Travel tips

Nov 3, 2011, 3:06 GMT

London gondola to open in time for summer 2012 Olympics

London (dpa) - London's first cable car across the Thames is due to open for business in time for the 2012 Summer Olympics in the British capital, says the airline Emirates which is sponsoring the link. The five-minute journey will take passengers between two new stations at Greenwich Peninsula and the Royal Victoria Docks. Up to two million passengers a year are expected use the 1.1 km Thames crossing which will have 34 gondola cabins, each capable of holding 10 passengers.

Polar X-plorer coaster heading for Legoland Billund

Billund, Denmark (dpa) - A new rollercoaster featuring a spectacular vertical drop will rumble through Legoland Billund in Denmark from next May. The Polar X-plorer is part of the new Polar Land development at the site close to the headquarters of the toymaking company. The ride will whisk visitors at up to 65 kilometres an hour past 15 living penguins. The rest of the animals in the park will be assembled using the company's trademark Lego building bricks. (www.legoland.dk/en)

Art lovers congregate at Miami Beach

Miami (dpa) - The international art world decamps to Miami Beach from December 1 to 4 when the US pendant of the celebrated Art Basel Show comes to town. This is the tenth edition of the event which is attracting 260 leading gallery owners from around the world. On show is the work of 2,000 artists. Visitors will also once again be able to a take a peek inside the premiere private art collections of The Rubell Family and Marty Margulies. (www.artbaselmiamibeach.com)

Three days of undiluted jazz in Monaco

Monaco (dpa) - Legendary artists and major names for the future will be playing at the year's 11th Monte Carlo Jazz Festival which takes place in the principality of Monaco from November 24 for three days. The list of artists attending includes musicians of the calibre of John McLaughlin, Steve Gadd and Joey deFrancesco who open proceedings. Day Two features Michel Portal on clarinet and saxophone. Israeli jazz bassist Avishai Cohen has been booked to play the closing set, with his unique 'lyrical' style, blending contemporary jazz, world music, pop, hard-bop and traditional music. Tickets for the event are priced from 35 euro (49 dollars). (www.montecarloresort.com)

Ai Weiwei works on display in Denmark