14-day Vegetarian Dream Trip

About Madrid

Madrid, the capital of Spain and its largest city, is the seat of the government of Spain and the residence of the Spanish monarch. In short, Madrid is the political, economic, and cultural center of Spain. 

Madrid, the capital of Spain and its largest city, is the seat of the government of Spain and the residence of the Spanish monarch. In short, Madrid is the political, economic, and cultural center of Spain. 

This city which never sleeps was built in the 16th century when Philip II, who disliked the capital Valladolid, decided to turn a remote, ancient village in Castile into a capital. Lying at the foot of the Sierra de Guadarrama mountain range, the Monzanares River flows through the city. Madrid is home to impressive architecture, leading international art museums, green parks, phenomenal food, and a lively nightlife. The Royal Palace Palacio Real serves as the official seat of the King of Spain. This huge palace, one of the largest Italian Baroque style palaces in Europe, is located on a spectacular cliff overlooking the Monzanares River. The palace contains thousands of art treasures, including paintings and wall murals, porcelain objects, musical instruments, and medieval weapons. There are breathtaking gardens surrounding the palace -the Sabatini Gardens to the north and the Campo del Moro Gardens at the foot of the hill on which the palace is located. Madrid’s large, Neo-Gothic style Santa Maria de la Almudena Cathedral is among the newest cathedrals in Europe, inaugurated in 1993 after over 100 years of construction. Madrid is a city with three famous museums. The Prado El, which began to be constructed in the 18th century, has a neo-classical façade and was intended to be a vast center for nature and science studies. It later became a museum with tens of thousands of works of art from the royal palaces of Spain. It has a huge collection of Spanish paintings, including works by Velázquez, Goya and El Greco; Italian paintings by foremost painters such as Botticelli, Veronese, Caravaggio; and Flemish masterpieces by Hieronymus Bosch, Bruegel, Rubens, Rembrandt, and Van Dyck. The Reina Sofia Museum is housed in a building that was used as a hospital until the 18th century. It is home to an impressive collection of 20th century works, including cubism, surrealism, and realism, and a permanent collection with works by Salvador Dali, Juan Miro, and Pablo Picasso. The highlight of the museum is Picasso's famous masterpiece from 1937, "Guernica.” Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum is the third famous museum in Madrid. It began in 1920 as an exhibit of the private collection of Baron Heinrich Thyssen- Bornemisza, who was a well-known collector. It is considered to be one of the most impressive private collections in the world. The museum was sold to Spain and opened to the public in 1992. Much of Madrid’s charm lies in its many public squares, each with its own character and beautiful parks and gardens. The Puerta del Sol (Gate of the Sun) square is a focal point of the city. It was built as a half moon decorated with two fountains and the equestrian statue of Carlos III (who built most of the squares in the city). The Bear and Strawberry Tree statues are attractions, as well, and have become symbols of the city. Today, the square’s central building is used by the Autonomous Community of Madrid. The square is known for its New Year’s Eve tradition of eating twelve grapes, one for each chime at midnight. Plaza Mayor (Town Square) is in the heart of the old city. Originally used in the 15th century as the town market, it was established in the 17th century as a town square, and the 19th century equestrian sculpture of Philip III stands in the center. There are ten entrances to the square and nine gates. Plaza Mayor has historically been the scene of many events, including bullfights and soccer games, and today is the venue for the annual Christmas market. The Casa de la Panaderia, a municipal and cultural building on the north side of the plaza, has a beautiful façade and angular towers to its sides. Plaza Mayor is a thriving center of Madrid life both day and night with its cafes, restaurants, and bars. Plaza Oriente is built in the shape of a crescent with an impressive facade of the Royal Palace as its base. It is surrounded by flower beds, beautiful shrubbery, and statues of the kings of Spain. In the center, above an imposing fountain surrounded by lions, is the equestrian statue of Philip IV. In the rectangular Plaza Espania, a spacious square surrounded by trees, there is a large stone monument honoring one of Spain's greatest writers, Miguel Cervantes, and the two iconic characters, Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. The 18th century Plaza de Cibeles is one of the main squares in the city and is considered to be one of its most important symbols. The fountain in the square depicts the goddess Cybele sitting in a chariot driven by two lions. At one end of the square is the Madrid City Hall building. The Parquet del Buen Retiro is the green lung of Madrid. It was established as a royal garden with a summer palace, and its garden paths, fountains, lake, playgrounds, and cafes attract many visitors. The Casa de Campo, Madrid’s largest public park, was created in the 16th century for the royal family and nobility and became a public park in 1931. It is a popular urban park and destination for both visitors and locals, especially on the weekends. The park contains lakes as well as an amusement park and a large zoo. Madrid is also a great shopping destination with its many colorful markets. The San Miguel Market is one of the most famous in the city with a wide variety of food, wine, and tapas stalls. San Ildefonso market is a food market, which, at dark, turns into a lively entertainment area with a stunning balcony and comfortable seating. The Platea Market, which used to be a theatre, bustles with restaurants, shops, bars, and bakeries. Anton Martin Market is a food market with cafeterias, restaurants, and even a flamenco school. Last but not least, be sure to visit Calle Gran Via, the busiest thoroughfare in Madrid with cinemas, shopping malls, international chain stores, and banks. If you’re a foodie, Madrid won’t disappoint! It has its own gastronomy as well as culinary specialties from all over Spain. Madrid’s many restaurants and cafes serve the famous bean stews, roast suckling piglet, Galician octopus, and the iconic Paella.

About London

London is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom and the most visited and loved by tourists from all over the world. The city is considered as an administrative region that comprises many smaller neighborhoods that once were small villages that over the centuries, were assimilated with the growing city.  The city of London is the historic center that was once walled and protected plus the 12 Inner London boroughs (including the City of Westminster) and the 20 Outer London boroughs.

London is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom and the most visited and loved by tourists from all over the world. The city is considered as an administrative region that comprises many smaller neighborhoods that once were small villages that over the centuries, were assimilated with the growing city.  The city of London is the historic center that was once walled and protected plus the 12 Inner London boroughs (including the City of Westminster) and the 20 Outer London boroughs.

London started as a Roman legion camp on the banks of river Thames called Lodonium, then grew to become an administrative and trade center. The city is almost a square mile in area and contains, besides the historic center, the business district of London. The city is based in City Hall, is administered s by the Greater London Authority is governed by the Mayor. The major attractions in The City are The Tower and St Paul Cathedral.  London is an international city with over 300 languages spoken by its habitants. This ensures wealth and diversity of culture, culinary choices, music and fashion. Each one of the city neighborhoods offer a different vibe and atmosphere. Shoreditch for example, once a working-class area in the East End of London and also a center of the Elizabethan Theatre, is today an entertainment hub with pubs and nightclubs built there and has become a fashionable neighborhood to boots!  Camden in the northwest of the city is known for its canals and railway terminal and was a trade hub where goods were transported into the city by workhorses. The area was full of stables and warehouses. Today Camden is known for its street markets and food stalls.  Most people can quickly identify some of the iconic London buildings and major attractions. On the UNESCO World Heritage list you have Saint Margaret’s Church and Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament, which is the Palace of Westminster. There is also St. Paul Cathedral which is listed as Grade I building and the Tower Bridge (which is one of 35 bridges crossing the Thames River). Then you cannot leave London without checking the time on your watch with the Big Ben, which is really the moniker for “the Great Bell of the Great Clock of Westminster”.   There are close to 200 museums in London and about ten percent of the major ones are free. Just to name a few - The Victoria and Albert Museum, with close to three million artifacts and objects, most probably the largest museum of applied arts in the world. Then there is the British Museum, The Natural History Museum and The Science Museum and more! Who doesn’t know the acclaimed author, Charles Dickens (1812-1870)? He wrote more than fifteen books and even if you have not ready any of them, you do know his two most popular works that were adapted as musical to the stage (both in London and on Broadway) - Oliver Twist and A Christmas Carol. The Charles Dickens Museum is in one of his dwellings where he wrote some of his novels including Oliver Twist. The museum is set up as if it was his home and you feel as if you are walking around in someone’s Victorian house! Like Broadway, London's West End offers the best of musicals, theaters and music. The city is well-known for its distinct shopping streets such as the popular Oxford Street, the more elegant Regent Street, The High-End Bond Street as well as many shopping malls, food markets and vintage and antique markets. It doesn't matter how long you will stay in London, there's always something new to discover and enjoy. 

About Berlin

Berlin, which is the capital city of Germany, became the capital city after the reunification of Germany by Bismarck in 1871. The city is surrounded by nature reserves on both banks of the Spree River. It is a city-state with a rich and complicated history that invites the tourist to many experiences ranging from visiting historical sites, museums and architecture, through culture and cuisine to shopping, shopping, shopping.

Berlin, which is the capital city of Germany, became the capital city after the reunification of Germany by Bismarck in 1871. The city is surrounded by nature reserves on both banks of the Spree River. It is a city-state with a rich and complicated history that invites the tourist to many experiences ranging from visiting historical sites, museums and architecture, through culture and cuisine to shopping, shopping, shopping.

It seems that Berlin was first mentioned in the 13th century. Although the origin of the name is not quite clear, Berlin seems pretty close to the word for “bärlein: which in German means “little bear”. That is how the bear became the mascot/symbol of the city. In the year 2001 the “lone bear” developed into the Berlin Buddy Bears, a fiberglass sculpture of bears and it seems that they have become unofficial ambassadors of Berlin. At the end of WWII Berlin was divided between two German states, so the government offices were moved from Berlin to Bonn, and that is how it was for the next forty years. The “Berlin Wall” was erected as a divider in 1961 and came down in 1989, where it stood is a magnet for tourists today as they walk along the street Friedrichstrasse. Check Point Charlie was the best-known crossing point between East and West Berlin during the Cold War (1947–1991). Since then, the graffiti that was painted on the walls along with the Brandenburg Gate symbolize a reunified Germany and are witnesses to the past. The monument, 18th-century neoclassical Brandenburg Gate was erected by the Prussian King Frederick William II, copying the gate by the same name at the entrance to the Acropolis in Athens. You can see the tall, 26-meter statue from the wide boulevard called Unter den Linden,  from the City Palace right up to Platz Pariser where the Brandenburg Gate stands. The boulevard is so called because of the Linden trees that line the street.Note: During the time of Napoleon the famous statue that is atop of the gate, the Quadriga, which is a chariot drawn by four horses, was removed but when it was returned a decade later it became a symbol of victory for Germany.  On the northern side of the boulevard is The Museum Island. This is one of the most popular visited sites in Berlin, as well as one of the most significant  museum complexes in all of Europe. Situated on Spree Island it includes five museums: The Altes Museum, the Neues Museum, the Alte Nationalgalerie, the Bode-Museum and the Pergamonmuseum. A sixth building has been added - The James Simon Gallery (James-Simon-Galerie) which is a visitor center and art gallery. Take note that there is an important ‘treasure’ on the island: The Berlin Cathedral, aka The Berliner Dom. It was built by Kaiser Wilhelm II in a Renaissance and Baroque style and besides being a magnificent building, it is probably one of the most important Protestant churches in Berlin. Note: Dom - Many people think this is the German word for “dome” but it means cathedral. We suggest that you join the locals and take a break and some leisure time in the Pleasant Garden (Lustgarten), a neoclassical luscious, green park that is in front of the Altes Museum and near the majestic Berliner Dom at the other end.  Secret: A main attraction in the garden is a huge seventy-ton, granite bowl. Around 50 people were seated in the bowl at a  special breakfast to inaugurate this bowl. The Berliners call it “The Berlin Soup Bowl”. Berlin's famous Tiergarten, Grosser is located in the heart of Berlin and close to the Brandenburg Gate. It is a magnificent park with spacious green areas – just as popular as Central Park in New York and Hyde Park in London. This park spreads out for about 500 acres with tree-lined paths leading to Berlin’s oldest zoo and the zoo-aquarium.Secret: In the summer months on Sunday evenings you just might be on time to hear the bells from the Carillo, which is the bell tower, 40 meters in height, situated next to the House of World Cultures (Haus der Kulturen der Welt - HKW). The HKW has presentations, concerts, films conferences and a variety of cultural activities and exhibitions throughout the year.  Everyone knows that Berlin is one of the best places for shopping!  They have great shopping centers and outlet centers with an endless range of products from latest fashion in clothing to the latest consumer goods. The culinary scene in the city is world-famous and varies from traditional German food such as potato pancakes, pea soup with sausages, potato stew to ethnic food that has been integrated into the local cuisine. There are many diverse eating establishments, food stalls and of course the finest of restaurants and cafes. There are plenty of beer houses and bars that serve beers and drinks of all types. However, the well-known “White Beer” (Weisse Beer) so called because it is  calls for at least 50% wheat to barley malt, which makes for a light colored top-fermenting beer. It is the most popular beer enjoyed by locals and tourists alike for its unique taste.

About Warsaw

Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland and is the 9th most populous capital city in the European Union. It is located on the Vistula River, in east-central Poland. In 2012, Warsaw was ranked as the 32nd most livable city in the world by the Economist Intelligence Unit. It was also ranked as one of the most livable cities in Central and Eastern Europe. Today Warsaw is considered an Alpha – global city, a major international tourist destination and a significant cultural, political and economic hub. Its main attractions include the Old Town quarter, the Royal Castle, Market Square, the Barbican, multiple castles and palaces, as well as landmarks of Jewish heritage.

Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland and is the 9th most populous capital city in the European Union. It is located on the Vistula River, in east-central Poland. In 2012, Warsaw was ranked as the 32nd most livable city in the world by the Economist Intelligence Unit. It was also ranked as one of the most livable cities in Central and Eastern Europe. Today Warsaw is considered an Alpha – global city, a major international tourist destination and a significant cultural, political and economic hub. Its main attractions include the Old Town quarter, the Royal Castle, Market Square, the Barbican, multiple castles and palaces, as well as landmarks of Jewish heritage.

About Budapest

Budapest is the capital and the largest city of Hungary. It is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation center, sometimes described as the primate city of Hungary. Cited as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, Budapest's extensive World Heritage Site includes the banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter, Andrassy Avenue, Heroes' Square, and the Millennium Underground Railway, the second-oldest metro line in the world. The city contains around 80 geothermal springs and a plethora of remarkable attractions, such as the Castle Hill, the neo-Gothic Parliament, Saint Stephen's Basilica, Matthias Church, Dohany Street Synagogue, and more.

Budapest is the capital and the largest city of Hungary. It is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation center, sometimes described as the primate city of Hungary. Cited as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, Budapest's extensive World Heritage Site includes the banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter, Andrassy Avenue, Heroes' Square, and the Millennium Underground Railway, the second-oldest metro line in the world. The city contains around 80 geothermal springs and a plethora of remarkable attractions, such as the Castle Hill, the neo-Gothic Parliament, Saint Stephen's Basilica, Matthias Church, Dohany Street Synagogue, and more.