World NEWS

Cisalpino in Valais The international Cisalpino trains run from Switzerland to northern Italy and to southern Germany. Since they tilt, they are able to take bends faster than normal trains.

Churfirsten, Canton St Gallen The peaks of the Churfirsten chain rise to heights of between 2200 and 2300 meters above sea level. Their southern face, shown here, drops almost perpendicularly down to the Walensee, whereas to the north they slope down towards the Toggenburg area.

Courtyard, Town Hall, Bellinzona, Ticino The arcaded courtyard of the town hall in the centre of Bellinzona, the capital of Canton Ticino, was built on the site of a 15th century predecessor.

Corpus Christi, Appenzell, Canton Appenzell Inner-Rhodes Corpus Christi is celebrated in Roman Catholic areas on the second Thursday after Whitsunday. It consists of a procession in honour of the holy sacrament. In Appenzell the end of the official procession is taken up by women dressed in traditional feast day costume. This costume is worn only on a few specified religious occasions.

Lucerne Lucerne is easily accessible due to its central location. The town is a car free zone and small enough to be explored by foot. Have a walk around Lucerne and explore the picture perfect town. One certainly feels at ease in Lucerne. Enjoy the town with a cup of coffee, visit Swiss Transport Museum, marvel at the "Kapellbrücke," the famous covered bridge across the river Reuss, board a steamboat and explore Lake Lucerne or one of the mountain railways that takes you high up to one of the surrounding pre-alpine summits. But there is lot more than just sightseeing that is there to be done at Lucerne. A welcome addition to this abundant variety has been the new Culture and Congress Center. Lucerne is a place which offers something for everyone...a place which offers the highest quality of life in Switzerland. Why Visit Lucerne? Picturesque lake surrounded by mountains The medieval old town with its picturesque squares and towers, the Kapell bridge and the lio

Geneva is a world city, a city characterised by its cosmopolitan population. People come here for many reasons, from humanitarian commitments, attending trade fairs and festivals to diplomatic and cultural activities. Geneva can be considered as the world's smallest metropolis and the headquarters of some of the most prestigious organizations in the world such as The Red Cross and European HQ of the United Nations. The town is situated in the laps of nature. A stroll within the city limits, along the shores of the lake with its famous water jet or up into the Old Town are sure to stay in your memories for a long time. Geneva has a very vibrant and multi-cultural night life. As and when the enjoyment reaches its peak, you are sure to feel that you are in France. Why Visit Geneva? European United Nations and Red Cross HQ Famous water jet in the lake 2000 years old Cultural and historical centre Trade Fairs and Festivals. Renowned for Cuisine and Wine. Lugano Tourism

The modern and cosmopolitan capital of Luxemburg is a definitely human-sized city. The traces left by history fuse with the effervescence of current life. This valuable mix is one of the pillars of the city's identity, a melting pot of cultures with a rich history. According to the description of a French author in the early years of the 19th Century, Luxemburg was an impressive fortress comparable to the site of "Gibraltar", which had the reputation to be unseizable. Its strategic position between the French Kingdom and the German Empire explains why the citadel of Luxembourg was one of the major strongholds in Europe, from the 16th Century all through its dismantlement in 1867. The citadel grew stronger and greater with the comings and goings of the European powers (the Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire, the House of Burgundy, the Habsburgers, the Kings of France and of Spain, and finally the Prussians). The greatest fortress engineers from all over Europe, including V

European capital Luxembourg has always held a privileged position in the process of European integration. Since the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in 1952, several European institutions have set up in the capital. The birthplace of one of the fathers of Europe, Robert Schuman, Luxembourg has the vocation of playing the role of one of the European capitals not only due to its geographical situation right in the heart of Europe, but also due to its multilingualism. Cosmopolitan and welcoming, with a population made up of almost 150 different nationalities, the city is a real economic, social and cultural melting-pot. Flourishing setting for culture In Luxembourg, the museums appear in ceremonial garb. The Luxembourg City History Museum retraces the high points of the over one thousand years of history of a European city with human dimensions whilst the National Museum of History and Art hosts one of the most beautiful Roman mosaics north of the Alp

Weinviertel DAC The most peppery white wine in Austria is grown in the Weinviertel region and, typically for the land north east of Vienna, is made from Grüner Veltliner grapes. It makes both wine professionals and connoisseurs eager to spice up their lives. Easily recognised by its light green gold colour and spicy but fruity flavour: Weinviertel DAC is a white wine which tastes of the endless rolling hills of the Weinviertel region, of sunshine and the flinty earth on which the vines flourish. DAC stands for controlled designation of origin and is a guarantee that Weinviertel DAC wine has passed several tests to maintain its high level of quality. Grüner Veltliner with its Pfefferl, or peppery kick can be bought in wine shops, but also directly from around six hundred vineyards along the 400 km long Wine Road and of course in the many “villages without chimneys” as the rows of wine taverns and cellars are known.

Austria’s vibrant wine scene has earned a worldwide reputation for quality and innovation and is the destination for those seeking energy, culture, and charm. The miracle of Austria is that all of its wine regions are incredibly easy to visit. In fact, once you step off the plane in Vienna, you have already arrived in one of the world’s most unique wine regions.

Naschmarkt A culinary voyage around the world takes not 80 days but minutes in Vienna’s Naschmarkt. Locals call it the “city’s stomach”, it has existed since the 18th century and is Vienna’s largest inner city market. The Naschmarkt is open from Monday to Saturday for strolling, admiring, discovering and sampling. You can buy everything to do with food: fruit and vegetables, meat and fish, bread and cheese. There are also delicatessen favourites such as Persian caviar, sushi and oysters and a colourful display of international produce, especially from the countries of former Yugoslavia, Greece, Turkey, Japan and China. If the sight of all this bounty makes you hungry, you can eat right in the Naschmarkt at a choice of restaurants. And on Saturday don’t miss a visit to the most famous flea market in Vienna, which is held right next door.

Who needs a beach? In the very heart of Europe, Austria is a country which could have been created with activity holidays in mind. It is a land of majestic mountains, tranquil lakes, fast flowing rivers and streams, deep forests, undulating meadows, charming village which cling fiercely to their architectural traditions and cultural heritage and cities which still reflect the artistic grandeur of the old Austro Hungarian empire. There is not one single province which does not offer a wealth of activities to the holidaymaker, whether they be young or old, highly active or more sedentary. The Austrians have long played the host to an influx of foreign visitors and approach the business of making their guests feel at home and lay on a diversity of entertainment in a most professional manner . Whatever activity you may decide to try, whether you be expert or novice you can be confident that the organisation, the equipment , the tuition and the whole infrastructure will be fir

IT is probably impossible to love Athens at first sight. It is not a city that deliberately puts its best foot forward to greet visitors. Its unruly aggressiveness, noticeable at once, almost feels like a slap. It takes a little time and patience to feel its first caress. That initial slap, however, is well intentioned, the kind that tries to bring the befuddled to his senses. Almost rudely, Athens brushes aside preconceptions people have of it and roughly proclaims its very own reality. They call it the cradle of civilisation. Seeing the Greek capital from the top of the Acropolis on a clear, late afternoon, you may find little reason to argue. White rooftops cluster quaintly against the lower slopes. A carpet of inhabitation spills towards the glistening Saronic Gulf in the south and the mountains in the east and north, exuding, from this dec

AS I stepped out of Denver airport, on a sunny morning in July, a surge of excitement stirred unbidden within me at the picturesque sight of the glacial topped Rocky mountain ranges. Even at a distance of 50 to 70 miles, the endless rows of the sprawling mountains sparkled in resplendent brightness, wearing a look of warmth and stately grandeur to beckon visitors. It would be an understatement to say that I found it difficult to ignore the thrill that raced within me at the thought that I would be right in the heart of the grand Rocky Mountains, that I had only seen in atlases and read about in geography and history books. Spectacular beauty The drive to the Rocky Mountain National Park is through an area of scenic beauty, silhouett

OBLIQUELY, the image relates to the three graces, the inspirational grouping of three fabled figures, an image that enjoyed great popularity in European art through the 18th Century. Transposed in an upper class Indian home however, a completely different construct comes alive. There is a measure of relaxation in the groupings of women in threes. But there is also a degree of tension, in the taut bodily lines, the apparent "dressing up" for the photograph, the implicit familial and social narratives that can be "read" into the photograph. Dayanita Singh's photography is the art of visual seduction. Britta Schmitz, curator at the Hamburger Bahnhoff, leading contemporary art museum in Berlin, sifts through her oeuvre to create a visually stunning exhibition, "Privacy". Through references like the three graces,

SRI Lanka has all the ingredients of a modern-day paradise. Sun, sea and sand, exciting water sports, huge shopping malls and stirring casinos. So, for the leisure seeker there is "work" with so much to choose from. Here's the list. Explore the ruins around the country with a complex history dating back to 543 B.C. Laze on the beach and dive in coral reefs. Observe wildlife. Hike through tea estates or wander through the ruins of ancient temples and palaces ... it can go on and on. And all this and more at a bargain for the cost-conscious Indian traveller. Most South Indians can pass off as locals, so there are no nagging guides or curious eyes following you. A triangle of culture Sri Lanka's cultural triangle lies roughly in its central region. Anuradhapura, Kandy and Polonnaruwa — all ancient capitals of Sri Lanka — form its three co

IN the "old" days, your first worry when you checked into a hotel or guesthouse at a resort or hill-station was whether the bathrooms were clean, the beds free of bugs and the food palatable. Nowadays your main concern is what kind of people are staying in the rooms next to yours? We seem to like holidaying in herds, either huge joint families or groups of colleagues and friends, which may be good for familial and social bonding, but not for the people in the rooms next door. The Indian joint family on holiday or a bunch of colleagues on holiday together, can (and often do) wreck the very raison d' etat of your holiday. Family holiday For a start, the Family firmly believes that it is (the first and) only family in th