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A new year brings a new round of flea markets at the Foire Internationale de Metz in Metz Grigy, France.

The popular flea market, which features more than 300 stands inside the Metz Expo, operates from 6 a.m. to noon on Feb. 14, March 21, April 4 and 18, May 2, June 20, July 4, Aug. 22, Sept. 5, Oct. 24 and Dec. 5 and 19. A special spring market on March 1 and a Christmas market on Dec. 15 will run from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Metz Expo Web site is www.metz-expo.com (in French and German).

If rising early to drive to the market seems a little much, you may want to spend Friday night in the city with one of its visitor packages.

For example, a one-night deal starts at 87 euros per person (about $117), double occupancy, in a two-star hotel. It includes hotel, dinner and breakfast, an audio tour of the city and discovery package. A package for a three-star hotel begins at 159 euros per person, double occupancy, and includes one night’s accommodation with breakfast, a guided tour, gourmet dinner and welcome drink.

Find more details at the city’s Web site: http://tourisme.mairie-metz.fr.

Cambridge at 800England’s Cambridge University is 800 years old this year and the campus has planned a variety of events to celebrate the milestone.

The earliest record of the school is 1209 when, according to the university’s Web site, scholars gathered at this Roman trading post to study. Those associated with the school through the years include Henry VII, Isaac Newton, Charles Babbage, Charles Darwin, John Maynard Keynes, Sylvia Plath and Stephen Hawking.

Special concerts, lectures and seminars, sports events and exhibitions are among the events on the program. More details at www.800.cam.ac.uk.

Napoleon and EgyptAlthough Napoleon Bonaparte’s campaign in Egypt was a military failure, it had a great influence on France’s culture. Those interested in the French emperor’s time in Egypt won’t want to miss the exhibition "Bonaparte et l’Egypte, feu et lumières" ("Bonaparte and Egypt, Fire and Light") showing through March 29 at the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris.

The Fondation Napoléon, a French non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of Napoleonic historic and architectural heritage, says the exhibit looks at not only the campaign but also the influence of France’s intervention through a collection of books, engravings, paintings, sketches and objects, all gathered by French and Egyptian specialists.

The museum is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekends. The museum Web site is www.imarabe.org (there is an English-language link, but as of its last update in July, it says it is undergoing "technical maintenance"). The Fondation Napoléon Web site, with an exhibition review and other information on the French emperor, is www.napoleon.org.

Henry VIII exhibitionOn April 23, 1509, 17-year-old Henry Tudor was proclaimed king of England, a position he would hold for 38 years. To mark the 500th anniversary of his coronation, a year-long exhibition will open April 8 at Windsor Castle. The exhibit will feature paintings, drawings, prints, books and manuscripts from the Royal Collection and the archives of St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. Among them is a miniature of the young prince and miniatures of his wives painted by German artist Hans Holbein the Younger.

Tickets for the "Henry VIII: Anniversary Exhibition" will cost 15.50 pounds (about $23) for adults, 9 pounds for children 6-17, and free for 5 and younger. The exhibit is included in the Windsor Castle tour. See www.royalcollection.org.uk.

Best betsSCOTLAND: Branford Marsalis at the traditional music festival Celtic Connections in Glasgow? Why not? Traditional music often experiments with various music genres.

Inspired by Marsalis’ playing, musician Sally Beamish rewrote a Gaelic lullaby, "Under the Wind of the Rock," to feature the American saxophonist. He will join her at the Glasgow festival in the "Homecoming Scotland Suite," one of the 276 events scheduled at this year’s show. Not only concerts from top performers in Celtic music but also workshops, exhibitions and open-stage performances are on the program through Feb. 1. Find full details at www.celticconnections.com.

SPAIN: Think you can live with 24 hours — or more — of drumming in the streets? If you’re in San Sebastian on Monday, be prepared. Starting at midnight and continuing through Tuesday on into Wednesday morning, the city holds it annual Tamborrada festival, which honors its patron saint. Beginning on the Plaza de la Constitution, bands of uniformed marchers will pound on drums and barrels throughout the streets. On Tuesday afternoon, thousands of children dressed in Napoleonic-era costumes will march in the Tamborrada Infantil, or child drummers ceremony.

More information at www.spanishunlimited.com/spain/fiestas/tamborrada.asp.

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