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. The website www.kulturminneaaret2009.no/english will present a cultural monument of the week and an article of the month.
15 days/13 nights, Oct. 17-25, 2008 & March 5-14, 2009.
US Customs & Border Protection has added more airports to the Global Entry program for travelers coming back into the US. Airports with kiosks that offer registered members a speedier alternative to the passport control lines include Miami Int’l, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, George Bush (Houston), Washington Dulles, JFK-New York, Chicago O’Hare and Los Angeles.
Nine days/eight nights, Nov. 1-9, 2010. Highlights: National Museum in Tripoli/Canaanite site of Sabratha/mosaics in Qasr Libya/Roman sites of Leptis Magna and Apollonia/Saharan oasis of Ghasame. Land, $3,160. Single supp., $460.
Bestway Tours & Safaris (Burnaby, BC, Canada; 800/663-0844).
16-day/15-night tour of BHUTAN, Oct. 3-18, 2010. Highlights: Paro Dzong/Tiger’s Nest Monastery/Thimphu/spin prayer wheels at Paradise Temple/Trongsa Dzong/participate in archery match in Ugyen Choling/visit young monks in training in Shingkar Lhakhang/Trashiyangtse/Brokpa tribal cultural program. Land plus internal air, $6,995. Single supp., $1,125.
Rainbow Photo Tours (Tampa, FL; 800/685-9992).
I love France. It is one of Europe’s most diverse, tasty and exciting countries. It brims with the good life and a special appreciation for culture, music, art, food and wine.
But Americans can feel pretty dowdy when confronted with the casual sophistication of the French, who are matchless when it comes to just about anything suave and urbane. In my early days of touring France, I used to worry about being a cultural bumpkin, but now I embrace it. After all, I travel to learn.
8 days, 7 nights. Departures Dec. 18 through Dec. 25, 2014. Highlights: In Krakow, regional food, hot mulled wine, handcrafts in UNESCO-listed medieval Market Square/make pierogi with private chef, ride a sleigh, tour glass factory. In Warsaw, see pottery, crèches, gingerbread ornaments/sample traditional dishes in Polish family’s home/midnight Christmas carols. Land, $3,395. Single supp., $495.
MIR Corporation (Seattle, WA; 800/424-7289, www.mircorp.com).
Steven Emmet, Solana Beach, CA
My wife, Yuki, and I hadn’t been in Bhutan for 18 years, so in October 2013 we decided to revisit it and spend some time with friends we had made during that previous visit. After a quick email to our friend Rinzin, he said he’d take care of the arrangements.
by Marvin Herman; Delavan, WI
(Second of two parts, go to part one)
Last month, I described etiquette in various European countries. This month, I cover etiquette in a few more countries.
Italians are guided by first impressions, so it is essential to demonstrate good manners when greeting people.
Do not wrap gifts in black, as it is traditionally a mourning color. Also, don’t wrap them in purple, as that is a symbol of bad luck.
If invited to an Italian’s house…