Travel Briefs
Visit active volcano
Out of Guatemala City, there’s a popular half-day trip 30 kilometers south to Volcan Pacaya, an active volcano with trails open to the public. After a two-hour steep hike, visitors can get very close to lava flows and roast marshmallows over hot rocks.
Transport Museum
The Transport Museum Dresden (Augustusburg 1, 01067 Dresden, Germany; phone +0351 86440, fax 8644-110, www.verkehrsmuseum-dresden.de [in German]) exhibits locomotives from 1924 to 1993 (such as the Saxon Muldenthal, built in 1861), cars, trams, motorbikes (the first gasoline-powered motorcycle, built
Abraham’s Gate reopens
In northern Israel, the 4,000-year-old Abraham’s Gate at the Tel Dan Nature Reserve reopened to the public in March after extensive work by the Nature & National Parks Protection Authority.
Elderhostel’s Exploritas
Elderhostel (Boston, MA; 800/454-5768) has renamed its programs “Exploritas,” though the organization, itself, will retain its original name.
Beatles museum
The museum The Beatles Story (Britannia Vaults, Albert Dock, Liverpool, England; phone +44 0 151 709 1963, www.beatlesstory.com) celebrates Liverpool’s most famous musicians.
Currywurst museum
From exhibitions on ingredients and spices to items such as a sausage-shaped sofa, the Deutsches Currywurst Museum (Schützenstraße 70 10117 Berlin; phone +49 30 88718647, www.currywurstmuseum.de/en) has a number of playful exhibitions about the popular German sausage currywurst.
Globetrotter SOS
For travelers using mobile smartphones (which can access the Internet), Globetrotter SOS, Ltd.
Wine bus from Santiago
A full-day tour of the wine country around Santiago by Vinobus includes the Maipo Valley; tour/tasting at Pérez Cruz Vineyard; Vineyard Santa Rita; the Andino museum, and Vina Santa Rita wine cellars. Lunch at Dona Paula restaurant is not included in the price.
Catacombs closed
The Paris catacombs are closed indefinitely because of damage caused by vandals in September. Visited by over 200,000 people each year, the catacombs are part of a large network of underground tunnels which are stacked with human bones. Photos of the damage showed skulls and bones scattered along the walkways.
‘Super Granny’
Sally Wendkos Olds, a grandmother of five, talked to others about what they love to do with their grandkids, then printed their narratives — with ideas, how-to directions and helpful websites — in the book “Super Granny — Great Stuff to Do with Your Grandkids” (2009, Sterling Publishin
Transportation museum
The Technik Museum Sinsheim (Museumsplatz, D-74889, Sinsheim, Germany; phone +49 [0] 7261 9299 0, fax 1391 6, www.museum-sinsheim.de) in Sinsheim exhibits over 300 classic cars, 200 motorcycles, 60 aircraft, 20 locomotives and 40 racing cars, not to mention the first Air France Concorde and a large F
Steves iPhone apps
Rick Steves (425/771-8303, www.ricksteves.com) has four iPhone and iPod Touch apps for travelers: Historic Paris Walk & Tour, Louvre Tour, Orsay Museum Tour and St. Peter’s Basilica Tour.
BoomerangIt
BoomerangIt (800/226-6648, www.boomerangit.com) offers a global “lost-and-found return service” in which PDAs, cell phones, laptops, luggage and even keys that are tagged may be returned to the rightful owners.
Liverpool pop tour on MP3
An MP3 audio tour of music-related sites in Liverpool, England, can be downloaded for free at www.liverpool08.com/downloads.
James Joyce in Dublin
The Four Seasons Dublin (Simmonscourt Road, Dublin 4, Ireland; phone 353 [1] 665 4000, www.fourseasons.com/Dublin, or, in US/Canada, call 800/819-5053) is offering a James Joyce theme package that features a dinner inspired by the short story “The
United’s Premier Travel
Travelers on United Airlines now can add a package of amenities formerly available only to elite-level (loyalty) flyers. Premier Travel, which starts at $47 one way, can be booked online at www.united.com or purchased from an airport EasyCheck-in kiosk.
Campania artecard
Scabec (Centro Direzionale Isola E7, 80143 Napoli, Italy; phone +39 800 600 601, www.campaniaartecard.it) offers the “Campania artecard,” which allows entry to museums and attractions on one of four itineraries through the Bay of Naples. The cards are available in 3- and 7-day denominations.
Clear-bottom kayaks
Visitors to Montserrat can rent 2-person inflatable kayaks with clear panels in the bottom for observing life around deep-water reefs. The collapsible, Hanauma-brand kayaks store in a mesh bag for transport by car.
Gatwick transit closure
The 22-year-old monorail system running between London Gatwick Airport’s North and South terminals closed Sept. 28. The replacement system, part of a £1 billion airport overhaul, will reopen with limited service in May 2010 and full service by August 2010.
Kabuki-za, Ginza
The Kabuki-za Theatre (Ginza, Tokyo, Japan; phone, for info, 81 3 3541 3131 or, for tickets, 81 3 5565 6000, www.shochiku.co.jp/play/kabukiza/theater), a landmark in Tokyo’s Ginza district, will be demolished and rebuilt, due to the structure’s age.