Travel Briefs

The Elizabethan philosopher Sir Francis Bacon said, in 1605, “Knowledge is Power.” More than 300 years later, his collateral descendant Francis Bacon (1909-1992) would translate his own knowledge of a war-torn 20th century into powerful paintings that some critics have called “bold, grotesque, nightmarish.”

To honor the latter’s centenary year, London’s Tate Britain (Millbank, London SW1P 4RG, U.K.; phone 020 7887 8888, www.tate.org) is holding an exhibition of Bacon’s works, the first major retrospective in London in over 20 years, Sept. 11, 2008-Jan. 4, 2009. Admission free. 

By Arlanda Airport in Stockholm, Sweden, a Boeing 747 plane has been converted into a hostel, refitted with private rooms and dorm rooms. The Cockpit Suite sleeps two and has a toilet with shower. The other, smaller private rooms and dorm rooms share bathrooms in the hostel style.

Room rates are SEK350 (near $45) dorm; SEK1,200 ($154) twin-bed room; SEK1,350 ($173) private room sleeping one to three people, and SEK5,328 ($683) Cockpit Suite. Short-stay, day-room rates are available. A free transfer bus is available.

Contact Jumbo Hostel (Jumbovägen 4, SE-190 47 Stockholm...

National Geographic (888/225-5647, www.completenatgeo.com) is releasing all of its issues from October 1888 through December 2008 on either a 6-disc DVD set ($69.95) or a USB hard drive ($199.95). 

The set features an interactive browser that allows users to find articles by issue date or map location (map location browsing requires Internet access). Included are lists of articles on specific topics, a DVD feature on the magazine’s history, and a trivia quiz.