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In 2015, Leipzig, Germany’s, Christmas markets are open 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Nov. 23-Dec. 22, and 10-8, Dec. 23. To download a brochure with maps and an events schedule, go to www.leipzig.travel/en/Discover_Leipzig/Shopping/Christmas_Magic_Leipzig_2029.html and click on “Leaflet ‘Leipzig — Christmas Market & Year-end Celebrations 2015’.”
Jeff Carrier of Naples, Florida, had the following request for subscribers (Jan. ’15, pg. 68): “I would like input from readers who have traveled recently to any of the nearly 40 countries that are pretty much always on the US State Department’s ‘Travel Warnings’ list, which appears monthly in ITN. How did they do it and what were their experiences?” A number of responses were printed in last month’s issue. The remainder appear below.
The mystery photo in the July issue showed the Göltzschtalbrücke (Göltzsch Viaduct), a railway bridge that spans the Göltzsch River valley between the towns of Mylau and Netzschkau, connecting the German states of Saxony and Bavaria.
This interactive crossword puzzle is no longer available online.
During the “Winter Nights” event at the Rigas Zoodarzs, or Riga Zoo (Meža prospekts 1, LV-1014, Riga, Latvia; phone +371 67518409, http://rigazoo.lv/public/index_en.html), visitors are free to wander around and observe many of the zoo’s more than 3,000 animals after normal operating hours, up until 9 p.m.
In the Gévaudan region of southern France, Musée de la Bête du Gévaudan, or Museum of the Beast of the Gévaudan (Rue de la Tour de Anglais, 43170 Saugues, France; phone +33 4 71 77 64 22, www.musee-bete-gevaudan.com [in French only]), which opened in 1999, focuses on the 18th-century wild animal attacks that left up to 124 people dead.
The Mobile Passport Control App allows US travelers to submit passport and Customs declarations information on their smartphones or tablets before encountering the Customs desk.
On the app (free on iOS and Android), a traveler creates a personal profile with his passport information and submits a Customs declaration in the “New Trip” section. A Customs receipt with a bar code will be downloaded onto the user’s phone or tablet to be presented at Customs along with a passport.
As ITN went to press, the State Department had travel warnings on 37 destinations: Afghanistan, Algeria, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, El Salvador, Eritrea, Haiti, Honduras, Iran, Iraq, Israel/West Bank/Gaza, Kenya, North Korea, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Republic of South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela and Yemen.
On July 13, Greek and Eurozone negotiators came to terms regarding a new bailout for Greece to help prevent its economy from collapsing further and a Greek exit from the Eurozone.
The plan includes a loan of up to €86 billion (near $95 billion), which includes €10 billion to be immediately used to refinance Greek banks.
Six new cases of ebola were discovered in Liberia in June, more than a month after it had been declared ebola-free. More than 100 people were under observation after a 17-year-old boy in Margibi County died of ebola and his neighbor tested positive for the disease. A second infected individual died on July 15. Officials had not ruled out an infected animal as the source of the disease in this case.
On July 20, the four survivors were released from the hospital and declared ebola-free.