Travel Briefs

December 2009 issue | Appears on page 75

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.

“Pete Wylie’s Music Tour” is narrated by the founder of the band The Mighty Wah!, and the hour-long guide (seven tracks) takes day-trippers to sites of 50 years of pop, pyschedelia, punk and dance music. Accompanying the download is a 36-page publication, “Sound City,” which includes a “music map.”

December 2009 issue | Appears on page 76

Solve one like Sherlock

The hotel Sherlock Holmes, located (where else?) on Baker Street in London, offers discounted room rates when booked with a “Murder Mystery Event” party held in its restaurant. 

Held twice a month, the interactive murder mystery dinner theater is performed over a three-course meal and lasts three hours. On a first-come, first-booked basis and along with a drink, clue packages and prizes, it costs £39.95-£79 ($63-$125) per person (with VAT).

The discounted room rate for the...

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December 2009 issue | Appears on page 84

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.

Tours run daily from 9 a.m.  $50 per person (minimum, three persons). Enotour Chile (A. Luis Thayer Ojeda 0130, Of. 1204, Providencia, Santiago, Chile; phone [56 2] 481 4081, wwwenotourchile.com).

December 2009 issue | Appears on page 84

Sydney Opera tours

A small-group tour (limit, eight) gives access to the backstage areas of the Sydney Opera House (phone +61 2 9250 7250, e-mail tourism@sydneyoperahouse.com or visit www.sydneyoperahouse.com). Visitors can stand on the Concert Hall stage, visit the orchestra pit and peek inside dressing rooms plus enjoy breakfast in the Green Room.

At AU$150 (near US$102), the two-hour daily tour starts at 7 a.m. Bookings are required; book online or at the Guided Tours Desk.

November 2009 issue | Appears on page 60

White­chapel Gallery

In London, the Whitechapel Gallery (77-82 Whitechapel High St., London, E1 7QX, U.K.; phone +44 [0] 20 7522 7888, www.whitechapelgallery.org) has doubled in size, reopening with expanded galleries, exhibitions, collection displays, archives and more.

Free weekly poetry readings, art lectures and open screenings of films are held on Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. For Wednesday and Friday evenings, ticketed events in music, performance and workshops can be booked in advance.

Open...

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November 2009 issue | Appears on page 71

Family Cuba visits

Although the general travel ban against visiting Cuba continues for all American citizens, in September the US government eased some of its restrictions. 

Americans who wish to visit family members in Cuba no longer will be restricted to one trip a year but may visit as often and as long as they like. Americans now can send unlimited amounts of cash to relatives on the island and when traveling can carry more personal baggage and certain electronic items.

November 2009 issue | Appears on page 72

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.

A free shuttle bus runs between the upper forecourts of the North and South terminals every three minutes from 4 a.m. to 6 p.m. and every six minutes, 6 p.m.-4 a.m. Passengers arriving at the North terminal needing to catch a train...

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November 2009 issue | Appears on page 72

Christmas in Edinburgh

In Edinburgh, Scotland, a traditional German Christmas market in the city center will have stalls with toys, gifts and German food, while a Christmas market featuring locally produced food, jewelry and crafts will be set up at the East Princes Street Gardens.

Both are open Nov. 27-Dec. 24 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday and 10-10 Thursday-Saturday. For info, contact the British Tourist Authority (800/462-2748, www.visitbritain.us) or visit www.edinburghschristmas.com.