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FRANCE
MEDITERANNEAN




The end of winter is in sight – as the Riviera prepares for spectacular Mardi Gras Carnivals in Nice and Menton with fabulous floats towering above the streets and plenty of partying into the night, welcome to February on the Med. Nice Carnival, which attracts well over a million spectators each year, runs February 12-27, and boasts some 20 decorated floats, 300 huge papier-maché heads and a hundred troupes of entertainers, from clowns to big bands. 2005's theme is Crazy Climate, inspired by 2004's bizarre global weather conditions.

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SINGAPORE AIRPORT has introduced what is claimed to be the world's first fully automated check-in and immigration clearance system that uses biometric recognition technology. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), Singapore Airlines (SIA) and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) are jointly conducting a six-month trial of a system that combines the check-in and immigration processes into one. It's called FAST (fully automated seamless travel).
The FAST passenger will be issued with a card containing a microchip that has captured his facial features and fingerprint details. Authentication of his identity will be done at a one-stop kiosk in the FAST lane, where the traveller can check-in, select seat onboard, collect his boarding pass and clear immigration from a user-friendly interactive touch-screen monitor. http://www.changi.airport.com.sg

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CANADA BC VANCOUVER ISLAND
TALL SHIPS SAIL FROM VICTORIA IN 2005

The Victoria Tall Ships Challenge 2005 is an international event that will bring more than 30 tall ships to Victoria’s Inner Harbour from 23 to 26 June 2005.
Victoria will be the first port of call for the participating tall ships who will participate in a series of races off the coast of BC and the US, finishing in San Francisco.
Victoria has a rich maritime heritage dating back to the 1800’s when tall ships frequented the port for international trade and the Victoria Tall Ships Challenge 2005 promises to be one of the highlights of a summer of maritime events.

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FRENCH ALPS

NEW CHIP MAKES
IT A SKI DODDLE



No need to wave your pass to board a ski lift this season. A new €2.5 million scheme opens gates automatically as microchip technology at Les Arcs means cards can be read from a distance, even inside a jacket pocket.  

The system means that skiers can keep their hands cosy and warm as they pass through the turnstiles to the lifts between pistes. Around 80 electronic readers will be in place, with more being introduced over the next two years.
A total of 15km of underground fibre-optic cables will link the invisible checkpoints.
The lift pass works at major lifts across the Paradiski super domain linking Les Arcs with La Plagne and Peisey-Vallandry. This is the first stage in an electronic revolution of the ski pass system, with photo ID cards being replaced by barcodes, meaning that lost passes may now be replaced the next day.

The special hands-free cards are available for a refundable deposit of €3 or may be kept to be used the following year.
More information on ski passes at the resorts' websites http://www.lesarcs.com/ and http://www.paradiski.com/

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HERTZ

COMPUTER HOT SPOTS Hertz is to introduce wireless, high-speed Internet access in more than 50 major airport locations within the US during the first quarter of 2005.
In a preliminary agreement with Wayport, one of the world's largest providers of WiFi wireless and high-speed Internet access, customers at the locations will be able to connect to the Internet from inside the Hertz facility. When accessing the Internet, a co-branded Hertz/Wayport welcome page will be displayed and customers who are members of Wayport will be able to use the service as part of the standard package. Other customers have the option of purchasing a one-time connection for use at the Hertz location for a minimal fee.

Clearly one for the UK too in the future. Hertz NeverLost, the
satellite navigation system, will have a listing of all Wayport WiFi locations and will be able to provide directions to the closest Wayport WiFi location. http://www.hertz.com

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NEW ZEALAND

The Waiheke Island Wine Festival, on February 5th is just a short ferry ride from Auckland. This idyllic island hosts a great party every February – wine, food and music. Eleven of Waiheke’s finest vineyards are featured, with Goldwater Estate, Peninsula Estate, Saratoga Estate and Church Bay providing the venues, each offering a unique setting and magnificent Waiheke Island vista. www.waihekewinefestival.co.nz/winefestival/

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SWITZERLAND
ART IN ZURICH

The Zurich Kunsthaus has assembled a collection of 70 of Monet’s paintings from most phases of his life in the exhibition, “Monet’s Garden”, open from now until February 27, 2005. Some of Monet’s most famous pieces are here, along with equally lovely, but lesser known paintings from private Swiss collections. Kunsthaus Zürich , Heimplatz 1. Tel. +41 (0)1 253 84 84 Opening Times: Tues-Thurs 10am - 9pm, Fri-Sun 10am - 5pm. Reduced entry for Swiss Rail pass holders (the best transportation deal out there!).

For more information, visit: www.kunsthaus.ch/ausstellungen/2004
/monet/en/einleitung.htm

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BLOOMING HOLLAND

When visitors travel to Holland next spring to enjoy the scenery of the blooming tulip fields, then they should not miss Panorama TulipLand at the little village of Voorhout.
Just look at www.tulipland.nl for additional information.

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USA.
LONG BEACH, CA -

BOAT, BED & B'FAST



You can enjoy a unique bed and breakfast experience on a California yacht with Dockside Boat and Bed, a company that offers accommodations on a dockside yacht with a complimentary continental breakfast served onboard each morning.

Located in Rainbow Harbor in Downtown Long Beach, guests choose from a selection of privately owned motor and sailing vessels, just steps away from restaurants, shopping, the World-class Aquarium of the Pacific, theaters and nightlife.

All of the yachts are equipped with private staterooms, showers, televisions, stereos, coffee makers, fresh linen, and scenic harbor views. Yachts range in size from thirty-eight to sixty-feet in length.

Book any yacht (rates range from $190 to $250 a night) and add the Evening of Romance package for $60. The special includes a bottle of chilled champagne, a dozen red roses and a plate of chocolate-dipped strawberries or gourmet truffles awaiting when you check in to your own yacht for the night.

Your boat remains dockside during your stay, however, you can fulfill your romantic, seafaring dreams by arranging a private charter cruise for up to 6 guests with a licensed captain (additional fee). Arrangements can also be made for a romantic catered candlelight dinner on-board, limousine service, picnic baskets, or an on-board massage.
Contact Dockside Boat and Bed,
(800) 436-2574. Email: boatandbed@yahoo.com. Web: www.boatandbed.com

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CANADA - BC
THE BEAR FACTS

Daily fly-in Grizzly Bear Tours A new day excursion combines genuine west coast bush flying with the chance to see British Columbia’s west coast Grizzly bears in their natural habitat.
The journey in takes visitors over deep inlets, snowcapped glacial peaks and vast evergreen forests, and past historical town sites, long since uninhabited, enabling a firsthand view of aboriginal First Nations history.
Along the way there are ample opportunities to spot wildlife including bald eagles, sea lions and Orca whales. Guests then board a specially designed jet boat and head deep into the inlet to where the coastal BC Grizzly bear lives in its natural habitat.

The tour departs from Campbell River on Vancouver Island and takes visitors to the remote west coast of mainland BC www.beartours.com