International Travel News articles from April 2005

International Travel News archives from April 2005

Boarding pass.
April 1, 2005... Dear Globetrotter: Welcome to the 350th (!) issue of your monthly overseas travel magazine. "This is just what I need. Where have you been all my life?!" That's what Shifra Rosoff of Framingham, Massachusetts, said when she called...

Report cards: on-the-spot reports from around the globe.
April 1, 2005... FIRST, FAST & FURIOUS--The following is a sampling of reports received from ITN readers around the globe. ITN invites you to join our corps of reporters --just drop a card in the mail while the travel impressions are fresh in your mind. To...

Economical oases and luxurious resorts in Thailand.(Cover Story)(Column)
April 1, 2005... On my thirtieth trip to Thailand, I spent 30 days roving the country via taxis, tuk-tuks, buses, planes, boats and elephants. Here is the recap for not only budget travelers but also those who want to savor the pinnacle of Thai luxury. Half of...

Deals for those 50+.
April 1, 2005... "Unbelievably Good Deals and Great Adventures That You Absolutely Can't Get Unless You're Over 50 (2005-2006)" by Joan Rattner Heilman is a guide to the discounts, privileges and special adventures overseas and in the U.S. available to...

Seeing Hungary by car.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... My husband, Norman, and I were lured into visiting Hungary by the idea that it was one of the bargains left in European travel. As we found on our trip in September '04, this proved to be correct. It has joined the E.U. but, for now, is still...

London, Liverpool & Isle of Man.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... I took a trip to the U.K. in September '04 that included a visit to the Isle of Man. Arriving at London Heathrow Airport, I chose to take the underground to the center of the city for 5.40 [pounds sterling]. This took approximately 45 minutes,...

Booking hotels in Asia.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... Www.hotelclub.net is the best online hotel reservation service I have found. I have reserved hotels in Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Macau through them and have gotten the best prices I could find plus total reliability. I last used...

Bangkok observations.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... In Bangkok, the SkyTrain continues to be a godsend for getting passengers up and out of the awful fume-ridden traffic. The SkyTrain is quite crowded during rush hours, but it's air-conditioned, so being packed in isn't bad. I think there...

Funniest thing.
April 1, 2005... Tell ITN about the funniest thing that ever happened to you while traveling in a foreign country. There are no restrictions on length. (ITN prints no info on destinations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean.) The ITN staff will choose...

Nepal 'state of emergency'.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... On Feb. 1, 2005, the King of Nepal dissolved the government of Prime Minister Deuba and declared a State of Emergency throughout Nepal. All rights have been suspended except for fundamental rights mentioned in the Nepali constitution. Due...

Cote d'Ivoire 'quiet'.(News Watch)(departure status of nonemergency American employees )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The Department of State has lifted the authorized departure status of nonemergency American employees and their adult family members at the U.S. Embassy in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. The country has been mostly quiet since the violence that...

Floods in Guyana.(News Watch)(health and sanitation risks )
April 1, 2005... At press time, the Department of State was urging U.S. citizens to defer travel to Guyana because of health and sanitation risks associated with flooding. Flooding had subsided in most of Georgetown, but some areas along the east coast were...

Bird flu watch in Asia.(News Watch)(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) has elevated its notice to travelers about the avian influenza A (H5N1)--or bird flu--in Asia from an Outbreak Notice to a Travel Health Precaution because of recent reports that the outbreak...

Meningitis in eastern China.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... According to the Ministry of Health of China, from Dec. 20, 2004, through Jan. 30, 2005, 62 cases of meningococcal disease, including six deaths, were reported in 11 cities in Anhui Province in eastern China. Students 13 to 18 years of age were...

Current warnings.(News Watch)
April 1, 2005... As ITN went to press, the State Department had travel warnings on 26 destinations: Cote d'Ivoire, Guyana, Algeria, Indonesia, Libya, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Sudan, Burundi, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Kenya, Israel/West Bank/Gaza, Iran, Lebanon, Yemen,...

Belgium 2005 events.(Travel brief)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
April 1, 2005... * The Floralies, a grand flowed exhibition staged once every five years, is being held at the Flanders Expo in Ghent, April 15-24. Adults, 17 [euro]. Visit www.floralien.be. * Events will be held all year long celebrating Brussels' image...

200th Swiss Alpine festival.(Travel brief)(Unspunnen )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The Swiss costume and Alpine festival known as Unspunnen is staged in Interlaken every 12 years, and this year's festival, Sept. 2-4, marks its 200th anniversary! Guests at the historic, 5-star Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa can watch...

'Invitation to View,' Suffolk.(Travel brief)(Tourism promotion)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... In Suffolk county, eastern England, more than 30 historic houses and gardens rarely open to the public will welcome visitors during privileged special openings this summer. They include a 15th-century moated hall, a Palladian house from the...

Touring the English countryside plus a bird's-eye view of London.(Column)
April 1, 2005... August 2004 was the ideal time for my week's visit to the beautiful English countryside, includings the Cotswolds, which offer some of the loveliest scenery in the country. Making arrangements There are several ways to reach this...

'[Pounds sterling] for $ rate' in London.(Athenaeum Hotel and Apartments)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... At the 5-star deluxe Athenaeum Hotel & Apartments in London's Mayfair district, until May 31, 2005, under a "[pounds sterling] for $ rate," a traditional guest room that usually costs 285 [pounds sterling] is $285; an executive guest room...

To wrong terminal and missed flight.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... On Nov. 7, I was scheduled to take Northwest Airlines flight No. 49 to Detroit, Michigan, out of Paris' Roissy Charles de Gaulle Airport. My e-ticket did not indicate which terminal I would be leaving from. When I told the Gare Montparnasse...

Vouchers and car dropoff rules differ.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... ITN was mailed a copy of the following letter sent by a reader to U.S. and U.K. offices of the Hertz Corporation. I rented a car at the Manchester, U.K., airport on Aug 25, 2004. I had called the previous day with rental inquiries and then...

India through Worldview Tours.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... My wife, Georgene, and I returned Dec. 13, '04, from a one-month adventure trip to India. We based our jaunt on the tour "Crossroads of India/ Nepal" offered by Worldview Tours (Newport Beach, CA; phone 800/ 373-0388 or visit www.worldview...

Rothschild Safaris.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... I read with great interest Nili Olay's article on her South Africa trip (Jan. '05, pg. 36) arranged by Leora Rothschild of Rothschild Safaris USA (1685 S. Colorado Blvd. #197, Denver, CO 80222; phone 800/405-9463 or visit www.rothschildsafaris....

Ethiopia recommendation.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... I was in northern and southern Ethiopia, Jan. 9-27, '05, and I can heartily recommend our travel guide and agent. We have traveled overseas from one to four times a year since 1981, and all three of us on the Ethiopia tour agreed that this was...

Romania with car and driver.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... We spent 18 days traveling in Romania in September '04--a truly great trip. Our itinerary included UNESCO world treasures like the painted monasteries in Bucovina plus picturesque villages and dramatic mountain scenery. We flew on LOT...

Freighter adventures.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
April 1, 2005... I found the freighter travel articles in the October '04 issue most interesting. I would like to add some comments in order that individuals contemplating going this route will have another viewpoint to consider. Starting in 1998, my wife...

Colorful memories of Viet-Nam.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... It was with a sense of great anticipation and adventure that we started our 3-week tour of Viet-Nam in December '03. We experienced a country where the people are a delight, the scenery is exceptional and history and religion resulted in other...

Egyptian Museum.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The single most important, not-to-miss place in Cairo is the Egyptian Museum. We wish we'd had more than one day there on our visit in March '97, but the one we had was wonderful. The Tutankhamon exhibit, part of which we had seen when it...

Awed in Dublin.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Dublin, Ireland, is a city of much charm and history. On our visit in July '97 we walked past the impressive Custom House building and the 18th-century Bank of Ireland, which once housed the Irish Parliament. Heading up Grafton Street, we...

From the city to the bush--a stop in modern Dubai plus a Kenyan wildlife safari.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... From the gleaming modern city of Dubai to a safari in the bush in Kenya--there couldn't be a larger contrast. In November '04 I was on a familiarization trip to Kenya sponsored by African Travel, Inc. This was a joint effort of the Kenya...

Choosing and reserving a room.
April 1, 2005... We wanted to know the questions you ask First of all, I check the different websites on the Internet. I have many, many on "My Favorites." Several of the sites have pictures of the hotels, showing, hopefully, different rooms as well as...

Rentalo.com.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Rentalo.com offers an online directory for nearly 100,000 rental lodgings worldwide. The property locator service, fully automated and free, matches properties with the inquirer's criteria (destination, type of property, dates and price range)....

UK B&Bs.(bed and breakfasts)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... From castles to, thatched cottages--Host & Guest Service offers bed-and-breakfast throughout the U.K. Reserve with one booking and payment at prices from 20 [pounds sterling] (near $38) per night. Call 020 7385 9922 or visit...

Accommodations worldwide: hotels * B&Bs * homestays * apartments.
April 1, 2005... The following is a listing of some of the hotels, B&Bs, etc., in which ITN readers have stayed over the past year or so plus restaurants or sights nearby. Prices are those paid at the time of the visit and conversion rates are approximate. ...

Exploring prehistoric caves and medieval towns in southwest France.
April 1, 2005... We stood in rapt attention as our guide pointed out the figure of a bison on the cave wall. The artist had used the natural contours of the rock to give a 3-dimensional quality to the body of the animal. As the guide used his flashlight to...

Year of cuisine in Spain.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Barcelona, Spain, kicked off its "Year of Food, Cuisine and Gastronomy" in March 2005 with the first of some 150 events celebrating all things edible from the Catalonia region. Cooking demonstrations, tastings, appearances by world-renowned...

Best UK loos.
April 1, 2005... To find the best toilets in Britain, visit www.loo.co.uk

Tour review snippets: Cambodia, Thailand, Viet-Nam.
April 1, 2005... Once again, we've taken "snippets" from readers' tour review write-ups which, due to space considerations, we were unable to include in past issues of ITN. We are presenting the key descriptions used in telling how well a company ran a tour as...

I saw three ships ...(Cruises critiqued: reader comments on ships, boats and cruises)(experiences of cruising)
April 1, 2005... Most travel agents and ship reviewers agree that there are four lines that head the top of their lists for luxury or high-quality cruise lines, namely Crystal, Radisson Seven Seas, Seabourn and Silversea. Through a seemingly chance...

'Star Princess' megaship.(Cruises critiqued: reader comments on ships, boats and cruises)
April 1, 2005... Having cruised on the Star Princess twice, for a month each time, I found the review of the ship in Philip Wagenaar's August '04 "Discerning Traveler" column a bit too glowing and one-sided. Our first journey was on her inaugural voyage in 2002...

'Grande Mariner' to Belize & Guatemala.(Cruises critiqued: reader comments on ships, boats and cruises)
April 1, 2005... We took a cruise from Belize to the Barrier Reef and Guatemala and back, March 12-23, '04, with American Canadian Caribbean Line (461 Water St., Warren, RI 02885; phone 800/556-7450 or visit www.accl-smallships.com). The cost ranged from only...

Old buddies, beer and Bavaria--second round.(experiences on a visit to Germany)
April 1, 2005... A little over two years ago, my longtime German friend, Walter, invited me to visit him in Germany and we took a wonderful tour along the Romantic Road (see Jan. '03, pg. 52). For 2004 he suggested we visit the quaint and colorful towns and...

Tuscan cooking.(Tuscan Way)(cooking course offered by Tuscan Way)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Tuscan Way is offering a southern Tuscany cooking course. Guests stay at the medieval home of the chef, Carlo Innocenti, in Arcidosso village. A 7-day package, at $2,990 per person, double, or $3,490 per single, includes Rome airport...

Noboribetsu, the Orient's largest spa.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
April 1, 2005... During my annual vacation to the world's best-kept secret, Sapporo, Japan, I always make sure I allocate one day for a trip to the most relaxing place on Earth, Noboribetsu Hot Spring Onsen (Spa). My last trip there was in April '04. After...

Introduction to Bhutan.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
April 1, 2005... I spent 15 days in a very remarkable country, the kingdom of Bhutan, which is located in the eastern Himalayas and is one of the last bastions of the Tibetan Buddhist culture and religion. It is often referred to as the Land of the Peaceful...

Poverty in Bhutan.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... I visited Bhutan Nov. 4-15, '01, fly-fishing with a guide and driver. I saw beautiful streams, few fish, beautiful country and a unique, most interesting culture and delightful people, but Shangri-la it ain't! Poverty exists countrywide,...

Travails of winter travel.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... In the article "Rewards of Winter Travel" (Sept. '04, pg. 46), the author begged to differ with those who shun winter travel. Well, I beg to differ with her. Yes, one can travel prepared with layering, proper footwear and raingear, but...

LHSDGT, anyone?(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(long-haul, single-destination group tours)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... Randy Keck's article on long-haul, single-destination group tours, or "LHSDGT" (Sept. '04, pg. 106), really hit home with me. For 25 years, when working in the corporate world, I was lucky to be able to go away for a whole week. Now that I am...

Speaking of 'hub and spoke'.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(travel to a single place in one visit)(single-location concept)(Column)
April 1, 2005... I enjoyed the article on LHSDGT (Sept. '04, pg. 106). My idea of a great time is one location for two to three weeks with day trips out from a single location. Commonly known as the "hub and spoke" concept, it is much easier on an older...

Lockstep.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(usage of Transportation Security Administration locks)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... I used the special Transportation Security Administration locks on my luggage for flights from Seattle to Dulles to Vilnius, Lithuania, and then home from St. Petersburg, Russia, through Dulles to Seattle in June '04. The locks were not cut,...

Luggage locks cut.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(a claim against Transportation Security Administration for locks out in luggage)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... I obtained through the TravelSmith catalog (800/950-1600 or www.travelsmith.com) two TSA-approved luggage locks with the red TSA-approved logo plainly visible on them. On Nov. 20, '04, at the end of a trip, I boarded LanChile flight No. 500...

Speeding up security checks.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... In response to the request for suggestions on how to make airport security lines move along quicker (Nov. '04, pg. 4), here are some that I have found useful: Think about what you will need to do in advance. Arriving at the checkpoint and...

Former leadfoot.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Column)
April 1, 2005... I found out that many brands of shoes have a steel plate in them which sets off the alarm at airport security stations. I now wear shoes with no plates. At the end of 2004 I went through three airports in one month with no problems! JEAN...

Iceland with Club ABC.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Correction Notice)
April 1, 2005... CORRECTION--In my letter about our trip to Iceland with Club ABC Tours (Dec. '04, pg. 61), I should have specified that no lunches or dinners were included in the tour price. We did indeed get a wonderful breakfast at the hotel each morning,...

Cost of medications.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)(Column)
April 1, 2005... Did you know that prescription drugs are sometimes less expensive than over-the-counter versions? As I searched in the pharmacy for Imodium[R] 2mg, an over-the-counter antidiarrheal agent that every traveler carries, I was flabbergasted by...

Guide in Rome.(Travelers' intercom: readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... A friend and I were in Rome for a few days during October '04, and we want to add our recommendation for a guide to that of Dorothy Smith (Sept. '04, pg. 94). Katie Parla (e-mail katieparla@ yahoo.com) did an excellent job of guiding us...

Travel clubs bulletin board.
April 1, 2005... Who: A small but growing group of solo senior women (over 50) in the PHOENIX, Arizona, area who share a common interest: international travel. We are adventurous, experienced independent travelers who absorb ourselves in the people, culture,...

Railpass roundup 2005.(All Aboard!)
April 1, 2005... The blackout surrounding the 2005 prices of Eurail products did not lift until the products actually went on sale, and only then was the mystery revealed. Now we see the reason for the secrecy and understand the reason for the silence. The...

CIT Tours' NY office.(Compagnia Italiana Turismo closed its New York branch)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... CIT Tours, the New York branch of the Italian company Compagnia Italiana Turismo (CIT), appears to have closed. ASTA reported that it expelled CIT in January for noncompliance with bylaws requiring members to respond to ASTA's mediations...

The best food afloat? (The Cruising World.(Column)
April 1, 2005... I often get asked which is the best ship afloat, in terms of its food. I would love to be able to give a simple answer and award a prize. However, after reviewing my experiences afloat, communicating with ITN readers and interviewing seagoing...

EasyCruise 'hostel' at sea.(Cruise cavalcade: upcoming ocean, sea, river or canal cruises)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The folks who brought you easy Jet now bring you easyCruise, with a minimalist-approach to cruising plus fares to match. Bookings are being taken for the 2005 spring-summer sailing of easy-CruiseOne (formerly the "Renaissance 2"), which...

Belize or Ecuador/Galapagos.(Cruise cavalcade: upcoming ocean, sea, river or canal cruises)(Boundless Journeys)(cruising Ecuador)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Boundless Journeys offers small-group trips (usually 16 guests or fewer) featuring cruises aboard the 74-foot Nortada. The deluxe motor yacht has four cabins (for eight guests) with private bathrooms, hot showers and air-conditioning, plus sea...

London theater Thames cruise.(Cruise cavalcade: upcoming ocean, sea, river or canal cruises)(cruise the River Thames on Magna Carta)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Cruise the River Thames on London's luxurious floating hotel, the Magna Carta, and over a week see several top West End shows as well as venues such as Shakespeare's Globe and the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Guests are hosted by a theater...

Tours: a selection of escorted tours.
April 1, 2005... SCOTLAND'S HIGHLANDS & ISLANDS"--8-day/ 7-night "moderate-level" walking tour, May 21-28 and Sept. 3-10, 2005. Highlights: From Fort William, explore Modart Highlands, where Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his banner during Jacobite...

"The Rivers of the Mandala: Journey into the Heart of Buddhism".(New on the Bookshelf)(Book Review)
April 1, 2005... by Simon Allix and Benoit de Vilmorin (2004, Thames & Hudson. ISBN 0500284954--112 pp., $21.95 paperback). Two young explorers, their faces weathered by the elements, gaze agog at Tibet's Mount Kailash. This book-cover image suits a work...

"Time's Magpie: a Walk in Prague".(New on the Bookshelf)(Book Review)
April 1, 2005... by Myla Goldberg (2004, Crown Journeys. ISBN 1400046041--144 pp., $16 hardcover). Crown Journeys' books pick up where the guidebooks leave off: they look beyond the landmarks and depict living cities as they really are. So in Myla...

Disaster in the Indian Ocean.(Travel & Health)
April 1, 2005... The earthquake off the island of Sumatra in December 2004 left its mark on 2005. The earthquake did its own damage, but the tsunami it generated did far worse, devastating lives and land for a thousand miles around. The wave continues to ripple...

Obtaining a second passport.(The Discerning Traveler)(Column)
April 1, 2005... "Boy, did they go through fast." We looked with envy as the European Union passport holders whisked through Immigration, while our line inched forward in tandem with the beetle on the floor. "Maybe we should get a Dutch passport," I said to...

Hamilton Island, Australia, is lively, with a small town and high-rises.
April 1, 2005... Hamilton Island, Australia, is lively, with a small town and high-rises. The cockatoos wake you up, screaming on your hotel balcony. When I walked outside a restaurant with a glass of orange juice, I was inundated by lorakeets, landing on each...

60 years since WWII.(Brit bits)(organisation of events commemorating second world war)(world war II)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Britain will hold the principal commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in London on July 10, 2005. The date falls between the anniversaries of Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) and Victory against Japan Day (VJ...

Royal Collection exhibits 2005.(Brit bits)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... * The Palace of Holyrood House, Edinburgh, exhibits a collection reflecting Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother's interests in contemporary artists. "Watercolours and Drawings," March 19-Sept. 25, includes views of Windsor by John Piper. Daily in...

On view in York.(Brit bits)(art exhibitions)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... * The refurbished York Art Gallery features British and European art, including works by Monet and Rembrandt, through June 19, 2005. It shows examples of 250 years of quilt making through June 5. Open daily. Admission free. * In "The Ice...

Flower shows.(Brit bits)(Royal Horticultural Society organises flower shows)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The Royal Horticultural Society is holding flower shows at Hampton Court Palace on the outskirts of London, July 5-10, 2005, and at Tatton Park in Cheshire, NW England, July 20-24. With 50 display gardens, Hampton Court is the world's largest...

Gardens of Glass.(Brit bits)(Royal Botanic Gardens)(festival of Royal Botanic Gardens)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, London, stages its most ambitious festival ever, "Gardens of Glass: Chihuly at Kew," May 27, 2005-Jan. 16, 2006, with spectacular installations of glass sculpture throughout the garden landscape and great...

Woodland flowers.(Brit bits)(High Beeches)(High Beeches woodland and water gardens extends its opening to six days a week)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... High Beeches woodland and water gardens, on the High Weald of Sussex, is extending its opening to six days a week, March 18-Oct. 31, 2005. See bluebells in early May; azaleas late May-early June; Giant Scarecrows made by children for two weeks...

London's Victoria & Albert.(Brit bits)(renovation of London museum)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Work continues on London's Victoria and Albert Museum. Summer 2005 will see a garden in the 19th-century courtyard near the new entrance plus, overlooking the garden, a new gallery, "Sculpture in Britain," featuring work by Rysbreack, Canova...

Vintage motor racing.(Brit bits)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Reliving the times when Goodwood Motor Circuit was one of Britain's leading racing venues and hosted Formula One and the Tourist Trophy (1948-1966), the Goodwood Revival, Sept. 16-18, 2005, will offer motor racing as it used to be. Over...

Knights jousting.(Brit bits; Porchester Castle near Portsmouth)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Teams of 15th-century knights will demonstrate their skills at jousting, archery, foot combat and falconry at Porchester Castle near Portsmouth, May 14-15; Audley End House in Essex, June 11-12; Kirby Hall, an Elizabethan House in...

Ireland's Aran Islands: bleak and beautiful.(Rick Steve's Europe(c))
April 1, 2005... A Gaelic treat of a destination, the Aran Islands are a 20-minute flight or 2-hour ferry ride from Galway, the only sizable town on Ireland's west coast. Three limestone islands make up the Aran Islands: Inishmore, Inishmaan and Inisheer. The...

Into Iceland's past.(Focus On Archaeology)
April 1, 2005... I first made the acquaintance of Erik the Red in the fourth grade. I was intrigued by this 10th-century Viking who left the country of his birth (Norway), settled in another (Iceland), then was exiled and resettled in yet a third country...

Exploring and reliving ancient Israel. (Adventure Travel--for the Mildly Adventuresome.
April 1, 2005... (First of two parts) In February '04 I spent 10 days in Israel, and five things made unexpected impressions on me. * First, I spent a couple of days each in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem completely on my own, visiting historical sites and...

New York-Tahiti.(Travel briefs)(Air Tahiti Nui introduces new services)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Air Tahiti Nui will begin nonstop service from New York to the South Pacific on July 4, 2005. Airbus A340-300 aircraft will fly three times a week from JFK Airport to Papeete, Tahiti. Passengers may continue nonstop to Sydney, Australia. See...

Teach Spaniards English.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... "Englishtown" is an English-language immersion program in Spain in which nonpaid English-speaking volunteers of all ages from all over the world have their room and board paid for in return for helping Spaniards improve their fluency in...