March 2011

Boldly go

The Aerospace Research & Engineering Systems Institute, or A.R.E.S. (Melbourne, FL; 321/961-5824), a private nonprofit corporation promoting aerospace education and development, has a berth open for a Research Assistant who will help conduct scientific research on a suborbital spaceflight.
Anyone 18 and over (no upper limit) can sign up for the position for free at www.aresinstitute.org/spacetrip. There are no educational or physical requirements, except to be in good-enough health to withstand the rigors of a spaceflight.

Space show, Sweden

Stockholm’s Tekniska Museet, or National Museum of Science & Technology (Museivägen 7, Stockholm; phone +46 8 450 56 00), hosts the world premiere of the international space exhibition “NASA — A Human Adventure” through Nov. 6, 2011.

It includes over 400 original items or replicas related to the exploration of space, including space capsules, engines, space suits, telescopes and satellites.
Ticket allows entry to all museum exhibitions. SEK160 ($25) adult or SEK95 child (7-18). Open 10-6 daily (10-8 Wednesdays).

What’s new in France and Spain for 2011

Despite the economic downturn, France and Spain spent millions of euros last year to upgrade their public spaces and technology for visitors.

A quick primer on photos

In next month’s issue we’ll have the results of “Where Were You in 2010?” and I’ll announce the winners from among all the entries. Seeing where other travelers have been may give you some ideas for your next venture.

I had a letter from a reader who said he had been to every country on our nations list. Sadly, I misplaced the letter. Would you write again, please?

Crane dance, Singapore

Every night at 9 on Sentosa island in the Singapore Strait, two 10-story-tall, 80-ton animatronic cranes, whose wings are jets of water and who are bedecked with colorful lighting and visual effects, perform a 10-minute courtship dance on the waterfront at Resort World Sentosa (8 Sentosa Gateway, Sentosa Island, Singapore 098269; phone [+65] 6577 8888). The show is free and can be seen from off-site locations and the resort’s shopping and dining strip.

Outback quad biking

Ride a four-wheel motorbike on bush tracks and dry riverbeds of the Outback at Undoolya Station, the Northern Territory’s oldest cattle ranch, 17 kilometers east of Alice Springs.

Hover to Isle of Wight

From England’s south coast, the quickest way to the Isle of Wight is with Hovertravel (Portsmouth, UK; phone 023 9281 1000).

UK-Europe ferries

A website providing information on how to make your next trip more environmentally friendly — by keeping carbon emissions from motorized transport to a minimum — greentraveller.co.uk lists over 80 ferry journeys passengers can take between the UK, Ireland and Continental Europe.

Live interpreter app

Language Services Associates has an iPhone/Android app, INTERPRETALK® Mobile, which allows users to connect to a live interpreter, for any of 15 languages, in less than 30 seconds.

Using your smartphone anywhere you have cell phone and Internet service, download the free app from the iPhone App Store or Android Market, enter your contact and credit card billing information, request an interpreter from the language list and click on the “connect” button. While the interpreter is on the line, you are charged $2.89 per minute.

Masks

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