Travel Briefs
Alitalia bankrupt
At press time, Alitalia continued to teeter on the edge of total collapse. The national airline of Italy is in bankruptcy and has been unable to find buyers to keep the airline flying much longer.
‘She’an Nights,’ Jordan
Beit She’an National Park, located in the Jordan Valley, has a multimedia “She’an Nights” tour. Visitors hear stories, song and music and see presentations projected onto dozens of screens as they stroll through the streets of the excavated Roman-Byzantine-era city of Scythopolis.
Hapag-Lloyd bilingual cruises
Hapag-Lloyd is offering bilingual cruises in 2009 on which travel documents, daily programs, entertainment, shore excursions, announcements, safety drills and menus will be in English as well as German. The crew also will speak English.
Bond movie locations
The book “On the Tracks of 007” by Martijn Mulder includes 30 stories of the author’s travel to locations that have been featured in James Bond films. It contains a list of every filming location used from the 1962 “Dr.
Cave paintings in Spain
A replica of the cave of Ekain, notable for its many prehistoric paintings, has been opened north of Bilbao, Spain. 500 meters from the real cave, the replica showcases Ekain’s art in the same order and placement as in the original.
Vienna Christmas markets
These are the locations of some of the Christmas markets operating in Vienna, Austria, in 2008. • Vienna City Hall, Nov. 15-Dec. 24 — in the park facing City Hall. Held annually for 700 years.
Eurail pass extras
Purchase it before the end of November 2008, and the 15-day Eurail Global Pass (good in 21 countries) will extend to 21 days and the 21-day pass will be good for a month, while the Eurail Select Pass (three countries) will be valid for six or eight days’ train travel within two months (two extra
Drive Ferrari with Crystal
You can drive or ride in a Ferrari on an overnight shore excursion in Italy with Crystal Cruises (888/722-0021, www.crystalcruises.com or see a travel agent).
TourCrafters’ Paris
TourCrafters (Libertyville, IL; 800/482-5995, www.tourcrafters.com) has a 5-day/4-night “Paris City Break” package from $575 per person, double, out of New York.
Unique overnights, Wales
Visitors to Wales can stay in any of 18 renovated cottages, farmhouses and unique historic buildings year-round through Under the Thatch, an organization dedicated to rescuing historic buildings.
Onboard organizer
The Zen Class Nirvana Organizer unzips flat to mount onto a seat-back tray table on any plane or train. It has multiple mesh and zippered storage compartments, a cup holder, pen holders and a key chain clip to keep on-board essentials at arm’s reach.
Family Fiji cruise
Until March 31, 2009, Blue Lagoon Cruises (2222 Foothill Blvd., Ste. E–175, La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011; 877/252 3454, www.bluelagooncruises.com) is offering family rates on Fiji cruises.
Friluftsliv in Norway
Innovation Norway, a Norwegian government office in the embassy in Washington, D.C., has come up with packages to help travelers experience friluftsliv, which translates as “open air life.”
North American border ID
Beginning in June 2009, any traveler entering the U.S. by land or sea from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean or Bermuda will be required to show a document proving both citizenship and identity. A U.S.
North Queensland hiking
In the Misty Mountains south of Cairns, over 80 miles of walking tracks take walkers through a high-altitude rainforest and past waterfalls. Walks range from easy (7.4 kilometers round trip) to bushwalker difficult (23.4 km one way).
Norway’s culture
Norway’s heritage will be the focus of a year-long program entitled “Year of Cultural Heritage in 2009.” It will include exhibitions, cultural tours, monument collections and school projects.
Le Boat rentals
Crown Blue Line, Connoisseur and Emerald Star, after years of working as sister companies, have come together as Le Boat (980 Awald Rd., Ste. 101, Annapolis, MD 21403; 800/734-5491, www.leboat.com).
Tour Norman castle
One of the largest Norman castles still surviving now serves as a dormitory for students attending University College (Durham Castle, Palace Green, Durham, DH1 3RW, U.K.; phone 0191 334 3800, fax 0191 334 3801, www.dur.ac.uk/university.college).
Bridgwater fireworks
Every year on the Friday after Guy Fawkes Day, the city of Bridgwater, Somerset, England, hosts a nighttime carnival with brightly lit floats and a “squibbing display” down the main street. Squibs are fireworks that are mounted on poles and held aloft by volunteers lining the road.
Kyoto townhouses
Visitors to Kyoto now can stay in any of eight restored machiya, the traditional townhouses built for citizens to live in.