In transit: Tall ships head for Cape Town

Travel news for people on the move

The glorious age of sail returns to Cape Town soon with the imminent arrival of three Dutch "tall ships". The Europa, Oosterschelde and Tecla are circumnavigating the planet, following in the wake of famous explorers Abel Tasman and Anthony van Diemen.

After spending some time in Cape Town, the three ships will embark on a voyage that traces the old trade route to the East - across the Indian Ocean to India and Indonesia, with a stop at Mauritius to revictual, just as sailing ships did in the past.

For those with some time and a bit of cash on hand, this is a rare opportunity to experience life on a proper square rigger, with berths available on all three ships for adventurous types who would like to pitch in as sail hands on the voyages from Cape Town to Mauritius and beyond. There are also berths available on Oosterschelde and Tecla on their voyage from Santos in Brazil, setting sail on March 31 and arriving in Cape Town in the first week of May.

You don't need sailing experience - the permanent crew will help you learn the arts of navigation, square-rig sailing and how to handle sails. Passengers will also stand watches along with the crew.

After the Indian Ocean, the vessels will sail across the Pacific to round Cape Horn. Europa will stay in the southern latitudes to continue expeditions to the Antarctic while Oosterschelde and Tecla will turn north and head home via the Azores. The ships are expected to leave Cape Town on May 13 for a 35-day sail to Port Louis. For more information, see www.dutchtallships.com , and for more detail on the bark Europa and its Antarctic expeditions, see www.barkeuropa.com .

Russian meteor town wants tourists

CHELYABINSK in southern Russia, recently bombarded by fragments of a meteor, has launched a bid to lure tourists on the back of its new-found celebrity.

Nearly 1000 people were injured by falling debris when the 10000-ton meteor entered the Earth's atmosphere and broke into pieces some 35km above the city. Now officials are seeking to capitalise on the event, The Telegraph reports. Local tourism official Natalia Gritsay said: "Space sent us a gift and we need to make use of it."

Right now, the possible attractions seem a bit skimpy - an annual "cosmic music and fireworks" festival, a "meteor Disneyland" and a floating pyramid with a beacon at its tip.

Dog smuggler kicked off plane

A YORKSHIRE terrier and its owner were bounced off a BA flight from Tel Aviv to London after the crew discovered the dog had been smuggled aboard in the owner's handbag, The Telegraph reports. How the dog evaded security at Ben Gurion Airport is not yet clear - and the question of whether it passed unnoticed through an X-ray machine is yet to be answered.

The woman was caught after the passenger in the seat next to her heard squeaking coming from under the seat.

Hotel briefs

The world's tallest hotel has opened in Dubai. The 355m-high JW Marriott Marquis Dubai is the world's tallest hotel-only building (although the Ritz-Carlton in Hong Kong, which occupies the upper floors of the 488m-high International Commerce Centre, is technically the world's highest hotel). Rates start at R2900 a night while the executive suite is a snip at R86000 a night.

A hotel dedicated to the panda has opened at the bottom of Emei Mountain in Sichuan, China, The Telegraph reports. The décor reflects the black and white bears in paintings, murals and stuffed toys on every bed. Shoots and leaves are not on the menu but guests can visit the nearby Bifengxia panda breeding centre to see the real thing. Rates start at $48 a night.