European Headlines for Travelers
What's happening in Europe? Check this page every weekday for links to news of special interest to travelers...
Monday, February 8
- Service doesn't necessarily come with a smile in Paris and the customer is not always right (BBC)
- Treats for all at Venice carnival (ANSA)
- The Venetian islands locals want to keep to themselves (Guardian)
- How to beat record-high rates for rental cars (Seattle Times)
- Bulldozers threaten Moscow artists' colony (Guardian)
Miss a day? Check out this week's archived headlines
...and here's a summary of recent European and travel news...
Stuttgart's Porsche Museum Marks One-Year Anniversary
February 5 — The Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, Germany is celebrating is one-year anniversary with several special events. In its first year of operation, the futuristic museum has drawn 530,000 visitors to see 80 exhibits, a rotating collection of 300 rare cars, and historical models. Visitors can also watch reconstruction of Porsche models underway in the Museum Workshop.
Safer Beer Pints Proposed in Britain
February 4 — Could shatter-proof pint glasses be one solution to alcohol-fueled violence in British pubs? The Home Office thinks so, and has enlisted a team of engineers to come up with new, shatter-proof pint glasses. The goal is to reduce the number of glass-related injuries in pubs (87,000 last year). But pub owners, already struggling to stay afloat in tough economic times, are concerned about the cost of replacing their beer glasses.
France Refuses Citizenship to Man with Veiled Wife
February 3 — France's department of immigration has refused to grant citizenship to the Muslim husband of a Frenchwoman who wears the full Islamic veil. An immigration official said the application was denied on grounds that the man was "depriving his wife of her liberty" by requiring her to have her face covered. The French government is considering a partial ban on full veils in public places, and a recommendation to refuse residence permits and citizenship to anyone "showing visible signs of radical religious practice."
Heathrow, Manchester Airports Enforce Passenger Scanning Rules
February 1 — Passengers at London's Heathrow and Manchester airports who refuse to comply with a full-body scan will not be allowed to board their airplanes, according to new security rules there. Only a small number of passengers will be selected for the scans, which are part of new security for US-bound flights.
Public Given Access to Pompeii Excavation in Progress
February 1 — Beginning this month, the public will be able to see first-hand the excavation and restoration of the House of the Chaste Lovers at the archeological site of Pompeii. Visitors will be able to enter parts of the building where archaeologists are at work, in an "open-door" excavation that Pompeii officials hope will give the public a greater understanding of both Pompeii and the work that is involved in bringing its treasures to light. The House of the Chaste Lovers is named for a fresco on one of its interior walls.
Times Readers Name Istanbul No. 1 Place to Go
February 1 — In an nonscientific poll, New York Times readers recently named Istanbul as their most-recommended destination for 2010 travel. Rounding out the top 5 were Columbia, Seoul, Costa Rica, and New York City.