Travel Briefs

Running until Sept. 19, 2004, in London’s riverside Greenwich, the exhibition “A Garden of Fans” displays floral motifs on fans from Europe and Asia from the 17th century onward. The Fan Museum, at 12 Crooms Hill, is open Tuesday to Saturday. £3.50 adults, £2.50 seniors. Phone 020 8305 1441 or visit www.fan-museum.org.

The Mauritshuis Royal Picture Gallery in The Hague will present the first survey exhibition ever of the work of Carel Fabritius, Rembrandt’s most gifted pupil, Sept. 25, 2004-Jan. 9, 2005. The life of this young and ingenious painter ended tragically in 1654 with the enormous explosion of the municipal arsenal at Delft. About 15 paintings will be brought together for the first time.

Hours are 10-5 Tuesday-Saturday and 11-5 Sunday. Contact Mauritshuis Royal Picture Gallery, Korte...

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In 2005, Britain’s Royal Navy will mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, which saw the death of the naval hero Admiral Lord Nelson in his hour of victory.

The program will open on June 28 with a Fleet Review at Spithead in the Solent (Portsmouth) as the start to six days of events by the sea. Naval and merchant vessels from 30 nations will attend, with a son et lumière on a Napoleonic sea battle theme.

A Drumhead Ceremony on June 29 will honor maritime...

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Some of the best seats at London’s Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, will cost just £10 (near $18.40) for the 2004-2005 season, thanks to a sponsorship deal with Travelex. One hundred top-price stalls and stalls circle tickets will be made available every Monday, 1½ hours before a performance. In some cases, this will mean a saving of up to £165 on the price of a ticket.

For those not able to take advantage of this offer, at least half the tickets for every performance of the Royal...

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The glass building affectionately known as the “Gherkin,” at 30 St. Mary Axe, is among 500 of London’s contemporary or historic buildings open to the public Sept. 18-19, 2004. Called London Open House, the free event includes access to private homes, arts spaces, offices, banks, government buildings and the new Wembley Stadium. Phone 020 7267 7697, fax 020 7267 2822 or visit www.londonopenhouse.org.

More than 60 restaurants, hotels and cafés throughout the Channel Island of Guernsey will compete in a “gastronomic grand-prix,” Oct. 1-Nov. 12, 2004, to serve the best menu for £10 (near $18.40). The 6-week event will feature cuisine from Thai to Italian, including seafood as well as cassoulet, the local Guernsey bean jar. Visit www.tennerfest.com.

The hotel group Best Western has a website that features hotels around Britain with excellent golfing facilities. Tee times can be arranged online. Visit www.bestwestern.co.uk/hotelsforgolf or phone 0845 6340 559.

Silversea Cruises’ guests (or their travel agents) now can reserve shore excursions online, starting with this year’s Mediterranean and Alaska itineraries. The feature is available 60 days prior to sailing.

Guests can visit www.silversea.com and find their cruise. If a “Reserve Now” button appears above “Shore Excursions” on the right, then the online booking option is available.

Once a shore excursion is reserved, the cost of the tour is charged to the guest’s shipboard...

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