February 2009

The political instability and economic crisis in Zimbabwe have resulted in small-scale civil demonstrations and riots by military personnel and a general deterioration of government services and infrastructure, including the near collapse of the public health system. 

Authorities may forcefully disband demonstrations.

The State Department urges travelers to Zimbabwe to keep travel documents up to date, avoid all public demonstrations and have contingency plans ready for their own health and security.

The Department of State warns against travel to the Northern Province and most of the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. Since early January 2008, fighting between the Sri Lankan military, paramilitary groups and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam has increased, and bombs in densely populated areas have killed dozens of civilians.

A state of emergency was declared in the Marshall Islands, in the Western Pacific, after they were swamped by huge waves three times in two weeks in December. Hundreds of islanders’ homes were destroyed or flooded and plantations were ruined. The capital, Majuro, rises only a meter above sea level.

In Athens, Greece, a teenage boy was shot by a policeman on Dec. 6. Demonstrators threw rocks and petrol bombs at the police, who responded with tear gas, and riots spread that lasted for weeks, involving thousands of people in more than 10 cities.

Hundreds of businesses were damaged, burned or looted and many injuries were reported as youths fought running battles with police.

The tenuous cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in Palestine ended in December, with Hamas firing rockets into Israel and Israel responding late in the month with an intense aerial assault, resulting in hundreds of casualties in the Hamas-controlled area of Palestine. Israel focused on Hamas targets and known smuggling tunnels and blocked food and fuel aid from entering the area. 

On Jan. 3, at press time, Israel invaded Gaza with infantry, tanks and helicopter gunships.

17 days/15 nights, Sept. 4 & 21, 2009. Highlights: In Rio, Jardim Botanico with 700 orchid species/in Santa Teresa, hummingbirds at Leitão Museum/the Muriqui Project, conserving the northern muriqui (primate)/marmosets, capuchin monkeys, sloths in Augusto Ruschi Biological Reserve/giant anteaters, pampas deer, maned wolves in Serra da Canastra National Park/Caraça Natural Park for titi monkeys, many bird species/colonial city of Ouro Preto/the Pantanal, home to 1,000+ animal species/boat Pixaim River for giant otters/fly to Iguaçu Falls/depart via Rio. Land price, $10,980.

10- to 13-day guided tours and custom itineraries in AUSTRALIA. Options include the Kimberley; WWII bombing sites in Darwin; northern Queens­land; Kangaroo Island; a working cattle station stay, and Aboriginal art exploration. $3,165-$6,681 per person, double, including in-country transportation, accommodations, most meals, guide and driver.

Essential DownUnder Travel (Weaverville, NC; 877/977-4505, www.essentialdownunder.com).

13-day/12-night tour of TURKEY and SYRIA, May 15-27, 2009. Highlights: In Istanbul, TURKEY, cruise Bosphorus Strait and tour Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque/fairy chimneys and cave dwellings in Cappadocia/Göreme Open Air Museum/in Aleppo, SYRIA, medieval souk, fifth-century St. Simeon’s Basilica/Krak des Chevaliers Crusaders castle/Roman ruins in Palmyra/Umayyad Mosque, Old City, Azem Palace in Damascus. Land only, $3,750. Single supplement, $775.

Venture Out (San Francisco, CA; 888/431-6789, www.venture-out.com).

14 day/13-night culinary tour of ITALY, Sept. 23-Oct. 6, 2009. Highlights: In Emilia Romagna region, explore Etruscan history in Bologna/pasta cooking lesson/day trip to independent REPUBLIC OF SAN MARINO/visit a caseficio, where Parmesan cheese is made/learn about, cook with and taste the wine and food of the Veneto region/attend workshop on Barolo wine in Piedmonte region/Chapel of the Holy Shroud, Church of San Lorenzo in Toreno. Land price, $5,575. Single supplement, $650.

8-day/7-night cruise-tour, May 24-31, 2009. Highlights: Board M/V Helvetia II in Basel, SWITZERLAND/ Cruise up the Rhine and visit Baden-Baden, Speyer, Andernach, Mannheim, Neustadt and Freiburg, enjoying seven classical music performances of orchestral and chamber works. From £2,660 (near $3,853). Single supplement, from £540 ($782).

Martin Randall Travel (Voysey House, Barley Mow Passage, London, W4 4GF, U.K.; phone 020 8742 3355, www.martinrandall.com).