February 2013

In the streets of Hong Kong on New Year’s Day, more than 26,000 people marched against the region’ s current leader, Leung Chun-Ying, while about 8,000 pro-government protesters held rival demonstrations.

A scandal over illegal renova- tions in his buildings plus housing shortages, the slowing economy and discontent with the inability to have direct elections for city leaders have led to increasing pressure on the Beijing-supported Chun-Ying to resign. A few streets were blocked during the peaceful marches. 

The US Department of State con- tinues to warn of the risks of travel to Iran. Dual-national Iranian/American citizens may encounter difficulty in departing Iran. Iranian authori- ties also have unjustly detained or imprisoned US citizens on various charges, including espionage and posing a threat to national security. Persons who encourage Muslims to convert to other religions are subject to arrest.

Cyclone Evans roared through Samoa on Dec. 13 and hit Fiji on Dec. 17. Five people were killed in Samoa, with high winds and heavy rains extensively damaging more than 600 houses. Bridges on both islands were under water, but the worst damage was to agricultural and forest lands. Most infrastructure was left intact.

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At the slip in Northern Ireland where the Titanic was built, the Titanic Museum (47 Donegall Pl., Belfast, BT1 5AD, Northern Ireland; phone +44 28 9076 6399) offers visitors nine galleries full of interactive exhibits chronicling the building, maiden voyage and 1912 sinking of the ocean liner. Purchase tickets in advance. £13.50 (near $21) adult.

Open 9-7 Mon.-Sat. and 10-7 Sun., April-September, and 10-5 daily, October-March.

Sea City Museum (Havelock Rd., Southampton, Hampshire, SO14 7FY, U.K.; phone 023 8083 3007) has two permanent exhibitions. “Southampton’s Titanic Story” focuses on 500-plus families who lost family members in the tragedy and on the city’s role in the steamship industry. “Gateway to the World” tells of the various peoples who passed through the city, from Roman traders to Victorian industrialists. £8.50 (near $14) adult or £6 senior. Open 10-5 daily.

Fans of the TV series “Downton Abbey” can tour locations used in filming the show. A one-day tour (£95 [near $155] per person) includes morning coffee in the Berkshire town of Bampton and afternoon tea at Highclere Castle, with transport from a local hotel or the train station, and a guide and entrance fees.

A three-day tour (£747 [$1,214] each) includes two nights’ hotel, selected meals, transport, more location visits and a chance to dress in period costume.

Twelve miles south of Hadrian’s Wall in northern England is Epiacum, a ruined Roman fort on the grounds of Whitley Castle in Alston, Cumbria. Epiacum is protected by the English Heritage commission and no excavating is allowed. However, moles have been unearthing bits of pottery, jewelry, nails, etc.

Free, guided walks can be arranged for small groups by contacting the land owner, Elaine Edgar (phone 01434 381733 or e-mail elaine.edgar@btinternet.com).

An exhibit on the history of the Wittelsbach dynasty in Bavaria (1180-1918) is at the Museum der Bayerischen Könige, or Museum of the Bavarian Kings (Alpseestrasse 27, 87645 Hohenschwangau, Germany; phone +49 [0] 8362 92 64 64 0), near Neuschwantstein Castle, on the Alpsee.

Among items exhibited in the 2-story, 1,000-square-meter space are jewelry, portraits, porcelain, a 90-piece carved tableware set and a sumptuous cloak worn by Ludwig II.

An hour and a half northwest of Riga, Latvia, is the Cēsis Castle complex, comprising the Medieval Castle (built 1209) and the manor-house-like New Castle (built 1777), which has reopened with its 18th-century appearance restored.