Travel Briefs

March 2009 issue

EarPlanes

Cirrus Healthcare’s EarPlanes relieve airplane passengers’ ear discomfort during takeoff and landing. The earplugs use a special ceramic filter to slowly acclimate the inner ear to pressure changes.

It is recommended each pair be used for only one round trip (two flights), then discarded. Available at Walgreens, K-Mart and Target and through the Magellan’s catalog (800/962-4943, www.magellans.com), adult-size EarPlanes cost $11.85 for two pairs or $49.85 for 10 pairs plus shipping; the children’s size costs $11.85 for two pairs.

August 2008 issue

Rent a bike in Paris

In Paris, the self-service bicycle rental service Velib allows anyone to pick up and drop off any of more than 20,000 bikes at 1,450 automated stations.

Using a Navigo pass or credit card, a person can buy a one-day access card for €1, a weekly card for €5 or an annual card for €29 ($45). After the access card purchase, riding for the first half hour is free, but a supplement of €1 is charged for the next half hour, €2 for the next half hour and €4 for every half hour after that. Five hours cost €31 and 10, €71. Rates increase sharply to keep bikes available for others to rent.

October 2009 issue

Himeji Castle scaffolds

Japan’s 400-year-old Himeji Castle is undergoing its first major renovation in 45 years, to effect repair and cleaning of the white-plaster exterior walls, replacement of roofing tiles, and seismic evaluation and protection.

The 5-story main keep is being enclosed in a suyane (roofed tenting scaffold), which by March 2010 will block portions of the castle’s exterior. Work is expected to be completed in 2014. The main keep will remain open to visitors, though portions of it may be closed. An elevator will provide access to an observation space where visitors can watch repairs and...

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January 2009 issue

Bauhaus’ 90th anniversary

Germany is celebrating the birth of the influential 20th-century school of design, the Bauhaus, throughout 2009. Many cities are holding exhibitions, concerts, theater performances and art installations (for instance, sculptures and paintings by Kandinsky, Klee and Itten at the New Museum in Weimar, March 28-May 7).

A downloadable PDF list of events is at www.weimar.de or contact the German National Tourist Office (212/661-7200, www.cometogermany.com).

July 2009 issue

Ryanair check-in charge

As of May 20, the low-cost Irish airline Ryanair requires that all passengers with new bookings check in online. The airline will phase out the use of airport check-in desks by Oct. 1, 2009.

Every passenger will be charged a fee of £5/€5 (near US$7.50) to check in online and get a boarding pass issued. Passengers will be required to print out boarding passes themselves from their own computers. If a passenger arrives at the airport without one (either because he was unable to access a computer or he lost it), he will be charged a “boarding card re-issue” fee of £40/€40.

The...

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May 2008 issue

Mosaic workshops, Venice

In Venice, the Orsoni Glass Foundry (Cannaregio, 1045 - 30121 Venezia, Italy; phone 041 2440002 3, www.orsoni.com) is offering 3-, 5- and 10-day mosaic workshops. The foundry, which has operated since 1880, provides instruction on cutting the glass, judging colors and making an art piece.

A 3-day workshop costs €480 (near $711), a one-week class is €750, and 2-week portraiture and micromosaic classes cost €1,800.

Travelers also can book a stay at the bed-and-breakfast Domus Orsoni, decorated by tilework created at the foundry. Single room, €80-€150 ($119-$222), and doubles, €...

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September 2009 issue

iWalks in Dublin

Dublin, Ireland, walking tour audio guides by historian Pat Liddy can be downloaded free to iPods or MP3 players from the Dublin Tourism website (www.visitdublin.com/multimedia/dublinpodcasts/iwalk.aspx?id=275). 

Each podcast lasts 26 to 44 minutes and is accompanied by a printable PDF booklet with details on each site plus a map of the route. Tours include “Croke Park Museum,” “Castles and Cathedrals,” “Temple Bar to the Docklands,” etc.

August 2010 issue

Estonia to use euro

Estonia received approval from the European Union on May 12 to begin using the euro as its currency as of January 2011.

The 16 countries that use the euro as legal tender are Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain. Not part of the EU but also using the euro as their currency are Andorra, Kosovo, Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino and Vatican City.