World From Marrs

Top Things to Do in Barcelona

By Emily on 9th June

I had heard of the gorgeous weather and rich history of Barcelona, but never thought I would get to experience it for myself. When I got off the plane, I was not disappointed— sunny and 24 degrees. I hadn’t done much research before coming, but quickly found there was always something to do in this beautiful city.

Take the Barcelona City Sightseeing Hop-on Hop-off tour

The double-decker bus tour is a really easy way to navigate the architecture and history of the city. You can snap some pictures from the top of the bus or hop off and explore the tourist attractions on foot.

The bus stops at Park Güell, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most beautiful parks I had ever explored. Some of the best views and architecture of Barcelona can be seen from up here.

The view of Gaudi’s work at Park Güell.

I saw other amazing tourist sites such as the stunning Sagrada Familia church, the Arc de Triompf and the Olympic Stadium from the 1992 games. Seeing everything in one day gave me the chance to relax and enjoy the rest of the week without worrying about missing out on anything important. A similar tour is offered in major cities such as London, called the Original Tour.

Relax on the beaches…

The Barceloneta Beach is one of the most popular in the area, even though it’s a bit rocky. Caught off guard, I was unaware that there were no gender biases about going topless here. Experience the freedom, if you wish!

…or venture out onto the sea

One of the best things I did on the trip was rent a stand up paddle board. I saw a surf shop near the beach with paddle boards outside, and asked a native worker, “Rent? Paddle board?” because I didn’t want to break out the Spanish Dictionary. About 20 Euros later, I was struggling to carry a very heavy paddle board for beginners out to the sea. When I was on the water, the view of the city was spectacular. And I only fell off once!

The stand up paddle board I used on the sea

Stop at Camp Nou

Waiting in line in the hot sun for tickets to the largest football stadium in Europe was worth it. For football fans, it’s exciting to see the press box and the fancy seats the players get to sit in up close. And for people who aren’t huge football fans like me, it was exciting just to see how massive the stadium is and where the press sits and watches during a game.

I was told that “Mes Que Un Club,” the saying painted across the seats of the stadium, means “more than a club.” Looking around at the mass of fans touring the stadium, I could tell that this was the case for many, young and old.

Run into something unexpected

You can easily run into festivities in such a lively place. A game between FC Barcelona and Athletic Club Bilbao was taking place the day I arrived. Immediately after getting off at one of the metro stops, all I saw was a sea of red and white. Athletic Club fans had taken over this area and were chanting and waving their flag. It was quite a sight.

Athletic Club Bilbao fans lined the streets before a big match

Stroll along Las Ramblas in the evening

Roaming the streets of this busy marketplace, I noticed that a lot of people relax in the evening with the local and popular Sangria drink and some tapas. Many choose to dine outside on this street, where you can get some amazing seafood paella and drinks in glasses almost the size of your head.

Tourists stroll along Las Ramblas for food and souvenirs

Experience the Magic Fountain

I was so pleased we were staying in Barcelona over a weekend, because this was by far my favourite part of the journey. The perfect way to end an evening, the Magic Fountain lights up the night and is synched to popular Spanish and American music. If you’re a fan of Disney, then don’t hesitate to impress your friends by pretending to know Spanish and translating songs like “Circle of Life” and “A Whole New World.”

The colour-changing magic fountain lights up the night

How To: Have a Home Away from Home

By Meagan on 29th May

My internship is quickly coming to a close, and I’m sad to say I’ll be leaving the UK soon.

I have to admit, I’m a bit excited about it. I can finally go home to my friends, family and cat, but I’d gotten so used to living here that I call it my “home away from home”. How did I do it? Well take a look here.

This stop is home.

1. Tell Yourself You Belong

I’m American. Like…very obviously American, so how’s that supposed to work, right? Easy. Just accept the fact that you’re living somewhere new. Tell yourself, “This is my home now, may as well make the best of it.” And it works. You get into a rhythm, you let your room get a bit messy, you treat the place you’re at like it’s home, and eventually, it starts to feel like it.

Need to change to the Central line? Cause you can do that here.

2. Learn the Area

I came to London knowing absolutely nothing. I would always get lost and turned around and couldn’t navigate the tube to save my life. After slowing down and just soaking it in, I can tell you the best ways to get to whatever station from wherever you are. And It’s only been four months. It’s a great feeling, like how I can navigate the streets back home and know when is the best or worst time to be where.

I bet you won’t find many tourists in Hackney.

3. Be a Local

Don’t just do the things tourists do all the time, do something you like to do. If you’re in London for a while, you have plenty of time to see Big Ben, the Eiffel tower isn’t going anywhere if you’re in France and I’m pretty sure the Egyptian pyramids aren’t vanishing soon. Don’t be scared to do something different, stay away from fast food (if you’re American like me), and get all of your basic sightseeing out of the way as soon as you can. You have more things to see, I promise, and it’s so much better than anything you can find on Oxford Street.

Don’t think I didn’t do tourist things too.

4. Just Live

Just be yourself. Let yourself make friends. Don’t stop yourself from making that dumb purchase. Just have fun like you would back home. You’re going to be here for a while, make it great.

Just remember, nobody tells you how hard it is to leave. This has been a wonderful experience I’ll remember for the rest of my life, and I’m so thankful for every single person in this agency. I’ll be back eventually, and I’ll be sending a very long, very emotional email as soon as I get home.

Best Ways to Cope with Sunny Weather Whilst in the Office

By Frank on 27th May

We get it. It’s great outside, but we’re stuck in the office. You don’t have to feel like you’re wasting a perfectly good day by being at a desk, though. Here’s some things you can do to make yourself less upset about being trapped inside:

1. Pretend the weather is appalling outside, and winter is always there. Just watch a couple of episodes of David Attenborough, Frozen Planet before work each morning.

2. Put a paddling pool, some sand and a inflatable palm tree in the centre of the office. Serve your colleagues the occasional cocktail with an umbrella in it and tell them the office always feels like a holiday to you.

3. Knock down the wall so half the office feels like it’s in the sun.

4. Change the light bulbs to a BioBulb which will help bring the sunshine indoors. The bulbs replicate natural sunlight and improves mood, sleep and energy.

5. Kit the office out with a truck load of plants. Turn that hot, stuffy office into a rainforest so that you feel like you’re working in the jungle of a desired holiday location. You’ll then never have a desire to want to head to the tropics and will never want to leave the office again.

*Edit by Meagan*

Get a skylight installed.

So you may as well enjoy the weather before this happens:

Press Trip: The World Alternative Games, Cambrian Mountains

By Simona on 22nd May

Last weekend, Annabel and I accompanied four national journalists on a press trip to the Cambrian Mountains! Organised by Tom, the journalists sampled some of the most exciting and bizarre sports played at the World Alternative Games.

Day 1 – Mountain Biking

We all made our way to Llanwrtyd Wells, which is known as the smallest village in Britain. It has become world famous for its unusual and quirky events.

On arrival, we were taken deep into the Cambrian Mountains by Red Kite Events for a legendary 10 mile mountain biking route, which was occasionally quite difficult but very rewarding considering the landscape we covered and the view!

The view from 400ft

Taking a break before a downhill track

On our return we very much appreciated the opportunity to refuel and have dinner at the The Neuadd Arms Hotel. We dined with Gordon Green, the man that invented the first quirky events held in Llanwrtyd Wells, such as Man vs Horse. Then it was off to bed at our lovely Lledgwial B&B – a morning of bog snorkelling, mountain bike chariot racing and more was ahead of us!

Day 2 – Bog Snorkelling, Bathtubbing, Space Hopper Racing & more!

We took the four excited and a tiny bit apprehensive journalists to the famous bog for their first and main event! Annabel and I cheered them on as, one by one, each journalist lowered themselves into the bog and proceeded to swim at full speed… until about a quarter of the way through, when just about everybody ran out of breath and had to attempt using the snorkel!

Our hotelier, Jen Walsby, was organising and judging events as well as joining the groups of local supporters in cheering our journalists on.

Touching the half-way point post was a triumph for many, with the race to get back to the starting point seeing each snorkeller having an inadvertent taste of bog water, which was reportedly ‘not as bad as it looks’. It was great to watch them navigating the bog, from those that made huge splashes to others who swam repeatedly into the side of the bog!

Bog snorkelling at full speed

We commissioned videographers and photographers to make sure we caught every piece of the action

Some even tried their hand at Bathtubbing, which had mixed success rates!

Once everyone had dried off, we headed over to try out mountain bike chariot racing, which was a lot harder than it looks!

Mountain bike chariot racing definitely took a lot of practice to perfect

Then it was on to the Space Hopper Race, which was probably the one event that saw the fiercest competition!

The scooter slalom certainly had a few tricky turns!

Our final event was worm charming, with Annabel and I separated onto different teams – my team won! I can’t really take any credit however, as no matter how hard I patted the ground I just couldn’t get any worms to surface! Our teammate managed to extract 5 worms while Annabel’s team couldn’t find any, so it was definitely a victorious win for us.

Our victorious worm haul getting a close up from the videographer

We were then treated to a delicious meal at The Drover’s Rest, which is a must visit for any foodies travelling to the area!

We drove back to London the following day a little tired but very satisfied with how the weekend went! It was my first ever press trip and I’m sure to have the most exciting work-related stories to tell my graduate friends!

Party like a Welshman

By Meagan on 21st May

Wales knows how to throw a festival, and why should you miss any of the fun? Here are a few festivals going on this summer not too far from the Pembrokeshire coast and tips on fabulous places to stay:

27 June – 5 July – Fish Week – This is a huge festival with over 200 events throughout the week, including a massive kick-off and painting fish on plates instead of eating them. But don’t worry, you still get to eat fish.

Stay at Azalea Lodge, the gatehouse to Picton Castle. With free range of the estate, you can be king (or queen) of the castle after the public has gone home. The lodge is located only five miles from Haverfordwest. Sleeps 4. From £409

20 – 30 July – Fishguard International Music Festival – Come and listen to the Welsh National Opera Orchestra, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and more during this festival for classical music lovers.

Stay at Pen-y-Parrog cottage situated on a quiet pebble beach beach at Goodwick. Explore the coast or enjoy the day, whatever the weather, from a hot tub built into a cabin. Located 1.5 miles from Fishguard. Sleeps 6. From £545.

25 July – St. Davids Folk Festival – Enjoy music from Folk groups such as Jamie Smith’s Mabon and Fiona Fitzpatrick and the Darling Buds in a night of Folk music, food, and fun taking place in the city of St Davids.

Stay at traditional detached thatch cottage Ty To, located only four miles away from St David’s. This cottage has been lovingly restored from ruin with a visible rope underthatch, lime and new “tin” extensions. Sleeps 6. From £440.

27 – 31 August – Aberjazz Jazz n Blues Festival – The community group Aberjazz works to promote live music in Fishguard and Goodwick, and ultimately came to put on an annual jazz and blues festival to promote local artists. You’re sure to have your share of fun at this year’s festival.

Stay at Beudy Trehilyn & Showmans cottage, converted from a stone dairy and cowshed in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, only 4.5 miles from Fishguard. This project happened to be subject of the popular BBC TV series A Pembrokeshire Farm, making it an ideal place to say for Griff Rhys Jones fans. Sleeps 6. From £440

How I Built My Bamboo Bike

By Meagan on 20th May

The one thing I’ve been wanting to do since moving to the new office is build a bamboo bicycle. James, our neighbour and Alex and Frank’s brother, runs a workshop where you can build a custom bicycle made out of bamboo, the Bamboo Bicycle Club, and this past weekend, I finally got to build one.

Anyone who knows me knows that I like to think I’m a fairly crafty person. I like sewing, crafts, and just making things in general, but there was something about building a bicycle that made me a bit nervous. I mean, others’ came out wonderful and I see Annabel’s every day when I come into the office, but I was making this and I was riding it. What if I messed up? What if I didn’t bind it well enough? What if I was just bad at building things?

Day 1

Saturday morning. 8 am. I walk into the yard as I usually would for work, then it hits me. I’m building a bike today. Suddenly I got nervous and excited all at the same time, but I tried my best to contain myself as I sat talking to James waiting on the others to arrive.

There were only three of us this session, which I figured was a good thing; I’d get more attention and for sure couldn’t mess anything up too badly. The first thing we had to do was set up the jig. Basically, there’s a table you’ll be working on for the weekend and these metal bits that you have to attach to it according to your measurements. From there, you pick out your bamboo.

Picking out the bamboo was honestly the hardest part of the whole process besides cutting, I must say. Well, just picking out the seat tube. So you have to find the right size opening in the top of the bamboo just large enough to fit a metal tube that’s going to eventually hold your bike seat, but still aesthetically pleasing with no splits and is either the right length or can be cut down. Yes. It was that extensive. Everything else was pretty straightforward; if the colour matches and if it is the right size, you’re fine.

The next step was measuring and cutting. Marking the measurements was fine, but then it was time to cut. “How good are you at sawing, Meagan?” James asked me first. I glanced at the sawing station and thought about it. I’ve never really sawed anything before, and I’m pretty sure trying to figure out how to cut PVC pipe with a steak knife in your kitchen doesn’t count. So I replied confidently, “I have no idea!” I ended up learning that I’m pretty bad at sawing bamboo, or any wood in general. By pretty bad, I mean really bad. On the bright side though, there wasn’t too much…as long as your bamboo didn’t split like my chainstays did. Let’s just say I’ve gotten pretty good at cutting slits in bamboo.

One of the most fun parts that day was scraping the ends of the stalks. Bamboo has a natural waxy layer that tends to repel the glue we used, so we spent a bit of time sitting outside scraping the tips of the bamboo to peel away that layer. I felt like I was whittling away, making a spoon or something out of the bamboo.

There was the slight fear that I’d take off a finger or peel too much off the pieces and end up weakening the bamboo. But it’s a really strong material, my fingers are still intact, and no matter how many shavings I took off (reasonably, of course), the strength didn’t change. After that, we glued the bamboo to the metal bits, clamped them down, and gave it a night to dry.

Today I learned how to saw and that power drills are super fun. @BambooBicycle #bamboobike pic.twitter.com/zcne3upFDd

— Meagan (@floofyfeather) May 16, 2015

Day 2

Sunday morning, we were supposed to be there at 9. I say supposed to because I ended up late due to the overground not running for at least 30 minutes by the time I got to Stratford. James was kind enough to get me so I didn’t have to walk (and I wished I had the bike I was building finished).

We started finishing the bikes on Sunday, gluing and wrapping hemp around the joints. It was by far my favourite part; it felt like I was doing arts and crafts, except I’d be riding the craft around later.

We spend a couple hours gluing and wrapping and covering the bindings in electric tape to make the glue really set in, then had to wait a bit for it to dry, so we went out for lunch and came back to check on the joints. Mine was still a bit sticky, but I wasn’t really in a rush. I’d be back Monday for work, so I figured I’d check on it again then.

Regardless, we took everything off of the jigs and left them to dry overnight. And now, it’s time to sand and stain my frame.

Update: I’m back in the office and was told we were having a slight issue with the glue on my bike. No worries though, it’s easily fixed. So as soon as that’s taken care of, I’ll get right on finishing the frame.

To see finished bikes or to order a kit from the Bamboo Bicycle Club, check out the website here.

Also, follow them on twitter here for updates.

Walking in Wye Dean

By Meagan on 19th May

You don’t have to wait until the next walking festival to enjoy the outdoors. And where better to walk than one of the UK’s leading walking destinations: the Forest of Dean & Wye Valley?

Not to mention, there are three major walking festivals throughout the year:

9-12 April – Chepstow Walking Festival
27 June – 5 July – MonDean Walking Festival
25-27 September – Ross-On-Wye Walking Festival

Walking is not only healthy, but it’s a great way to experience the beautiful scenery that surrounds you every day. Below are eight awesome walking routes for this May.

GOODRICH CASTLE LOOP

Where (from and to): Goodrich Castle

How far: 8 miles (13 kms); Height Gain 95m; Approximate Time 3.5 Hours

What to see/do along the way: Two of the Forest’s best known features come together on this walk through a spectacular section of the Wye Valley Gorge

Difficulty level: Easy, fields, paths, tracks and quiet lanes

Why it’s special: Great views of the River Wye and Goodrich Castle. Plenty of places to eat and drink post walk

ST. BRIAVELS AND HEWESFIELD

Where (from and to): St Briavels

How far: 8 miles (13 kms); Height Gain 295m; Approximate Time 4 hours

What to see/do along the way: St Briavels Castle and the picturesque hamlet of Hewesfield all feature in this extended circuit of St. Briavels

Difficulty level: Moderate, old tracks, field paths and quiet lanes

Why it’s special: Medieval churches, a castle and Offa’s Dyke.

CHEPSTOW & LANCAUT

Where (from and to): Chepstow

How far: 4.5 miles (7.2 Kms); Height Gain 255m; Approximate Time 2.5 hours

What to see/do along the way: Chepstow Castle, Wintour’s Leap,

Difficulty level: Moderate, field paths, quiet lanes and a short scramble across boulders

Why it’s special: Chepstow was one of the first castles built after the Norman invasion. From Chepstow you venture along the River Wye to the ruins of St James Church

SYMONDS YAT & HIGHMEADOW WOODS

Where (from and to): Symonds Yat

How far: 9.5 miles (14.5 kms); Height Gain 465m; Approximate Time 4.5 hours

What to see/do along the way: the view from Symonds Yat; Remains of ancient hill fort & settlement

Difficulty level: Hard, woodland tracks and paths

Why it’s special: So much to see, ranging from the Symonds Yat View Point, to massive 14,000 ton boulders, reputed to be the largest in Britain

TINTERN ABBEY & THE DEVIL’S PULPIT

Where (from and to): Tintern Abbey

How far: 6 miles (9.7 kms); Height Gain 300m; Approximate Time 3 hours

What to see/do along the way: Tintern Abbey, great woodland walk, Devil’s Pulpit Viewpoint

Difficulty level: Moderate, woodland paths and tracks

Why it’s special: The walk starts at one of the most impressive ruined abbeys in the country, a great viewpoint and a fantastic section of Offa’s Dyke Path

How about this alternative from Way 2 Go Adventures?

NORDIC

How far: 4 x 1hr or 2 x 2hr sessions for

What to see/do along the way: Various views

Difficulty level: Easy – medium

Why it’s special: Nordic Walking taster or technique course with Way2Go Adventures. Nordic Walking is a fast growing outdoor fitness activity, if using the correct technique using poles to propel you along it give you an all over body workout, less impact on joints, as well as having a fitness element it is also a social activity and a great way of meeting new people while enjoying the outdoors.

MAISEMORE CIRCULAR WALK

How Far: 5 miles

What to see/do along the way: Various amazing views

Difficulty level: Easy

Why it’s special: We overlook large trees with birds of prey nesting and flying around – you actually look down onto the birds flying. There is also a deer farm and you can see stags and does and their young.

MAY HILL WALK

How far: 5 miles

What to see/do along the way: Spectacular views

Difficulty level: Easy

Why it’s special: The view is spectacular. Then we walk up to the top of May Hill to the 100 trees which were planted honour of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. You can see seven counties in England and Wales from the top and the River Wye can be followed for quite a way.

Student Travel Tips

By Meagan on 13th May

A few weeks ago, I went to Dublin, Ireland for a quick holiday with a friend of mine. It was a last second decision, but it was also a great one. The flights were booked, hostel had been arranged, and we started packing by Wednesday for the flight Friday. During the planning process, however, we picked up a few tips that could help your planning go more smoothly than ours.

Keep Looking

It may seem like the perfect deal now, but you could probably do better. Find as many offers and deals as you can. Are you a student? You can probably find some student discounts or deals on flights and accommodation. Do you have any talents? One hostel we looked at offered a free night to any musicians who entertained guests for an hour or so.

Take a Break

Planning shouldn’t stress you out. If you start feeling overwhelmed by flights and accommodations, step away from the computer for a while and do something else. And don’t try to get everything done that night. Split it into segments; book your flight one day and accommodations the next. Just don’t stress.

Think Outside of the Box

Staying just outside the city is always an option, and it’s usually a lot cheaper than being in the city centre. It gives you the chance to explore and see more than what you expected, and even a bit of adventure.

Know What You Want

There’s nothing worse than getting there and having absolutely no clue of what you want to do. Have a plan, be prepared. Do you need extra money to get around? Do you plan on getting souvenirs? How are you getting to and from your accommodations. It’s odd, but people tend to forget about this part. So plan on the unpredictable.

Marathons to Keep You Fit this Summer

By Meagan on 13th May

Personally, I don’t like to run, or really a lot of physical activity. But the weather is getting nice and something tells me this coming summer is going to be a hot one. So here’s a few marathons happening this summer and places you can stay:

1 May – Marathon de Senart, France

A thirty minute drive from Disneyland Paris, this 16-year-old race takes you on a run through the beautiful city of Siene-et-Marne while musical entertainment keeps you going at every marker.

Stay in: Disneyland Paris Dream Castle

Make your race a family affair with a stay near Disneyland Paris! VI Hotel’s Dream Castle Hotel is close to Disneyland Paris and just half an hour away from the centre of the city. Situated in a classic French garden with a lake, the quiet surroundings will make for a relaxing break following an eventful day at the Disneyland & Walt Disney Studios Parks.

2 adults and 2 children stay 1 night with breakfast from £96

3 May – Prague Marathon, Czech Republic

Run along the historic city river and across the magical Charles Bridge. The Prague International Marathon is considered, by many, to be one of the top 10 marathons and invariably contains a number of high profile runners. Winding through the streets of one of Europe’s most beautiful cities and taking you past sights such as Prague Castle and the Astronomical Clock and over the Charles Bridge, it is a spectacular race. And with a mainly flat course there is the chance for a personal best.

Stay in: VI andel’s Hotel Prague

A stunning modern design hotel which brilliantly stands out at the edge of the Old Town with spa facilities for post-marathon recovery. 2 adults for one night with breakfast from £73.

3 May – Salzburg Marathon, Austria

Take a run through the home of Mozart and “The Sound of Music”! A two-lap race through historical Salzburg, the Salzburg Marathon takes you past the Mozart monument, the little lake Leopoldskron, Mirabelle Palace, through the beautiful Hellbrunn Allee and the courtyard of Schloss Helbrunn.

Stay in: Castellani Parkhotel

Only a 15-minute walk from the city centre, it’s the perfect hub for runners of the Salzburg Marathon. The hotel team also organises guided tours upon request so you can enjoy the city at a more leisurely pace. 2 adults for one night with breakfast from £122.

6 June – NEW FOR 2015- Hahlici Trail, Croatia

The Hahlici mountains, known as the “Grobnik Alps”, will be home to the first Hahlici Trail race. The marathon takes you across rolling grassy plains that overlook some of Croatia’s most beautiful hilly landscapes. It’s the perfect solution if you can’t decide between spending some time at the beach and hiking along a beautiful landscape.

Stay in: VI Bristol Hotel

Opatija is known as the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’ and is right on the Kvarner Gulf, about an hour’s drive from the Hahlici Trail starting point. This gives you the option to congratulate yourself and completely kick back on the beach after a day out The hotel sits in the town centre, with a terrace offering panoramic views over the sea. For relaxation and wellness, the hotel offers a spa and beauty area.

2 adults for one night with breakfast from £54

19 July – Konigsschosser Romantik Marathon, Germany

This marathon takes you from the city into some of the most beautiful Bavarian landscapes in the region including around Lake Hopfrnsee and through the Schwansee woodlands. The route also passes near some of the area’s finest castles from the 18th century. Run on a flat course, this marathon gives you a great opportunity to beat your personal best.

Stay in: Angelo Hotel Munich

The race is a short train ride away from the hotel, which is close to the central railway station and only 8 minutes from central square Marienplatz. After a day running in Bavaria, discover the tradition and diversity of Munich. 2 adults for one night with breakfast from £79.50

Top 5 Quirky Cottages

By Meagan on 28th April

I love staying in weird places. It makes the story about your trip even more fun to tell later. Here are five of the coolest places I’ve found and you absolutely need to stay at:

“Sonia” The Boat by the Sea – Cardigan Bay – Have you ever wanted to go on a cruise, but didn’t really feel like being on the open water for days at a time? Well, she’s no cruise ship, but Sonia has been converted into a cozy space to rest your head.

“Wind in the Willows” Caravan – Black Mountains of Monmouthshire – The actual caravan used for the film “Wind in the Willows”, and you can stay in it. It’s a small space, but it makes a great hub for family camping.

The Hobbit House – Catalona – Well, it’s no hole in the ground, but you can still feel like a modern hobbit in this off-the-grid home.

Chapel Pennant – Chirk Castle Estate – A chapel converted into a romantic cottage. Comes complete with beautiful countryside views.

Magnolia Lodge – Pembrokeshire – Accommodations converted from one of Picton Castle’s guard houses. When the visitors leave for the day, you can roam the grounds and feel like king (or queen) of the castle.

So what about you? What’s the coolest place you’ve ever stayed at? Stay tuned for Part 2!