Although April Fool’s Day is traditionally a day of trickery and pranks for friends and family, since the 1950s the media has become increasingly involved – running bogus news stories and promoting false products. These days it’s likely you’ll be surrounded by dubious news stories on line, on TV and in the papers. So watch out!
Here’s our selection of brilliant April Fool’s Day pranks from the past:
1957: The Swiss Spaghetti Harvest
Perhaps the most famous 1 April trick of all. The BBC show Panorama announced that farmers in Switzerland were enjoying an abundant spaghetti crop due to a mild winter and the elimination of the spaghetti weevil. Footage of Swiss farmers pulling strands of spaghetti off trees was aired to illustrate the fact. Huge numbers of viewers called the BBC to enquire about how they could grow their own spaghetti tree…
Spaghetti Harvest, Italy, 1957
1962: Instant Colour TV
In Sweden in 1962 there was only one TV channel and it broadcast in black and white. The station’s technical expert, Kjell Stensson, appeared on the news to announce that viewers could convert their TV sets to colour by putting a nylon stocking over the screen. Stensson demonstrated the process on air and thousands of people were duped. In case you’re interested, colour broadcasts didn’t begin in Sweden until 1970…
Colour TV, Sweden, 1962
1976: Planetary Alignment Decreases Gravity
British astronomer Patrick Moore announced on BBC Radio 2 that an astounding astronomical event was going to take place during his radio show, at 9:47 AM. Pluto would pass behind Jupiter temporarily causing a gravitational alignment that would decrease the Earth’s gravity. Moore told listeners that, if they jumped in the air at the right moment, they would experience an unusual floating sensation. At 9:47 AM, listeners began phoning the radio station claiming to have felt the sensation. One woman reported that she had risen from her chair and floated around the room along with eleven friends…
1977: San Serriffe
The Guardian newspaper published a special seven-page supplement on San Serriffe, an archipelago of several semi-colon-shaped islands in the Indian Ocean. A number of articles described the geography and culture of the two main islands – Upper Caisse and Lower Caisse – and its capital Bodoni. The Guardian was inundated with phone calls as readers requested more information on the emerging holiday destination. The success of this hoax is often recognised as the start of the April Fool’s enthusiasm that now grips the British tabloids…
San Serriffe, Indian Ocean, 1977
1998: The Left-Handed Whopper
Burger King published a full-page advertisement in USA Today announcing the introduction of a Left-Handed Whopper to their menu – a burger especially designed for the 32-million left-handed Americans. It stated that the new Whopper included the same ingredients as the original Whopper, the difference being that the condiments were rotated 180 degrees for the benefit of left-handed customers. Burger King reported that thousands of customers requested the burger…
This popular book and recently-released film, starring Rachel Weisz as the mother of murdered Susie Salmon, is an unexpectedly uplifting film. The Lovely Bones describes Susie’s experiences in the after-life as she looks down from heaven on her family and friends whilst they heal and as she herself comes to terms with her own death. It is a gentle film that celebrates life.
I thought of The Lovely Bones during a visit last week to The Bones Chapel (Capela dos Ossos) in the UNESCO World Heritage Centre of Évora in the Alentejo region of Portugal. The walls of this 16th century Franciscan Chapel are covered completely with human skulls and bones. Initiated by a group of monks, it was thought that such a display of death would be conducive to meditation about life. A slightly eerie place, it has to be said – the inscription above the entrance to the Chapel translates as ‘Our bones are here; we are waiting for yours’ – but the concept makes sense and is positive rather than downbeat. The Alentejo, a beautiful, lesser-known region of Portugal to the south and east of Lisbon, combines the Atlantic Coast, vineyards, cork tree forests, sweeping plains and several historical towns – some of whose 14th century origins are clearly visible – plus boutique, unusual accommodation options. I was on an educational trip to the Alentejo with Sunvil Real Portugal. It was a big surprise to me – very unexpected and very beautiful. Mika Bishop.
Travel is a voyage of discovery and a constant search for that elusive ultimate sight. As the world’s natural wonders are ever-changing, so each visitor has the chance of a unique view and experience. Here we have highlighted some strong contenders in the little known, incredible sights category, as offered by members of the Association of Independent Tour Operators.
CATATUMBO LIGHTNING WITH WILDERNESS JOURNEYS
Remote trekking with your own guide across the Andes, through lush cloud forest and lonely paramo to witness the Catatumbo Lightning. This atmospheric natural phenomenon, found nowhere else on earth, has an average of over 200 flashes every minute for 10 hours every day, with no thunder. This 12-day trek from Merida in the Venezuelan Andes to Logoa Lagoon for the lightning experience, costs £1,395 pp excl. flights but includes accommodation, meals and internal flights. For details call AITO member Wilderness Journeys on 0131 625 6635 or visit www.wildernessjourneys.com.
VALLEY OF MARVELS WITH INNTRAVEL
Inntravel’s Alps to the Mediterranean walking holiday offers an unforgettable day exploring the Vallée des Merveilles (The Valley of Marvels) in the wild and mysterious Mercantour National Park, led by a registered guide. On a 4-wheel drive excursion (£59 supplement), witness the marvels of this valley with its striking lunar-style rock formations: thousands of 4,000-year-old carvings of people, animals, and symbols. Witness the dramatic rock formations of the valley and the peak of Mt. Bego (2,872m). Price of £545 pp includes 6 nights’ B&B, 4 dinners, 2 picnics, maps, notes and transfers) on a self-drive basis. Call AITO member Inntravel on 01653 617000 or visit www.inntravel.co.uk.
TURKMENISTAN’S DOOR TO HELL WITH WILD FRONTIERS
In 1971, geologists drilling for gas deposits in the KaraKum desert in Turkmenistan, uncovered a huge underground cavern which caused the ground over it to collapse. Since the cavern was filled with poisonous gas, they ignited it, hoping it would burn itself out in a couple of days. Thirty-five years later, this 70-meter wide crater continues to burn the trapped natural gas, creating an amazing fire display described by locals as the ‘Door to Hell.’ Visit Darvaza as part of the Cities of the Silk Road tour of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. 16-day tour, land only price from £2195 pp. Call AITO member Wild Frontiers on 0207 736 3968 or visit www.wildfrontiers.co.uk.
STAND ON 83-42 -THE MOST NORTHERN POINT OF LAND ON EARTH WITH DISCOVER THE WORLD
Only a handful of people have ever stepped foot on 83-42 – the northernmost permanent point of land on earth, completely surrounded by ice. It is a tiny rock, only 35m by 15m and 4m high, about 400 miles from the North Pole. It took pole position in 1998, when it was discovered with lichen growing on it. Join a few other intrepid adventurers on the “Voyage to the North Pole”. The 14-day trip takes place in July and costs £14,802 pp excl flights from UK to Helsinki. Call AITO member Discover the World on 01737 214250 or visit www.discover-the-world.co.uk.
WILPENA POUND WITH BRIDGE & WICKERS
Head Downunder to discover Wilpena Pound – a huge 50 sq mile basin contained by a girdle of mountains that rise up to over 3,000 feet. It looks impenetrable, indeed the only way into this natural amphitheatre is on foot through a narrow gorge. Staying at a cattle station, visit this, one of the great natural sites of the Flinders Ranges and watch kangaroos, wallabees, parrots, eagles, rosellas and galahs on the plains below. Price of £1,549 (excl. flights) includes 5 nights’ full board, most drinks, transfers, 4 days’ car hire. Call AITO member Bridge & Wickers on 0207 483 6555 or visit www.bridgeandwickers.co.uk.
THE DEEPEST CANYON IN THE WORLD (ALMOST) WITH SUNVIL TRAVELLER
North of Arequipa in Peru is the magnificent Colca Canyon, twice as deep as north America’s Grand Canyon, and thought to be the deepest in the world until the nearby Cotahuasi Canyon at 3,354m was found to be 163m deeper. Head for the Colca Valley from Arequipa and journey (on a private or group basis) over the altiplano which climbs to 4,800m before dropping down to the Colca Valley. The Mirador Cruz del Condor, where the canyon is 1,200m deep, is an unbeatable spot to see condors gliding. A ten-night Peru itinerary costs from £2,996 pp including return flights from Heathrow, ten nights’ accommodation, some meals, private transfers and private excursions. Call AITO member Sunvil Traveller on 020 8758 4774 or visit www.sunvil.co.uk.
JAPAN’S FIREFLY SQUID LIGHT UP JAPAN’S TOYAMA BAY WITH INSIDEJAPAN TOURS
Only 3 inches long, Japan’s firefly squid, have special organs at the end of their tentacles that light up like glow sticks on Bonfire Night. Although they normally live 1,200 feet underwater, due to unusual underwater formations in Toyama Bay, in the central Japan Sea, these squid rise to the surface and can be seen bright and gleaming in their millions. Between March and June, join a sightseeing boat departing from the Namerikawa fishing port around 3am to see the nets 1 to 2 km offshore. InsideJapan Tours has a 10-night package for £1,741 pp, including 3 day car hire and 3 nights at the beautiful Lamp No Yado on the east coast of the Noto Peninsula. Call AITO member InsideJapan Tours on 0117 314 4620 or visit www.insidejapantours.com.
FLAMING CLIFFS OF THE GOBI DESERT IN MONGOLIA WITH SCOTT DUNN
The 3,000-mile Gobi Desert is most famous as the place where the first nest of dinosaur eggs and other fossils were found, as well as for the flaming, glowing orange colour of its rocks. Discover the mysteries of the Gobi desert and its wildlife from the beautiful Three Camel Lodge, in the Gurvansaik National Park. ‘From China to Mongolia’ tour includes 2 nights in the Gobi Desert. £3,789 pp for 7 nights including flights. Call AITO member Scott Dunn on 0208 682 5460 (ref2342) or visit www.scottdunn.co.uk.
ICHUN FALLS, VENEZUELA WITH EXPLORE
We’ve heard of Angel Falls – but few have heard of, let alone seen, Venezuela’s remarkable fizzing and foaming Ichun Falls. Thanks to the tannin from local plants, the Paragua River turns into a thick white carpet as it drops 250 metres into the lake below. You can only visit the Falls, if guided by the Shirian Indians, a native tribe living on the Paragua’s remote upper reaches, who let Explore groups stay with them. Don’t worry – Angel Falls features on this amazing Shirian Tribal Lands 16-day Venezuela adventure, costing £2,179 with flights, £1,545 without. Call AITO member Explore on 0844 499 0901 or visit www.explore.co.uk.
FISH RIVER CANYON IN NAMIBIA WITH EXPERT AFRICA
Offering a Mars-like landscape, the majestic Fish River Canyon in Namibia is the world’s second largest canyon. The vast rocky landscape breaks up into a series of spectacular cliffs that tower over Fish River as it meanders between boulders over half a kilometre below. The landscape is desolate, dusty and rock-strewn, the wildlife includes rare black eagles and mountain zebra, and the sulphurous Ai-Ais Hot Springs await at the bottom. A seven-night package to Namibia, including a guided five-day hike into the canyon, starts from £2,455 pp with flights (two sharing). Call AITO member Expert Africa on 020 8232 9777 or visit www.expertafrica.com.
MADAGASCAR’S AVENUE OF THE BAOBABS WITH NATURETREK
The Avenue of the Baobabs in Madagascar is a collection of 100-foot high, 40-foot wide Boabab trees indigenous and limited to the African flatlands. The trees can live between 1,000 and 2,000 years. Also visit Madagascar’s astounding Tsingy de Bemaraha, a forest of dense spiky limestone formations that have formed over thousands of years and look like a giant hairbrush from above. The wonderful park also features wetlands, mangrove forests, and a valley full of local wildlife. Cost for the 16-day Madagascar’s Forests and Wetlands tour is £3,995 between 11 -26 October. Call AITO member Naturetrek on 01962 733051 or visit www.naturetrek.co.uk.
EUROPE’S BIGGEST SAND DUNE WITH VFB HOLIDAYS
The 100-metre high Le Dune du Pilat, at Arcachon, 55 kms south of Bordeaux , is a stunning sight. Europe’s largest sand dune, it is apparently edging 7m inland a year. The best time to visit is in the evening when dolphins and porpoises can be seen frolicking in the warm waters offshore. Stay in a modern 2-bedroom villa with enclosed garden at Lugos on the edge of the Forêt des Landes, within easy reach of the coast at Arcachon, the sand dune and the Sanguinet Lake, as well as Bordeaux’ famous vineyards. A week’s stay costs from £480 per property (just £120 pp based on the max. of 4 sharing). VFB Holidays can also book competitively priced ferry crossings and flights. Call AITO member VFB Holidays on 01452 716840 or visit www.vfbholidays.co.uk and search for property code WOE33.
CHITRAKOOT WATERFALLS WITH TRANDINDUS
Some 50 kms from the city of Jagdalpur in central India are the crescent moon-shaped Chitrakoot waterfalls which, although smaller, are often compared with the Niagara Falls for their shape. The River Indravati plummets down from the Vindhya mountain ranges to form what are the tallest (at 100’) and broadest waterfalls in India. Best seen between July and October, the waterfalls and surrounding areas are spectacular in their beauty. A 16-day Tribals of Orissa trip inc 2-day extension in Chhattisgarh costs from £3,264 pp sharing, including mostly full board accommodation (3 nights B&B and 1 night room only), return international flights London-Kolkata, all internal travel, all scheduled sightseeing and a local tour escort. Call AITO member TransIndus on 020 8566 2729 or visit www.transindus.com.
MOUNT LIVINGSTONIA , MALAWI WITH OASIS OVERLAND
For an authentic African experience it’s hard to beat Mount Livingstonia. This stunning mountain rises 1,000m above Lake Malawi and a 3 hour walk brings you to the top where you have incredible views over the famous lake. On the way is a 60m waterfall with a cave behind it where villagers used to hide from slave traders. Visit Mount Livingstonia as part of the Apes & Lakes (38 Days – Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi) Nairobi to Lilongwe overland trip costing from £740 pp not including flights. Call AITO member Oasis Overland on 01963 363400 or visit www.oasisoverland.co.uk.
And one we love but can’t use due to FCO advice – THE RICHAT STRUCTURE
The Richat Structure is an incredible and unknown circular feature in the Mauritanian Sahara. It has attracted attention since the earliest space missions because it forms a conspicuous bull’s–eye shape in the otherwise rather featureless expanse of the desert. The structure, which has a diameter of almost 30 miles, has become a landmark for space crews. AITO members don’t go to Mauritania at the moment due to FCO advice, but if they did, this would be top of our list (www.aito.com).
For details of all 140 AITO specialist tour operators – and special offers and news – visit www.aito.com.
Actually, it’s questionable whether we’re even still in winter anymore – technically, March is spring, and the current climate (sunny, chilly days, and the sensation of a face rub from the Ice Queen when the wind blusters) seems to back up that assumption.
What is certainly true, however, is that England has been consistently cold since early December. That’s 100 days of tight-scarfed, eye-runningly polar dashes for the tube, impromptu ice skating on the way to Tesco and shuddering, foul-mouthed mutterings after every shower.
Recent news suggests we’re not the only ones suffering inclemency, though. First Monaco suffered a snowstorm (above and below), as reported by our client the Monaco Tourist Authority and on Monte Carlo Daily Photo.
Then, earlier this week, Ian uncovered pictures of an unexpectedly blanched Canal du Midi and Languedoc region.
And the news this morning suggests that the white stuff has now spread as far south as Catalonia in Spain (below), and east to Switzerland. A 25-year-worst snowfall in Barcelona in mid-March? It hardly seems feasible. In past years, it’s around this time I’ve been discussing with Real Holidays which warm parts of southern Italy might be suitable for a March visit. This year, only the inside of a cosy villa with a decent fireplace and hot coffee sounds appropriate.
All of these Arctic overtures in Western Europe’s traditionally hot spots encourages one singular question: what on Earth is life like in Scandinavia? (Our clients include the West Sweden Tourist Board and Sunvil Holidays, which has a detailed Scandinavia programme.)
Similarly bizarre is the answer. Such has been the proliferation of powder snow this year that West Sweden briefly introduced skiing options onto its website for the first time earlier this month. The Baltic Sea has frozen, trapping ships. From Sunvil’s account holder Sarah come stories of the seas being frozen between some islands outside Stockholm. Where normally you sail from one isle to another, at the moment one can ski or ice-skate…
Part of me relishes hearing these stories – there’s a certain open-mouthed enjoyment that comes with seeing pictures of a whitened Barcelona, or through learning of unique ‘walking on water’ possibilities. But the other, sunnier side of my personality recoils: it really can’t wait for summer to start. Happily, it seems the wait might not be a long one… check out next Monday’s forecast (c/o BBC weather):
Visitors to the White Cross pub in Richmond were left no option but to arrive by boat yesterday as the River Thames broke its banks. The cosy riverside establishment in Surrey has a special high-tide entrance in case of flooding but even this was inaccessible on foot. The much-loved pub regularly gets cut off, usually about five times a month, but yesterday’s was a very high tide. The occurrence is a welcome excuse for the regulars who relish more time in the pub away from DIY jobs at home but it’s perhaps not so favoured by stranded office workers seeking to get back to work after a boozy lunch. The Travel PR team is planning an after-work drink when the waters have subsided!
The Thames is known often to flood at high tide near Richmond Bridge, but visitors – and their cars – are often caught out. Local businesses are prepared for high water levels via reference to tide timetable books. The tide rises and falls due to the rotation of the earth and gravitational pull of the moon. Exceptionally high and low tides – Spring Tides – occur at the time of the new moon (or the full moon) when the sun, moon, and earth are approximately aligned.
4 March is World Book Day (www.worldbookday.com), the biggest annual celebration of books and reading in the UK and Ireland. Here’s our pick of must-read novels set in stunning destinations worldwide:
Stockholm: Millennium trilogy by Stieg Larsson
Millions of copies of Stieg Larsson’s nail-biting books about journalist Mikael Blomkvist and computer hacker Lisbeth Salander have sold worldwide. Stockholm features predominantly in the trilogy and it’s now possible to take a guided literary tour: see Lisbeth’s luxury apartment first-hand and take a stroll past the Millennium editorial offices, among other highlights.
Cuba: The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway lived in Cuba for over 20 years and was enormously inspired by the island. Author of The Old Man and the Sea, he cultivated a reputation as a man larger than life: someone who could out-drink anyone and catch bigger marlin than a professional fisherman.
Venezuela: The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World was inspired by Mt. Roraima, the highest of the tepuis (flat-topped mountains) in Venezuela’s Gran Sabana. Set in London and South America, the book’s explorers find themselves in The Lost World, a vast plateau with sheer cliffs all around. See the 2,810m tall rock island for yourself and the mysterious shapes and shadows of Venezuela’s surreal Gran Sabana.
Egypt: Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie
First published in 1937, Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile challenges detective Hercule Poirot to solve a murder mystery onboard the paddle steamer SS Karnak.
Venice: Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie’s much-loved sleuth, Hercule Poirot, is on the Orient Express when one of the passengers is discovered murdered. The train is stuck in snow and he has just a few hours to figure out the murderer’s identity. Perhaps not an ideal scenario for a holiday, but a nostalgic journey on the magnificent Orient Express is a once in a lifetime opportunity not to be missed.
Morocco: Hideous Kinky by Esther Freud
Hideous Kinky is an autobiographical novel by Esther Freud (daughter of Lucian, great-granddaughter of Sigmund) illustrating her hippy childhood in Marrakech in the 1960s. You’ll read this and won’t be able to resist the city’s mesmeric, magnetic charms.
Vienna: The Third Man by Graham Greene
Set in post-war Vienna, Graham Greene’s novel The Third Man is perhaps even better-known in its film format, starring Joseph Cotten and Orson Welles. A visit to the Third Man Museum will set the scene for a fascinating short break to the Austrian capital, where world-famous coffee houses, imperial architecture and impressive museums and galleries also await discovery.
Monaco: Monaco by Eric Morse
Enjoy the sportsmanship, glory and glamour of 1930s Monaco with this nostalgic historic novel by Eric Morse. Set against the background of pre-WW II Europe and Nazi Germany’s hold on motor racing, Monaco evokes the explosive world of the golden-age Grand Prix.
Cornwall: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Daphne du Maurier novels set in Cornwall have always been her most popular, perhaps because she made her home in and around Fowey – a pretty harbour town that tumbles from high on the hill right down to the water on the beautiful south coast.
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Flooding in Richmond forced drinkers to arrive by boat at the White Cross pub yesterday
Friday, March 5th, 2010Visitors to the White Cross pub in Richmond were left no option but to arrive by boat yesterday as the River Thames broke its banks. The cosy riverside establishment in Surrey has a special high-tide entrance in case of flooding but even this was inaccessible on foot. The much-loved pub regularly gets cut off, usually about five times a month, but yesterday’s was a very high tide. The occurrence is a welcome excuse for the regulars who relish more time in the pub away from DIY jobs at home but it’s perhaps not so favoured by stranded office workers seeking to get back to work after a boozy lunch. The Travel PR team is planning an after-work drink when the waters have subsided!
The Thames is known often to flood at high tide near Richmond Bridge, but visitors – and their cars – are often caught out. Local businesses are prepared for high water levels via reference to tide timetable books. The tide rises and falls due to the rotation of the earth and gravitational pull of the moon. Exceptionally high and low tides – Spring Tides – occur at the time of the new moon (or the full moon) when the sun, moon, and earth are approximately aligned.
Camilla Colley
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