"Hey there, cutes, put on your dancin' boots and come dance with me." -- Van Heusen and Cahn
Five Festivals to Warm Up for Summer Also in this issue…
Tuesday, April 24, 2007 Dear Untourist Reader, As the merry month of May approaches, we've found another good reason to travel: some fun festivals from around the world for you to party at. Just don't forget to pack those dancing shoes. April is traditionally when cuckoos return to England, welcomed as a sure sign of warmer weather. Marsden, in west Yorkshire, marks this moment with its Cuckoo Day Festival on April 28, a celebration that runs the gamut from traditional English maypole, clog, and Morris dancing to belly moves from the east-not forgetting the staples of a typical fair with a display of vintage engines, Punch and Judy puppet shows, stands from the local animal sanctuaries, cream teas, and a procession of the town's junior brass band. 
Warming up for the first Morris dance. For a more competitive vibe, head for the Colombian town of Valledupar, which comes to musical life from April 27 to May 1 with the Vallenato Festival. Not just catchy tunes and concerts, this festival is also a fierce contest for accordionists aspiring to the crown and title of El Rey Vallenato (The Vallenato King). Vallenato music is specific to the Cesar and La Guajira Departments and includes the guacharaca, a percussion instrument, as well as the accordion. This year more than 100 groups are performing around town, and almost the same number of acordeoneros are competing. More information on www.festivalvallenato.com. For a curious English version of the site, click on the English flag on the bottom right. For a more laid back ambiance under a hot sun, the St. Lucia Jazz festival draws big names every time. This year it runs from May 4 to 13 with Al Jarreau, Natalie Cole, Isaac Hayes, and George Benson topping the bill on Pigeon Island. Although these stars' shows don't come cheap, you can enjoy the numerous free concerts and fringe shows at the St. Jude Hospital, the Fond D'Or Natural Heritage Park, and the Rudy John Beach Park. More information at http://stluciajazz.org/jazz_events/officialopening.asp. Seville marches to a different beat during La Feria de Abril (April Fair) from April 24 to 29 with dusk-til-dawn flamenco parties. The flamenco is as much a part of Andalusian culture as bull fighting and sherry, and all are celebrated here in a festival that originated from a cattle fair in 1847. You'll see locals and professionals in full gear, practicing their steps outside or in casetas, the striped canopies of the temporary tent-city, the Real de la Feria, south of the Guadalquivir river. These casetas are often sponsored by political parties or local families and some are wilder than others-depending on the quantity of wine and sherry provided. Before the dancers start strutting their stuff, you have time to catch the dazzling horse and carriage processions at noon and to watch the matadors at work in the Plaza de Toros de Maestranza. Read more at www.turismosevilla.org. 
All dressed up and nowhere to go.
For a facetious take on tight trousers once you're done with the fancy steps, Melbourne is the place to go. You can laugh off any travel troubles at the Melbourne Comedy Festival-running 'til April 29. Venues cover the whole city for one of the largest comedy festivals in the world, where Australian performers appear alongside comedians from all over-a total of more than 1,000 are on the program, in stand-up, cabaret, music, visual arts, and street shows. And, if you've traveled this far, no worries for your wallet, as many of these shows are free, including those at the outdoor Fed Square venue where you can see The Incredible Bull Circus from Spain. http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/season/2007. 
The tight matador pants of The Incredible Bull Circus
give comic relief at the Melbourne Comedy Festival.
Best regards, Elaine Finnegan
Events Co-Director P.S. If you want to find out how to make your vacations pay for themselves while having a ball, join us at our Import/Export Workshop in Managua, July 12 -14. I look forward to seeing you there.
Travel News Airbus super-jumbo ready Airbus has been testing its latest super-jumbo jet A380 on flights to Hong Kong, and Singapore airlines is set to start flying them this fall. Transatlantic cheapies Ryanair is planning to launch ultra-cheap flights from Europe to the U.S. within the next four years, once the "Open Skies" agreement comes into effect next year. The airports that are in the low-cost carrier's sights include Baltimore, Rhode Island, and Providence. Travel Tips Bars are best With tighter restrictions on what you can carry on in your luggage, you might want to consider trying solid bars of shampoo, or combined hair and body shower gel to save space. Lush (www.lush.com) and The Soap Tub (www.meltandpoursupplies.com) both carry ranges.
A Parting shot: Dressed to kill, these flamenco dancers mean business. 
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