DEMAND FIVE

It is the height of summer and Toby finds himself in the sweltering centre of one of Europe’s sunniest cities – Madrid. “You’re practically guaranteed sunshine – and lots of it,” he says as he ducks into a shop to buy a Panama hat. Another novel way to dodge the searing rays is to take a tour on a Segway – a two-wheeled personal transport device that is available for hire.

Although a lot of Madrid’s sights can be appreciated on foot, Toby finds that this scooter-like method of transport is preferable to walking because it creates a bit of a breeze. To start with, Toby steers himself in the direction of the impressive Palacio Real, a royal palace dating back to the 18th century. Then it is on to the nearby Parque de Rosales, where Toby is greeted by the awe-inspiring sight of an authentic Egyptian temple. The Temple of Debod was originally situated near Aswan, but was gifted to Spain as a sign of gratitude for the country’s help in preserving a number of monuments during the construction of the Great Dam of Aswan in 1960.

All the sightseeing gets a bit much for Toby, so he decides to leave Madrid’s centre to get out on the open road. With its rolling countryside and sleepy villages, the Guadarrama Mountain region provides the perfect setting. Toby quickly upgrades from a Segway to a Vespa in order to make the most of the scenery. “All on our own out here, it feels like a voyage of discovery,” he says.

As evening falls, Toby heads back to central Madrid to sample the famous nightlife. The city’s bars begin to fill up with locals who have emerged from their homes into the pleasant cool of twilight. Following their lead, Toby hops from bar to bar enjoying the drinks and tapas on offer. “It’s like a pub crawl without the kebab shop at the end,” he says.

Across the border, Julia plans to spend a couple of relaxing days in Provence. She starts her break in the charming Gallo-Roman city of Arles. The city gained worldwide renown for being home to Van Gogh for 15 months from 1888. The Impressionist painted over 300 of his works in Arles, including ‘Sunflowers’. “You can see why he was so enraptured with the place,” observes Julia as she takes a leisurely evening stroll through the cobbled streets.

Thirty miles out of Arles are the marshy plains of the Carmague region. The area is best known for its white horses, and Julia heads to a nearby riding school to harness one of the steeds for a tour of the local sights, which include protected marshlands and the beautiful Mediterranean coast. After becoming one with nature, Julia rounds off her relaxing holiday with a therapeutic abstract painting lesson with a local artist. “When you need to get away, sometimes it’s as important to have a mental escape as a physical one,” concludes Julia.

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