Turkey for ThanksgivingSpend Thanksgiving vacation — Nov. 22 to 25 — in the vibrant city of Istanbul on a tour organized by Graziella Sefcik of Ten&one travel.
Highlights include visits to Topkapi Palace, home of the sultans for almost three centuries; Hagia Sophia, a mosque that was originally a church built by the Byzantines; Yerebatan Saray, a sunken cistern; the Grand Bazaar; Beylerbeyi Palace; the 17th-century Egyptian spice market; Dolmabahce Palace, home of the Ottoman sultans from 1853 to 1922; a coffee-roasting and grinding workshop and other Turkish shops. There’s also a boat ride on the Bosphorus Strait and a drive across the Bosphorus bridge.
The cost is 653 euros per person, double occupancy, and includes round-trip flights from Frankfurt, three nights’ accommodations in a four-star hotel, breakfasts, two dinners, sightseeing per itinerary, entrance fees, boat crossing, motorcoach transportation and airport transfers.
For details, contact Sefcik at telephone (+49) (0) 89-25 54 190 or (+49) (0) 8231-2134. The e-mail address is graziella@tenandone.com. The Web site for Ten&one is www.graziella-tours.com.
Dinos in BerlinWhen you’re in Berlin, be sure to pay a visit to `Brachiosaurus brancai, the tallest dinosaur ever mounted in a museum, in the main hall of the Berlin Museum of Natural History.
The dinosaur (with its head 43 feet from the floor) is one of five skeletons on display from the Upper Jurassic period 150 million years ago. They are originally from Mount Tendaguru in Tanzania.
Also, from that time, the early bird Archaeopteryx will be put on display.
You also can look through a “Jurascope” and visit Mount Tendaguru during the Jurassic period. First, you see the photo of a skeleton. Then, animation shows it growing muscle and skin. The animal is then placed in its natural habitat and starts its natural behavior.
The skeletons are part of the museum’s new permanent exhibition under the slogan “Evolution in Action.” Further exhibits on the theme of evolution make up the rest of the show.
The museum is open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. Admission is 5 euros for adults and 3 euros for children. The Web site is www.museum.hu-berlin.de.
Apartments in VeniceVenice, Italy, is an expensive city in which to stay and eat. If you would prefer to stay in an apartment with a kitchen, perhaps you can find something at Venice Rentals.
The company has about 40 self-catering apartments — one, two, three bedrooms and luxury — in all six districts of the city. The cost for a one-bedroom with sofa in the living room, for example, is about $190 to $250 per night.
The English-speaking owners emphasize on their Web site, www.venicerentals.com, that in addition to renting you the apartment, they also are available 24 hours a day to help you enjoy your stay in the city.
Best BetsENGLAND: The soldiers of the Roman army invade the grounds of Scarborough Castle Friday through the weekend to hold a colorful re-enactment festival. Watch them practice military drills on foot and on horseback and admire the falconry skills of the Roman nobility. The show is open each day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is 5.50 pounds (about $11) for adults and 3.50 pounds for children. Details at www.english-heritage.org.uk/scarboroughcastle.
GERMANY: Eisenach is one of the seven cities that hold important connections to the renowned reformer Martin Luther. It was here that he spent three years of his early life attending Latin school in the city. Later he was housed in the Wartburg after he allowed himself to be kidnapped in 1521 out of fear for his life. Friday through the weekend, the city honors this rebel monk with its annual Luther festival. Each night at 6 p.m., “Luther — the Play” is performed. After the play on Saturday and Sunday, musicians and jugglers take to the stage. Throughout the festival, you’ll also find a historical market, dance groups and musical entertainment, carriage rides, exhibitions and children’s activities. Details at http://eisenach-info.de/tours/webeng.
HUNGARY: Hungary is known for its colorful folk art and crafts, and the country wants to preserve its living folk culture. Friday through Monday in Budapest, you can get a sampling of this art during the Festival of Crafts, held in Buda Castle and the surrounding area. In addition to the works of craftspeople from Transylvania and Voivodina, there will be three stages with international musicians and dancers, European and Asian crafts and a traditional fair. The Budapest Web site is www.budapestinfo.hu/en.
