Are they truly Out of this World?

Mythical creatures and where to find them

2 The Spanish Tooth airy

adrid is home to the Royal Palace, the Parque del uen Retiro and the useo 1acional Del Prado. very last corner of the city resounds with the echoes of artistic movements from the baroque to the belle époque, and the works of home grown talents such as Goya and Velázquez proudly adorn numerous gallery walls throughout adrid. oasting so many famous residents, many don t realise that adrid is also home to a furry little resident by the name of Ratoncito Peréz. Ratoncito Peréz came to life when a writer by the name of uis Coloma created his character in a story he made to please Alfonso who had Must lost a tooth at age eight. n his tale, Coloma described how Ratoncito lived with his family in adrid, in a bo of cookies. Ratoncito would often run away from home, and find his way into the bedrooms of children who had Must lost their teeth. A story so beloved by the royal family, Ratoncito Peréz became the first fictional character to be honoured with a plaque in adrid. V D I 6SD V ID V V WV SDVW D S V W D W W W S W 0D D D D V SD

1 nicorns in Chinese ythology

A trip to China, is truly a trip of a lifetime. As the world s oldest continuous civilisation, its vast enormity means there is plenty to e plore. Here, visitors can hike the Great Wall, discover the mysterious oasis town of Dūnhuáng, see the Terracotta Warriors and marvel at the neon lights of Shanghai. With each region possessing its own diverse civilisation and culture, it is no surprise that China has such colourful folklore, so why not use your trip to go in search of one of the most prominent mythical conceptions of Chinese folktales ollow in the glittering hoof prints of the ilin, which have played a central part in Chinese mythology since the th century C. Considered to be ancient unicorns, these mysterious animals were first recorded in books such as the Shan Hai Jing. 2ne mperor even claimed to have caught a live qilin in C So no matter where you end up in China, be sure to look out for this fascinating mythical unicorn... V W D W V D V I W D W VDW V I D W V I D W V SD

3 rish eprechauns

The sparkle of the emerald isle captures the hearts of all those who visit it. Well known for its natural beauty, it is also recognised for its astonishing history. Strewn with ancient monuments filled with innumerable ancient legends, its Celtic past has left a deep impression on some of its best loved attractions, such as the sacred Hill of Tara, the intriguing passage tombs of oughcrew and the famous prehistoric site of onasterboice. Complementing the colourful history of reland, is its equally vibrant mythology. any of those familiar with rish folklore would have heard of eprechauns, who play a central role in the old tales. According to lore, if you should be lucky enough to find one of these little people, you may subsequently find a pot of gold. These faerie folk are thought to dwell in ancient Celtic settlements, so keep your eyes peeled 6W W W S D V I D D D W W V I W ( D V W D W V V SD