Travel Briefs

The Department of State alerts travelers to the hurricane season in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. In general, hurricane season in the Atlantic begins June 1 and ends Nov. 30. The Eastern Pacific hurricane season begins May 15 and ends Nov. 30.

If a situation requires evacuation from an overseas location, the Department of State will not provide no-cost transportation but does have the authority to provide repatriation loans to those in...

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A downloadable brochure lists 15 sites associated with Ireland’s patron saint along a 92-mile driving route in Northern Ireland. Among sites are Armagh, where Patrick founded his main church, Struell Well, blessed by Patrick, and Down Cathedral, his gravesite.

Including a map, descriptions of each stop and 14 two-for-one entry vouchers, it’s available free from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board website.

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Goa is a popular beach resort area in India known for its relaxed atmosphere, but some tourists have been sightseeing at nearby churches and temples inappropriately dressed (some women even in bikinis). Priests, monks and some worshipers have protested the lack of respect for the sanctity of the religious sites.

The Basilica of Bom Jesus contains the remains of St. Francis Xavier (one of the founders of the Jesuits) and is a well-known pilgrimage location. As of September 2011, it is...

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In December ’10, the European Court of Justice upheld a 2005 law banning foreigners from entering “coffee shops” that sell cannabis (legally) in Maastricht, Netherlands.

In May, the Dutch government announced it planned to turn all 700 such shops in the country into private, members-only clubs, with membership limited to Dutch citizens. Patrons will be expected to show a membership card before purchasing marijuana or other drugs.

The new law will go into...

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Named for the famous steam train “Flying Scotsman,” a new express train service was launched between London’s Kings Cross Station and Edinburgh, Scotland, by East Coast Main Line in May.

The service, with departures throughout the day starting at 5:40 a.m. (both directions), takes only four hours to make the 393-mile trip, with only one stop, in Newcastle. This is 50 minutes faster than the next-fastest train service.

First-class passengers receive food and...

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As part of the 2011 International Roots Festival in The Gambia, James Island, the site of a fort once used by British slave traders, was renamed Kunte Kinteh Island after the main character in Alex Haley’s novel “Roots.” Haley traced his ancestry back to The Gambia.

The annual festival takes place on the island (two miles off the coast) and in venues in and around the capital of Banjul. The 2012 festival, which will feature music, educational seminars, parades, an...

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Passengers on connecting flights through Tocumen International Airport near Panama City have an offer from Copa Airlines (800/359-2672) in conjunction with the Panama Tourism Authority.

When booking through Panama to one of Copa’s 52 destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean, mention the “Panama Stop-Over” and you can break your trip for up to a week in Panama at no additional charge for airfare. When booking, request info on lodging deals and local activities...

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The 25th European Fine Art Fair will take place March 16-25, 2012, at the Maastricht Exhibition & Congress Center (Forum 100, 6299 GV, Maastricht, Netherlands; phone 043 3838383).

Paintings, antiques, manuscripts and examples of applied arts will be on sale by 260 art and antique dealers from around the world. Open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. March 16-24 and 11-6 Sunday, March 25. Admission, €55 ($80), includes a catalog. Child 12-18, €20.

European Fine Art Foundation (...

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