Abercrombie & Fitch has just opened its doors in Milan today. It’s the first store of the American “casual luxury” fashion brand in mainland Europe (it had already crossed the Atlantic to London in 2007), but this is the second attempt to open a new store in the continent. It previously requested a space in Paris‘ Champs-Elysèes but was denied, only to finally be given the go-ahead by the French government earlier this year. French law only allows valuable retailers (read: “luxury”) to open in Paris’ historical boulevard, so any new spaces must meet the approval of the national government. The French store is now scheduled to open in 2011, but before that, there will be yet another A&F store in Europe. That will be in Copenhagen in 2010 in a century-old neoclassical building.
In Milan, the shop that opened today is found on Corso Matteotti 12, just around the corner from the city’s chic Via Monte Napoleone. It’s found behind a modern stone façade at an intersection, and opened along with the world’s first Abercrombie Kids flagship.

-See the complete Milan city guide.
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-See the complete Copenhagen city guide.
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Travelers from around the world have voted in the last few months and have finally decided which are the ultimate urban creations of all time:

GRACHTENGORDEL CANALS, AMSTERDAM
The monumental result of 17th century urban planning that created one of the most pleasant and beautiful cities in the world.

PASSEIG DE GRACIA, BARCELONA
With a concentration of the most unconventional architecture and remarkable designs in the world, this is arguably the world’s most stunning boulevard.

BRASILIA
An entire city completely designed in innovative contemporary architecture where buildings are sculptures, most of them created by one single architect. A unique, monumentally modernist city.

STRØGET, COPENHAGEN
The longest pedestrian shopping area in Europe is the perfect example of how a city’s better quality of life is in part thanks to its pedestrianized centers.

BAIXA, LISBON
Before Haussmann’s Paris there was Pombal’s Lisbon, a grid of broad streets lined with earthquake-resistant buildings that was the world’s first prefabricated and anti-seismic system for large-scale construction, and Europe’s first great example of neoclassical design and urban planning.

THE WHITE CITY, TEL AVIV
Home to the largest concentration of Bauhaus buildings in the world, this is an outstanding example of 20th century town planning and architecture. It is an unique urban center unlike any other in the world, where planners carefully considered residential, environmental, commercial, and cultural needs to assure a high quality of life.

OLD TOWN, WARSAW
An extraordinary example of restoring centuries of history, culture, and heritage, brick by brick.

-See all the nominees and get more details here: 7 Urban Wonders of the World.
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Photos: Wonderful Copenhagen

-See the complete Copenhagen city guide.

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If there is one travel market that doesn’t seem to ever be affected by global economic crisis is the gay market, as gay and lesbian travelers tend to always have more disposable income.

The two major international gay events this year will be the EuroPride taking place in Zurich in May, and the World Outgames in July in Copenhagen. This year is also the 60th anniversary of Stonewall, so expect special celebrations in every gay pride march around the world this summer. One to see to be believed is São Paulo’s, with an estimated 3.5 million participants making it the city with the biggest gay pride celebrations in the world.

Other cities not exactly known for a happening gay scene are slowly opening their closet doors and becoming major gay hotspots to be discovered this year. If you go to São Paulo’s gay pride, be sure to take the opportunity to also visit Buenos Aires which is only a short flight away. Its Axel Gay Hotel is one of the best (and most stylish) gay hotels in the world, and the city’s reasonable prices are just as attractive as its people.
In Europe, choose one of its sunniest destinations, the very pink Lisbon with its beaches and lively street life.

If you prefer to stick with the always-popular Mykonos, be sure to also spend some time in the Greek capital — Athens has much more to explore than just the Acropolis and ancient ruins.

UCityGuides offers you a list of the 9 gay destinations you should experience in 2009, and you can find what they are in the travel gaydar page.