European Headlines for Travelers
What's happening in Europe? Check this page every weekday for links to news of special interest to travelers...
Friday, November 20
- Britain hit by floods after heavy rain; Lake District gets heaviest rainfall ever recorded (New York Times)
- 10 weather-proof places to visit in Britain (Guardian)
- Stylish spots in Istanbul (New York Times)
- Color restored to Roman altar to peace (ANSA)
- Huge pink snails invade Milan (ANSA)
- Italian museum will showcase rare masterpieces by Giorgione (ANSA)
Miss a day? Check out this week's archived headlines
...and here's a summary of recent European and travel news...
Ten Best Christmas Markets
November 19 — The Guardian newspaper in London has named its favorite Christmas markets in the United Kingdom and on the Continent. Their favorite UK markets are: Greenwich Market in London (Dec 9-24 and 27-31), Leeds Christkindlmarkt in Yorkshire (Nov 13-Dec 20), the Padstow Christmas Festival in Cornwall (Dec 4–6), the Fête dé Noué in Jersey (Nov 26-Dec 20), and Caerphilly Market in Wales (Dec 12-13). Their favorite European markets are in Zurich, Switzerland (Nov 27-Dec 24); Mechelen, Belgium (Dec 18-20); Tallinn, Estonia (Nov 29-Jan 7); Krakow, Poland (Dec 1-31); and Nord-Pas de Calais, France (Nov 27-Dec 24).
Credit Card Security Breach in Spain
November 18 — A massive credit-card security breach in Spain has caused one German bank to recall upwards of 100,000 cards as a precaution. The European offices of Visa and Mastercard say their systems were compromised but so far they've received no actual reports of fraud. There were no reports of US-issued cards being affected.
Venetians Stage Mock Funeral
November 16 — A group of Venetians staged a mock funeral for their city on Saturday, bemoaning the historic city's falling native population. The increasingly expensive lagoon city now has only about 60,000 full-time residents, as more and more buildings are converted into hotels and rental apartments for the over 2 million tourists who visit each year. City officials say the funeral bell is being tolled too soon, pointing out that the total lagoon population is closer to 120,000 if students and residents of nearby islands are included.
Prague to Reenact Velvet Revoluation
November 11 — Prague will stage an reenactment of the Velvet Revolution on November 17, marking the 20th anniversary of the student protests that drew police beatings and arrests but ultimately lead to a democratic Czech Republic. A commemorative "20 Years Without the Curtain" parade will trace the route from Albertov to Narodni Street, where a memorial service will be held, followed by a concert. Former political prisoner (and former Czech Republic president) Vaclav Havel is scheduled to participate. The event is open to the public and sponsored by the nonprofit group Curtain.
Filmmuseum Under Construction in Amsterdam
November 10 — Ground has been broken on a new building for Amsterdam's Filmmuseum. The angular building will rise above the harbor across from the Central Station and is expected to open in 2011. The current museum, within the Vondelpark, will remain open during the construction project.
Rome's "Chariot Angels" Ready to Answer Questions
November 9 — Tourists with questions about transportation, sights, and hotels in Rome have a new source of information: the "Chariot Angels." Rome's tourist information office has stationed 16 workers in bright red-and-yellow, chariot-shaped, modified Segways around the city center, Fiumicino Airport, and Termini Station. The Chariot Angels are fluent in six languages. Unlike the chariots of Ancient Rome, these chariots have a top speed of about 4 miles per hour.
Germany Marks Berlin Wall Anniversary
November 9 — German citizens, tourists, and leaders from around the world are flooding to Berlin today to mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. German Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and Polish leader Lech Walsea to the event, which included music from Bon Jovi and Beethoven and memorials for the 136 people killed trying to cross the border during its 28-year history. One thousand giant plastic dominos were placed along a 1.5-mile section of the wall's former route and were to be toppled Monday night. Also in Berlin to mark the anniversary are US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
No Fee to Book by Phone with Expedia
November 5 — The online travel agency Expedia has eliminated its $20 fee for booking airfares by phone, hoping to lure more customers away from airlines and traditional travel agencies. Only a small minority of airline passengers book by phone, and often face steep fees from online travel agencies and airlines, ranging from $25 per ticket at Orbitz or Travelocity to $35 per ticket at US Airways.
London's Mayor Proposes Monument to "Rival Eiffel Tower"
November 2 — The mayor of London has proposed that the city build a £15 million monument at its Olympic Park, "to rival the Eiffel Tower in Paris." A panel is considering proposed designs from five artists and is expected to announce its decision within the next few weeks. The monument would be paid for by the wealthiest man in Britain (and eighth richest man in the world), industrialist Lakshmi Mittal.
North African Sun to Power Europe
November 2 — A Munich, Germany-based consortium has announced plans for a enormous Sahara Desert solar project that could supply 15 percent of Europe's energy needs within the next four decades. Electricity could start flowing from the system of solar power plants as early as 2015. The project would build a huge network of solar power plants in North Africa and the Middle East that would superheat water, powering steam turbines to generate electricity. A portion of the power generated would be used locally, with the remainder being transported over high-capacity cables to Europe.