While resort business has resumed to near normalcy in the key tourist areas and international airlines are fully operational, the north-eastern and central regions of Fiji, which bore the brunt of the cyclone’s passing, have been declared a disaster zone by Fiji’s Disaster Management Authority (DISMAC).

Regional Director The Americas Tourism Fiji Ili Matatolu commented, “We are extremely grateful that any inconvenience this situation has incurred for our international visitors has been kept to an absolute minimum, particularly on Viti Levu and in the Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands.”

In the Northern region of Fiji, Vanua Levu, Taveuni and Savusavu resorts are operational and some telephone lines and power supply have resumed, but domestic air travel to the north east still is not operational while local aviation authorities assess damage to runways and airport facilities. According to regular communications received from hoteliers and resort operators in the northeastern division via satellite and cell phones, all reports indicate that all guests and staff in Vanua Levu, Taveuni and Savusavu are safe despite the damages.

Chief Executive Officer Jo Tuamoto said that even though the northeast has suffered as a result of the cyclone, he remains confident the region will return to normalcy in a very quick amount of time. “We Fijians are an extremely resilient people,” he said. “While TC Tomas is one of the bigger weather fronts we have experienced in recent times, we are nonetheless very experienced at preparing for this kind of event.”

Tuamoto says that it is business as usual for Fiji’s western region tourism industry, which was completely unaffected by TC Tomas. In both the Mamanuca and Yasawa regions of Fiji, inter-island ferries and cruise services are operational. Domestic carrier Pacific Sun has also recommenced its daily air services between Nadi, Suva and Labasa. Captain Cook Cruises recommenced sailing and Blue Lagoon Cruises is expected to sail from its homeport of Lautoka.

For information regarding the travel to the Fiji Islands, contact Tourism Fiji located at 5777 West Century Boulevard, Suite 220 in Los Angeles, California. The tourism board can also be contacted directly by calling (310) 568-1616, via fax at (310) 670-2318, or by via email at infodesk@tourismfijius.com

The Art and Culture of Historic Towns and Modern Cities

Many of Germany’s towns and cities boast unusual, arresting mergers of modern architecture and historic buildings, perfect backdrops for both cultural endeavours and simple enjoyment. The GNTO’s newly released brochure focuses on a few centres of contemporary art and architecture, Berlin, Cologne and Frankfurt among them, along with lovingly preserved older townscapes, such as Wiesbaden and Rothenburg-ob-der-Tauber, with a two-page spread on the emerging cosmopolis of the Ruhr Valley, Europe’s Capital of Culture this year. (A 16-page supplement stapled into the brochure, sponsored by the federation that calls itself Magic Cities of Germany, gives some of these cities — Berlin, Cologne, Dresden, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hannover, Leipzig, Munich and Stuttgart — a second exposure in the publication.)

Themes and Variations

For travellers looking more for a themed holiday than a place to explore, Section Two of the new publication offers a panoply of topics, from heritage travel to family fun parks, Germany’s many automobile museums to its culinary high spots, “green” travel – by bike, to eco-conscious inns – to gay and lesbian travel, great shopping places and river cruises.

Going to the Country

Section Three of the new Destination Germany suggests the travel possibilities of the German countryside. The Black Forest may well be the most famous landscape for that kind of slow, cross-country holiday, but King Ludwig’s alpine Allgäu region, with its towering fairytale castles, is not far behind. A special subsection focuses on winter holidays in Germany – in Bavaria in particular, but also in such emerging winter sports destinations as Saxony and Thuringia, both also equipped for alpine skiing.

Final pages in the publication include a two-page map, directory of Canadian tour operators, a calendar of popular events and a range of service listings to help plan a trip to Germany.

For a free copy of the brochure and for general information on Germany, please contact the German National Tourist Office www.germany.travel

Photo: Ruhr Tourismus GmbH by Ralph Lueger

Finally, the Inca ruins site at Machu Picchu will reopen to international visitors as of April 1st. This reopening comes following a closure of two months caused by flooding. This is good news for this area, which makes a lot of money off the tourists that come from all over to visit these ruins.

Officials from PromPeru, the nation’s tourism body, did go on to confirm the reopening of the site. The reopening is made possible thanks to the repairs being successful to the rail links. These rail links had been damaged in the flood earlier this year.

The nearby Vilcanota River overran its banks back in January. It destroyed the rail and road links to the site. This had a severe impact on tourism to the area and even stranded many tourist at the site or many days. The tourists finally had to be airlifted out of the area by helicopter.

It took a long time for officials to airlift everyone out of the area for many reasons. First of all, bad weather continued to make it impossible to fly helicopters into the area. Second, many hikers, who had started on their joinery to the site many days before continued to show up at the site long after the flood waters had destroyed the link to the area. During this time, people had to deal with a very small supply of food and water.

Originally, repairs to the tracks were not expected to be done until mid-April. However, favorable weather conditions have allowed work to be completed way ahead of schedule. PeruRail will recommence its Vistabome train service to Agus Calientes on March 29th. However, Inca Citadel of Machu Picccu will not reopen to tourists until April 1st

Photo from Wordpress.com

Source: comparecarrentals.com/etn

“Hemingway fell in love with Key West and its energy,” said Dave Gonzales of the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum following a designation ceremony Sunday, March 14. “He lived here only nine years, but wrote 70 percent of his lifetime works in that 9-year period — the most prolific period of his life.”

Hemingway occupied the Key West home with his second wife Pauline and their two sons, and owned it until his death in 1961. Following his death, the unpublished manuscript that was to become “Islands in the Stream” was found in a vault in the property’s garage.

In 1964, the home became a museum honoring the Pulitzer and Nobel prize-winning author.

Its literary landmark designation, conferred by a division of the American Library Association, was presented by author Les Standiford.

“This is a recognition long overdue,” said Standiford, whose book “Last Train to Paradise” opens with a scene set on the property. “There are a number of other literary landmarks in Key West, but none dedicated to Hemingway.”

Among the island’s seven other literary landmarks are the former homes of playwright Tennessee Williams and poet Elizabeth Bishop.

Guided tours of the Hemingway house and grounds are offered daily. For more information, visit www.hemingwayhome.com.

For more information about Key West and the other Florida Keys, visit www.fla-keys.com

A new visitor center and museum is slated to be completed by Dec. 7, 2010, the 69th anniversary of the Japanese attack. The Pacific Aviation Museum is a significant addition to the enormously popular complex of historic military attractions at Pearl Harbor. The museum is located on Ford Island, a National Historic Landmark at the center of the Pearl Harbor Historic Site complex.

For more information, visit www.Hawaii.com

In Bangkok, the Songkran Grand Celebration will take place on Rattanakosin Island, beginning with the opening ceremony on April 10 at the Temple of the Reclining Buddha.

For information on Songkran festivities throughout Thailand, please visit: www.tourismthailand.org/festival-event/grand-content-7155.html

The theme this year is celebrating the best of Canada’s gardens and new this year a featured VIA Rail Garden Route display at the show (www.viarail.ca/garden). In this section at the Canada Blooms show will be representatives from areas across Canada including Ottawa and the Canadian Tulip Festival (www.tulipfestival.ca) now in its 58th year. The Ottawa delegation will be in Booth # 747.

Get a sneak peek of what will be happening at this year’s Canadian Tulip Festival that takes place May 7-24, 2010 throughout Canada’s Capital Region as well as information on Ottawa’s many public gardens and events happening this spring and summer.

Ottawa Tourism (www.ottawatourism.ca) makes it easy for visitors to book a trip to enjoy the Canadian Tulip Festival, where the visually stunning and colour images are easy on the eye and the budget too. Ottawa Tourism is offering a special Tulip Celebration package – 2-nights accommodation, a $13.00 per person specially priced Tulip Passport full of vouchers worth over $600.00 to area restaurants, spas, free museum passes and a unique gift from the Tulip Boutique and a certificate to receive a Rideau Centre Savings Directory and admission to either the Bytown Museum, Lady Dive Guided Tours or the National Arts Centre.

Information on Ottawa will be made available in the Canada Blooms media room as well as in Ottawa’s booth at the show – Booth # 747.

For Further Information:

www.ottawatourism.ca

www.tulipfestival.ca

No longer do you have to remember – for each trip – to photocopy documents to leave at home or your office, or travel with photocopies of just some (but not all) documents.

You can scan or photograph numerous important travel and personal documents. You can, and should, complete the (provided) Personal Profile and the Medical Profile. And you can even consolidate and record various Usernames and Passwords.

Having the ability, should an incident occur, to go to a government embassy or consulate, or even a bank in a foreign country, and provide irrefutable identification, may one day be invaluable. And should replacement documents ever be required, having the ability to reference online all of your important travel-related document numbers will certainly expedite the process.

AccessMyID.com can even be useful in your own city and home. Have you ever lost your wallet or purse and had to replace all your documents? Often, you may not remember everything that you carry in your wallet.

This site is becoming very popular – especially with women, adventure travelers and even business travelers. Subscription fees are just $19.95 for one year, $34.95 for two years and $49.95 for three years. I recommend that you have a look! https://www.accessmyid.com

Virginia has been the birthplace or home of some of the most beloved women artists. Ella Fitzgerald, Patsy Cline and Shirley MacLaine are American legends. Daphne Reid has delighted audiences as both an actress and director. Photographer Sally Mann, artist P. Buckley Moss and writer Rita Mae Brown are celebrated as among the very best of their medium. Their legacy is shared by women throughout Virginia whose talents inspire those around them.

From March through June 2010 Minds Wide Open offers more than 5,000 performances, exhibitions and events across Virginia to honor women who have shared the treasures of their hearts through artistic expression. Included are signature performances by the Richmond Ballet, Anoushka Shankar, the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra, Richmond Shakespeare and the Virginia Chamber Orchestra. Venues range from metropolitan concert halls and theaters to community centers and libraries.

Minds Wide Open offers a chance to take a memorable journey in Virginia through its Standing Ovation Vacation Sweepstakes. Twelve special arts getaways complete with tickets to events such as theater, ballet and concerts – and including accommodations and dining – will be given away from March through June 2010. Register to win at www.ArtsVA.com, where you can also find a complete schedule of Minds Wide Open events and exhibitions.

Love of art and of travel has always been among the best reasons to visit Virginia and each year the Commonwealth seems to add new venues to its existing collection. In Richmond the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts reopens in the spring of 2010 after the completion of a dazzling expansion project. Norfolk’s Chrysler Museum of Art houses a gorgeous collection of portraiture and Tiffany glass. The new Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke is a work of art in itself and houses paintings and sculpture by famous names. In Alexandria, the Torpedo Factory Art Center houses the working studios of more than 80 artists.

Performing arts have a home throughout the Commonwealth and draw audiences from around the world. Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts hosts the biggest names in music. The new Richmond Center Stage complex is a multi-venue facility for theater, music and dance. In Abingdon the historic Barter Theatre is where actors such as Patricia Neal, Ernest Borgnine and Gregory Peck got their professional starts. The mountain music venues of The Crooked Road – Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail are found throughout Southwest Virginia and are packed for each performance.

Special arts events can be found throughout Virginia at nearly any time of year. The Richmond Folk Festival and the Virginia Arts Festival are filled with song and dance while the Virginia Film Festival and the Virginia Festival of the Book draw film and literature enthusiasts from all over. Each June Virginia Beach’s Boardwalk Art Show Festival brings thousands to the beachfront. Lorton, in Northern Virginia, is one of several Virginia cities with a monthly Art Walk.

Combining the arts with visits to Virginia’s wineries, historic sites, wonderful restaurants, great cities and memorable small towns makes for the best of vacations or getaways and helps connect hearts to what’s really important. For trip planning information visit www.Virginia.org or call 1-800-VISITVA for a free Virginia is for Lovers Travel Guide.

Picture – The Taubman Museum of Art

The CN Tower will not be the only green thing in Toronto – Tourism Ireland is sponsoring the opening day of Canada Blooms with a $2 discount to all attendees who wear green that day. Visitors to the Tourism Ireland stand on St. Patrick’s Day will also receive giveaways and goodies including a Lonely Planet Guide to Ireland for the first 100 visitors. For those with a more dramatic flair, there will also be a themed photo booth where attendees can don a Paddy’s Day hat or shamrock glasses and take a souvenir photo.

Tourism Ireland will be showcasing entertainment from 5:30 p.m. on the Canada Blooms main stage with Irish dancing, music from Toronto-based Irish band Beochas and Irish gardening expert Trevor Edwards, who will tell attendees about Ireland’s hidden horticultural gems and answer any gardening questions. By voting for their favourite Canada Blooms garden in the People’s Choice Garden Award, attendees can also enter for a chance to win a trip of a lifetime for two to discover the gardens of Ireland.

Partners from Ireland in attendance at Canada Blooms include Belfast Visitor & Convention Bureau, B&B Ireland, Causeway Coast & Glens Tourism Partnership, and Go Ireland.

Canada Blooms, the country’s largest flower and garden festival, will take place March 17 to 21 at the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place, Toronto.

From Dublin’s Bloom Festival to the Garden Show Ireland in Hillsborough to the Wicklow Garden Festival, find out more about http://www.discoverireland.com/ca-en/ireland-things-to-see-and-do/culture-and-sights/gardens-and-nature/gardening in Ireland.