January 2014

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In the restored hippodrome of Jerash, Jordan, reenactments of Roman battles, gladiator contests (not to the death) and chariot races are staged twice a day at the Hippodrome, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday-Thursday. JOD12 (near $17) adult and JOD2 child.

Roman Army & Chariot Experience, or RACE (Jerash Heritage Co., Ltd., P.O. Box 1074, Jerash 26111, Jordan; phone +962 2 634 2471, fax +962 2 634 2481).

In southeastern France, the organic Provençal farm Les Pastras (Les Pastras, 84160 Cadenet, Provence; phone 06 26 05 30 49) offers truffle-hunting tours.

Professionals teach guests how to identify the mushrooms. The hunt is followed by a sampling of truffle hors d’oeuvres and champagne.

The new company Get My Boat (San Francisco, CA; 415/365-6383) lists a selection of boats around the world to rent, either from companies or individuals. 10,500 boats in over 1,000 cities in 70 countries are listed. Some come with a skipper.

Prices vary from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars per day, depending on the size of the boat, and some rentals require a deposit. Example — a 38-foot sailboat that sleeps seven is available for rent in Marseille, France, for $294 per day or $2,064 per week.

Spinlister is a bike-sharing network in more than 40 countries, including the US and Canada. 

Either using the website or a free app (download from iTunes), the user inputs the location where he wants to rent a bike. Spinlister directs him to a page with a photo and price plus details (such as suggested height of rider) for each bike listed. A click on the bike owner’s name brings up his contact information. Payment, either by credit card or PayPal, is managed through Spinlister.

Cab4one (phone 01279 815 807) is an eco­friendly taxi service that takes passengers from/to all of London’s major airports and other places in the area. Each chauffeured cab, a Smart ForTwo Passion Cdi, transports a single passenger up to 6'4" in height plus a large suitcase. The vehicles have A/C and offer free WiFi.

Quito Tourism has launched a new app for Apple and Android called “Quito Ecuador Travel Guide.” 

The app, which works offline, has listings of tourism attractions in each area, including restaurants, hotels and bars. Nearby attractions have listings with directions, phone numbers and entry fees. Download the app from the App Store or Google Play.

Brussels Greeters (Rue Louis Haps 16 - 1040 Brussels, Belgium), a member of the Global Greeter Network, connects local residents with visitors for a casual exploration of the city. The program is currently offered in Mons and Namur as well. 

The company Clever Travel Companion offers clothing with hidden pockets to discourage pickpockets. Items include men’s and women’s underwear ($19.90), tanktops ($29.90), longjohns ($23.90) and T-shirts ($29.90). Items are sold online only.