In the “Inspired by Iceland” program, hundreds of Iceland’s citizens invite visitors to participate in Icelandic experiences for free during their stay.
A dining-and-sightseeing “Tram Experience” is being offered in Brussels, Jan. 15-Dec. 31, 2012. Holding 34 passengers, the tram passes city landmarks for two hours while serving classic Brussels dishes. The cost is €75 (near $105).
Amsterdam’s Het Scheepvaartmuseum, or Maritime Museum (Kattenburgerplein 1, 1018 KK Amsterdam, Netherlands; phone +31 [0] 20 52 32 222), closed in 2007 for what was supposed to be a two-year renovation; it reopened on Oct.
I was delighted to read Martha Wiley’s article “Spending the Day in Alicante” (Sept. ’11, pg. 18). Alicante is a lovely city. One of its attractions is its moderate climate — never too hot or too cold.
Bologna was famous for its many towers, but of the nearly 200 that were built only 21 remain. Le Due Torri (The Two Towers) are the city’s most striking landmarks, and the shorter one, like the Tower of Pisa, is decidedly leaning. You can climb 500 narrow wooden steps up to the top (320 feet) of one of Le Due for a spectacular view of Bologna.
While many may not view Brussels in December as an ideal getaway, my husband and I have long loved visiting Europe close to the Christmas holidays. In 2010 we centered ourselves at the Floris Arlequin Grand Place Hotel (€146-€179) in the I’llôt Sacré, Dec.
We’ve all been in a new city and obtained a map showing locations of various sites. On a trip my wife, Anne, and I made to Seville, Spain, in April-May ’11, we made sure to get a map, then note that on its table of hotels, ours was number 61. After a morning tour with our group, we visited the Alcazar on our own. We saw many women dressed in bright flamenco outfits accessorized with matching flowers in their hair and jewelry. They were riding in horse-drawn carriages accompanied by men dressed in fancy clothes.
