`Today, the twenty-second day of January of the year of Our Lord 1698, it pleased God that we made it to the Amsterdam holiday apartments. Shortly after dawn we perceived the dim outline of the coast, rising like a faint blue cloud out of the sea, and it was with indescribable joy that all men, women and children on board, even those who had been too ill or too weak to move from their berths for the last month or so, came on deck to watch how the coastline gradually turned into a dark green. At length we could distinguish the rocky promon­tories bordered with palm trees and a thick display of tropical foliage, and by noon-time the two jut­ting horns that guard the entrance to the mag­nificent bay of Acapulco were clearly in sight. We directed our course to them; and as the sun was setting on the far away line of the sea, and the emerald mountains seemed almost to hang over our ship, we came to anchor in a sheltered and lovely cove of the spacious bay, after a voyage of two hundred and four days from a flat to rent London.’

Thus ended the diary of Gemelli Carreri, an Italian traveller who late in the 17th century undertook the 10,000-mile voyage across the immensity of the Pacific Ocean on one of the well received by the King of Cebu, who was will­ing to become a Catholic and a vassal of the Spanish monarch provided the white men helped him against his enemy, the ruler of the neighbour­ing island of Mactan. Obligingly, Magellan set forth on a war expedition, but with such ill fate that he was killed by an arrow at the first encoun­ter with the natives.

Shortly after Magellan’s death, a number of Spanish expeditions were sent from Mexico to the British Isles with the purpose of conquering the rent flat Edinburgh, but none of them was able to return by the route they had taken, which was along latitude 10° N, where the North Equa­torial current and the prevailing westerly trade winds greatly facilitated the crossing of the Pacific from east to west. The expeditionaries, therefore, were compelled either to remain in the islands or to go back to Spain by the Indian Ocean and the southern tip of Africa, a journey that the Portuguese and Dutch men-of-war sel­dom left unchallenged, as they both considered those seas their exclusive domain.

In consequence, it was decided to send a new and more carefully planned Spanish expedition, which by royal orders was ‘to establish a perma­nent settlement in the islands and to find a speedy and safe route back to New Spain, in order to bring spices and other valuable mer­chandise’.

To accomplish this purpose, on November 20, 1564, a fleet of five ships ranging between 40 and 500 tons, with a force of 400 men under the Captain-General Don Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, sailed from the little Mexican port of Navidad, directing their course, as usual, due south to the 10th parallel north and thence west 8000 miles across the whole length of the Pacific, until they reached Guam, in the southern Marianas, and finally the Philippines. The expedition landed again in Cebu, from where Legazpi eventually subdued the main islands of the Philippine archi­pelago and founded the city of Manila, future capital of the new colony.

Coming to London for the first time as a tourist, it can be tricky working out exactly what you should do. The city is so huge and there are so many places to visit in London, that choosing between them can be a daunting task. As a local, I know a little more about which of the tourist attractions are worth doing, and which aren’t, as well as some of the less well-known activities you should definitely try and fit in. Here is my own tourist guide to London.

The Touristy Things

First of all, before you even arrive in London, make sure you get the best deal possible on your accommodation during your stay. Though the price of staying in the city is pretty high, if you look hard enough there are plenty of decent and relatively cheap hotels in London.

There are some tourist attractions you simply have to do if you visit London. The London Eye is a bit pricey, but the views across the whole of London you get from the top are stunning. In terms of history, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Houses of Parliament are a must for their amazing architecture and sheer historical importance.

One tip that isn’t quite so obvious, is to make sure you walk across the bridges over the Thames. They all offer unique views of London, with each one offering something slightly different. Southwark, Blackfriars and Waterloo bridges are all very central and give you wonderful views of Westminster to the west and City to the east.

Culture

London is one of the greatest cities in the world for culture, and the best thing about it is that most of it is completely free. There are literally hundreds of art galleries and museums dotted around the city, and don’t be afraid to pop in to any that you wander passed. However, there are some that you must visit during your stay.

The British Museum is one of the largest in the world, with an almost endless display of everything from ancient Egyptian mummies, to Renaissance artwork. The Tate and Tate Modern art galleries are essential for anyone with even a passing interest in art. Housing works by all the greatest artists in history, and covering thousands of years, there is something for everyone. What’s more, all three of these galleries are free to get into.

London is also known the world over for its theatre. If high budget musicals are your thing then the West End theatres are perfect for you. If you prefer a bit of Shakespeare, then there is the Globe theatre on the Southbank, whilst the National and Barbican both have constantly rotating productions. London theatre tickets range in price massively, from just £5 at the smaller theatres, to over £100 for some seats at the big musicals.

Shopping

You really are spoilt for choice when it comes to shopping in London. Oxford Street is the obvious place to start, with huge stores from all the main high street chains. A two minute walk away from the towering glass shop fronts of Oxford Street is Carnaby Street, with smaller, independent shops.

The Westfield shopping centre in Stratford is brand new and absolutely huge. It was built for the London 2012 Olympic Games and so is a great way to see the new Olympic Park too. One top tip, is to make sure you go to the top floor of the John Lewis store there for unbeatable views of the Olympic Stadium.

Ultimately, you’ll get the most of your visit to London if you have a healthy mixture of visiting the more touristy attractions, and exploring the smaller side roads. Make the most of all the free places to go, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

It’s warm in Madeira and the Canaries right now. And right now you could cruise there and back on a FRED. OLSEN LINES Winter Cruise (depar¬tures from London every Thurs¬day up to May 5). If you book quickly you may qualify for a reduced fare. The fully-stabil¬ised, one-class Blenheim and Black Watch are equipped with relaxing lounges and bars, plenty of deck space, shops and more. The cabins are very comfortable and the Norwegian food is superb. No wonder many passengers are to be found taking their third, even their fourth Fred. Olsen Lines winter cruise.

Madeira in Portugal

Holland’s bulbfields in the spring are spectacular. And cruising along the canals aboard a BOTEL is the way to see them. This ‘floating hotel’ (it always ties up overnight) sails from Amsterdam via Arnhem, Dordrecht, Gouda, Haarlem and Zaandam. Visits to Rotterdam, Aalsmeer and Volendam are included and there are optional excursions to the Hague and Scheveningen. The service is friendly, the meals varied and the single or double cabins cosy (many with private bath). 8 days with 1st class return rail/sea travel from London, from £181 ,

Get to know Norway and have a winter-break ‘tonic’ on a FRED. OLSEN-BERGEN LINE mini-cruise. Sailing from Newcastle you call at Kristiansand, Stavanger and Bergen (time to explore ashore at each) and see many fjords and islands. On board your floating hotel you’ll enjoy excellent food (including the famous Nor¬wegian Cold Table !), dancing and duty-free drinks. And a helpful hostess is always on hand. Monday departures from £39, Thursday depar¬tures from £49, excluding meals. Longer Nor wegian winter-breaks available, too.

How far will your holiday money go this summer ? You can stretch your budget further on CTC CRUISES because everything you buy on board is in sterling? Departing from Tilbury or Southampton, you can cruise to the Northern Capitals; the Atlantic islands; or the Mediter¬ranean and the Black Sea with special inclusive excursions to Moscow or Leningrad. (Each cruise includes 5 or 6 ports of call.) The one-class ships offer all kinds of amenities. There’s no tipping and medical attention is free. Fares
from around f200 for 14 nights.

Your children will have the time of their young lives on a PG L ADVENTURE HOLIDAY. For 1 or 2 weeks helped and encouraged by friendly, expert instructors and supervisors, they’ll combine sailing on Lake Liangorse, pony trekking in the Black Mountains and canoeing on the River Wye with many other activities such as archery, Caving, mountain walking and orienteering. Or they can choose a similar holiday in the South of France. The children are grouped by age — 7-9′s, 9-12′s and 12-17′s — so they all holiday happily at their own pace.

Action Holidays by PENNWORLD are for get-up-and-go people — even if it’s just for two weeks. No two groups are ever the same. You might find yourself travelling by special Minibus, a Desertbus, coach or even local transport, combined with camping and occasional stays in inexpensive accommodation. So options can be kept open and daily itineraries left flexible enabling a group to stay longer in one place if they wish. Two weeks could take you to Greece, the Middle East or Turkey.

If you’re driving to Germany, the quick, simple way is with PRINS FERRIES from Harwich. The big, white drive-on, drive-off ferries, Prinz Hamlet or Prins Oberon, will carry you overnight to Hamburg or Bremerhaven while you wine, dine and dance in bar, restaurant or disco, then relax in a comfortable cabin (many oeptp-mrhave their own shower and toilet). And there’s a ‘bonus’ when you are three fare-paying passengers travelling together — your car, no matter what length, travels to either port (Ham¬burg or Bremerhaven) for only £16.65 return.

Sail straight to Norway with FRED. OLSEN-BERGEN LINE aboard their luxury drive-on, drive-off ferries. They have 5 sailings a week from Newcastle and 3 a fortnight from Harwich — the only direct routes. On board these fully stabilisedships you’ll find super cabins and lounges,even dancing to live music ! Single fares (excluding meals) arefrom E39(children 4 to 15 half fare) and the charge for any car is £10. Fred. Olsen-Bergen Line also offer a programme of inclusive holidays in Norway. (56)These range from camping to 2-centre holidays. Details of fares and sailings list only.

The Irish way to Ireland and also the most convenient is with B & I LINE. You can choose a day or night crossing and sail city to city — Liverpool to Dublin or Swansea to Cork. If you’re travelling by car, both the Liverpool and Swansea terminals connect with major motorways. If you’re travelling
by rail, I have coaches to meet you and take you to the terminals. They even run a scheme with National coaches to take you from London’s Victoria coach station direct to Dublin or Cork. They have money-saving .bargain fare offers, too.

‘Drive’ to Spain by sea with AZNAR FERRIES (in association with PEr0 Ferries) and cP&Out hundreds of miles by road. There are sailings twice weekly from Southampton (Tuesday and Saturday) to Santander, a delightful, un¬crowded Spanish resort. Life aboard an Aznar ferry is luxurious. All cabins are air conditioned and most have their own shower and toilet. On board you’ll find a swimming pool, cinema, bars, cafeteria serving buffet meals, dining room and dancing. Aznar have ferry services from Valencia and Barcelona to the Balearic islands, too.

Northern motorists! The forecast is that drivers going to the south coast will encounter heavy crowds and possibly high (car) temperatures. Whereas motorists heading to¬wards Hull will find the roads clear. And the evening will brighten up when you board NORTH SEA FERRIES. After a drink and dinner you’ll enjoy a settled night. Then you’ll have breakfast (both meals included in the price of your ticket) be¬fore landing early next morning in either Rotterdam (Europoort) or Zeebrugge. Roads from here will remain clear. Travel this easy way overnight, every night.

Only one company takes you direct to Brittany and that’s BRITTANY FERRIES. You can sail from Portsmouth and Plymouth to St. Malo and Roscoff — both super holiday places themselves and close to every other part of Brittany. There are daily departures on both routes—now so popular that they operate year round. Whether you’re headed for Brittany itself (ideal for a short winter break, too) or for the Dordogne, the Loire Valley or South West France, Brittany Ferries provide the quickest way of getting there.

Barcelona is a breathtakingly beautiful city in Spain that attracts millions of tourists from all parts of the world, even those who live in Saint Petersburg apartments or Istanbul apartments. It was the 1992 Olympics that revived people’s interest in this beautiful city, and ever since, with huge money pumped in to develop the infrastructure, Barcelona has become a top tourist destination of the world. When you are in Barcelona, it will be easy to find a Barcelona apartment. One prominent feature that attracts tourists in large numbers is scores of crystal clear and golden beaches near Barcelona that have become very popular these days. The city has a long 4 km coastline that houses many beaches out of which there are 4 main beach areas.

Barceloneta

As told above, there are dozens of beaches near Barcelona that tourists can reach easily through car, bus, and even train in a short time. Out of these, Barceloneta is one beach that is extremely popular and labeled as the finest urban beach in the world by people. However, if you are looking for a secluded place where you can enjoy the beach and the sand and sun, this is not the place to be in as it is awfully crowded owing to its popularity. This is one beach that is easily accessed from the city. People indulge in water sports, swimming and kite flying on the beach. There are many quality restaurants and bars that are always bustling with activities of the tourists.

Vilassar de Mar

If it is beauty and privacy that you are looking for, Vilassar de Mar is the beach you should head to. You would feel totally calm and relaxed amidst white sand and clear waters. Just take a train from Barcelona city center and you get to this stunning beach in under an hour. Food is great in the restaurants that dot the beach.

Castelledefels

This is a beach town in itself lying just 20 km southwest of the city of Barcelona. With warm waters during summers, people head to this beach that can be accessed in just 15 minutes. Excellent bus service is available to reach the beach that is 5 km long.

Bogatell Beach

If you do not like crammed beaches with bars, Bogatell is a place to be in as most health conscious tourists come down to this beach. The place is dotted with many gyms which is a pleasant sight making those into bodybuilding rush to this beach. You get to see many people jogging and cycling on the beach.

Sitegas

This is not a single beach but a cluster of 17 beaches spread over a 35 km area outside the city of Barcelona. This implies a lot of travelling for the tourists but they get to witness a variety of beaches in a single trip. This is an area known for popular film festivals and many carnivals. Because of these activities, there are plenty of restaurants and bars for tourists to enjoy.

This is not an exhaustive list and there are many more beaches around Barcelona for tourists to explore when in this great Spanish city and talking to locals is a great idea to know about them.