Russia in spring
Explore Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia’s most important cities, on a tour March 9-16 organized by RTT Travel in Ramstein, Germany. The itinerary includes all the famous and important sights of both cities with commentary by local guides. There also is free time for shopping and cultural events.
The cost is 1,269 euros per person, double occupancy, and includes round-trip air fare from Frankfurt, hotels, several meals, excursions and local tour guides. Advance visa preparation is necessary. For details, contact RTT Travel by calling DSN 480-6330 or 06371-446360, or see www.RTTtravel.com
Volksmarch in Paris
Interested in walking Paris with the Parisians? Then you might want to join a Volksmarching visit organized by Godillot Familie, a Paris sports organization.
The itineraries take in the major sights of the event area, often with a choice of a short route (10 kilometers) or longer ones (up to 32 kilometers).
This year’s program includes Meudon (Feb. 24), Paris Prin- temps (springtime) (March 30), Montmartre Moulin-Rouge (June 15), Versailles (Sept. 7), da Vinci (Oct. 5) and Montmartre Nuit (at night) (Dec. 6).
The walk in Meudon, for example, begins at the Gymnase de l’Orphelinate St. Philippe in Meudon. Walkers have a choice of 10 or 20 kilometers and depart between 8:30 a.m. and noon with one checkpoint open between 9:15 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. The walk closes at 5 p.m. The cost is 1.80 euros per person. For details, go to http://godillot-familial.com (in French).
If you’re interested in other ways to keep fit during your visit in the city, you can check out www.parisfitness.com The site publicizes a variety of events and courses from bicycle rallies to yoga classes.
England
Looking for excitement when you travel? Want to learn to write about your trips? Then head to London’s Adventure Travel Show, which runs Friday through Sunday at the Business Design Centre in Islington. This year, media professionals will present three-hour seminars on travel writing and photography. Also on the program is information on overland trips, solo travel and health and equipment. Exhibitors offer a range of travel ideas for exotic destinations such as Mongolia and Katmandu as well as those closer to home in Scotland and Ireland. The show is open noon to 8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are 12 pounds (about $24) for adults, 7 pounds for children 10 and older, and free for those under 10. Find more details on the Web at www.adventureshow.co.uk
Germany
“Mush!” will ring over the hills above Todtmoos this weekend during the Black Forest town’s annual sled-dog races. A thousand dogs will be dancing around in excitement before hitting the Todtmoos Trail in an effort to qualify for a position in the German championship and move on to the races for the World Cup and Europacup (in Bernau, Feb. 9-10). Spectators can meet the handlers and dogs from 9:30 a.m. both days. Day tickets cost 6 euros for adults and weekend tickets cost 10 euros. Children 16 years and younger enter free. Details at www.todtmoos.de
Italy
Chocolate lovers will descend upon Florence’s Santa Croce Square through Sunday for the annual Artisan Chocolate Fair. The event is a showcase for 36 artists of handmade traditional Italian gourmet chocolate and features chocolate sampling, games, exhibits and music. The event runs 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Entry is free. Details at www.fieradelcioccolato.it; there is an English-language version.
