Travel Briefs

November 2014 issue | Appears on page 4

Pergamon Museum

In Berlin’s Pergamon Museum (Bodestraße 1-3, 10178 Berlin, Germany; phone +49 30 26 642 4242, www.smb.museum/en/home), the Pergamon Altar, north wing and gallery of Hellenistic art will remain closed for renovations until at least 2020. The south wing of the museum, which includes the Ishtar Gate and the Museum of Islamic Art, is unaffected by the renovations and will remain open. 

Open 10-6 Mon.-Wed. and Fri.-Sun. and 10-8 Thurs. €12 ($15).

November 2014 issue | Appears on page 4

John Paul II museum

The Museum of the Family Home of John Paul II (Koscielna 7, 34-100 Wadowice, Poland; phone +48 33 823 35 55, www.domjp2.pl/en), located in the house where Karol Wojtyła, the future Pope John Paul II, was born, reopened on April 9, 2014, after four years of renovation, just in time for his canonization on April 27. 

Exhibits include personal items from his family and his time as pontiff and the pistol used by Mehmet Ali Ag˘ca in an attempt to assassinate John Paul II in 1981.

A...

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November 2014 issue | Appears on page 4

New at Kenilworth Castle

In Warwickshire, England, the Earl of Leicester’s chambers on the grounds of Kenilworth Castle opened to the public. In the late 1500s, the Earl John Dudley began expanding and renovating the castle from an extant medieval castle. Queen Elizabeth, who gave the castle to the Earl, visited on four occasions.

Opened since Sept. 5, the castle’s tower has a new staircase and viewing platforms, and the Elizabethan garden has been re-created. Admission costs £9.30 (near $15). Contact English...

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November 2014 issue | Appears on page 4

Museo del Violino, Cremona

The Museo del Violino (Piazza Marconi 5, Cremona; phone + 39 0372 801801, www.museodelviolino.org [in Italian]) opened Sept. 15, 2013, in the Italian city of Cremona, home of the famous luthier Antonio Stradivari.

The galleries show the origins of the violin, violin construction, drawings and violin-making tools. Priceless instruments from Stradivari and other Cremona luthiers are on display. There is as an audio guide in English. Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tues.-Sun. €10 (near $12.50)....

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November 2014 issue | Appears on page 4

Tunisia tourism tax

Starting on Oct. 1, Tunisia began levying a departure tax of TND30 (near $16) on travelers exiting the country. Visitors to Tunisia did not previously pay any tourism taxes. EGYPT instituted a similar tax in June 2014, adding a departure tax of nearly $25 onto the price of incoming airline tickets.

November 2014 issue | Appears on page 4

American, US Air & Orbitz

At press time last month, ITN reported (Oct. ’14, pg. 4) that, on Aug. 26, American Airlines and US Airways would remove their tickets from online broker Orbitz.com due to a contract dispute. On Aug. 29, American, US and Orbitz agreed on a deal that immediately returned the airlines’ tickets to the site.

November 2014 issue | Appears on page 4

Bondi Beach upgrade

In Waverly, New South Wales, Australia, Bondi Park will be getting a 10-year, AUD20 million makeover. Though the final plan has not yet been approved, it will include additional and upgraded toilets, more trees and green areas, an upgrade to the children’s play area and new pathways to improve beach access. The historic Bondi Pavilion, a large, Mediterranean-style building built in 1928, will be restored.

November 2014 issue | Appears on page 19

Coup in Lesotho

Lesotho Prime Minister Thomas Thabane was forced to flee the country on Aug. 30 after fire was exchanged between the armed forces and police outside two police stations in the capital, Maseru. One police officer died and four were wounded. Reports from the nation indicate that the military is loyal to Deputy Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing, while police support Mr. Thabane. 

Mr. Thabane returned to Lesotho on Sept. 3 after talks between the two factions in South Africa generated a...

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