2009: International Year of Astronomy
...Galileo!?!
Yes! 2009 has been designated by UNESCO as the International Year of Astronomy, and this year only visitors to both cities can enjoy unique exhibits honoring the "Father of Modern Science". Galileo, The Medici and The Age of Astronomy will be held at Philadelphia's The Franklin Institute Science Museum, 04 April to 07 September.
Meanwhile, Florence, the city where Galileo conducted
many of his famous
XVI/XVII-c experiments under the patronage of Cosimo di Medici will be hosting an exhibition celebrating the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s refracting telescope, used to make his famous observations of the heavens. The exhibit includes celestial atlases, precious decorated manuscripts, rare printed volumes, archaeological finds, astronomical watches, works of art (drawings, paintings, and sculptures) and incredible scientific instruments.
Until 30 August 2009 at Florence's Palazzo Strozzi.
More information through links below:
Let us know if you're interested in stopping in Florence to see this once-in-a-lifetime exhibit. We'd be happy to work it into your next itinerary!
Travel Insurance is regulated in
each state and the major underwriters are Access America, Travelex and Travel Guard. Bethesda Travel features Access America because we find that
their product and rates best fit our clients’ needs.
Travel Insurance is very important, but it is a tricky subject and there are a lot of myths and misunderstandings! One of our main goals at Bethesda Travel is to help avoid myths, misunderstandings, and extra cost! The hope is that you'll never have to use it. So we’d much rather see you save a little premiums and splurge on a nice dinner in Rome! More good news is that kids under 18 are free!
Uninsured travelers face severe penalties - up to 100% - for trip cancellation. So, if you have to cancel or interrupt (suspend travel early), it is likely that no refunds will be coming your way. Travel Insurance, on the other hand, reimburses for cancellation/interruption due to a covered reason... generally a severe, unexpected medical emergency of you or immediate relative.
Guido Adelfio
Bethesda Travel Center LLC
4422 East West Highway
Bethesda MD 20814
Phone: 301-656-1670
Phone: 888-656-1670
Fax: 301-656-6244
The glorious open-air theaters of Italy are stunning backdrops for the great operas. We've listed a few of our favorite summertime opera festivals with links to sites where you can peruse the upcoming schedules. We're happy to plan your next trip to Italy around one of these performances. Just give us a call or an email!! Your opera experience is waiting!Arena di Verona: An unforgettable experience! June-August
Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago: Festival dedicated to the work of Puccini in the town where he lived. A unique stage setting with the majestic Massaciuccoli Lake making up the background. July-August
Sferisterio Macerata Opera: In the capital of Italy's Marche region. Wonderful acoustics in a great neoclassical arena. July-August
Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro: Dedicated to the works of Rossini. Enjoy the Adriatic Coast! August
Daylight Savings with BTC
L'Arena, Verona's Famous Open-Air Theater
25 € Coin commemorating 2009 Year of Astronomy
"Face" by Calder One of Calder's
One of Calder's famous mobiles
More on Insurance...We strongly recommend Travel Insurance to everyone. Questions arise when determining when
to enroll and how much coverage to take. Presuming you are in good health and don’t have
anyone ailing in your immediate family, we generally recommend taking insurance with
your final balance since this is when your exposure begins to ramp up. We normally suggest
about 1/3 coverage to our clients (see above). You will be saving a lot on the premiums and
still getting the coverage you need.
There are literally hundreds of hypotheticals – too many to cover here. So it is very important to let your travel counselor know your concerns and parameters right away. Wewill happily give you the appropriate personal recommendations tailored to your situation!
Primary Elements of Travel Insurance
1) Trip Cancellation
(prior to departure) 2) Trip Interruption
(suspending during a trip, with a 50% boost in coverage)
3) Emergency Medical Transportation
(scarcely used, but this is HUGE if you ever need it!)
Secondary Elements
(These rarely come into play)
1) Missed Connection
2) Travel Delay
3) Emergency Medical and Dental**
4) Baggage Protection
5) Rental Car Protection
6) BizPack (in case your job belly flops)
** Remember that your regular health insurance usually covers you oversea (watch the Medicare though!)
Travel Insurance: AN EXAMPLE
Your trip is $15,000 for two, or $7,500 per person. 1/3 coverage translates to $2,500 of Trip Cancellation Coverage per person, which will convert to $3,750 of Trip Interruption Coverage with the 50% booster. If you have to cancel, you might lose a little bit. But if you interrupt your trip for a covered reason, you will be reimbursed up to HALF of your total. This will more than cover your potential losses since once the trip starts features of your trip are amortized each day, thus diminishing your exposure. This is a big reason to save on the premiums and not to cover 100% of your trip unless you are extremely risk-averse!
Until 10 May, 2009
Don't miss it!! Two months left in the Rome exhibition showcasing a review of the complete works of Alexander Calder - American sculptor and painter known for his mobiles. The exhibit will include 1,000 works of sculpture, paintings and jewelry. The show is the first time in 25 years that these works - from collections including MoMA, the Guggenheim Museum, the National Gallery of Washington, and several private collections - will be shown together.
A word about Bethesda Travel Center!
We are, since 1961, top custom-vacation planners to Italy and Europe. Our expertise and enthusiasm combine time and again to create what our clients remember as the
best vacation of their lives!
Bethesda Travel is uniquely qualified to custom-plan your next trip of a lifetime!
Please give us a call!
Liguria is the region of Italy along the northwest seacoast. Genoa is the heart of Liguria and the beautiful seacoast is framed by mountains all the way from Tuscany to the French Border! The region is known as the Italian Riviera and it is truly beautiful!
The Southern part of Liguria encompasses the Cinque Terre, which are the five towns that are virtually inaccessible except from the sea! A local train runs north and south and in season (mid-April thru mid-October), boats link
occupies a very private little bay - reputedly the name derives from Porto Delfino, meaning "dolphin harbor", since in Roman times the area had a lot of dolphins!
Camogli is next and is famous for the emblematic painted stucco facades that grace the buildings. Ornate building fronts and lovely earth-tone colors are characteristic of Liguria!
the towns. North from the Cinque Terre lies Sestri Levante, where Hans Christian Anderson lived and wrote.
Farther along, you will come to Rapallo and Santa Margherita, yachting centers and lovely seaside towns. Portofino is famous and Read More
Spring is in the air - the gorgeous weekend was certainly a reminder! Summer is right around the corner! Airfares are down! The Dollar is up! We are seeing roughly a 35% drop in prices for European vacations! Planning time is now! this is the year to do more with less. Let’s get going! Good values abound!
And Remember... If you enroll online use the BTC agency number: F005650
Liguria is one of our favorite regions with wonderful beaches, great day-trips, and fabulous cuisine - Pesto alla Genovese (based on pine nuts, olive oil and basil) is famous, not to mention the seafood, cheeses and desserts! La Brinca, in the hills high above Sestri and Chiavari is one of our recommendations, and the area offers wonderful luxurious hotels, pleasant three and four star accomodations, flats, villas and agriturismi!
Reading Assignment:
check out, Galileo's Daughter, a fascinating collection
of letters from Galileo to his daughter in the convent. Great insights into life in the Age of Enlightenment!
Genoa has a wonderful aquarium and if you are lucky enough to take a Mediterranean cruise, MSC and Costa cruise lines both originate here! West of Genoa is Savona, also a busy harbor and San Remo, where the Norwegian Alfred Nobel lived out his days enjoying the Italian sunshine.
Call or email today! We’ll be glad to include Liguria in your next Italian vacation - it’s a stand-alone destination, or you can easily build in a stay en route to or from France, Florence, Tuscany, Piedmont, Milan, the Lakes, etc!
