THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 10, 1995 TAG: 9512080071
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: TRAVEL-WISE
SOURCE: STEPHEN HARRIMAN
LENGTH: Long : 150 lines
A BOOK ARRIVED the other day which set me thinking, again, about travel and travel writing. . . about what one should try to achieve by traveling and what, I think, one should try to convey in travel writing.
In my job - the best in the whole wide world - I go someplace, take a look around (never for long enough), attempt to get a sense of place, and then try to answer the question I'm so often asked: What's it really like there?
That is what you really want to know isn't it?
Which brings me back to the book I mentioned.
It's called ``Material World: A Global Family Portrait'' by Peter Menzel (Sierra Club Books, paperback, $20). It's about places throughout this global community, the people who live there and - this is the particularly interesting aspect of the book - the ``stuff'' these people have.
This coffeetable book is the new paperback version of a unique national bestseller about the lives of families around the world. It shows the day-to-day things these people surround themselves with, possessions they deem most essential.
In other words, it attempts to show what it's really like there, and there and there.
To bring the book to fruition, 16 top photographers went to 30 countries and spent a week detailing the life of a family deemed typical of each nation. At the end of the visit they would film the family members in front of their home with all their possessions - which amounted to a few jugs and jars for some, and an electronic cornucopia for others.
Pictures often are worth thousands of words.
This book is certainly worth a look. Ask about it at your favorite bookstore. FROM HERE TO THERE
Former Congressman G. William Whitehurst will lead a nine-day trip to Russia, March 4-13, sponsored by the World Affairs Council of Greater Hampton Roads. The tour visit the cities of Moscow, Vladimir, Suzdal and St. Petersburg and will include a visit to the Hermitage Museum to view the Hidden Treasures Revealed exhibit. Cost: $2,295 per person, double occupancy, includes round trip air from New York, first class hotel, three meals daily, rail transportation between Moscow and St. Petersburg, various sightseeing tours and museum admissions. Info: Marie Zammit (804) 461-3664 or B.F. Tours (800) 9-MOSCOW.
The Chrysler Museum will sponsor a 14-day tour of Syria and Jordan, beginning April 23, that will be accompanied by guest lecturer Dr. Joseph Greene, a specialist in Near Eastern languages and civilizations. The tour will include visits to Damascus and Amman, and will feature tours of Krak des Chevaliers, an immense crusader fort, and Petra, one of the most magnificent archaeological site in the region. Cost: $4,630 per person, double occupancy, includes round trip air from Norfolk, delux hotel, most meals, all tours and sightseeing. Info: Sally Adler (804) 425-0224 or Distant Horizons (800) 333-1240. CHRISTMAS, BY GEORGE
Daily holiday festivities, now through Jan. 6, let you step back in history and enjoy the 18th-century sights, sounds and scents at George Washington's historic Mount Vernon plantation home. In keeping with the President's tradition, his home 10 miles south of Alexandria will be open Christmas and New Year's Day. Info: (703) 780-2000. HOLD THE CHEESE
The world's first kosher McDonald's has opened in the Jerusalem suburb of Mevaseret. It's like any other Mickey D's elsewhere except: To conform with Jewish dietary laws that ban mixing meat and dairy products, this McDonald's doesn't serve cheeseburgers or milk shakes. It's also closed on Saturday, the Jewish sabbath. This is Israel's 18th McDonald's; the others use kosher ingredients but include dairy products on the menu. YOUR MONEY'S WORTH
Las Vegas' Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino is offering a $10 deal through Jan. 25. Book a room Sunday through Thursday and pay $10 per person (plus tax), per night, based on double occupancy. The ``Holiday Festival Special'' also includes a free daily buffet, as well as free chances, gifts and discounts. Info: (800) 634-6441. MOVING OVERSEAS?
. . . Either on business or on purpose? The Network for Living Abroad eases culture shock for Americans by linking them with others eager to share experiences and answer questions. Members in the United States and 18 foreign countries communicate by phone, fax, mail and e-mail.
One year's membership ($36 U.S.; $46 overseas) includes 10 issues of a newsletter. Info: Network for Living Abroad, 13351-D Riverside Drive, 101, Sherman Oaks, Calif. 91423; (818) 789-2804. ELVIS HAS LEFT THE DOCK
The Royal Majesty will be sailing from Miami with Elvis this January. Actually, he's a highly praised Elvis imitator named Mike Albert, and he'll be aboard a three-night cruise to the Bahamas and Key West starting Jan. 5, as well as a four-nighter to Mexico and Key West starting Jan. 8. For more information on the cruises, which start at $249 and $399, see a local travel agent or call (800) 532-7788. G'DEAL, MATE
Take-a-Mate fares via Air New Zealand to Australia and New Zealand from Los Angeles are $1,198 for the first ticket, $599 for a companion, provided you book a flight by Dec. 31 and travel Feb. 1-March 31 with a minimum stay of seven days and a maximum of 60 days. Up to two stopovers in New Zealand, Tahiti, Fiji, the Cook Islands or Honolulu for $125 each additional. Info: A local travel agent or (800) 262-1234. TOP 10, NEAR AND FAR
The top 10 domestic destinations, according to a survey of 13,500 travelers, as reported in ``Vacation Places Rated'' (Fielding Worldwide; $19.95):
1. Hawaii
2. Alaska
3. Colorado
4. Northern California
5. Maine
6. Las Vegas
7. Washington state
8. Vermont
9. Oregon
10. Arizona
The top 10 foreign destinations:
1. Ireland
2. English countryside & Scotland
3. British Columbia
4. Costa Rica
5. Australia
6. Bermuda
7. New Zealand
8. Switzerland
9. Israel
10. London LANDMARK CHANGES
There are many changes of names each year in the hotel business, but have you ever thought of how much work it takes to change those names? Consider London's newest landmark, the Landmark of London.
On July 31, it was still the Regent, and then overnight became part of the Lancaster Landmark Hotel Co., which required changing thousands of items to bear the new logo of the Landmark company.
Among the items: two mirrors in each room, 2,500 sheets, 800 bathrobes, 3,000 towels, umbrellas, necktie cards, in-room directories and pencils.
The hotel, built in 1899, is considered one of London's Victorian-Gothic landmarks, and was fully restored in 1993. Info: Summit International Hotels, (800) 457-4000. MEMO: Travel-wise is compiled from wire-service reports, news releases, trade
journals, books, magazines and the deepest recesses of the writer's
mind. Send comments and questions to Travel-wise, The Virginian-Pilot,
Norfolk, Va. 23501-0449; phone (804) 446-2904. by CNB