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Berlin theater

In the mood for a little shop-window mannequin soap opera? If so, head to Berlin between Nov. 3 and 10 and check out the windows of the KaDeWe (Kaufhaus des Westerns) department store for updates on 10 stories.

"The Mannequin’s Revolt," put on by the French theatrical company Royal de Luxe, has a variety of story lines that include "The Lovers," "A Wicked Tale of Others’ Children," "Grandfather’s Birthday," "The Puddle Nightmare" and "Total Liquidation."

The show is just one of the premiere events in Berlin’s theater festival season. For details, go to www.berlinerfestspiele.de. For more on KaDeWe, go to http://www.kadewe.de/en.

Greek island cruise

Cruise the Greek islands and visit the capital city of Athens this spring on a trip organized by Meyer Travel Group. It runs April 4-11.

The tour begins in Athens and includes a half-day sightseeing tour of the city (including the Acropolis, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Olympic stadium, Temples of Zeus and the university). You then board the ship for the cruise, which stops at the Greek island of Mykonos, the Turkish port of Kusadasi (optional tour to Ephesus), Greek island of Rhodes with its history of St. Paul and crusading knights, and Crete’s capital city Iraklion (optional tour to the Minoan palace Knossos). The tour ends with a day in Athens.

The cost is $1,799 per person, double occupancy, and includes round-trip flight between Frankfurt and Athens, three nights’ accommodation in Athens with breakfast, four nights on the Greek cruise with all meals, guided excursions per itinerary, airport transfers and local guides and escort.

Get more details from Katie Meyer by telephone in the States (916) 786-3708 or e-mail meyerfr@juno.com; or from Michael Curley at telephone (+49) (0)6384-514838 or e-mail mkurlee@aol.com. The company’s Web site is www.meyertravelgroup.com

Best Bets

England

Although Guy Fawkes, one of the Catholic conspirators who planned to blow up London’s Houses of Parliament on Nov. 5, 1605, failed in the plot, he’s still celebrated each year with bonfires and fireworks throughout the country. While Nov. 5 is the official day, Victoria Park in London holds "The Big Bang" fireworks display on Sunday from 7 to 8:15 p.m. During the show, which according to www.londonisfree.com has been voted the city’s best, the skies are filled with pyrotechnics introduced by special effects and accompanied by a musical soundtrack. A fun fair starts the event at 4 p.m.

Find details at www.londonisfree.com/2008/10/free_london_fireworks_november_2008.html.

Germany

In the mood to be creative with Christmas gifts this year? Then head to Wiesbaden’s Kreative-Welt Hobby Show in the Rhein-Main-Hallen through the weekend and pick up ideas and materials. Four hundred exhibitors will attend the fair, one of Europe’s largest, with stalls and workshops featuring patterns, jewelry and beads, candles, dolls, Teddy bears, ceramics, and patchwork and knitting supplies — almost anything you can create.

This year’s Teddy bear competition theme is "Teddy Goes to Hollywood," with some of the best bear makers entering their interpretations. Stage shows present some of the latest fashions, as well as world-famous "paper artists." The fair is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Day tickets are 8 euros for adults, 4 euros for children 6 and younger; a two-day ticket costs 12 euros. The fair’s Web site is www.kreative-welt.info (in German).

Born in November 1483 in Eisleben, Germany, Martin Luther became a church reformer whose ideas influenced the Protestant Reformation. One of the dramatic images of his life is of him nailing a copy of his "95 Thesis," which protested the Catholic Church’s selling of indulgences, to the door of the castle church in Wittenberg. Friday through the weekend, Wittenberg celebrates this famous personage with a variety of events, including church services, exhibitions, conferences and medieval meals. The city’s market square, Cranach Courtyard and castle courtyard are the scene of a historical market from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday that takes visitors back to Luther’s time with costumed characters, musicians, crafts and refreshments. A Renaissance Music Festival includes concerts through the weekend (information at www.renaissance musik.de in German). The program in English is at www.wittenberg.de/pics/ medien/1_1222075181/Programm_Reformationsfest_englisch__2008.doc . Wittenberg’s Web site is www.wittenberg.de (in German).

Switzerland

The country’s largest wine fair is held in a maritime setting aboard 12 ships in Zurich’s Bürkliplatz dock. Running Friday through Nov. 13, the fair showcasing 4,000 wines from 22 countries features tastings, courses and presentations. It’s open noon to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. Tickets cost 20 Swiss francs (about $18). Get details at www.expovia.ch (in German).

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