International Travel News

Travel Briefs

January 2012 issue | Appears on page 53

Volunteers For Peace

For 30 years, travelers who wanted to get involved in short- or long-term overseas projects in education, construction, the environment, community development, etc., or to help the disabled have turned to Volunteers For Peace (Burlington, VT; 802/540-3060).

Hundreds of projects in more than 45 countries are available. For a typical two- to three-week project, the fee for lodging, food, accident insurance and administration is $300. Volunteers stay in dormitory-type accommodations....

January 2012 issue | Appears on page 75

Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

To mark 60 years of Queen Elizabeth’s reign, the UK is holding the Diamond Jubilee during 2012. Main celebrations, June 2-5 (official holidays). Among events — pageant, Windsor Castle; BBC concert, Buckingham Palace; 1,000-boat flotilla on the Thames; “Big Jubilee Lunch” in many towns, and lighting of beacons (bonfires) in many places.

Other special events during the year — Items from Royal Collections will be exhibited. Ten of Leonardo da Vinci’s...

January 2012 issue | Appears on page 75

Bolshoi Theatre renovated

In Moscow, the main stage at the State Academic Bolshoi Theatre of Russia (box office phone +7 [499] 250-73-17) has reopened after six years.

Restoration work was done on the auditorium frescoes, gold leaf was replaced and the crystal chandelier was renovated. On the main curtain, the Russian eagle symbol has replaced the hammer and sickle. Now, below the main stage is a rehearsal stage of the same size, and the orchestra pit is bigger.

During restoration, all ballet, opera and...

January 2012 issue | Appears on page 76

Visit a volcano in DR Congo

In November, Virunga National Park (phone +243 991715401) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo began offering escorted, overnight trips to observe a newly forming volcano erupting. Travelers hike three to four hours over treacherous, muddy jungle trails to a site (chosen by volcanologists from Goma) within 400 meters of the lava spurting from the black mound. The eruption may continue for months or just weeks.

The trek is dangerous due to natural hazards, mountain gorillas, other...

January 2012 issue | Appears on page 76

Israel’s Jesus Trail

Visitors to Israel can hike on the Jesus Trail, which follows the path Jesus is believed to have walked from Nazareth to Capernaum at the Sea of Galilee.

The full, self-guided hike along the main, 60-kilometer (37-mile) route takes three to five days. (Maps of short segments for day hikers are available.) The trail passes Mount Tabor, Cana, the Horns of Hattin, Mount Arbel, Magdala, Tabgha and the Mount of Beatitudes, with paths branching off to points of interest.

There is no...

December 2011 issue | Appears on page 26

Uzbekistan train

Uzbekistan’s first high-speed train, Afrosiyob, started up in October and runs round trip from Tashkent to Samarkand twice a week (Wed. and Sat.). It can reach 155 miles per hour and makes the 214-mile, one-way trip in two hours (versus the previous 3½ hours). A ticket in first class costs about $30 and in VIP, $40.

Buy tickets at the station or from SJSRC (Uzbekistan Railways) (phone/fax +99871 2997025 or phone +99871 2997166).

December 2011 issue | Appears on page 39

Masters in Barcelona

Two painters from the Romantic Period — an exhibit of 100-plus works of Eugène Delacroix (1798-1863), the largest retrospective of his art in nearly 50 years, will be held Feb. 15-May 20, 2012, and nearly 100 works of Francisco Goya (1746-1828) will be shown March 16-June 24 at CaixaForum Barcelona (Av. de Francesc Ferrar I Guàrdia 6-8, 08038 Barcelona, Spain; phone +34 93 476 86 00). Open 10-8 Mon.-Sun., 10-10 Sat. Free.

December 2011 issue | Appears on page 39

‘Hats Off!’ in Québec

The show “Hats Off!,” featuring 130 charming chapeaux from the 19th century to the present, is on until Aug. 12, 2012, at Quebec’s Musée de la Civilization (85, rue Dalhousie, Québec City, Québec, Canada; 866/710-8031). Adult $13, senior $12. From Sept. 25 to June 23 closed Mondays.