By Judy Newell
Mexico News
The Museo de Talavera in Puebla city knows just about everything about Mexico’s Talavera pottery. Did you know, for example, that a single piece of Talavera pottery is the product of thousands of years of development and experimentation involving many civilizations?
“In one piece of Talavera, we are going to see signs of Asian, Arab, European, and traditional Mexican cultures,” said Armando Pérez Domínguez, the director general of Grupo Armando and the retail store, Talavera Armando. “That is what is beautiful about an artistic piece: the styles and all these influences, the participation of so many continents [through] so many centuries.”
You can learn the history behind the making of Talavera pottery at the museum which opened four years ago. The name Talavera comes from Talavera de la Reina in Spain, a town famous for its pottery. The techniques for making Talavera pottery—in Mexico it is known as Talavera Poblana to distinguish it from Talavera made in Spain—were brought to Mexico from Spain just a few years after the conquest.
Puebla city was founded in 1531, and soon afterward came churches and monasteries—and a demand for tiles to decorate them. The area that would become the state of Puebla proved to be a perfect place for making the tiles. As Pérez pointed out, 450 years after they were made, the tiles on cathedrals and other buildings in Puebla can still be admired.
International News: Tourist Taxes
Tourist taxes, also known as hotel taxes or visitor charges, are increasingly being implemented in European cities. Manchester is the latest addition to the list of cities charging a tourist tax in the U.K.
The new tax, which began this year on April 1, charges visitors staying in city-center hotels or rental apartments £1 (US$1.23) per room for each night of stay and is expected to raise £3 million (US$3.6 million) annually to help build local infrastructure.
The initiative is the first of its kind in the U.K. but follows the success of similar ones in tourist destinations like Venice, Barcelona, and Rome. In November 2022, Edinburgh also announced plans to charge visitors £2 (US$2.46) per night to stay in the historic city in the near future.
Tourist taxes are becoming increasingly popular as they help to fund local infrastructure and tourism initiatives. They also act as a source of revenue for local governments making them more self-sufficient. Visitors may have concerns about the additional charge but it is often minimal compared to the overall cost of travel.
Cruise News
Lindblad Expeditions is encouraging people to hold onto their youth for just a little longer. The cruise company recently announced that on bookings completed by June 30, 2023, for select Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic sailings this summer, «kids» under 22 years old are eligible to sail for free with a full-fare paying adult in double-occupancy cabins. The sailing options include the company’s 16-day Norway’s Fjords and Arctic Svalbard trip departing May 17; its 13-day Legendary Northern Isles: Scotland, Faroes, and Iceland departing June 29; its 24-day Gateway to the Northwest Passage: Greenland and Canada departing August 3; its 11-day South Greenland Exploration: Fjords, Waterfalls and Fishing Villages departing August 24; and more. Onboard each ship, families can learn alongside naturalists, scientists, historians, divers, photographers, and anthropologists, all while in total comfort on ultra-modern ships that come with luxurious suites, cozy lounge areas, spas, fine dining, and even science labs where guests can watch researchers at work.
Deal of the Week
Veni, Vidi, Vici: Umbria and Tuscany by Design
GlobusTours (globusjourneys.com)
You’ll learn the art of truffle hunting with local farmers and their dogs. A great experience for foodies and wine lovers, this excursion to Umbria will also delight you with its spectacular countryside and lovely people.
Any way you slice it, this eight-day journey through the kitchens and countryside of Umbria and Tuscany will inspire la dolce vita! How will you feed your travel appetite? Hunting for truffles or tapping in a putt? Soaking in the beauty of waterfalls or stirring watercolors? With complimentary YourChoice Excursions, you can choose to say “ciao!” to amazing sights or delicious bites and everything in-between.
This tour conquers travel cravings by providing a winding, wonderful, journey through high hilltop towns with deep discoveries and in-depth storytelling. It will appeal to foodies and cultural fanatics alike, inviting you to mangia (eat up!) and includes YourChoice Excursions in Spoleto and Siena.
Eight days from Ostia to Ostia, Italy.
- June 4-11, 2023; from US$2,369
- August 27-Sep 3, 2023; from US$2,089
- September 3-10, 2023; from US$2,369
Judy Newell, an international travel consultant for over 50 years, heads Perfect Journeys and specializes in unique travel experiences to destinations around the world. She custom designs journeys that are tailored to suit client’s interests, physical abilities, and budgets. Please contact Judy for further information on Travel News topics, Mexico, and international travel. Cell phone 415 111 8765; Vonage 949 300 3682; email at judynewell@perfectjourneys.net. Her office is in Rancho Los Labradores on the highway to Dolores Hidalgo.
Sources: Mexico News Daily, The Navigator, Travel + Leisure, and Globus.
