Though it's been extensively restored, pieces of the original Roman Wall survive, and it's possible to walk almost the entire way around the city's old town on it, providing fantastic views of both the town and the wooded hills of Catalunya's mostly ignored interior. Also, it's free to get up there but some of the entry points aren't always easy to find. The best place to start your tour of the walls is in front of the Eglisa de San. Felix (St. Felix Church), walking to it's left (as you look at it) and following the street uphill until you reach some gardens. Through these gardens are stairways leading up several levels and finally to the walls themselves. It really is glorious from the top and even in the height of summer, you'll be one of the few people up there.

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The Municipal Art Society (MAS) is a non-profit organization which aims to make NYC more livable. It focuses on many aspects of NY life including planning and zoning but also runs exhibitions, programmes and tours on architecture, public art and the cultural development of NYC. The MAS has its own galleries with rolling exhibits on NY-based themes, many of which are unique to the organization. These run for 6-8 weeks at a time and info can be found on their website: www.mas.org The tours are especially great for tourists though, particularly if you've been to NYC before and have seen all the usual sights already. They take you to little-known districts where expert guides show you around and offer fascinating information on places you might not think of going otherwise, like Harlem, the Bronx, and various areas of Brooklyn and Queens. The Grand Central Station tour is the most popular and runs every Wednesday at 12.30 from inside the terminal. The schedule changes all the time so you'll need to check their website to see what's going on when you visit, but you can just show up at the street corner and join the tour without booking. Prices are very reasonable; make sure to get there early. Tours leave promptly and are often hard to track down once they're under way.

The Municipal Art Society of New York 457 Madison Ave (btw/ 50th & 51st) NY 10022 T: 212-935-3960 W: www.mas.org Subway: B, V, F, D to Rockefeller Center 6 to 51st & Lexington

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New Yorkers love doing brunch on a Sunday and if you want to watch locals doing local stuff, head to Silver Spurs, on Houston (pronounced How-ston NOT Hugh-ston). The menu is written in a cutesy, annoying way but the food (burgers, salads, sandwiches ... American style diner food) is excellent and the portions generous. Try the egg & cheese sandwich with sausage. It's a great place to view the tourists and locals as they go in and out of SoHo.

Silver Spurs - corner of Houston & La Guardia or 771 Broadway (E. 10th & Broadway)

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