Tamerlane, also known as Timur the Lame and Amir Timur (1336-1405), is probably the best-known ruler of ancient Central Asia. Pictures of his mausoleum — the Gur-e Amir, located in Samarkand, Uzbekistan — are among the photographs most often seen in the travel literature on Central Asia.
I always try to read something about the history of where I’m traveling. In many cases, it’ll be military history (a hobby of mine).
Without a doubt, my best experience was a book I picked up on my first trip to India in May ’09. The destination was Hyderabad, and the book was “White Mughals: Love and Betrayal in Eighteenth-Century India” by William Dalrymple (2004, Perfection Learning — 580 pp.).
This book gave me tremendous background on the Raj in India and particularly on the city of Hyderabad and its rulers.
Commemorating the centenary of the start of World War I, England’s Imperial War Museums organization, which operates museums in London, Manchester and Duxford, is presenting a program of cultural events in 2014.
Example — on Aug. 4 at Westminster Abbey, a candelight vigil from sundown until 11 p.m. will commemorate England’s entering the war. For a list of WWI events in England, visit www.1914.org.
Contrary to what some headlines blared, almost all of the historic village of Laerdalsoyri, Norway — which has several well-preserved wooden houses from the 18th century — escaped the reaches of a large fire in the adjacent modern town of Laerdal on Jan. 18. Six or seven buildings of historic value were among the 35 that burned. A hundred people were hospitalized for smoke inhalation.
The Borgund Stave Church and other tourist sites in the area were not affected by the fire.
In a 4-year remembrance project mirroring notable dates of World War I, which lasted from July 28, 1914, until Nov. 11, 1918, events timed to the 100-year anniversaries of various events are being planned in the Flanders region of northern Belgium. For a list of events, contact Tourism Flanders-Brussels (1a Cavendish Sq., London W1G 0LD, U.K.; phone 020 7307 7738).
(Second of two parts)
14 days/13 nights. Highlights: In Stockholm, SWEDEN, museum of royal warship Vasa/in Helsingborg, 19th-century castle Sofiero Slott/in Copenhagen, DENMARK, Crown Jewels at Rosenborg Palace, historic Nyhavn area, Tivoli Gardens/in North Sealand, 17th-century Frederiksborg Çastle/fjords in NORWAY/in Oslo, Viking Ship Museum, Vigeland Sculpture Park/in Laerdal, Borgund Stave Church/Briksdal Glacier/in Bergen, open-air fish market. Land, $5,690-$5,890. Single supp., $588 or $988, depending on departure date.
Arlene Lichtenstein; Commack, NY
Romania’s many faces were readily accessible and wonderful to see during our 2-week visit, Sept. 2-16, 2013. The cost of the trip was €4,800 (near $6,520), which included accommodations, breakfasts, all driving and guiding, airport/hotel transfers and all museum admission fees.
(First of two parts)
On each of our trips to Vilnius, my husband, Paul, and I make it a point to leave Old Town, where we always base ourselves and where we spend most of our time, to stroll along Gediminas Prospect in New Town. It’s a one-mile walk along a route lined with cafés and shops, made longer by our many stops to eat and shop.