Heavy Snow Reported in European Ski Resorts

The heavy snowfall continues, resorts in the Pyrenees post new record for accumulations.

• Snow depths in Italy reaches 16 feet.
• Summer skiing canceled in southern hemisphere due to warm weather.

Well is has beenover 2 months since the first snowfalls were reported in the Alps and the snow continues to come down by the bucket load in many areas. This snowfall is obviously setting ski resorts up for a memorable season. What is also unusual this year is that almost all of the world? major ski regions have received well above average preseason snowfall. Usually one area will do better than another. However this time almost everywhere has above average snow.

Besides great snowfall in the Alps, there have been reports of lots of snows in the Dolomites, and resorts in the Pyrenees have reported record accumulations for this early in the season. Only parts of Eastern Europe are currently lagging behind.

Howevergreat this is for skiers and snow boarders ,the snow has caused many problems in Europe with villages cut off and without power for periods, airports and railway lines closed andseveral ofthe mountains have a high avalanche risk as some of the more recent snow has been heavy during a period of warmer temperatures. There have been deaths on the mountains already as a result and it is strongly advised that everyone stays on the marked runs and keep a close eye on avalanche warnings when in the mountains.

France continues to receive heavy snowfalls in the Alps and Pyrenees with powder alarms of up to two feet of new snow at some areas. Montgen?e got another 16 inches and Val d?s? eight inches more on Tuesday alone. The greatest snow depths are reported at Valberg9 feet and Isolaover 8feet, but many resorts have base depths of almost 7 feet, including M?bel, where the Freestyle World Cup is being staged today.

In Austria, snowfalls and snow depth are even greater than France ?although with everywhere in the happy position of having so much, why quibble over a few inches? The M??al Glacier reports over 10 feet and Obergurgl almost 9 feet. Fresh snowfalls totaling up to four feet have been reported at some Austrian resorts over the past week with Nassfeld Hermagor reportingfour feetof new snow, Bad Gastein report over three feet of new snow.

Snowfalls in Germany to the north have been more modest with Balderschwang receiving eight inches more last Friday, taking base depths to 40 inches on upper slopes, one of the deepest in the country.

Switzerland has once again received big snowfalls in the past week with Zermatt, once again, one of the leading beneficiaries, receiving yet another nearly three feet over the past seven days. Nearby Saas Fee got26 inches and St Moritz 20 inches ahead of hosting the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Ladies Super Combined tomorrow 19 December, Downhill on Saturday 20 December, and Super G on Sunday 21 December. Disentis has the most snow with nearly 12 feet on it’’s upper slopes. Saas Fee has nearly 19 feet and Zermatt hasover eight feet.

To the south the snowfall, that has brought parts of Italy to a standstill, has not let up with the country? north east getting the heaviest falls in the past week which has partially cut off some ski towns like La Thuile and Sauze d?ulx. As a result Alagna in Monterosa has some of the greatest snow depths in the world at present with 14 feet on upper slopes although Arabba in the Dolomites leads the way withjust over 16 feet. Many other resorts now have over ten foot bases.

The huge snowfalls in the Pyrenees have perhaps been the biggest snow story of the past month, because conditions have been rather lackluster there in recent seasons. In Andorra virtually all runs are open and snow depths have reached nearly six feet in VallNord, with similar conditions in GrandValira, which reported anothersix inches of snow on Monday.

It? much the same on both the Spanish and French side of the chain with Spain? Baqueria Beret reporting that the more than four metres of snow it has received in the past month is the most it has ever received this early in the season. It currently has over 7.5 feet of snowon it’’s upper slopes. Many Spanish resorts have reached seven feet of fresh powder snow depth.

Eastern Europe conditions remain ?hallenging?with only Bansko in Bulgaria open and with very limited terrain on largely machine made snow. Borovets reported light snowfall early in the week but needs much more.

The rise of the dollar means skiiing in Europe this year is the cheapest it has been in years and flights appear to have good availability for seats to most major destinations in Europe.

Mardi Gras comes to New Orleans early in 2009

Mardi Gras comes early this year. So get your ladders and coolers ready: Parading is scheduled to begin Sat. Jan. 6, 2009,with the irreverentKrewe du Vieux parade through the French Quarterand culminates with the traditional pagentry of Zulu, Rex, Elks and Crescent City on Fat Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009!

Don’t expect to find any hotel offer interline rates the last two week of Mardi Gras and don’t be surprised if you have trouble finding a room at all the weekend before Fat Tuesday. This event is as big as it was before Kartina. Click her to check out the special website New Orleans has set up forMardi Gras 2009.

Cayman Cookout

Join Chef Eric Ripert for a weekend celebrating food, wine and the natural beauty of the Caribbean. An incomparable roster of world famous chefs, sommeliers and spirits blenders will offer tastings, demonstrations, tours and dinners that celebrate the barefoot elegance that only the Cayman Islands can deliver.

This event takes place from Jan. 16-19, 2009. Tickets for most events can be purchased in advance at http://www.caymanislands.ky/cayman_cookout/. The more popular events will sell out in advance.

InterlineTravel.com still has some rooms available in Cayman during this time. For rates and more information contact them at 800 766-2911 or in the DFW Area at metro 817 481-8631 or online at www.interlinetravel.com.

New Orleans Food & Wine Festival

Interliners looking for a great away this May should check out theNew Orleans Wine & Food Experience (NOWFE). NOWFE is nationally recognized as one the most prestigious festivals of its kind and features over 175 wineries and 1000 wines over the 5-day event, which now continually raises over $125,000 Annually for local charities. Plans for the 2009 event, scheduled for May 19-23, are shaping up to be the epicurean extravaganza of the year.

The 2009 event will kick off on Tuesday, May 19^th with vintner dinners in some of New Orleans?most celebrated restaurants, followed by the traditional Royal Street Stroll and Vinola Tasting & Live Auction on Thursday, and culminating with Grand Tastings in the internationally recognized Louisiana Superdome on Friday and Saturday. Joyce Godbold, NOWFE Executive Director boasts ?e have come a long way from our early days in a small hotel ballroom.This year we expect to top previous years?attendance over the Memorial Day weekend.?r

Several featured seminars and events of the 2009 schedule include:

FEASTival (Inaugural Celebrity Chef Gala): NEW this year, NOWFE presents its first
ever celebrity chef gala. Don? miss your chance to mix and mingle with some of
America? favorite celebrity chefs including Michel Richard, Marc Vetri and Neal Fraser as they present signature dishes paired with select wineries in this upscale
tasting event. This event takes place on Thursday, May 21 from 7:30pm-10:00pm at
Harrah? New Orleans Theatre.

Bubbles & Bites: We?l pop the cork on some fabulous Champagnes, while \Ian Schnoeblen, Executive Chef/Co-Owner of Iris, and one of Food and Wine? 10 Best American Chefs for 2007- tempts your taste buds! Moderated by: Ziggy ?he Wine Gal?Eschliman
Farm Fresh with Chef John Besh: John will be joined by the Executive Chef of La Provence, Randy Lewis. They will show you how to go green with ingredients that are freshly picked from his sustainable garden, and you will hear from leading experts on the latest in organic winemaking trends.

Eat Like a Pig: Chef Donald Link (Cochon & Herbsaint) serves cochon du lait & other bizarre foods of Louisiana, paired with a selection of outstanding Rhone Valley wines.

Party Like It? 1999: Explore Napa Cabs from the 1999 vintage, paired with epicurean delights from legendary local restaurateur, Dickie Brennan, and the Executive Chef of Dickie Brennan? Steakhouse, Jack Martinez. Moderated by: Ziggy ?he Wine Gal?Eschliman.

Table for Two, S?l Vous Pla? Local expert foodie, Tom Fitzmorris, will explore the hot trend of Bistro French cuisine with four favorite local chefs, while you savor fantastic French wines.
Boot to Boot: Taste trailblazing wines from the Italian boot, while an up-and-coming chef from our own boot offers up a taste of Italian cuisine. Moderated by: Antonio Molesini, Italian Fine Wine Specialist, Republic National Distributing Company

Pastry & Port Paired to Perfection: Premium Ports will be paired with heavenly creations from celebrated local Pastry Chefs, Kristyne Bouley (Herbsaint & Cochon), and Simone Fleming (Ritz-Carlton New Orleans.)

WOW! Women on Wine: Hear from some of the world? leading women winemakers, and experience the culinary styles of two of New Orleans?leading ladies, James Beard Award Winning Chef: Susan Spicer (Bayona) and 2008 Food & Wine, Best New Chef: Sue Zemanick (Gautreau?.)

Interliners should expect the better hotels in the French Quarter and the Garden District to fill up for this event, so book early. We don’t know of any hotels in New Orleans at the moment offering interline discounts but you can call around to check. If you have a flight crew that overnights in New Orleans, call that hotel and see if they will extend a “crew rate” to you during this time. It might be your best bet.

You can find more information about this event at http://nowfe.com/

Carnival Dream set to debut on Sept. 21, 2009

Carnival has unveiled a new series of never-before-seen renderings of the 130,000-ton Carnival Dream – the largest “Fun Ship” ever constructed set to debut Sept. 21, 2009 – along with an entertaining and informative new blog by Senior Cruise Director John Heald who recently toured the ship during its construction at Italy’s Fincantieri shipyard.

The new image gallery and blog are available at www.carnival.com/dream.

Included among the site’s new digital renderings are stunning images of the Carnival Dream’s Carnival WaterWorks aqua park featuring the longest water slides at sea; a breathtaking nine-deck-high atrium that will provide convenient access to the ship’s numerous bars, lounges and nightspots; and Ocean Plaza, a new indoor/outdoor entertainment area offering magnificent ocean vistas. Examples of the ship’s striking d?r, including renderings of the dance club, casino, piano bar, and dining venues, are also included.

The site also includes a link to an engaging new blog by Heald, who takes readers on an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the spectacular new “Fun Ship,” displaying his trademark humor while conveying Carnival Dream’s unique characteristics.

In addition to detailed overviews of the Carnival WaterWorks aqua park and Ocean Plaza, Heald’s first-person account includes a look at the ship’s 23,750-square-foot Cloud 9 Spa – the largest in the “Fun Ship” fleet – along with brand new area called The Lanai, a wrap-around promenade that encircles the ship.

Heald pays particular attention to Carnival Dream’s wide-ranging accommodation categories, which include new “cove balcony” staterooms located closer to the water line and deluxe ocean view staterooms that will feature five berths and two bathrooms and should have particular appeal to families.

The blog also includes several videos of Heald as he tours the various areas of the ship and interacts with shipyard workers.

“As my chauffer-driven Fiat 500 brought me closer to this spectacular new vessel, I experienced the feeling that I know you will feel when you see her for the first time. The Carnival Dream is going to be biblically, stratospherically, crushingly brilliant. It is a ship that will set the tone for others to try and follow and is without doubt a ship that will be talked about for a long time to come. Stop by my blog and find out why,” said Heald.

Carnival Dream is slated to debut in Europe Sept. 21 with the first of three 12-day Grand Mediterranean cruises from Rome (Civitavecchia) through Oct. 27, 2009.

The ship will then sail on a 16-day trans-Atlantic crossing from Rome (Civitavecchia) to New York Oct. 27 – Nov. 12, 2009. From New York, Carnival Dream will operate two eight-day Bahamas/Florida cruises departing Nov. 15 and 23, 2009. Then following a nine-day cruise from Port Canaveral, Fla. the ship will launch year-round seven-day Caribbean service from that port Dec. 12.

Carnival is currently accepting reservations for all of the Carnival Dream’s various European and Caribbean voyages. At the time of this post interline rates were not yet open for the Carnival Dream. Look for them to come out in the first quarter of 2009. For additional information and reservations, contact InterlineTravel.com at 800 766-2911 or in the DFW Area call metro 817 481-8631or visit interlinetravel.com.