It’s been called Europe’s hottest capital. Slick advertising campaigns have championed the city’s famed nightlife. But there is more to Reykjavik than pubs and clubs. Reykjavik held the prestigious title European City of Culture in the year 2000, a welcome recognition of the energetic and colourful cultural life of Reykjavik. Reykjavik has the best of…

What is it: Lassa fever is an acute viral illness that occurs in West Africa. It is highly contagious and occurs mainly in the dry season in West Africa, particularly Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and the DRC. How do I get it: Rodents shed the virus in urine and droppings which means that the…

LAB is running a working and Volunteering in Latin America workshop in London on Saturday 21st February from 10.30am to 5.30pm. From coffee brigades and tree planting to literacy teaching and human rights work, the day will explore the possibilities for being something other than a tourist in Latin America: practical advice and information. On…

This is an extract from a great website that gives visitors to Peru lots of invaluable information about Peru, how to get around, visas, museums etc. It is a not for profit organisation that is aimed at encouraging people to visit Peru. Do you carry a first aid kit? Are your guides trained in first…

Mac’s been reviewing travel websites again and here are some of the better travel tips he’s gleaned and would like to pass on to us: Water or sports drinks plastic bottles are often better than the traditional water bottles – they don’t leak, are usually lighter and at the end of the trip, you can…

Iris and her group arrive in Salvador in Brazil. What can I say about Salvador? I loved the place. It wasn’t so when I first arrived because we got there quite late at night, we were all tired and then found we had a hike across a busy main road to a dirty little side…

U. S. Soldiers Home, Washington: during a century of travel (well 78 years!) both in and out of service I have travelled to over 150 countries (I count both North and South Dakota as countries) and for some reason have jotted signs and happenings that I thought funny at the time (and now wonder why).…

Meeting news from our branches around the world.

Judy from the US write in to tell the Beetle about her recent visit to Siem Reap. This is what she says: My husband and I were in Siem Reap for the full moon 8 Nov 03. Candles were set floating in the Siem Reap River which flows through the village. It was an awesome…

Find out what happened at previous meetings in London and about future events Saturday 6th December 2003 London meeting Our first speaker was Paul Goldstein whose talk was entitled “Africa: An adventurous wilderness”. Paul has led many tours into sub Saharan Africa for adventure tour operators over the last few years. We started with shots…