Travel Briefs
Jamaica’s lift and bobsled
In the rainforest of Ocho Rios, Jamaica, five minutes from Dunn’s River Falls, Mystic Mountain Park has a gravity-driven bobsled that slides down 3,200 feet on stainless-steel rails from a 700-foot peak.
Snail racing, England
The World Snail Racing Championships have been held for more than 25 years in Congham, England, 50 miles north of Cambridge. About 300 snails compete for the title “fastest in the world.” In 2010, the contest will be held July 17 at 2 p.m.
Rare maps, London
“Magnificent Maps: Power, Propaganda & Art,” an exhibit of 100-plus maps and atlases from the British Library’s cartographic collection, runs April 30-Sept. 19, 2010. Included are 80 wall maps from AD 200 to the present, most never on view before.
St. Anthony’s in Egypt
In the Red Sea Mountains of Egypt’s Eastern Desert, the Monastery of St. Anthony, at more than 1,650 years old, is reputed to be the world’s first Christian monastery.
Radiotaxi in Italy
In Rome, a cooperative of cab owners has set up a book-ahead system for travelers to assure them of reliable drivers and fixed rates.
Burj Dubai’s deck closed
A month after opening to the public, the world’s tallest building suffered an elevator breakdown on Feb. 6 that trapped 15 guests just short of the 124th floor for 45 minutes. The observation deck of the Burj Dubai, in Dubai city, was closed pending a full investigation of the elevator system.
Camões Garden, Macau
The 18th-century Camões Garden is a public park on the northwestern waterfront in Macau. The Portuguese owner of the garden built a grotto around a bust of the Portuguese national poet, Luís de Camões.
Taroko park accident
A Chinese tourist was killed by a falling rock in Taiwan’s Taroko National Park on Jan. 29 while hiking a popular trail, Chiucyudong, or Tunnel of Nine Turns. The eastern end of the cliff path has been closed indefinitely. The tunnel’s western end is still open.
Little Edo, near Tokyo
In Japan, Kawagoe, or Little Edo, is an old castle town with a river running through it. Full of pre-WWII architecture, the streets still show traditional merchants’ warehouses and temples.
Pottery, Shigaraki
Shigaraki, 27 miles southeast of Kyoto, is one of six medieval pottery centers in Japan. The Shigaraki Art Festival, Oct. 1-Nov. 23, 2010, will display ceramic designs by avant-garde artists plus centuries-old pottery.
Copenhagen podwalks
Copenhagen X, a project of the Danish Architecture Center (Strandgade 27B, DK 1401 Copenhagen K, Denmark; phone +45 3257 1930, fax +45 3254 5010), offers free downloadable MP3 audio tours and printable maps of the city at www.cphx.dk.
Laos’ ‘Hidden City’ caves
The people in the region of Viengxay in northeastern Laos survived the US bombing campaigns of 1964-1973 by living in a network of large caves, each of which functioned as a hospital, bakery, school, shop, theater, government offices, etc.
Rick Steves + Smithsonian
Travel expert Rick Steves and Smithsonian media are collaborating on a special edition of Smithsonian magazine that will hit the newsstands May 4.
Dubai has tallest building
Burj Khalifa, at 828 meters (2,717 feet) the world’s tallest building, opened in downtown Dubai on Jan. 4. On Level 124 it has the world’s highest outdoor observation deck, At The Top, with panoramic views of the city, desert and ocean.
The Venezuelan bolivar
The Venezuelan government devalued its currency on Jan. 8, setting the bolívar at 4.3 to the dollar for nonessential items and 2.6 to the dollar for food, medical supplies and other essential products. Venezuelans swarmed stores to buy imported goods before prices essentially doubled.
Michelin on Japan
The English version of the Michelin “Green Guide” on Japan (2009, $24.99) includes an introduction, a section on planning a trip and listings of nearly 100 tourism spots, using the 3-star rating system on all.
Masada opera weekend
In honor of its 25th anniversary, the Israeli Opera Company will present two sunrise performances of Verdi’s “Nabucco” on a stage at the foot of Masada, June 3-5, 2010, and a special concert with diva Jessye Norman atop Masada, June 4.
Staffordshire Hoard
Discovered in a field in southern Staffordshire, England, in July 2009, the Staffordshire Hoard is the largest collection of Anglo-Saxon gold ever found. It comprises more than 1,500 individual items, most gold and some decorated with precious stones.
St. Paul’s Cathedral
The London landmark St. Paul’s Cathedral (phone 020 7246 8357) turns 300 years old this year. Construction of the Anglican cathedral, designed by architect Sir Christopher Wren, began in 1675 and took 35 years.
Air France and obese passengers
Air France encourages obese passengers to prebook a second seat at a 25% discount, and as of Feb. 1 the airline will refund the price of the extra seat if the flight is not full.