Festivals

We took a trip to Machu Picchu, Peru, arranged through Analie Tours. The trip was delightful, but we felt Analie Tours was frightful.

During La Route du Champagne en Fête (website in French only), a festival in several towns in the Aube department of France, Aug. 6-7, 2011, a number of cellars open so visitors may taste champagne. Events and exhibitions are also held.

In Kent, England, in 2011, the annual Whitstable Oyster Festival takes place July 23-29. Expect concerts, heritage walks, food demonstrations, a mud tug, crab catching and an oyster-eating contest. Contact the Whitstable Oyster Festival Association (73 St. Johns Rd., Whitstable, Kent. CT5 2R, U.K.).

12 days/9 nights, Jan. 29-Feb. 9, 2013. Highlights: In Santiago, CHILE, Cousiño Palace, winery visit and tasting / fly to Easter Island, stay in Hanga Roa / Rano Raraku quarry, source of stone for the moai carvings / petroglyphs at Orongo / Ana Kai Tangata (Cave of the Cannibals) / watch traditional dancers while enjoying an umu (earth oven dinner). With air from Santiago to Easter Island, $7,995. Single supp., $795. Far Horizons (San Anselmo, CA; 800/552-4575).

16 days/15 nights, Oct. 6-21, 2012. Highlights: Fly from Bangkok to Paro, Bhutan / National Museum / Paro archery grounds / Tiger’s Nest / Thimphu / Wangdi Dzong / photograph alpine countryside en route to Trongsa / Kunga Rabten summer palace / in Bumthang, Yathra weaving center / Ugyen Choling Palace, museum / festival dances in Jakar / Trashigang / Brokpa Cultural Program / Land, $7,495. Single supp., $910 (no single accommodations in Ugyen Choling). Rainbow Photo Tours (Tampa, FL; 800/685-9992).

One day into a week-long Mexican Riviera cruise, an engine room fire on Nov. 8 left Carnival Cruise Lines’ Splendor dead in the water. 3,299 passengers and 1,167 crew were left without electricity and, hence, no air-conditioning, hot water or hot food. Toilets backed up. While food was airlifted in, tugboats towed the ship 200 miles to San Diego within three days.

Passengers were offered a full refund and a free future cruise. Anyone booked on any of the nine additional Splendor cruises that were canceled will be refunded and get a 25% discount on a cruise.

In Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Nov. 22, the last day of an annual three-day water festival marking the end of the rainy season, 5,000 to 7,000 people packed onto a narrow suspension bridge connecting the city to a park on an island. The bridge’s swaying caused people to wrongly think it might collapse, the panicked crowd then stampeded and the crush left 351 dead and 395 injured.

My wife, Jane, and I took a two-week private tour of the Philippines in May ’11 with Marsman Drysdale Travel (19F Robinsons Summit Center, 6783 Ayala Ave., Makati City 1227, Philippines; phone +632 8870000, ext. 302, 303 or 305, fax +632 8880228, e-mail reservations@marsmandrysdale.com). The tour price was $2,045 per person, including one internal flight, daily lunch and one dinner.

I have taken many tours with a guide and driver, but this was one of the best-organized, most enjoyable tours I have ever taken.

During Berlin’s seventh annual Festival of Lights, Oct. 12-23, 2011, landmarks and monuments will be illuminated and international artists and lighting designers will present light installations, art and designs. Cultural events are scheduled.

This year marks the 125th anniversary of the Kurfürstendamm and, during the festival, buildings on the famous boulevard will be artistically illuminated.