Barcelo Tambor Beach Hotel In Costa Rica, Offers Special Summer Packages Barcelo Hotels & Resorts announces special summer savings at the beautiful Barcelo Tambor Beach Hotel on Costa Rica's Pacific coast. The all-inclusive summer packages start at $199 per person based on double occupancy for a three-night/four-day stay including taxes. Reservations can be booked now through June 30 for travel through the end of 2006. The hotel is situated on the Nocoya Peninsula along Bahia Ballena on a natural and incredibly beautiful setting. The Barcelo Tambor beach hotel was awarded the "Blue Flag," which certifies that its beaches are environmentally safe and clean.

With 402 guest rooms and suites, the Barcelo Tambor Beach hotel is a favorite for couples, families and sports enthusiasts. In addition to spacious accommodations, the hotel offers a casino, a discotheque and a nightclub-style theater for entertainment. As an all-inclusive resort, guests may choose from a selection of restaurants and lounges that include both buffet and a la carte European-style dining. Recreational amenities include a luxury swimming pool and jacuzzi, tennis courts, a fitness center, a children's play park and zoo, as well as boutique shopping and nearby golf. Guests may also arrange to add a charter deep sea fishing excursion or eco- tours to their vacation.

For reservations and more information about the Barcelo Tambor Beach Hotel visit: http://www.barcelo.com  or call 1-800-BARCELO. In addition, special packages including airfare and ground transfers are available through travel agents and tour operators.

Great American Financial Resources, Inc. To Sell Chatham Bars Inn

Great American Financial Resources, Inc. announced that it has signed an agreement to sell Chatham Bars Inn, its hotel property located on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, for a price of $166 million. The sale, which is subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to close in the second quarter of 2006. The Company has owned and operated the hotel since 1993.

JW Marriott Hotel Opens in the Heart of San Francisco

Marriott International, Inc. announced that the Pan Pacific Hotel in San Francisco has become the JW Marriott Hotel San Francisco. Situated at San Francisco's upscale Union Square and within walking distance of the city's many world famous destinations, the hotel is located at 500 Post Street. The 338-room luxury hotel, managed by Marriott International, is the first JW Marriott in Northern California and the 36th in a collection of exclusive JW Marriott hotels and resorts worldwide. An extensive multi-mullion-dollar renovation is planned over the next two years by the hotel's owner, Ashford Hospitality Trust .

Mandarin Oriental To Open Luxury Hotel In Barcelona

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has today announced that it will manage a new, luxurious hotel currently under development in Barcelona. The project provides the Group with a unique opportunity to expand its luxury brand in Europe and in particular, into one of Europe’s foremost travel destinations.

Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona will be a stylish, 144-room hotel, ideally located on Paseo de Gracia, Barcelona’s most prestigious address, at the very centre of the city’s commercial and entertainment district. The property provides easy access to the city’s finest shopping, dining and cultural venues and is a short walk from many major tourist attractions. From the hotel, guests will be able to stroll amongst the city’s celebrated promenades and architecture and enjoy the attractions of the famous Las Ramblas and the Gothic Quarter. Barcelona’s many museums, churches and parks are all close at hand and two buildings designed by the city’s most famous architect, Gaudi, are just a stone’s throw from the hotel.

Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona will be housed in the re-development of an elegant mid-20th Century building, which will also incorporate luxury retail at street level. Opening in

late 2007, Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona has been designed as an intimate, luxurious hotel featuring a contemporary, yet elegant interior style, with exacting attention to detail, reflective of the Group’s oriental heritage. The luxurious guestrooms will be amongst the largest in the city and will include 52 spacious and exquisitely designed suites. All guestrooms will offer Mandarin Oriental’s renowned customer-centric technology, providing guests with highly sophisticated in-room entertainment systems.

The hotel will feature a variety of exceptional restaurants and bars offering an eclectic choice of contemporary cuisine and cocktails in elegant and chic surroundings. Taking advantage of the temperate Mediterranean climate, alfresco dining will be enjoyed at a spectacular 1,400 sq meter (Approx. 15,000 sq feet) outdoor terrace. 

The hotel is being developed by the Reig Capital Group, a private Andorran investment company with projects in the tourism sector. Internationally renowned interior design firm Yabu Pushelburg has been appointed on the project.

Tee Off In Paradise With Coral By Hilton's New Golf Packages

The Dominican Republic is any golfer's dream come true: year round sunshine, challenging greens and plenty to do after stowing the clubs. Coral by Hilton All-Inclusive Resorts welcomes duffers to tee time in the Dominican Republic with all-inclusive packages that blend great accommodations with play at two of the island's best courses.

Among the top few on the list of greens is the Guavaberry Golf and Country Club, on the southeast coast. A Gary Player Design, the lush 7,156-yard, par-72 course features a challenging but fair game filled with gently sloping hillsides, wide fairways, deep sand traps, indigenous coral formations, enormous waste bunkers and a spectacular signature hole. Number 13 is a 146-yard, par-3 that looks like an old limestone quarry, with a waterfall and two greens. Just two holes later, the 15th is a par-3 at 155 yards, where you have to pinpoint your stroke to an island green surrounded by sand a three-acre pond.

Another must-play on any golfer's list is the course at Playa Dorada. Ranked number 53 in last year's Golf Digest's "Best 100 golf courses situated outside the United States," the 18-hole, Robert Trent Jones design is spread out within the 250-acre Playa Dorada complex and resort area on the north coast of the Dominican Republic. The flat, conditioned course has wide fairways, four greens ocean-side and five greens set bordering inland water.

Coral by Hilton's Golf Packages include spacious accommodations with 24 hour-a-day all-inclusive service including all meals, snacks and beverages; two daily green fees of 18 holes at Guavaberry Golf & Country Club or Playa Dorada golf course. (Cart included only at Guavaberry Golf & Country Club;) and transfers to/from golf course.

For the non-golfing partner, there are free daily passes for the GuavaberryClub

The package is only available at the Hamaca Coral by Hilton, Costa Caribe Coral by Hilton and Marien Coral by Hilton properties. All-inclusive rates through August 31, 2006 are: $360 for Hamaca, $343 for Costa Caribe and $331 for Marien, all per night, double occupancy. From September 1 to December 22nd, 2006, rates are: $345 for Hamaca, $343 for Costa Caribe and $331 for Marien, all per night, double occupancy.* For reservations, call 1-877-GO HILTON or your local Hilton Reservations Worldwide office and as for Plan Code 7N. For more information on the individual hotels, visit www.coralbyhilton.com.

Coral by Hilton(TM) All-Inclusive Resorts, a member of the Hilton Worldwide

Resorts portfolio, was created through the alliance of Hilton International and Coral Hotels and Resorts, a leader in Caribbean resort operations, and brings the concept of All-Inclusive, Hilton Style to vacationers the world over.  Hilton Worldwide Resorts(TM) is an upscale, global network of 59 resorts in exotic locations specializing in romance, golf, family, dive and spa vacations. The network spans 24 countries and 7 regions including Asia Pacific, the Indian Ocean, Europe and Israel, Egypt, the Arabian Gulf, the Caribbean and the Americas.

Bermuda Hotels Offering Special April/October Hotel Packages

When summer temperatures begin to swelter North America’s cities, nearby Bermuda awaits with attractive travel options, offering an easy escape to experience the island’s distinctive “Beach and Sizzle” season.  It is now easier than ever to venture to Bermuda with JetBlue Airways’ latest launch from New York, and with several of the island’s luxury resorts announcing fabulous summer packages. Visitors can make the most of the island’s famed pink-sand beaches and unparalleled service when the weather is at its peak between April and October: 

--Discovery Package—A chance to discover the amenities at two of Bermuda’s largest resorts awaits guests of the Fairmont Southampton and the Fairmont Hamilton Princess.  The Discovery Package includes breakfast each morning and a $100 resort credit (per person per night) to use towards golf at the Fairmont Southampton’s executive 18-hole, Par-3 course, the state-of-the-art Willow Stream Spa, and all of the restaurants and bars found right on the Fairmont properties.  Valid from May 1 through Oct. 29, 2006, Discovery Package rates start at $766 per night based on double occupancy (including taxes and gratuities).  For more information, please call (800) 441-1414 or visit www.fairmont.com.

--Bermuda’s Best Package—At the water’s edge in Hamilton Parish, surrounded by hibiscus, oleander and bougainvillea-filled gardens, sits Grotto Bay Beach Resort & Tennis Club.  “Bermuda’s Best” all-inclusive package includes breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, unlimited drinks (excluding bottles of wine and champagne), theme night buffets, afternoon tea, an invitation to the “Rum Swizzle Party,” non-motorized water sports, tennis, and an unlimited Bermuda public transportation pass.  “Beach and Sizzle” season prices start at $476 per night from April 6 to May 10, 2006 and $550 from May 11 through Nov. 1, 2006.  (Rates are based on double occupancy with a minimum three-night stay and are inclusive of taxes and gratuities).  Package rates for additional persons are $200 for adults and $100 for children ages 4 to 12 per night.  For more information, please call (800) 582-3190 or visit www.grottobay.com.

--Bermuda Breeze Package —Hidden in spectacular botanical gardens overlooking beautiful pink-sand beaches, Elbow Beach Bermuda’s Bermuda Breeze package offers visitors an opportunity to relax in the elegantly appointed guest rooms that evoke the charm and luxury of the past with modern comfort and conveniences.  The package at this exclusive Mandarin Oriental resort includes daily breakfast buffet, afternoon teas and airport transfers. Beach and Sizzle season rates are valid from May 1 through Oct. 31, 2006 and start at $1,785 for a three-night stay (based upon double occupancy and inclusive of taxes and gratuities).  For more information, please call (800) 223-7434 or visit www.mandarinoriental.com. 

--Mid-Week Special Package—Nestled among the coves and bluffs or perched on stilts directly over the turquoise sea with glass floor space to watch the tropical fish swim by, the private cabanas of 9 Beaches provide an organic experience for the rustic traveler.  The Mid-Week Special” accommodation package offers a 15 percent savings on traditional rates to guests arriving on a Sunday for a four- or five-night stay during “Beach and Sizzle” season.  Valid from April 24 through May 31, 2006, four-night package rates start at $705 and five-night rates start at $880. The season extends June 1 through Oct. 31 offering four-night package rates starting at $995 and a five-night option starting at $1,245. (All rates are based upon double occupancy and include taxes and gratuities). For more information, please call (866) 841-9009 or visit www.9beaches.com.

Bermuda, less than two hours from East Coast gateway cities, stretches for 23 miles along turquoise waters, surrounded by a 200-square-mile coral reef plateau. Bermuda's diverse activities offer an array of vacation options, including more wreck dives than anywhere else in the world, championship golf, horseback riding, world-renowned deep sea fishing and smooth pink beaches to rest on by day's end. For more information, visit www.bermudatourism.com or call 800-BERMUDA (800-237-6832).

Mexico Boutique Hotels Expand With 12 New Properties

Mexico Boutique Hotels   a collection of unique accommodations that creates an experience unrivaled by large brand destination resorts has announced the addition of 12 new hotels, as well as offerings in six new cities throughout the Mexican Republic.

The result of careful research and site inspections led by director general John Youden, Mexico Boutique Hotels now boasts a collection of 45 properties, each with its own individuality and charm.  From a hacienda near Oaxaca at the mythical archeological site of Monte Alban to an 18th-century mansion in Puebla surrounded by antique and handcraft markets, this collection of upscale properties is now more expansive than ever before. 

Mexico Boutique Hotels' presence now extends into six new destinations, while new member hotels in six other areas of the country enhance the company's existing bevy of accommodations there.  The new destinations covered by a new Mexico Boutique Hotel member are Playa del Carmen, Campeche, Mineral de Pozos, Valle de Bravo, Monte Gordo and Colima. 

Travelers can visit the new Mexico Boutique Hotel properties and destinations either on their own, or by part of the collection's Circuit Tours program.  These map-your-own, self-guided itineraries lead travelers through Mexico's rich history while introducing them to various areas of the country, both well-known and off the beaten path.  Mexico Boutique Hotels reservations specialists handle the planning of accommodations, transfers, and other travel needs as part of this offering.

Mexico Boutique Hotels members are selected based on a qualification process and pre-established criteria. All hotels place a specific emphasis on individualized style and character, while sharing a focus on intimacy, personalized service, and gourmet cuisine. With Mexico Boutique Hotels, the possibilities are endless. 

A full directory of Mexico Boutique Hotels is available upon request or by logging onto www.mexicoboutiquehotels.com.   Online, travelers can create their own schedules, book transportation, and find other tools to help map out their dream vacation.  For more information or reservations, call 1-800-728-9098.

Regent Re-Structures With Cruise And Hotel Businesses Under One Management

Following the merger of its luxury cruise and hotel brands on March 7, Regent announced organizational changes in its Ft. Lauderdale headquarters, creating one unified management structure for the global Regent luxury brand. At the helm of this restructuring is president Mark Conroy who now oversees Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Regent Hotels, assuming responsibilities for all global relationships and brand governance.  He will host periodic meetings with global partners including Jay Witzel of Carlson Hospitality, Paul Kirwin of Carlson Hotels Asia Pacific, and Kurt Ritter of Rezidor Hotels.  This executive group will provide leadership to leverage tactical opportunities, create common brand perceptions, and determine mutually beneficial strategic plans among operating theatres. “In order to deliver luxury cruise, hotel and resort products under one global brand, we had to build a cohesive structure,” said Conroy. “This organization will allow us the ability to provide our guests expanded product offerings and create personalized ship-to-shore experiences, while maintaining control to ensure results are seamless.”

Catch "Ballroom Fever" At New York City's Hotel Giraffe

For those who watched “Dancing with the Stars” and “Mad Hot Ballroom” and wondered if they have what it takes to do ballroom dancing, The Hotel Giraffe in New York City has come up with the perfect vacation experience to combine a fabulous weekend getaway in the Big Apple with a mini-initiation into the world of dance — the Ballroom Fever Weekend package.

The Ballroom Fever Weekend Package Includes accommodations in a deluxe room or suite; complimentary European style breakfast daily and complimentary wine and hors d'oeuvres each evening; two 55-minute private dance lessons at either the Pierre Dulaine Dancenter or Stepping Out Studios. (One lesson can be scheduled on Friday and a second on Saturday. A third lesson may be arranged for Sunday for guests who choose to add a Sunday night to their package. All lessons are based upon availability.)

Also included are passes to Essential Therapy, a beautiful, soothing day spa dedicated to the healing power of massage, Pilates, and Yoga for a steam, sauna, and Jacuzzi session to help couples relax their muscles before or after class and an instructional dance DVD so couples can continue to work on their skills when they return home.

The Ballroom Fever weekend Package is priced from $365 to $465 per room, per night or $475 to $575 per suite per night based on availability. The package is valid from April to August 2006, and is only offered for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night stays. The package is based on double occupancy and a two-night minimum stay is required.

Situated on the corner of Park Avenue South at 26th Street, the Hotel Giraffe provides a sophisticated world of style and grace with elegant architecture, unique design, and flawless service. Aspiring dancers can book the package by calling the Hotel Giraffe at 212-685-7700, or toll-free in the US at 877-296-0009 or by e- mail at information@hotelgiraffe.com or online at www.hotelgiraffe.com.

Gideon Putnam Resort And Spa Offers Popular Spa Package

The Gideon Putnam Resort and Spa and the historic Roosevelt Baths and Spa in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. will again offer the "Total Spa Retreat" package this year. The popular package is available seven days a week in season, from April 1 through July 26 and September 6 through October 31. The Total Spa Retreat package includes one or two nights at the resort, breakfast for two one morning, dinner for two one evening, two mineral baths, two one-hour massages and use of the steam room and fitness center at the

historic Roosevelt Bathhouse.

In season, the package is $479 per couple for one night and $664 for two nights. During racing season  from July 27 to September. 5, the package is available Sunday through Wednesday and is priced at $579 for one night and $864 for two nights. Value season is in effect November 1, 2006 through March 31, 2007 when the package will cost $399 for one night and $504 for two nights. Rates do not include tax. If booked separately, the components of the package would be 31 percent more than the cost of the package.

The Gideon Putnam Resort and Spa, operated by Xanterra Parks & Resorts, recently completed a major renovation that enhanced both the spa and the hotel. Closed since 1997, the Roosevelt Baths and Spa now houses a 13,000-square-foot spa, 42 private rooms with bathtubs for experiencing the resort's signature effervescent mineral baths, salon, a retail shop, fitness center and Vichy shower. Renovation projects within the hotel included enhancement of all 120 guest rooms and many public spaces.

For up-to-date information, visit www.gideonputnam.com.

Three London Hotels Offering Enticing Rates

For visitors to London, three London hotels are offering bargain rates.

-- Located on one of London's most historic squares, the Millennium Hotel London Mayfair is a stylish hotel just off Oxford Street. Until May 7, rooms are available from $246 a night.

-- Get a great summer rate at the K and K Hotel George, a stunning Victorian terrace in leafy Earl's Court. Between  June 23 and  August 31, it's priced from $235 per night.

-- The Quality Hotel Hyde Park, near to Oxford Street and Hyde Park has rooms from just £140 per night until December 31.

Steigenberger Launched In South Tyrol

In March 2006, the Frankfurt-based Steigenberger Hotel Group opened an exceptional hotel in the South Tyrolean spa and holiday resort. The colorful 139-room hotel, with its 24 suites, managed by professional hoteliers Arwed and Regine Sparber, lies right in the heart of the traditional South Tyrolean resort area next to the Kurpark and the River Passer. It is only a short walk across a pedestrian bridge to the Kurpromenade, the Tappeinerweg and the shops down-town.

The hotel has a fitness and wellness area covering 1,200 square meters, the Spa World Premium, with nine beauty treatment cabins, an indoor pool, a whirlpool, a Finnish sauna, a soft aroma pool, a Turkish steam room, experience showers, a solarium, a heated outdoor pool and a gymnasium. The Steigenberger Hotel Therme Meran has direct access to the neighboring new Therme Meran spa building via the “bathrobe tunnel”. There, in an area covering 7,650 square meters (9,149 square yards), the wellness guest can find 25 different pools as well as a spa and a vitality centre with a multitude of applications using South Tyrolean materials, such as grapes, whey, wool and herbs.

The hotel’s Mediterranean restaurant Olivi and the Wolkenstein with its open-to-view showcase kitchen combine distinctive elements of both South Tyrolean and Italian cuisine with international highlights. The trendy Piazza bar, the Smokers Club and the elegant Cedar Lounge with its open fireplace and terrace provide perfect areas of relaxation.

The Steigenberger Hotel Therme Meran is the first Steigenberger Hotel in Italy. The spectacular new building is particularly attractive from the outside thanks to the clear, architectonic lines of Berlin architects Baumann and Zillich. The renowned Italian celebrity designer Matteo Thun was responsible for the interior design. Thun exploits the stylish beauty of high quality natural materials, such as wood and stone. With great skill he combines South Tyrolean history, classical elegance, cool avant-garde and stylized regional objects. The Alpine connection is all pervasive; elegant wooden floorboards run throughout the hotel, the rooms and suites have desks covered in leather or suede, gilded deer head lamps with real antlers provide decorative lighting and the open spaces are adorned with crystal chandeliers made of Swarovski stones. The rooms all have a wooden clad loggia or a French balcony.

Springtime Historic Getaways From Historic Hotels of America(R)

National Preservation Month promotes preservation efforts in localities across the country. Members of National Trust Historic Hotels of America honor the country's diverse and unique heritage by offering special packages during Preservation Month, May 2006. Offers range from special museum exhibits to battlefield and trolley tours.

The following are selected samples.

The Gettysburg Hotel, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Experience a two-hour bus tour of the Gettysburg battlefield, tickets to three area museums and unlimited rides on the hotel trolley. Later retire to the hotel for afternoon tea and cookies. (Available thru May 31, 2006; $439 Family rate for two adults and two children, ages 4-11, or $369 for two adults. Rates include breakfast buffet.) Visit http://www.historichotels.org/hotel/183 

The Grande Colonial Hotel, La Jolla, California

The Grand Heritage package features two-nights in a historic suite, two tickets to the San Diego Historic Trolley Tour, La Jolla history book, self- guided historic walking tour outline, late checkout and breakfast for two. (Available on an ongoing basis; $699 per couple.) Visit http://www.historichotels.org/hotel/8

The Historic Hotel Boulderado, Boulder, Colorado

The Historic Downtown Boulder Excursion package includes choice of king or suite accommodations, $25 gift certificate for downtown shops and restaurants, $20 dinner credit for Q's Restaurant or the Corner Bar and an envelope full of Boulder merchant values. (Available thru May 25, 2006; $199 - $249 per night, double occupancy.) Visit http://www.historichotels.org/hotel/25

Wentworth-by-the-Sea Marriott Hotel & Spa, New Castle, New Hampshire.

The Wentworth Historical Package includes deluxe accommodations, dinner for two at the hotel, tickets to the Portsmouth Peace Treaty Exhibit at the John Paul Jones House Museum and a copy of Wentworth by the Sea, The Life and Times of a Grand Hotel. (Available May 1-30, 2006; $149 per person, per night, double occupancy.) Visit http://www.historichotels.org/hotel/212

Historic Hotels of America, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, has identified more than 200 hotels that have faithfully maintained their historic integrity, architectural and ambiance. To be selected for this prestigious program, a hotel must be at least 50 years old, listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places or recognized as having historic significance. Reservations can be made though Historic Hotels of America http://www.historichotels.org/.

Punta Mita Offers New, Superluxe 3-Night Girlfriend Getaway Package

Punta Mita, the exquisite and elite gated resort destination just north of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, has named Claudia Perez its "Vacation Stylist." In this newly created position, Perez   the ultimate personal vacation planner and Punta Mita expert will build personalized, unique itineraries for female groups seeking an unforgettable escape. Now, travelers can take advantage of the new, three-night Girlfriend Getaway package, designed by Perez. "The trend of girlfriend getaways is again gaining momentum," said Perez.  "Punta Mita has already achieved a certain cache for having absolutely everything a woman could ever dream of in a vacation destination, including offering a relaxing environment conducive to rest, renewal and regaining a sense of inner peace. Now, our new Girlfriend Getaway has packaged all of this together for women seeking an over-the-top, personalized, sensory experience."

Valid on three-night stays May 1 to November 1 and starting at $14,000 for groups of

four women, the new package includes the following itinerary:

--Day One—Arrival with private, VIP airport pickup; in-villa welcome amenities including snacks and beverages; relaxing afternoon massage; Spa Cuisine dinner with personal chef

--Day Two—Light breakfast including protein shakes and fruit; morning Yoga or Pilates class; light lunch in villa; Puerto Vallarta shopping excursion throughout afternoon and into evening; dinner reservations at one of Puerto Vallarta's hottest spots (dinner not included in price)

--Day Three—Light breakfast; Girls Gone Surfing lesson; lunch at the Punta Mita Residents' Beach Club; afternoon Margarita scrub of tequila, salt and lime juice followed by a revitalizing massage; an array of a customized mixed grill dining experience under the stars

--Day Four—Light traditional Mexican breakfast in villa; morning at leisure; departure

The Girlfriend Getaway package also includes all taxes and gratuities, a private in-villa housekeeping staff and of course, access to Punta Mita's Vacation Stylist for any other desires. For reservations, contact the Punta Mita Discovery Center (toll-free from US 1.888.647.0979 or 52.329.291.6500) Bookings are commissionable to travel agents.

A dynamic, constantly growing roster of other amenities make Punta Mita a highly coveted vacation hot spot among even the most discerning female travelers.  More than just a beachfront resort destination, Punta Mita is a sanctuary of outdoor activity. In addition to the countless natural diversions, visitors have at their disposal the community's exclusive golf course, tennis center, and Resident Beach Club. Activities favored by recent girl getaway groups at Punta Mita include yoga, sailing, cooking lessons, golf lessons, horseback riding, live local entertainment, sunset cruises, whale-watching, and swimming with dolphins.  For a little R&R, Punta Mita offers a wide variety of spa services, always a favorite with the ladies. 

Nearby Puerto Vallarta boasts top shopping, diverse dining and eclectic treasures, concentrated along charming cobblestone streets and Malecon (the city's waterfront walkway). Puerto Vallarta's many fine art galleries are internationally acclaimed and present the work of renowned regional and international artists.

Punta Mita is just a few hours by air from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Chicago, and other major cities in the United States. Direct routes link numerous gateways in the U.S. and Mexico with the Gustavo Diaz Ordaz International Airport, located 28 miles southeast of Punta Mita, along a coastal highway. With a level of personal service as impressive as the oceanfront setting, Punta Mita is highly sought by discerning travelers, spa and golf aficionados, as well as sun lovers. These exclusive vacation properties are perfect for families, corporate retreats and reunions of friends.

Telephone (US) 888-647-0979 or visit www.puntamita.com.mx.

                                                Travel Tours

EasyRiderTours Offering ‘Praias & Palaces’ Tour In Portugal

Easy Rider Tours' new Praias & Palaces bike tour will take cyclists to explore the best of both. The six-day trip is designed with the novice cyclist in mind with daily bike rides averaging 15 to 20 miles. Along with the biking, the relaxed itinerary includes plenty of time to linger along the sandy beaches (praias) of the Atlantic coast to explore the royal palaces, parks and gardens of Sintra.

The Easy Rider route is a calm introduction to the intriguing history and varied landscapes of  Portugal. The tour begins 60 miles south of Lisbon in the Alc’cer do Sal (Fortress of Salt), named for the impressive walled citadel left behind by 8th-century Arabic salt traders. Cycling routes through the coastal plain lead past beaches, white seaside villages, and the Roman ruins of Mir’briga.

Midway through the tour, the group is transferred to Sintra, whose lush forests, gardens and palaces were proclaimed a glorious Eden by Lord Byron. Now declared a UN World Patrimony Site, Sintra's landmarks include the Palacio da Vila, whose colorful Moorish tiles date from the Middle Ages, and the Pena Palace, a 19th-century Bavarian fantasy of domes, turrets and pastel colors. In the Serra da Sintra, cyclists will pedal through forested landscapes on the way to the mystical 19th-century Convento dos Capuchos, the Adega de Colares winery, and the wild Atlantic bluffs of Cabo da Rocha.

www.easyridertours.com

Pacific Delight’s 17-Day Air-Inclusive Yangtze River Cruise-Tour, Starts At $2,788

Pacific Delight World Tours’ air-inclusive, 17-day Grand Yangtze River SuperValue cruise-tour, priced $2,788 to $3,158 per person, double, combines its longest cruise on the Yangtze River with awesome Huangshan Mountain, Suzhou, Shanghai, Xi’an and Beijing.  Accommodations are in deluxe and superior first-class hotels and in outside cabins with private balcony on a Victoria Cruises ship.  Departures are scheduled from Los Angeles and San Francisco to Beijing from April 21 to November 3, 2006; many West Coast gateways, including Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Albuquerque, and Ontario, are at no additional charge; dozens of other add-on fares range from $120 to $340.

The six-night Yangtze River cruise from Chongqing to Shanghai on one of the 206-passenger Victoria Prince, is twice the length of standard sailings to Yichang.  After the Three Gorges and Three Gorges Dam, the ship continues downstream to Wuhan, Guichi, Nanjing and Shanghai.  The itinerary adds an excursion from Guichi to Huangshan (Yellow) Mountain, famed for its cloud-shrouded peaks, pine trees and oddly shaped rocks; Wuhan’s Hubei Provincial Museum with bronzes, musical instruments and other artifacts from a 2,400-year-old tomb; a Qing Dynasty-style bazaar and Sun Yat-Sen Mausoleum in Nanjing; and a day trip to 12th-century Suzhou, noted for its ancient gardens.

Other tour highlights are: Tian An Men Square and the Imperial Palace in the Forbidden City in Beijing, the ancient Great Wall; 8,000 terra cotta warriors and horses in Xi-an; memorabilia of the U.S. Flying Tigers pilots in Chongqing’s Stilwell Museum; the hauntingly beautiful Three Gorges and massive Three Gorges Dam construction site, a performance at the Children’s Palace in Shanghai and the Garden of the Master of the Fishing Net in Suzhou. 

The package includes round-trip transpacific flights; all air/land transportation in China, all meals, sightseeing and shore excursions, cultural activities, tour escort, transfers, hotel taxes, service charges and baggage handling.  Land-only prices range from $1,998 to $2,258; single supplement is $960 to $1,130.  Travelers receive $100,000 flight insurance and Northwest or United Airlines frequent flyer credit when Pacific Delight tickets the air-inclusive tours. 

The largest provider of escorted and independent tours to China, the Orient and Southeast Asia, the company recently expanded to India, Africa and in the South Pacific.  Reservations and information can be obtained from travel agents and Pacific Delight World Tours, (800) 221-7179 or (212) 818-1781, website: www.PacificDelightTours.com.

Country Walkers Offering Tour Of Austria, Czech Republic—August 12-19

Join us to celebrate Mozart’s 250th birthday! Austria and the Czech Republic have designed a varied and exciting 2006 calendar of events to celebrate Mozart’s life. Take time to discover some of Vienna’s most spectacular venues before stepping into the Czech countryside. Our tour celebrates Czech history, folklore, sweeping landscape, and magical cities where you can follow the genius’ footsteps.

Reserve this departure by April 30th and receive a complimentary Mozart package including:

A post-tour night at the 5-star Hotel Savoy in Prague

A tour of the Bertramka Estate showcasing Mozart artifacts

An afternoon outdoor concert in the stunning gardens of the Bertramka Estate, featuring Mozart’s Sonata in B major, for bassoon and piano

Tour Highlights include visits to four UNESCO World Heritage sites; rich castle and monastery collections; historic hotels and authentic cuisine; and a visit to Český Krumlov, the historic jewel of South Bohemia.

The eight-day/seven-night August 12-19, 2006 tour is $3,198 per person, $525 single supplement; and includes all meals included except one lunch. 

Walk rating: easy to moderate terrain

This offer is for this tour date and new reservations only.

Fall tour dates are September 2-9, September 9-16, and September 23-30.

For additional information please call 800-464-9255, email us at info@countrywalkers.com  or visit www.countrywalkers.com. 

Bargain Packages to Spain Are TourCrafters’ Newest Offer

With Spain celebrating the 125th anniversary of Picasso’s birth and being hailed as the food capital of Europe, not to mention exciting new architecture and a vibrant museum scene, there’s never been a better time to visit.  And TourCrafters makes it a bargain through May 30 with three specials that start at $799.

--The Barcelona Springtime Special, which starts at $799 for four nights, covers round-trip air from New York, Boston, Chicago, Washington or Miami to Barcelona; accommodations at the centrally-located 3-star Hotel Covadonga or Hotel Open.

--The 4-day/3-night “Madrid Deluxe Special” package starts at $809 and includes mid-week round-trip air from New York and Boston to Madrid, accommodations at the 5-star Hotel Occidental Miguel Angel, daily breakfast and hotel service charges and taxes. The deluxe hotel, located on the Paseo de la Castellana, offers easy access to the city’s most famous museums.  Add-on fares from other gateways are $10 from Washington and $15 from Miami and Chicago.

-- Beach lovers will like the eight-day/seven-night Madrid & Costa del Sol Special, which starts at $999 midweek for round-trip air from New York or Boston; three nights in Madrid at the Hotel Puerta de Toledo and four nights in the village of Mijas at the modern, beachfront Gran Hotel Costa del Sol; plus five days car rental; daily breakfast; hotel service charges and taxes. For only $60, four dinners can be added to the Gran Hotel stay.  Add-on fares are $10 from Washington and $15 from Miami and Chicago.

All prices are per person, double occupancy, are subject to availability and do not include airport taxes or fuel surcharges.  Reservations must be paid for within 72 hours.  For more information, visit www.tourcrafters.com.  For reservations, call (US) 1-800-482-5995.

Outward Bound Offers Summer Programs for Teens And Adults

Every summer, Outward Bound offers an extensive selection of courses in beautiful locations throughout the US. Choose from backpacking, canoeing, canyoneering, mountaineering, rafting, rock climbing, sailing, sea kayaking, and our multi-activity courses. Whether it's an adventure, a unique challenge, or just something different this summer, there is bound to be a course for you.

--Utah Summer Semester (June 15 / 50 days) Utah’s diverse geography is the perfect place for this diverse semester. You backpack and climb peaks in the La Sal Range and then travel down into canyon country where you navigate to your put-in on the river where you may raft or use sit-on-top kayaks to run the rapids.

--Maine Summer Semester (June 26 / 50 days) Hike through towering spruce-fir forests,  stretch your limits climbing backcountry granite cliffs, canoe traditional Abenaki Indian routes and learn to master whitewater techniques along the way, and feel the power and beauty of wind and water as you sail your 30-foot ketch-rigged open pulling boat along the island-studded Maine coast. 

--Boundary Waters Canoeing & Rock Climbing - Youth Ventures (June 6 / 22 days) Our instructors are committed to bringing younger teens into the wilderness. The Boundary Waters is a perfect place to get out and learn about independence and leadership while having a packed wilderness adventure.

--Washington Sea Kayaking & Mountaineering (June 3 / 22 days) First, explore the coves, harbors and islands of Puget Sound. At night, camp under the stars on the island beaches. Next, trade kayaks for backpacks and venture deep into the rugged Pasayten Wilderness, attempting summits such as Crater Peak (8,128 feet).

--Appalachian Mountains Backpacking, Rock Climbing & Whitewater Canoeing - Youth Ventures (June 12 / 21 days) Come to know what it's like to really live in the wilderness. This course allows you to develop and master essential skills of back country travel along with extended leadership and teamwork opportunities.

Scholarships are available. To learn more about Outward Bound courses, visit www.outwardbound.com or call in the US at 866-467-7651.

                                                Cities & Culture

Atlanta

World’s Largest Aquarium Now Open In Atlanta

The Georgia Aquarium opened in Atlanta, Georgia on November 23, 2005, as the world’s largest aquarium. With more than 8 million gallons of marine and fresh water, and more than 100,000 animals of 500 different species, the Georgia Aquarium is also home to three Beluga whales. The newest aquarium facility in the world with an 800,000 gallon state-of-the-art beluga whale habitat, the facility is specially designed to provide an enriched environment for the beluga whales that simulates their natural environment. Because belugas whales live in cold water environments the water will be kept at 55 degrees Fahrenheit or about 13 degrees Celsius. The facility is located at 225 Baker Street. Admission for adults is $22.75 and for children, $17. Additional information on the Georgia Aquarium can be found at www.georgiaaquarium.org.

High Museum of Art

Chuck Close: Self-Portraits 1967–2005

To June 18, 2006

One of the most influential figurative painters of our time, Chuck Close has remained a vital presence by focusing exclusively on portraiture, a subject that often receives little attention in contemporary art. Including a broad array of examples from through-out Close's career, the exhibition provides a fascinating glimpse of an artist's self-examination through time. The exhibition is co-organized by the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA).

Website: www.high.org 

Berlin

Jewish Museum

PSYCHOanalyse: Sigmund Freud's 150th birthday

To August 27, 2006

Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, was born on May 6 1856 in Freiberg, now Pribor in the Czech Republic. This exhibition commemorates Freud's life, his work and his impact on modern psychoanalytical concepts and methods. Exhibits include his earliest childhood memories, his research in Trieste and Paris, his family life and his exile in London after the Nazis annexed Austria. A reproduction of Freud's famous couch is here (the original is in London's Freud Museum), along with 140 photos from Berlin-based psychoanalysts.

Jewish Museum, Lindenstrasse 9-14, 10969 Berlin-Kreuzberg. Website: http://www.juedisches-museum-berlin.de/site/DE/homepage.php   

Schloss Neuhardenberg

The Third Reich and Music

To June 25, 2006

This fascinating exhibition of 200 paintings, photographs, posters and documents captures the importance of music to the Nazi regime. Hitler and his cronies used the works of classical composers such as Bach, Beethoven, Bruckner and especially Wagner for their propaganda, while the more modern sounds of Kurt Weill, Hans Eisler and Paul Hindemith were pilloried as “cultural Bolshevism”. American jazz and swing was banned from public radio as “negro music”, and Jewish composers and musicians were deported to concentration camps or forced into exile. This exhibition offers an impressively wide range of visual and audio material.

The exhibit takes place at the Schloss Neuhardenbert, the former home of Carl-Hans von Hardenberg, an aristocrat who was imprisoned after being implicated in the assassination plot against Hitler in 1944. Today the castle is run by a foundation that promotes cultural links between eastern and western Europe, and houses a hotel, a fine restaurant, café and exhibition space.

Schloss Neuhardenberg is located an hour’s travel east of Berlin. on Kavaliershaus, Schinkelplatz, 15320 Neuhardenberg. For more information, visit http://www.schlossneuhardenberg.com/programm/ausstellungenuebersicht.php   

Copenhagen

Rosenborg Castle

King Christian IV and Rosenborg

To August 30, 2006

Rosenborg Castle marks its 400th anniversary with an exhibition on King Christian IV. Danes call him the "builder king" because many of Denmark's best-known buildings were built during his reign including Copenhagen's Round Tower, Børsen, and Rosenborg itself. Tours will be conducted of his private apartments, virtually unchanged since the 1600s, and rarely exhibited treasures from the Royal Collections will also be on view. The museum tells the history of the Danish kings through 300 years, from Frederik II in the late 16th century to Frederik VII in the 19th century. It also houses some of Denmark’s greatest cultural treasures, not least the Crown Jewels and the Danish Crown Regalia. Website: http://www.rosenborgslot.dk/asp/menu/menupages/frontpage_2.asp?countryID=2   

LONDON,

Speedy Cruises On The River Thames In London

A thrilling new way to experience London is a cruise on the Thames River. London Rib Voyages are offering one hour cruises along the river in custom built Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs) which take passengers past the main attractions and pick up speed for an exhilarating and informative ride. Starting at the London Eye, the cruise goes past the Houses of Parliament, the Tower of London and the National Maritime Museum all the way to the Thames Barrier, which protects the city from flooding. An experienced captain and guide accompany up to 12 passengers and provide expert knowledge of London and the history of the River Thames. The RIBs combine maneuverability with high standards of comfort, allowing passengers to get closer to the water and really ‘feel’ the river. The cruise is appropriate for all ages and life jackets and sailing jackets (for cold weather) are provided. Cruises run daily (started April 3) from 11.15am to 4.15pm, tickets cost £25 (around $44).

Website: www.londonribvoyages.com  

Chelsea Flower Show 2006

May 23 to 27

Venue: Royal Hospital, Chelsea

This annual show takes place at the Royal Hospital grounds in Chelsea. The show replicates stunning gardens and offers the latest in garden design trends. This year, the 20 gardens include creations from top garden designers Jinny Blom, Chris Beardshaw and Tom Stuart Smith.

Inspired by the west coast of Auckland, the 100% Pure New Zealand Garden reflects the close relationship between the city and the natural coastline. The Jurassic Coast Garden’, designed by Nick Williams-Ellis, aims to raise awareness of the dramatic Jurassic Coast – England’s first world heritage site. Adding to the cosmopolitan feel of the show is the ‘Gorilla Jungle Garden’, set in a West African forest environment.

A highlight of the show is the Great Pavilion where more than 100 nurseries and growers exhibit thousands of plants. These impressive displays are the result of months of painstaking work. Leading British nurseries will be presenting roses, bonsai, orchids and much more.  Providing an international flavor are Borneo Exotics (from Sri Lanka), the Trinidad and Tobago Horticultural Society and the Barbados Horticultural Society.

Gardening accessories will be sold and flower arranging demonstrations are also scheduled.

The Royal Hospital is located on Royal Hospital Road, SW3, close the underground station at Sloane Square. The grounds open at 8 am daily. May 23 and 24 are for Royal Horticultural Society members only. Tickets, which must be purchased in advance, are: £12 - £42.

Book online at www.rhs.org.uk/flowershows  or phone +44 (0)870 906 3781

Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2006

July 4 to 9, 2006

Another popular garden show takes place every year at the Hampton Court Palace and surrounding parkland that provide an idyllic setting for the world’s largest horticultural show. This event features stunning landscaped show and water gardens bursting with inspirational ideas for your garden, as well as, a spectacular range of flowers, plants and gardening accessories to browse and buy. More information at http://www.rhs.org.uk/hamptoncourt/2006/index.asp.

IceSpace Opens In London May 1

May 1 to June 30, 2006

Tickets are now on sale for IceSpace, the world's largest attraction made of ice (outside arctic climate), opening to the public on May 1 in London. IceSpace, this summer's coolest visitor attraction, is being built next to Tower Bridge on the south bank of the River Thames. The 300-ft-long and 70-ft-high structure will weigh more than 200 tons, equivalent to 200,000 liters of water. Everything will be created by the world's leading ice sculptors on a scale never seen outside frozen climates and the Arctic Circle including an outdoor ice rink.

The experience is expected to attract 300 visitors through its doors every hour; it will also hold up to 500 people for parties and evening events.

On entering the IceSpace Projection Pod, visitors will be greeted with an audio visual presentation in the 70ft high Stratosphere, before collecting specially designed coats from the cloakroom areas to enter a world made of ice; from ice chairs to chandeliers. In the Ice Art Gallery visitors will be able to admire contemporary ice creations by leading artists, combined with state of the art lighting. There will also be live themed performances by mime artists and contortionists.

At the far end of the gallery will be a large stage where visitors will be able to watch exciting activities and displays including live ice sculpting.

Tickets are being sold in association with Ticketmaster and will be available from www.icespace.net  or by calling 0870 4000 830.

New York

New Website Allows NYC Foodies to Eat Cheap

DiningFever.com is a free and easy-to-use website that is exclusively dedicated to displaying restaurant-special-offers and discounts, redeemable at numerous eateries in the city. On the website, consumers can find great deals offered by high-end restaurants, casual cafe's, and even fast food establishments.

The website allows the visitor to search specific restaurant deals by Cuisine, Neighborhood, Restaurant Name, Day-of-the-Week, as well as other categories. In addition, visitors can sign up for the "Top Deals Newsletter", which will directly send new and exclusive deals to the subscribers email inbox. The variety of special offers also includes great discounts and savings for those who want to dine-in at home through delivery or takeout.

Finding a deal is easy: Visitors can search through the categories listed, or jump ahead and click on the special deals listed on the home page. Once users find their preferred deal, they follow the directions to either print the certificate or just mention DiningFever.com at the restaurant. Many deals are displayed for a limited time, and the list of special-offers changes daily, so users should stop by frequently to stay up to date with what's new. No membership or fees are required, and the website does not require the user to provide any personal information.

DiningFever.com launched in March 2006. This site is dedicated to searching for value-for-money dining bargains in the New York City area. DiningFever.com continuously works with restaurants to create and make available exclusive special offers, allowing the user to find the best deals in dining. Website: http://www.diningfever.com   

Morgan Library Reopens After Major Renovation And Expansion

On April 29, after being closed for almost three years during a major expansion and renovation, the Morgan Library & Museum reopensd. The facility houses one of the world's greatest collections of artistic, literary, musical, and historical works. Included in its holdings are original scores by Mozart and Beethoven, drawings by Rembrandt and Rubens, medieval and Renaissance works, three Gutenberg Bibles, literary manuscripts by Dickens and Twain, and three thousand year-old Near Eastern carvings.

The $106-million building project, designed by Pritzker Prize–winning architect Renzo Piano, provides the museum and center for scholarly research with double the exhibition space for its world-renowned collections. In addition to expanded exhibition space, the project includes a dramatic new entrance on Madison Avenue; a spacious central court that serves as a gathering place, in the spirit of an Italian piazza; a new, 280-seat performance hall; a naturally lit reading room; much-needed storage space for collections; and a number of visitor amenities, such as two new cafés and a gift shop. Find out more by clicking the special section on Morgan.

American Museum Of Natural History

Lizards & Snakes: Alive!

July 1 to January 7, 2007

American Museum Of Natural History

Lizards & Snakes: Alive! introduces visitors to a diversity of legged and legless lizards, including snakes—a group known as squamates. Grounded in the evolutionary history of the group, Lizards & Snakes showcases live animals and their remarkable adaptations, including projectile tongues, deadly venom, amazing camouflage, and sometimes surprising modes of locomotion.

With more than 60 animals representing 27 species from the Amazon, the Caribbean and Galápagos Islands, and countries such as Cuba, Egypt, Fiji, Guatemala, Kenya, Madagascar, Mexico, New Guinea, New Zealand, Sudan, and the United States, the specimens range from a four-inch tropical girdled lizard to a fifteen-foot Burmese python that are shown in re-created habitats, complete with ponds, tree limbs, rock ledges, and live plants. Numerous interactive stations throughout the exhibition will invite visitors to listen to recorded squamate sounds, get a close up look at live geckos, test their knowledge about squamates, explore the inner workings of a rattlesnake on the hunt, and view videos of lizards and snakes. An activity center for children, located at the end of the exhibition, featuring more than a dozen hands-on exhibits and activities—from matching lizards to their habitats to assembling squamate skeletons—will include touchable skin casts, puzzles, question-and-answer sliders, games, and more.

The exhibit will also feature a wide range of fossil specimens and fossil casts. Among the highlights is a fossil cast of a Megalania prisca, the largest-known terrestrial squamate, which achieved sizes up to 9.5 meters (30 feet). This ancient relative of today’s monitor lizards lived in Australia during the Pleistocene (from 1.6 million to 40,000 years ago).

The exhibition will also touch on the latest research on squamates, including breakthroughs in scientific applications resulting from the study of gecko toe morphology, innovations in remote-sensing that mimic the heat-sensing organs of boas and pitvipers, and advances in diabetes research (www.amnh.org), in collaboration with the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Atlanta, and the San Diego Natural History Museum, with appreciation to Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland.

The Museum’s Department of Herpetology,  one of the world’s foremost centers of research on reptiles and amphibians, has pioneered research on squamates and their relatives— including frogs, toads, salamanders, alligators, crocodiles, and turtles—conducting work that has been useful to conservation efforts worldwide. For more than a century, Museum herpetologists and their colleagues have led expeditions to remote regions of the globe to study reptile and amphibian species in their natural habitats and to gather specimens for detailed examination. As a result, the department’s holdings now rank as one of the five largest in the world, with more than 351,000 specimens—representing over half the world’s species of amphibians and reptiles. This collection, one of the most heavily used herpetological resources in the world, enables researchers to study the evolutionary history, reproductive biology, and even the diet of squamates and their relatives; to lay the groundwork for the study of their benefits to society; and to develop analyses necessary for making conservation decisions.

Website: www.amnh.org    

Journey Into Amazing Caves, Opens May 30, 2006,

This gripping 40-minute IMAX film follows cave explorers traveling through treacherous caves in some of Earth’s most extreme environments searching for microorganisms with possible new medical applications. Narrated by Academy Award nominee Liam Neeson and featuring music by the classic rock band the Moody Blues, the film takes audiences on an adventure through natural underground landscapes that are as stunning as any place on Earth’s surface.

Journey into Amazing Caves trails cave explorer Nancy Aulenbach and microbiologist Hazel Barton as they travel through places once thought to be off limits to humans, not to mention IMAX cameras. Audiences will accompany Aulenbach and Barton as they rappel down a sheer vertical cliff in Little Colorado River Canyon, Arizona; drop into shimmering labyrinths of ice in Greenland; and squeeze through tiny, twisting, flooded passages in Dos Ojos in the Yucatán jungle.

Screenings of Journey into Amazing Caves will be held daily in the LeFrak Theater every hour on the half hour from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tickets, which include Museum admission, are $21.00 for adults, $16.00 for students and seniors, and $12.00 for children. To purchase tickets in advance, the public should call 212-769-5200 or visit www.amnh.org. A service charge may apply.

Frick Museum

Goya’s Last Works

To May 14, 2006

Goya’s Last Works is the first exhibition in the United States to concentrate exclusively on the final phase of this artist’s career. It is the third in a series of critically acclaimed presentations focused on Spanish art at The Frick Collection, following Velázquez in New York Museums (1999) and El Greco: Themes and Variations (2001).

The exhibition features approximately fifty works by Goya, including oil portraits of friends and family who accompanied and aided him in his final years, drawings from his last two albums made primarily for himself, lithographs—a new medium that he quickly mastered—and experimental tiny paintings on ivory. Lenders to the exhibition include private and public collections in Spain and the United States. Website: www.frick.org

Paris

Picasso Museum

Picasso—Dora Maar

To May 22

Still time to catch this exhibit of 250 Picasso works from 1935 to 1945. Drawn from public and private collections, the show also features photos taken by Ms Maar.

The Picasso Museum is located at 5 rue de Throigny. Website: www.musee-picasso.fr    

Prague

Prague Spring International Music Festival

May 11 to June 3

This year’s annual festival includes performances by national orchestras from Austria, Japan and Russia in addition to the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. Many of the concerts will be focusing on Mozart in this year of his 250^th anniversary of his birth. Zubin Mehta will be conducting the Vienna Philharmonic in a program of Mozart and Mahler. Website: www.festival.cz

San Francisco

San Francisco Museum of Art

The Surreal Calder

Until May 21, 2006

Alexander Calder, an inventive painter, sculptor, jewelery designer and mobile-maker, is known as a master of modernism. This show examines the Surrealist influences in his work, which includes his early mechanized sculptures, such as “Goldfish Bowl (1929), and works made from found objects, such as Gibraltar (1936). The 40 or so pieces in the exhibition include a few notable Surrealist works by Max Ernst, Renée Magritte, Joan Miró and Yves Tanguy. Website: http://www.sfmoma.org

San Francisco Ballet

To June 6, 2006

The San Francisco Ballet performs eight diverse programs, including “Swan Lake”, choreographed by Helgi Tomasson, the company’s artistic director, and “Sylvia”, a three-act ballet by Mark Morris, an acclaimed modern choreographer.

This season the company will honor the work of choreographer Jerome Robbins, with a selection of his works. Website: http://www.sfballet.org/index.aspx  

Seville, Spain

New Flamenco Museum Opens In April

The Museum of Flamenco Dancing, (Museo del Baile Flamenco) has opened in Seville in Andalusia, birthplace of this centuries-old art form. Cristina Hoyos, one of flamenco’s most acclaimed stars and the brainchild behind the new museum, founded it in her hometown in southern Spain to “spread the gospel of flamenco dance.” Conceived as a meeting place for aficionados and a dance school, visitors will be able to learn more about the history of flamenco and its “immortals” and even try their hand, or rather feet, at a zapateado— the rhythmic combinations of sounds from stepping with toe, sole and heel

The $4.8 million three-story museum sits in the historic heart of Seville, between two of the city’s most striking monuments: the 14th-century Gothic cathedral and the 10th-century mudéjar-style Royal Palace.  Designed for visitors as well as professionals and housed in a lovingly-restored 18th-century building, the museum will have galleries for exhibitions and offer performances, master classes and courses in dance, singing and guitar.

The director and choreographer of Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía, Cristina Hoyos has been dancing in the peñas (private clubs for aficionados) and tablaos of Spain and in theatres throughout the world for 38 years.  For twenty years she was the first dancer of the Antonio Gaddes Company and in 1989 she formed her own dance group. Her performances in the renowned flamenco films of Carlos Saura have inspired generations of flamenco aficionados and she has been awarded the National Dance Prize, Golden Medal for Fine Arts and the Andalusia Prize for Culture.

One of Spain’s most popular destinations, Seville offers splendid monuments, the picturesque Barrio Santa Cruz and plenty of places serving the region’s signature tapas. The city’s immense cathedral – bigger in volume than St. Peter’s – was begun in 1434 on the grounds of the 12th century Almohad mosque. The landmark Moorish bell tower, or famed Giralda is all that remains. The old port area, El Arenal has arguably the world’s most important bullring and a bullfighting museum. Triana, the old gypsy quarter, is still considered the spiritual heart of flamenco tradition. Seville will host the 14th Biennial de Flamenco (9/13-10/15) and will be the site of the World Fair of Flamenco (9/27-10/01). 

The Museum of Flamenco Dancing, or Museo del Baile Flamenco, is located at 3 Calle Manuel Rojas Marcos, 41.004 Seville.  Call: 011-34-954-34-03-11, fax: 011-34-954-34-03-64 or email: info@museoflamenco.com.  Detailed information in Spanish about performances and classes is on www.museoflamenco.ne. From April to October, the museum is open from 9 AM to 7 PM and from November to March from 9 AM to 6 PM.  Admission is about $12 for adults and about $7.25 for children.

The following tour operators offer packages to Andalusia and can help in arranging trips to the region: Central Holidays www.centralholidays.com/andalucia (866) 521-4180; Spanish Heritage Tours  www.shtours.com  (800) 456-5050; Sun Holidays www.sunholidaytours.com (800) 422-8000 and Trafalgar Tours www.trafalgar.com  (800) 854-0103.  For more information about the region of Andalusia contact: the Tourist Office of Spain at 212-265-8822 or www.spain.info or go to www.andalucia.org. 

Toronto

The Ontario Science Centre’s OMNIMAX® Theatre

BUGS! A Rainforest Adventure opens at

Opens May 5

Audiences can step into the incredible insect world this spring, with the IMAX® film BUGS! A Rainforest Adventure. This live-action drama delivers an entertaining and enlightening experience about the little guys in life. BUGS! A Rainforest Adventure, is the true story of a praying mantis called Hierodula and a butterfly called Papilio and follows their life cycles from birth to their inevitable encounter in the rainforest of Southeast Asia — where predator meets its prey. Filmed on location in the jungles of Borneo this 40-minute feature is directed by Mike Slee, co-written with Abby Aron and narrated by Academy Award Winner, Dame Judi Dench. With a supporting cast of intriguing and extraordinary insects and shot entirely from the bug’s perspective BUGS! A Rainforest Adventure brings us face-to-face with an amazing universe, where grass is the size of skyscrapers and raindrops are as big as cannonballs. From caterpillar to butterfly is a classic tale, and complete metamorphosis is one of the most amazing events in nature. We wanted to bring this in all its glory to the big screen. It also worked well for our story that the mantis and butterfly would eventually meet with inevitable consequences,” said director Slee.

The Ontario Science Centre uses science as the lens to inspire and actively engage people in new ways of seeing, understanding and thinking about themselves and the world. The Science Centre is also a leading developer of interactive exhibitions for science centers around the world. Website: www.OntarioScienceCentre.ca  

Verona, Italy

The 2006 Opera Festival in the Arena di Verona  

June 24 to August 27

The 84th Opera Festival of the Fondazione Arena di Verona will present five operas and 45 performances. Two famous operas will inaugurate the summer season: Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni and Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo (which will return to the Arena after 10 years) with two new stage designs, entrusted to the director Gilbert Deflo and the Stage and Costume designer William Orlandi, created in close symbiosis with the monumental and striking stage space in the Roman amphitheatre. For Cavalleria, the main interpreters will be Giovanna Casola (in the role of Santuzza) and Vincenzo La Scola in the role of Turiddu alongside Rossana Rinaldi (Lola) and Carlos Almaguer (Alfio); in Pagliacci Svetla Vassileva will be Nedda and José Cura will be Canio while the role of Tonio will be played by Leo Nucci. The Orchestra and Chorus of the Arena di Verona will be conducted by Vjekoslav Sutej, who has been a regular guest at our amphitheatre. Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci will be performed a total of seven times  until August 17th.

The second opera in the program is Aida by Giuseppe Verdi, the most loved and most performed opera in the Arena: since 1913, the year in which the opera seasons in the biggest open air theatre in the world were inaugurated, 46 editions of the opera have been presented with a total of 473 performances. Even this year Aida is destined to have the most number of performances (16, until August 27th); the successful stage design is directed by Franco Zeffirelli (director and stage designer) with costumes by Anna Anni, who is very popular with the audience as is the conductor Daniel Oren, a particular favorite of the spectators as well as being a notable protagonist in the Arena.

The cast of singers includes prestigious names such as Micaela Carosi and Amarilli Nizza who will alternate the title role, Piero Giuliacci and Marco Berti (Radames), Luciana D’Intino and Tichina Vaughn (Amneris), Mark Rucker, Silvano Carroli and Alberto Mastromarino (Amonasro), Giorgio Surian, Giacomo Prestia, Vitaly Kovaljov and Marco Spotti (Ramfis), and once again Marco Spotti and Paolo Battaglia in the role of the king.

The choreography of the famous dances will be entrusted to Vladimir Vassiliev.

The three other operas being presented are Madama Butterfy, Carmen and Tosca.

Website: www.arena.it  

Washington DC

National Gallery of Art

Cézanne in Provence

To May 7, 2006

Cézanne in Provence is the principal international exhibition marking 2006 as the centenary of the death of Paul Cézanne (1839–1906). A key figure in the impressionist and post-impressionist movements, he is often seen as the father of modern art. This exhibition, by focusing on the works Cézanne painted in and around his native Aix-en-Provence, celebrates the landscape and the rich associations it had for him.

Approximately 117 of Cézanne's greatest oil paintings and watercolors will demonstrate his intense, emotional engagement with the countryside of his birthplace, where he painted some of his most compelling landscapes, penetrating portraits of family members, and the monumental Bathers from the National Gallery, London. Works depicting such scenes as Cézanne's family home of Jas de Bouffan, Mont Sainte-Victoire, the Mediterranean coast at L'Estaque, the dramatic quarry at Bibémus, and the Château Noir will come from public and private collections throughout Europe and the United States. Passes: Passes are not required for this exhibition. Website: www.nga.org

The exhibition travels to France where it will open in  Aix-en-Provence, June 9–September 17, 2006

The Philips Collection

Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841–1919)

Luncheon of the Boating Party, 1880–81

Oil on canvas, 51 ¼ x 69 1/8 inches Acquired 1923

The Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C.

The Renoir Returns: A Celebration of Masterworks at The Phillips Collection

April 15–July 30, 2006

Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s Luncheon of the Boating Party, one of the greatest impressionist paintings ever created, returns home to Washington following a record-breaking four-year tour to seven U.S. cities and exhibitions in Switzerland, Japan, Italy, and France. The Luncheon of the Boating Party, along with approximately 60 of the museum’s best-loved paintings and sculpture, will be reinstalled, including major works by some of the most important European artists intimately associated with the development of modernism—Pierre Bonnard, Georges Braque, Paul Cézanne, Edgar Degas, Paul Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh, Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, Henri Matisse, Claude Monet, and Pablo Picasso. These masterworks were shared with a global audience while the museum completed an addition and renovation to further enhance visitors’ experience of art. Highlights of this project include additional galleries, a 180-seat auditorium, an art and technology lab for online resources and programs, an activity room for hands-on art education projects, student exhibition spaces, a new and expanded library, a sculpture courtyard, and a new café.

Degas, Sickert and Toulouse-Lautrec:

London and Paris, 1870–1910

February 18–May 14, 2006

In the topsy-turvy art world of the late 19th century, a creatively charged dialogue between French and British artists emerged, pushing the limits of composition and delivering inventive depictions of public and private life on both sides of the channel. Focusing on the impact of Edgar Degas on Walter Sickert and his contemporaries in Britain, this spirited exhibition also features many works by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, as well as paintings by Pierre Bonnard, James Tissot, Sir William Rothenstein, James Abbott McNeill Whistler, and Edouard Vuillard. Arriving directly from Tate Britain in London, the exhibition includes over 100 works—many never before on public view.

The Phillips Collection is the only other venue for this revealing look at a dynamic artistic exchange at the birth of modernism.

Klee and America

June 17–September 10, 2006

Swiss artist Paul Klee’s (1879–1940) remarkable work has long struck a responsive chord in America, with both collectors and artists. He was greatly admired by the abstract expressionists for his inventiveness and genius for composition. Earlier, he had a profound influence on Germany’s Bauhaus, and his work was a victim of Nazi art purges. Approximately 80 works of extraordinary quality will be on view, among them works collected by Ernest Hemingway, Clifford Odetts, and Mies van der Rohe. The Phillips Collection’s 13 works by Klee, one of the cornerstones of the collection, has served as inspiration for American artists including Richard Diebenkorn, Gene Davis, and Kenneth Noland. Website: http://www.phillipscollection.org/html   

Smithsonian Institution

Freer Gallery of Art

Artists of Edo: 1800-1850

Through May 29, 2006

This exhibition presents approximately 30 paintings and prints representing the distinctive styles of early nineteenth-century artists active in the large metropolis of Edo.

Following its establishment as the site of the Tokugawa shoguns' administrative government in the early 17th century, Edo developed a cultural and artistic identity distinct from that of Kyoto, where the emperor and nobles continued to reside. Edo artists of the Kano and Sumiyoshi schools worked on commission for the shoguns and high-ranking patrons of the warrior and aristocratic class, while artists belonging to other schools such as the Rimpa school, which began in Kyoto in the early 17th century, perfected simplified compositions and distinctive techniques.

talented students. The exhibition includes the work of several of Hokusai's followers.

Website:  http://www.asia.si.edu          

Smithsonian's American History Museum To Close For Renovation

The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington will close for nearly two years starting September 5 to undergo renovations. The revamped museum will feature a new gallery displaying the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner."

  Travel Warnings & Information

Warnings and Advice covering both travel and health issues in countries can be found at the Department of State homesite www. http://travel.state.gov/travel/travel_1744.htm.  

Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department recommends that Americans avoid a certain country. The countries currently listed can be found at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html.

The State Department issues Public Announcements to disseminate information quickly about terrorist threats and other relatively short-term conditions that pose significant risks or disruptions to Americans. The current Public Announcements are listed at

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_1766.html.

Information on countries can be found in the Consular section of the DOS website at

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1765.html.

Information on Avian Flu can be found at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/health/health_1181.html.