Traveler's
Advisory
By LEORA MOLDOFSKY
North
America
Plains
Growing up on a peanut farm in Plains, Ga., without electricity
or running water, Jimmy Carter dreamed of becoming the first
in his family to finish high school. He wound up becoming
the 39th U.S. President (1977-1981). Now members of the public
can spend time in some of the places that nurtured Carter.
Run by the National Parks Service, the Jimmy Carter National
Historical Site, which opened last November, includes his
family's farm, high school and the former railroad depot which
served as his presidential campaign headquarters in 1976.
The ranch house where Carter now lives is still off-limits.
See www.nps.gov/jica.
Globe
Tours
It's tough being an explorer in the age of the aeroplane and
the satellite: there's so little left to discover. But thrill-seeking
travelers can follow in the footsteps of the great explorers
on seven expeditions offered by Mountain Sobek. Options include
riding the Colorado River rapids through the Grand Canyon
on a replica of John Wesley Powell's pine boat, and surveying
wildlife in Zambia, where David Livingstone perished in 1873.
(The trip concludes in London with dinner at the Royal Geographical
Society.) Participants won't suffer the hardships experienced
by explorers, the adventure-travel company promises, but some
trips can be arduous. "Tilman's Everest Trek," for example,
involves strenuous hiking at high altitudes. For trip details
and to book, see www.mtsobek.com.
Music
Giuseppe Verdi's (1813-1901) impassioned operas are still
among the most performed in the world. So marking the 100th
anniversary of the Italian composer's death will be a global
affair, with more than 1,500 Verdi-related events scheduled.
The website www.giuseppeverdi.org provides a searchable database
of concerts, operas, festivals, exhibitions and conferences
to be held around the world in 2001. Visitors can also listen
to extracts of Verdi's greatest hits, including operas like
Rigoletto, Aïda and La Traviata, view his birth certificate,
read his bio-graphy and take a virtual tour of his favorite
places in Italy.
Australia
Sydney
The images of national leaders are usually sculpted in stone
or bronze or rendered in paint on canvas. But Australian artist
Martin Wilson decided to fashion a cuddlier image for the
25 men who have led Australia, using a material-wool-that
has played a vital role in the nation's economic development.
"Fuzzy Prime Ministers," made up of 1-sq.-m hooked rugs in
cartoon colors, is on display at Customs House (as part of
the Sydney Festival) until Feb. 4; the exhibition will later
move to the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra.
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January 22, 2001
| No. 3
COVER
STORIES
RUSSIA:
Troubled Anniversary
When Vladimir Putin came to power in Russia, he brought the promise of
thoroughgoing economic and military reform. A year later, he has consolidated
his grip on both power and public affection, but just what has he delivered?
The
New Plague: HIV is spreading at an alarming rate
An Ill
Wind: Tuberculosis' mounting toll
T H E A R T S
CINEMA:
Macho man Mel Gibson
reveals his feminine side
MUSIC: Grammy fortune
smiles on Destiny's
Child
BOOKS: A brilliant first
novel about a child
genius
A follow-up coming-of-age
memoir that falls just short
TRAVELER'S
ADVISORY
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