Europe

Northern Ireland: Tourism Officials Call Australia’s Travel Alert an Overreaction

Date: September 1st, 2010 |

Australia warned its citizens to be cautious about travel to Northern Ireland because of a series of bombings over the last month and rising sectarian strife. The warning addressed the possibility of being caught in violence directed at others or in demonstrations that become violent. The U.S. State Department’s notice on Northern Ireland also advises [read more]

United Kingdom: London Tube Strike Planned for Sept. 7

Date: August 25th, 2010 |

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London Underground workers plan to hold monthly 24-hour strikes beginning Sept. 7 to protest plans to reduce ticket window hours and eliminate 800 jobs. They plan to continue their strikes until management withdraws its plans. The strikes could cause significant disruption on London’s Tu [read more]

Northern Ireland: Belfast Thugs Attack “Peace” Bus

Date: August 18th, 2010 |

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Three German teenagers were injured when thugs attacked their bus on a cross-community project to bridge the divide between east and west Belfast. The youths were among a group of 40 out for a night of fun and cultural understanding when their bus’ windows were smashed by a gang hurling bricks and bottles. They were [read more]

Turkey: Istanbul, Other Cities Unprepared for Major Earthquakes

Date: August 18th, 2010 |

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A study conducted by three universities showed that Istanbul is woefully unprepared for a major earthquake 11 years after the 7.6 magnitude Marmara earthquake killed nearly 17 thousand people and caused billions of dollars in damage. According to the report, an earthquake measuring at least 7.0 would destroy 20 thousand buildings, damage another 200 thousand [read more]

Russia: Moscow Wilts under Heat, Smog

Date: August 10th, 2010 |

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The hottest summer since record-keeping began 130 years ago combined with hundreds of wildfires burning to the west of Moscow has made the capital city a dismal place this summer. Moscow was blanketed in a noxious smog for a week before it began to lift, but the air remained heavily polluted Aug. 10. The U.S. [read more]

Germany: Tourists Disturbing the Local Harmony in Berlin’s Kreuzberg

Date: August 25th, 2010 |

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Young tourists who have found “authentic” Berlin are proving to be too much for local residents who are seeing their well being disturbed by visitors loving their neighborhood too much. The Admiralsbruecke in Berlin’s Kreuzberg district, a 19th-century cobblestoned bridge over a canal, has become a nightly gathering place for young foreigners who have been [read more]

France: Going Shirtless Can Cost $49

Date: August 18th, 2010 |

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The “no shirt, no service” creed so familiar in the U.S. has cropped up in France, with inland communities beginning to follow the lead of famous beach resort towns by banning shirtlessness or other excessive displays of flesh. Towns such as Cannes and St. Tropez have long had rules against bikini and swimsuit attire away [read more]

Spain: Jellyfish Swarm Costa Blanca

Date: August 18th, 2010 |

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The Costa Blanca was hit by a swarm of jellyfish that prompted authorities to close several beaches after some 700 people were stung by the “mauve stinger.” The creatures are almost impossible to see in the water and their stings are ver [read more]

Italy: Colosseum Open for Saturday Night Tours, Underground Tunnels Also Accessible

Date: August 10th, 2010 |

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As if the eternal city of Rome didn’t have enough attractions for tourists, authorities are now providing more access to the Colosseum. Beginning Aug. 21 and for seven straight Saturdays, visitors will be able to tour the ancient monument after dark with an archaeologist. Some nighttime tours last summer proved so popular that officials decided [read more]

Spain: Highway Cops Let Off Violators to Protest Pay Cut

Date: August 10th, 2010 |

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One unintended consequence of Spain’s austerity measures that cut government salaries 5 percent in June is a rise in traffic deaths and a precipitous drop in traffic ticket revenue. Traffic police have chosen to protest their pay cuts by letting violators off with a warning rather than writing a ticket. Tickets for traffic violations dropped [read more]