Date: 2007-09-26 19:07 Subject: Travel 092607: City tours (Madrid, New Orleans) Security: Public

Travel Tips for WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2007

City festivals >> Madrid to kick off month-long fall cultural festival 
From Oct. 15 to Nov. 18, Madrid will celebrate its 24th annual Fall Festival (Festival de Otoño), during which the city will host a roster of concerts, dance and theater performances. As one of Europe’s leading culture capitals, Madrid will welcome artists from 13 countries who will perform in more than 140 shows. Some 22 venues will showcase plays by Molière and Beckett, modern dance, contemporary flamenco, opera and jazz concerts – including 14 premieres for Madrid and another 19 for Spain. For more information, visit www.madrid.org/fo2007/en/elfestival.html.

City tours >> New Orleans launches ‘24-hour’ insider’s travel guide 
For those seeking an authentic travel experience, the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau has recently launched an interactive website and itinerary planning tool, 24NOLA (www.foreverneworleans.com/24) to help visitors plan their trip to the Big Easy.  The new customizable Web site provides 24-hours worth of visitor itinerary suggestions -- rated from mild, medium to spicy – which includes attractions, hotels, restaurants and activities. The Web site, which allows visitors to customize and print a trip itinerary, also features a section at which visitors and residents of the Crescent City can post their favorite things to experience in New Orleans.

International travel >> State Dept. issues warning for Pakistan
On Sept. 21, the U.S. Department of State issued a travel warning for Pakistan to update U.S. citizens of ongoing security concerns in Pakistan; currently, the State Dept. warns all U.S. citizens against non-essential travel to Pakistan in light of the threat of terrorist activity. This alert supersedes the travel warning issued December 5, 2006.   According to its Web site, terrorists and their sympathizers have demonstrated their willingness and capability to attack targets where Americans are known to congregate or visit, such as hotels, clubs and restaurants, places of worship, schools or outdoor recreation events.  U.S. citizens who travel to or remain in Pakistan despite this warning are encouraged to register with the embassy in Islamabad or the consulates in Karachi, Lahore or Peshawar. For more information, visit travel.state.gov.
 
-- Kathleen Jay, kathleen.j.jay@gmail.com

Copyright 2007, Kathleen Jay.  This content appeared in the 09/26/2007 edition of the San Francisco Examiner.