The Festival Of Lights In Lyon, France From December 8th Through 12; A Highly Recommended Event.

The Festival of Lights (French: Fête des lumières) in Lyon, France expresses gratitude toward Mary, mother of Jesus on December 8 of each year. This uniquely Lyonnaise tradition dictates that every house place candles along the outsides of all the windows to produce a spectacular effect throughout the streets. With over 4 million tourists coming to Lyon for this event, the festival includes other activities based on light and usually lasts 4 days, with the peak of activity occurring on the 8th. The city is known for its historical and architectural landmarks and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Holiday Time In Our Home Town Chestnut Hill In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Holiday Merriment December 7th to December 12th click here for a complete listing of holiday events

Stag & Doe Night Wednesday, December 12th 6:00 to 9:00 pm  Chestnut Hill's Most Cherished Holiday Tradition Caroling, Roasted Chestnuts, Shopping, Refreshments, Santa & Good Cheer!

Carolers entertain along brightly lit Germantown Avenue

Friday Night Jazz at Woodmere Art Museum  Friday, December 7th 6:00 to 8:00 pm Ain't Misbehavin'  The Music of Fats Waller The legendary songbook of Fats Waller comes to life as Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble revisits classics like "Ain't Misbehavin," Stormy Weather", and "Honeysuckle Rose."

A Dickens Weekend  in Chestnut Hill      Caroling...Music...Spiritualists...and more    Saturday & Sunday December 8th & 9th    Pennslvania Horticultural Society Pop-up Shop hosts A "Brilliant!" Celebration featuring Beatles music, UK-themed merchandise, and cozy cups of specialty tea. 8238 Germantown Avenue    Gingerbread House Decorating Classes Bredenbeck's Cafe   1:00 to 3:00        Saturday, December 8th    Scenes from Great Expectations performed by Friends Central School students at  The Musehouse: A Center for Literary Arts 1:00    High Tea at Night Kitchen Bakery 2:00    Woodmere Art Museum Caroling from 2:00 to 4:00 Victorian Card Making, 1:00 to 2:30          Sunday, December 9th    "Make It Yourself Crafts" at Sundays @Marketplace 8229 Germantown Avenue 11:00 am to 4:00 pm     Meet Santa on the Avenue Noon to 3:00

More Weekend Events     Watertower Craft Show December 8th:  10:00 am to 5:00 pm December 9th:  11:00 am to 4:00 pm  200 East Hartwell Lane   From Bali to Bala presents Music from the Shadow Puppet Play 3:00 Enjoy music & a lecture/demonstration on balinese drumming by Matt Elkins and Professor Thomas Whitman of Swarthmore College   Woodmere Art Museum Sunday Classical Music Series December 9th    3:00 to 4:30 Two Greats: Gershwin & Rachmaninoff performed by pianist, Marja Kaisla   Stagecrafters Theater presents Jitney by August Wilson December 7th, 8th & 9th      Sundays @Market Open Sundays in December Local artisans and handmade gifts of exceptional quality 8229 Germantown Avenue, Bldg. D behind Chestnut Hill Hotel        Chestnut Hill at Christmas

Happy Hanukkah May your holiday season be bright with joy!

Chestnut Hill Business Association 8426 Germantown Avenue Philadelphia, PA  19118 215-247-6696 www.chestnuthillpa.com

Please Support Hurricane Sandy Relief Via Www.RedCross.Org

Today I am making a special plea to support recovery from Hurricane Sandy, the most devastating natural
disaster to affect millions of Americans. When  disasters hit everywhere in the world it is expected
the U.S. will come to the rescue, and yes we do. This time I also call upon our International readers to come
to our rescue and support relief of our people. I know some of the most influential government and corporate leadership in the travel industry read Travelore so I also call upon your support. Below I am providing details provided to the media:

WASHINGTON, Friday, November 2, 2012 — The American Red Cross has a massive response to Superstorm Sandy underway to help people across multiple states.

The Red Cross is providing aid and comfort to thousands and has large relief operations underway in New York and New Jersey, where residents felt Sandy’s biggest impact. Shelters and feeding sites are open and emergency vehicles are distributing food, water and relief supplies in these states.

“As we learn about neighborhoods in need, the Red Cross is immediately putting plans in place to provide people with food, water and relief supplies,” said Charley Shimanski, senior vice president of Disaster Services for the Red Cross. “This is a challenging time for everyone who has been affected by the storm and we want everyone to know that we are doing everything possible to get help to them as quickly as possible.”

MASSIVE RESPONSE Nearly 6,800 people spent Thursday night in almost 100 Red Cross shelters in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maryland, West Virginia and Ohio. Thousands more are in their homes without power, water or heat. More than 3,800 Red Cross disaster workers are operating shelters, distributing food and relief supplies in affected communities and providing health services and emotional support.

The Red Cross has:

Deployed 12 mobile kitchens capable of making 198,000 meals a day and shipped more than 852,000 ready-to-eat meals to the area. Almost 215,000 meals have been served so far.

Activated more than two-thirds of the entire Red Cross fleet of response vehicles, which are beginning to distribute meals, water, snacks and relief supplies in neighborhoods.

Mobilized 60 trailers loaded with relief supplies such as personal hygiene items, clean-up kits, rakes, shovels, tarps, dust masks and work gloves

Deployed specialized workers who have already provided more than 5,000 health services and emotional support contacts to people affected by Sandy.

The Mexican Red Cross is also helping. Ten delegates are supporting American Red Cross health services activities in New York, focusing on providing health care and first aid services and referrals for clients in Red Cross shelters and emergency aid stations. 

HOW TO HELP The Red Cross response to Sandy is very large, and will be very costly. People can make a financial donation in support of Red Cross Disaster Relief by visiting www.redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. They can also use the “donate” feature on the free Red Cross Apps for mobile devices to support this relief response. Contributions may also be sent to someone’s local Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.

PLEASE GIVE BLOOD More than 360 Red Cross blood drives have been cancelled due to the storm, representing a loss of as many as 12,000 blood and platelet products. People who are eligible, especially in places not affected by the storm, are asked to schedule a donation appointment in the days and weeks to come.

To schedule a donation time or get more information about giving blood, people can visitredcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). To give blood, someone must be at least 17 years of age, meet weight and height requirements and be in general good health. Donors should bring their Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID with them. Some states allow 16-year-olds to give with parental consent.

LET LOVED ONES KNOW People can let their loved ones know how they are by using the “I’m Safe” button on the Red Cross Hurricane App, or registering on the Red Cross Safe and Well website. The Hurricane App, which also contains safety tips on what people should do after the storm, can be found in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Storefor Android by searching for American Red Cross. To register on Safe and Well, people can visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

RED CROSS SHELTERS To find a Red Cross shelter, people can download the Red Cross Hurricane app, visit the Red Cross web site, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767), or check local media outlets.

Airport Lost and Found Reunites Travelers with Long-Lost Items From More Than 10,000 Airports and Airlines, Www.airportlostandfound.com

 With Thanksgiving and Christmas fast approaching, air travel in the United States is expected to surge. The last two weeks of December typically see tens of millions of people boarding planes for domestic and international travel. Naturally, more people moving through airport terminals mean more opportunity for items of value to be lost or forgotten. Airport Lost and Found(http://www.airportlostandfound.com) offers a solution to the perennial problem of lost item recovery. As a global and fully integrated system, Airport Lost and Found boasts a 78% success rate in returning a wide range of valuables to their rightful owners.

Airport Lost and Found connects the lost and found divisions of more than 9,000 airports and 900 airlines across the world, including eateries, shopping outlets and other commercial spaces inside airport terminals. When an airline passenger realizes that he has misplaced something of value, he can navigate to the Airport Lost and Found website and make a claim. The website's interface allows for the entry of as much detail as the user can provide. Generally, more information raises the odds of quick recovery. Once a claim is submitted, the process of matching that claim against the database begins.

Exofficio Is Best Clothing For Travel & Adventure; Stylish, Quick Drying, And Sun Protection

Experienced travelers seek to look great yet limit the needed clothing to take on our travels. Exofficio produces technical clothing for men and women that easily goes from an active day to cocktail hour. Our favorite offering is their Air Strip Shirt, seen worn by international news corespondents. The Air Strip Shirt
is stylish, wrinkle resistant, quick drying, ventilated, wicking, has a security pocket,  has built-in 30+ UVA and UVB protection, and a button-down collar designed to fold up to protect your neck and accommodate a tie; everything one would want for a travel garment. Their Nio Amphi line of pants is light weight, features
the same 30+ sun protection, is quick drying, and is water and stain resistant. Their Women's Sol Cool Collection of shirts and dresses adds additional sun protection of 50+, also quick drying,
wicking, and odor resistant.

For on-line ordering and retailers offering Exofficio please visit www.exofficio.com or call 800-644-7303

New Website Helps Travelers Keep Track Of Airline Miles And Restaurant Rewards, Www.Usingmiles.Com

UsingMiles hopes to make sure that travelers don't waste their airline miles and free food perks.

UsingMiles is a website that manages users’ frequent flier and restaurant loyalty programs, The free service helps manage frequent flier, restaurant reward, and grocery store point programs, as well as coupons, and assists with redeeming the miles and points for airfare, hotel stays, free food, and other perks. Some 226 loyalty programs like United Airline MileagePlus, Delta SkyMiles, Marriott Rewards, Hyatt Gold Passport, Groupon, Starbucks, T.G.I. Friday's, Panera Bread, and Open Table are supported by the site.

Users can track program miles and points, which are displayed in a dashboard, and search for rewards. The site allows users to book free travel and find bonus deals for shopping or traveling.

A premier $29.99 annual membership, which users can try free for a limited time, lets customers search airline seat and hotel room availability; see how many miles, credits, or points are needed to book reward travel, and then book the trip; and receive alerts when miles and points are about to expire.

Provided by Lauren Mack, the Travel Editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @lmack.

The National Museum Of American Jewish History, Located In Heart Of Philadelphia's & America's Most Historic Square Mile Opens Ground Floor To Visitors For Free

The National Museum of American Jewish History is the only museum in America purely dedicated to telling the more than 350 year history and contributions of the American Jewish people. The Museum is located at 5th & Market Streets along side Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, the National Constitution Center, and other important landmarks. Now the first floor of this impressive 100,000-square foot, five story building and its Only in America Gallery/Hall of Fame exhibit is open free to the public. This exhibit includes the lives and accomplishments of Leonard Bernstein, Albert Einstein, Barbara Streisand, Estee Lauder, Jonas Salk, Steven Spielberg, Golda Meir, and many others. We expect after viewing the first floor you will be motivated
to visit the rest of the museum including the current featured exhibit called TO BIGOTRY NO SANCTION: George Washington and Religious Freedom, featuring the first president's historic 1790 letter to the Jewish Community of Newport, R.I., affirming the nation's commitment to religious freedom in America running through September 30th.

For more details please visit www.nmajh.org

Travelore Report Readers Invited To Be Among First To Experience France's New Luxury Web Site, www.FrancePassionMagazine.com.. If registered On Site This Weekend, Through August 27th, You Can Win A Free Luxury Vacation.

To soft-launch the new luxury website www.FrancePassionMagazine.com, Atout France-The France Tourism Development Agency has invited Travelore Report readers to join this exclusive members-only site that features behind the scenes views of French luxury, from starred-restaurants to top hotels to fashion trendsetters. This weekend, three bloggers have been invited by Atout France and their partners to Paris to tweet live, covering the arts, leisure and food scenes. Their itineraries include a hotel night at the Meurice, an insider’s view at Galeries Lafayette, and a private lesson on making the perfect cocktail at Fouquet’s Barrière.

During this weekend, members of France Passion Magazine are invited to follow the bloggers’ ventures through Paris, and then enter the contest to win their own dream trip based on the writers' itineraries.

The bloggers can also be followed on Twitter by searching for the hashtag#FrancePassion.

20% Of Americans Will Be Diagnosed With Skin Cancer In Their Lifetimes. We Recommend UV Protective Clothing Like Offered By A New Company Called UV Skinz

We have recently become aware of some sobering facts about skin cancer that we are compelled to share with our readers around the world:

~1 in 5 Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their life times. (We expect the world wide statistic
is at least as bad)

~ Each hour one person dies from skin cancer.

~ Skin cancer is most deadly for African Americans, Asians, and Latinos.

~More than 90% of skin cancer is caused by sun exposure.

~ Skin cancer accounts for more than 50% of all cancers combined.

~One blistering sun burn doubles your risk, especially during childhood.

If seeking to reduce your exposure to chemical sunscreens we recommend UV protective
clothing like offered from a new company called UV Skinz, founded by a woman whom
lost her 32 year old husband to skin cancer. The company specializes in swim shirts for both
adults and children with 50+SPF protection woven into the fabric, all with breathable fabric
designed to wick moisture from your body and allow freedom of movement for sporting activity.

For more information please visit www.uvskinz.com .

On Line Guide To The World's Chinatown's Now Available At: Www.Chinatotownsguide.Com

Chinatown's are the best place to visit in virtually every major city in the world to experience Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, Thai, and Malaysian food and culture. The restaurants, priced for locals, are
also great values. Now you can visit www.chinatownsguide.com to learn  about the history of dozens of the worlds Chinatown's and get practical information to plan your visits. While we'd prefer more personal insights including shopping and where to go for authentic dining, Google Maps on the site can provide links  to this information. Also not covered yet is our hometown, Philadelphia's Chinatown. Therefore I am including a link to a recommended restaurant from the Philadelphia Inquirer for authentic Chinese food:
 http://www.philly.com/philly/food/20120624_Craig_LaBan_review__Tasty_Place_in_Chinatown.html

Royal Caribbean To Feature First Live Broadway Performance On Tony Awards From The Oasis Of The Seas On Sunday June 10, 2012

Our staff has taken many cruises since the founding of our print newsletter in 1971 and we've experienced many amateurish shows on the sea.  We've also sailed many times with Royal Caribbean and on their more upscale Celebrity division, always finding their offerings to be some of the most innovative and satisfying. Now they have become the only cruise line to feature full-licensed Broadway productions and will present a live performance from Hairspray from the middle of the Caribbean Sea on the 66th Annual Tony Awards from aboard the Oasis Of The Seas on Sunday June 10th, 2012.  For live back stage updates from the Red carpet
from the Beacon Theater in New York guests can follow the line's Twitter handle @RoyalCaribbean with the hash tag #BroadwayatSea

For more details please visit www.RoyalCaribbean.Com or call 800-ROYAL-CARIBBEAN.

Unique Opportunity To View The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict From A Journalists' Perspective August 31st Through September 11th Hosted By Iconic Reporter Marvin Kalb

For anyone seeking an inside perspective and better understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict this is an amazing opportunity to visit both Israel and the Palestinian Authority, attend meetings with senior officials on both sides, take a special helicopter flight to observe border complexities, and attend a town hall meeting; all over 12 days.

This unique opportunity is being organized by The Media Line, the American news agency specializing in coverage of the Middle East. Iconic newsman Marvin Kalb will be your host and the moderator of the town hall meeting with Israeli and Palestinian participants.

Overnights will be in Tel Aviv, the Galilee, Ramallah, and Jerusalem. Two of the featured hotel properties are
the David Citadel Jerusalem and the Movenpick Ramallah. Optional pre-and post tour excursions are also offered to Eliat and Petra.

For more information please visit www.themedialine.org or call Anderson Travel of Palm Springs, California at 877-237-9026

New Web Site Locks-In International Hotel Rates & Automatically Re-books & Refunds When Rates Drop, Tingo.Com, Backed By TripAdvisor With 20 International Travel Web Sites Attracting 69 Million Monthly Unique Visitors

A new hotel booking web site www.tingo.com, is the first to automatically re-book your International hotel stay if rates drop and refund the difference to your credit card. In a recent 30 day period 218 hotels in New York City reduced rates an average of almost $50. Other examples during that same period include 467 hotels in Paris had rate drops, 270 hotels in London, 191 hotels in Orlando, and 133 hotels in Las Vegas. What is most impressive is that Tingo.com is backed by TripAdvisor.com with 19 other international travel web sites with 69 million unique monthly visitors.

For more information please visit: www.tingo.com

With Soaring Costs & Limited Availability Of Hotel Rooms For London Olympic Games, A Home Swap Via Homebase-Hols.Com Gives You A Free Alternative

With the London Olympic Games quickly approaching; July 27-August 16 for the Olympics and Paraolympics from August 29-September 9, hotel accommodations are limited and can be very expensive. An alternative to explore can be a home swap providing a free home to live in during the games and possibly beyond to explore the wonderful city. Home Base Holidays, founded in 1985, has thousands of members living near Olympic venues. For a small yearly membership fee an unlimited amount of swaps are available in 70+ countries.

For more information please go to www.homebase-hols.com and www.london2012.com

Worldwide Luxury Travel At Up To 65% Off Best Available Prices From Luxurylink.Com

Luxury Link is a leading luxury travel web site providing value added five star vacations around the world since 1997. Featured are over 1,200 luxury properties in 60 countries including boutique hotels and luxury villas at up to 65% off best available rates via their auction based system. If specific dates are needed for your travels it is recommended that you contact the properties directly for availability before bidding. Also featured are resort collections including Dorchester, Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, Mandarin Oriental, Orient Express, Auberge Resorts, Oberi Hotels & Resorts, and Preferred Hotel Group. Their online forum called "Luxury Lounge" claims to be the largest and most active on the web with luxury travelers sharing their experiences and adventures. We'd love to hear your feedback about using this site, www.luxurylink.com .      

If Considering Flying While Pregnant, Here Are Safety Tips You Should Consider Provided By Cheapflights.Com....

When is the best time to fly? According to the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, air travel is safest for pregnant women during the second trimester-weeks 18-24.  According to Colleen Lanin of TravelMamas.com " In the first trimester you may be too nauseated to enjoy your time away. In the third trimester you may be too uncomfortable and not feel up for doing much of anything"

Each airline has its own rules for flying while pregnant so be sure to check the airline's web sites or specifically inquire when researching your travels to ensure you get special attention. It is also worth upgrading to business class if possible since traditional "extra legroom' seats like those on exit isles are often restricted to those who are pregnant.

Other important tips to consider:

 *Travel with a companion whom has your emergency contact info including                
   your doctor's number programmed into their phone.

  *Carry documentation with your expected delivery date, doctor info, and
     blood type

.  *Stay hydrated since dehydration can be worse while pregnant. Therefore
     drink plenty  of caffeine-free drinks prior, during and after your flight.

    *Skin is more sensitive during pregnancy so wear ample sun screen,
      especially when traveling to the tropics.

For more information please visit www.cheapflights.com .

Gain First Hand Insights On American Politics On Mediterranean Cruise With Public Broadcasting Icons Aboard The Regent Seven Seas Mariner From Barcelona To Lisbon August 13, 2012

In the midst of one of the most politically charged presidential elections in American history a privileged group will have the opportunity to sail on a ten day luxury Mediterranean cruise along with American Public Broadcasting icons and their featured guests on the Regent Seven Seas from Barcelona to Lisbon on August 23rd. Port of calls will include Cartagena, Malaga, Seville, Casablanca, Funchal, Madeira, Cascais, and Lisbon.

Personalities sailing include Robert Siegel whom is senior host of All Things Considered, America's most listened to radio news program; Charlie Cook, political analyst for the National Journal Group and NBC News; David Flemming,  Executive Producer of Frontline which is America's longest running investigative documentary series; and Michael Childress, acclaimed photographer of over 200 International magazine covers. Cruisers will be invited to experience panel discussions, private dinners, and cocktail parties providing the opportunity for on-on-one interactions.

Fares start at $7,900 U.S.per person (plus government taxes and fees), all inclusive, double occupancy. Included are round trip air from U.S. gateway cities (those not using Regent Air including coming from Europe and Asia will receive an air credit), unlimited shore excursions, luxury hotel package, wines and premium spirits, gratuities, in suite mini bar, transfers, 24 hour room service, and free travel insurance when booked directly with Crown Cruise Vacations.

For more details please go to www.crowncruisevacations.com or call 1-855-788-7880.

A New Web Site Called Tripomatic.Com Designed To Plan Your Trip In 15 Minutes Based In The Czech Republic With Impressive European Coverage Now Offers 75+ U.S. Cities With Plans To Expand Into The Caribbean, Mexico, & South America.

While we feel it is a far reaching claim for any one web site to become your single source for vacation planning, we continue to explore new options to expand and hopefully simplify your world wide travel. A very interesting new site is www.tripomatic.com , designed to plan your itinerary in 15 minutes. We explored the site and find it to be a very good starting point for planning your travels since it provides impressive coverage of  sites of interest and activities in the major cities of  Europe and the U.S. including London, Paris, Berlin, New York, Los Angeles, and Miami. Our home base of Philadelphia is also well covered.  Information provided to us says the Caribbean, Mexico, and South America are covered but are not yet active on our searches.  So far our searches have also come up empty for Asia. Dining options are also not yet covered.  Hotel reservations are available through www.booking.com. Travel plans can be shared via Facebook and Twitter and a mobile app is coming shortly. As always...Please report back to this blog with your experiences with this site.

The Philadelphia International Flower Show, The World's Largest Indoor Flower Show Will Take Place March 4th -11th With The Theme "Hawaii: Islands of Aloha"

Since 1829 Philadelphia has hosted the International Flower Show, every year with more spectacular presentations, and this year encompassing 10 acres in the greatly expanded Pennsylvania Convention Center from March 4th-11th. This year the theme of the show is Hawaii: Islands of Aloha that will immerse visitors into a multidimensional sensory experience that will include towering palms, one of the largest displays of white orchids ever assembled, and a 25 foot waterfall splashing down into exotic gardens.   Hula and fire dancing performances will also take place daily.

The Pennsylvania Convention Center is located at 12th and Arch Streets, Philadelphia, PA. 19107. For more information please go to www.theflowershow.com

Natural Habitat Adventures Launches The Most Comprehensive Web Site To Plan African Safaris With Unique Pricing & Satisfaction Guarantees, AfricaSafariPlanner.Nathab.Com

If you are considering an African safari for a vacation Natural Habitat Adventures, with over 25 years experience, has launched the most most comprehensive web site to customize your adventure. A comprehensive collection of nearly 300 luxury camps across Africa's best safari routes in nine different countries is offered. When booking a unique double guarantee is offered, a price matching policy if a lower price is found within 30 days of booking and a satisfaction guarantee providing up to full credit towards a future trip if not happy with your trip. For more information please go to http://africasafariplanner.nathab.com or call 800-543-8917. Please also report back to this blog with your travel experiences.