor made for contentment & luxury. If you are thinking of swinging by London, and your specifically aiming for a boutique hotel which offers extravagance, together with a central location & flawless decor then this is surely your match made in heaven.

The very first notion is that of unadulterated rapture as the essence of sweet blossoms fill the lobby. Original watercolors are on the walls and the attractively styled withdrawing room radiates both warmth & peace. In the hotel’s quarters one will see gorgeous carpeting, their bathrooms laid in fine Italian marble, and all expected services. Should one require a discerning place for such things as business talks, then the establishment is able to provide a company lounge which is well suited for circumstances such as small meetings, of around eight members.

The road branched right into a trail named on the map as Llanberis Pass. In my experience anything labelled as a Pass meant spectacular scenery and a tinge of excitement stirred within me.

What began as a gentle shower was now a torrential downpour. As I progressed through the valley the walls rose steeply and threatened to engulf me. At one point they rise almost vertically to nearly two thousand feet. It’s easy to find a sense of claustrophobia surrounded by these imposing mountainous peaks.

The lashing rain makes for a spectacular series of cascades running down the mountain sides. From the hidden peaks submerged amongst the clouds, a flood of rainwater is the catalyst for yet another waterfall to tumble to the valley floor.

Like veins, the streams divide as they plummet, sometimes splitting into as many as half a dozen separate falls before they hit the road. They are the lifeblood of the valley, nourishing the foliage before a burst of bloom brings a wonderful array of vibrant colour.

The road continued to snake its way through the gorge. Pretty little cottages were spread intermittently; their slight build looked insignificant against the mountainous backdrop.

But they were homes and I began to realise that people actually lived in this dramatic environment. It must be such a wonderful contrast to the trials and tribulations of modern city life. Far from the din of today’s world, to hear just the sounds of songbirds must be music to the ears.

But for now the only music I heard was the drumming rain on the car’s roof and I was eager to reach my hotel in the village of Llanberis before the conditions got any worse.

The ramblers were conspicuous by their absence; despite the weather you normally see one or two brave souls taking their chances on the wild terrain. It appeared that today they had come to their senses.

The beautiful fragrance of freshly cut grass was in the air. Someone had been busy. The aroma took me back to my youth and lazy afternoons in the school playing fields.

During the English summer heat wave of 1977 our teacher would conduct afternoon lessons out amongst the cool breeze on the playing fields to escape the stifling heat of the classroom. It always seemed a lot less stressful sat on the grass in the shade of a large tree and sparrows swooping above our heads.

Through the misty windscreen and torrential rain the imposing valley walls retreated and the village of Llanberis came into view. As the road swept round to the right my hotel revealed itself. Immediately my thoughts turned to sleep.

Steven Cronin owns the City Breaks website featuring city break special offers from luxury hotels to budget accommodations. For more information please visit www.sargas.co.uk

Choosing a hotel in New York is not an easy task for someone who has never been to New York City and is unfamiliar with the city layout and the neighborhoods. You don’t want to end up in a hotel in New York across town from everything you want to do and see, because you will spend all of your time on foot and on the subway-or hailing a cab. If you want suggestions on how to pick a hotel in New York, one of the best suggestions that you can get is to decide what you want to do, and then pick your hotel. Here is some information that may help you in the decision making process:

If you want to be in the middle of the action, a hotel in New York or Manhattan to be specific is where you should stay.

Lower Manhattan: If you want a low priced hotel in New York City, you can find it here. You can also find Soho, China Town, Little Italy, Wall Street, Battery Park, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and Wall Street.

Midtown Manhattan (East and West Side): The East Side of Midtown Manhattan would be a likely location for a higher priced hotel in New York. If you love to shop or even window shop, this is the place for you-you can find high priced fashion and dining to match. On the other hand, if you are ready for a more exciting night life and no sleep, try the West Side-it has not only Times Square, but Broadway as well. It is a walker’s paradise-because you can get nearly anywhere you want to go on foot.

Upper Manhattan (East and West Side): A hotel in New York City’s Upper East Side will cost you a pretty penny unless you find a great deal somewhere, but it is the location of the City’s finest museums. Central Park divides the East from the West and the farther you go west from the Park, the less expensive the hotels are.

If you can avoid it, try not to stay out of the city even if you think you can save some money-you will spend it all, and then some on parking, driving or transportation. The subways and buses do a great job of getting people around and you can always walk.

Take a look online for a great New York City hotel deal.

Eriani Doyel writes articles about Travel and Leisure. If you would like more information about a hotel in New York visit ftihotels.com

Everyone has a favorite story that is dusted off once a year to vaccinate against materialism of Christmas holidays.

After the beloved Bible stories, among the more popular pieces are Charles Dickens’ “Christmas Carol,” Clement C. Moore’s “A Visit From St. Nicholas,” and O. Henry’s “Gift of the Magi.”

Perhaps more appropriate this year is a short poem called “Christmas Bells” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Though written 139 years ago, “Christmas Bells” has particular meaning. It is an expression of reborn faith in God during a period of doubt and dismay about a great war.

Longfellow — America’s first, great poet — was a devout Unitarian, a dedicated anti-slavery abolitionist and a devoted family man. Tragedies involving loved ones shook these foundations upon which the poet had built his life.

Tragedy

Early in 1861, Longfellow’s wife, Fanny, burned to death when she dropped a lighted match on her long dress. She was melting sealing wax onto envelopes for relatives.

The envelopes contained locks of “golden” hair from their youngest child — five-year-old Edith.

Longfellow’s second son, Ernest, in later years related how the five children were the inspiration of his father’s popular poem “The Children’s Hour.”

“While walking up an down with baby Edith in his arms, my father composed — and often sang to her — the lines sometimes attributed to Mother Goose.”

There was a little girl

She was horrid.

Longfellow rushed to the aid of his screaming wife and tried to smother the flames by throwing his arms around her.

It was no use. Fanny died three hours later. Henry was badly burned and could not attend her funeral the next day. His face was so scarred after the ordeal he could not shave and so grew a beard.

Civil War

While still grieving his wife’s death, the Civil War started — and with it, Longfellow’s fervent hope for abolition of slavery by peaceful means.

Seventeen-year-old Charles Longfellow - oldest son of the famous poet — slipped away from home to join the Union Army.

He had shot off his left thumb in a hunting accident. This kept him out of the infantry which was his first choice. Instead, he was inducted as a Private and assigned to the First Massachusetts Artillery.

Charles proved to be a capable soldier and soon was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the First Massachusetts Cavalry.

In this capacity he fought in the Mine Run Campaign at New Hope Church, Virginia, on Nov. 27, 1863. He was severely injured with a bullet wound in his shoulders, near his spine, and was evacuated to a hospital near Washington, D.C.

When father Longfellow was informed of this, he and son Ernest went to the hospital and was given permission to take Charles home to recuperate.

Faith Tested

During the long days and nights that his son hovered between life and death, Longfellow’s faith in God wavered. It seemed that his family was wasted, the war useless and God was dead..

In short, he suffered the same torment many folks do today when the birth of Jesus - Son of God - is challenged, and the conduct of the Iraq War doubted.

As Longfellow sat nursing his son through a long Christmas Eve, he reflected upon the meaning of life. At daybreak he was roused from his inner search by the sound of church bells announcing Christmas Day.

It was a symbolic call to Longfellow. He responded with the following poem in which you, too, may find inspiration for carrying on another Year.

CHRISTMAS BELLS

I heard the bells on Christmas Day

With peace on earth, goodwill to men!”

Lindsey Williams is a Sun columnist who can be contacted at:

LinWms@earthlink.net

LinWms@lindseywilliams.org

Website: http://www.lindseywilliams.org

My daughter loves to spend money - my money. When it comes to her money, she’s a real miser. This is very apparent around holiday time. When she sees ads for new and exciting gifts (read expensive), she wants me to buy them as Christmas presents for her friends and family members (including her, of course).

This year I told her she was responsible for buying all the gifts for her family and friends. She looked at me blankly. The National Bank Of Mom had unexpectedly shut down.

I did give her some money for shopping, but I told her that if she wanted to spend anything over that, she’d have to use money she’d saved up from her allowance. It was amazing to see the transformation from spender to bargain hunter. Suddenly a trip to the Dollar Store wasn’t boring, it was a great idea.

She did complain about how hard it was to stay within the budget so I told her to be creative. When I was young we made gifts for our family. (I know, I know, no kid wants to hear about what happened when their parents were growing up unless it’s really embarrassing and they can make fun of you.)

My daughter was mildly interested until I told her that one year we made closet sachets out of oranges and cloves. They were fun to make and smelled great. As I talked, the look on my daughter’s face told me that she obviously thought that my body had been taken over by aliens, very uncool aliens apparently. How could I even consider something like that?

So I suggested other gifts she could make:

No Whining Day Certificate. I know it might be easier to find a unicorn in my backyard, but I have high hopes that she can actually go a whole day without complaining.

Grandparent Fun Day Certificate. A day where she invites her grandparents to do something that they would like to do (I would even pay for this). This certificate also includes a No Whining clause, so she can’t complain when they suggest that they’d like to go to a museum. Who know, she might even enjoy it.

25 Reasons Why I Love You List. This won’t cost anything but it could be my favorite gift. It would be great to have my daughter tell me why she loves me. (Of course, she does tell me that she loves me, but sometimes she says it right before she confesses that she did something I’m going to be really mad about.) It would also be nice to have some written proof that she loves me on the days when she’s sulky and the only people she’ll speak to are on the other end of a cell phone.

Actually I think that’s a great idea. Instead of going to the stores today, I’m going to start to write I Love You lists to give to my family members. I hope you will too. Happy Holidays!

Laura Browne is the author of a practical & fun-to-read book for women, Why Can’t You Communicate Like Me? How Smart Women Get Results At Work. To register for her Free Teleconference on How To Deal With Difficult People, go to http://www.inyourfaceink.com (This book is available at the website and at Barnes & Noble online.)

When Laura isn’t writing, she helps women be more successful through WOMEN Unlimited, a nationally recognized resource for cultivating leadership excellence, http://www.women-unlimited.com

(This article was originally printed in The Point North Magazine.)