Morocco tourSee the Imperial Cities of Morocco — Fes, Marrakech, Meknes and Rabat — on an eight-day tour with U.S. Air Forces in Europe’s 435th Services RTT Travel from May 8-15. Each city has been a capital of the country at some time in its history.
Visit bazaars, monuments, castles, Roman ruins, the Atlas Mountains, Agadir beaches, Essouira fortress and Rabat minarets.
The price is 939 euros per person, double occupancy, and includes round-trip airfare from Frankfurt, seven nights’ accommodations, breakfasts, daily dinner, folklore and equestrian event, admission per itinerary and motor coach transportation.
Find details at the RTT Travel office at telephone (+49) (0) 6371-46360, or online at www.RTTtravel.com.
Dutch bitsThe Dutch Tourist Board has a few suggestions for those heading to Netherlands.
• From March 5 to 11, Amsterdam will host its first restaurant week. Participating restaurants will offer three-course dinners for 25 euros. For the list of restaurants and to make reservations, go to www.restaurantweek.nl.
• If you want to watch the early-morning flower sales, visit the Aalsmeer flower auction, 7 to 11 a.m. weekdays. Entry costs 5 euros for adults, 3 euros for children 6 to 11. The city also offers a combined ticket for 12 euros that includes the auction, historical garden and a boat trip on the Westeinder Lake. Details at the tourist board, telephone (+31) (0) 297-392185 or (+31) (0) 297-398050, or e-mail info@ vba.nl. The Web site is www.vba-aalsmeer.nl.
• Beads are currently big in fashion. Those with a fashion or crafts interest in them might want to visit the Tropenmuseum’s exhibition “Beauty and the Bead — From Madonna to the Maasai.” It runs until May 13.
The exhibit focuses on the worldwide appeal of beads, representing identity, status, origin and emotion. “From Head to Toe” looks at the cultural use of beads as body jewelry; “From Icon to Fashion” is on the relationship between haute couture and fashion trends; and “From Cradle to Graves” shows how beads follow the stages in life, from weddings to funerals.
Seventy collections, including the Met in New York, Kremlin Museum in Moscow and fashion houses such as Dior, Versace and Armani, have contributed items. Among garments shown are those worn by Diana Ross, Madonna, Marilyn Monroe and Princess Grace of Monaco.
For young visitors, the museum has an exhibit called “Bombay Star: Dutch Children discover Bombay in Amsterdam.” Capitalizing on the Bollywood craze, it looks at Bombay residents from slum dwellers to film stars.
The museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is 7.50 euros for adults, 4 euros for children 6 to 17 and free for those younger. Details at www.tropenmuseum.nl
Vampire Ball ticketsThe Rhein–Neckar USO is selling tickets for the Vampire Ball at the Heidelberg, Germany, castle on Feb. 16-17.
Traditionally those attending the popular Fasching party, which has been going on for more than 30 years, dress as vampires or other frightening characters.
Tickets cost 27.50 euros and can be purchased through USO Rhein-Neckar locations at Darmstadt, Heidelberg and Mannheim.
Send items to be included in Let’s Go to travel@estripes.osd.mil.
Best BetsITALY: The famous Carnival in Venice begins Friday and continues through Shrove Tuesday, Feb. 20. This year’s theme, “Carlo Goldoni,” honors the 18th- century Venetian comedy writer and playwright who proclaimed in memoirs: “Is Venice the Carnival? No, sirs, pardon me: Carnival is Venice!”
On the program is musical entertainment, including dance, pop, folk and world music; theatrical circus; Venice street plays; masked balls; and the grand procession. Get a full list of events at www.carnivalofvenice.com.
BELGIUM: According to the Wallonie Bruxelles tourist board, this year’s “Aroma – The Tea, Coffee and Chocolate Fair” has been canceled. The organizers hope to have another show in 2008.
— Jayne Traendly
