EnglandDid your invitation to the April 29 royal wedding of HRH Prince William of Wales and Miss Catherine Middleton get lost in the mail?
Well, if you can’t enter Westminster Abbey where the ceremony will take place, or even find a good spot among the spectators watching the young couple ride from Buckingham Palace to the abbey, you can still join the festivities by means of giant screens broadcasting the ceremony. One screen will be on Trafalgar Square, while three will be set up in Hyde Park. Both sites will include a program of events and entertainment.
The areas will open at 7 a.m. There is no charge but space is available on a first-come basis, so arrive early.
Check out www.london.gov.uk/royalwedding for more details on the London festivities.
BelgiumWander through historic greenhouses and enjoy exotic plants and flowers in the Royal Greenhouses in Laeken (Brussels) through May 8.
Each year for a three-week period the buildings, many of whose plants were collected by King Leopold II in the 19th century, are open to the public.
The six acres of lush vegetation include banana trees, climbing geraniums and fuchsias, giant ferns, orange trees and a colony of birds.
Visitors also can stroll the neighboring Laeken castle grounds and visit Queen Elisabeth’s workshop and stables.
Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 1-4 p.m. and 8-to 10 p.m. Fridays; and 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 8-10 p.m. on weekends. Admission is 2.50 euros. Learn more at www.monarchie.be/palace-and-heritage/greenhouses-laeken.
LuxembourgThe ceramic bird-shaped whistles called Peckvillercher will be chirping away Monday at the annual Emaischen festival, held on the Marché-aux-Poissons (Fish Market) in Luxembourg City and in the pottery town of Nospelt.
The traditional folklore event is celebrated Easter Monday and features stands with arts and crafts, pottery, food, entertainment and the clay bird whistles, offered in a variety of shapes, sizes and sounds. The whistles were said to originate when Nospelt potters used leftover clay to make them for children.
For more information, see www.visitluxembourg.lu/press-en-9-269.html.
