Standing on the Thames River, London is the capital of England as well as the most populous city in Great Britain. The city is a confluence of the old and the new and is one of the most important tourist destinations in the entire world. Think of Scotland, and you'll likely conjure up images of tartan-kilted Highlanders, skirling bagpipes, the Loch Ness Monster, lonely castles, golf, magnificent scenery, and shaggy Highland cattle. All of these are part of the mystique of this unique country, but also (apart from Nessie) a very real preview of what tourists see there. Welcoming and wonderfully rich in culture, Ireland, the "Emerald Isle," is sure to put a sparkle in your eye. You'll love its friendly people; laid-back attitude; often tragic yet fascinating history; and its rugged, romantic landscapes. This is "the land of saints and scholars," with more Nobel Prize winners for literature than any other country in the world.