Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 78

THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC TRAVEL T2 SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2006 TRAVEL PEOPLE Eclipse sheds light on Libya In a corona phase of a total eclipse of the sun, caused by the moon coming between the sun and the Earth, the sun appears ringed by fire. The eclipse lasted about four minutes at the site in Libya. Libya off terror list In May, the State Department removed Libya from its terror list. Still, Americans who decide to travel to Libya should exercise caution. Details: For advisories and visa information, check the U.S.

State Department's Consular Information Sheet on Libya, travel.state. govtravelcispatwcis cis951.html. The author is a Cigna Urgent Care physician in Phoenix. He loves to travel and take pictures. Earlier this year, he took a 12-day trip to Libya to see the total solar eclipse.

By Greg Meyer Special for The Republic Are we under attack? That was our first gut impression. But it was only kids playing with firecrackers on the streets outside the hotel. We had arrived in Tripoli, Libya, and were apprehensive at first. Posters of Moammar Gadhafi greet you in the airport, and are scattered on buildings and billboards across the country. But the middle of the Sahara Desert was the best place to see the March 29 total TRAVEL BRIEFS NATIONAL Indulge your cravings in New York in July Eat your way through New York City during Summer Restaurant Weeks, July 10-14 and July 17-21.

More than 200 restaurants will offer three-course prix fixe lunch menus for $24.07 andor dinners for $35. Beverages, tip and tax are extra. Details: www.nycvisit.com restaurantweek. INTERNATIONAL 100 Picasso works on display in Spain An unprecedented display of works by Pablo Picasso, gathered from museums around the world, has opened in Madrid, Spain. Picasso: Tradition and Vanguard showcases about 100 works through Sept.

3 at the Museo del Prado and the nearby Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia. The occasion for the exhibit is the 125th anniversary of the Spanish artist's birth and the '25th anniversary of the arrival in Spain of his acclaimed Guernica, the haunting 1937 painting, depicting the strafing of civilians and animals in the peaceful Basque city of Guernica by Nazi planes during the Spanish Civil War. Details: museoprado.mcu.es. TOURS Yukon river trip is open to people with disabilities Canoe down the Big Salmon River in Canada's Yukon Territory on a trip that's designed to make the adventure also accessible to those with disabilities. The 15-day journey begins Aug.

10 and will be guided by naturalist Jim Fitzpatrick. Participants will learn canoeing skills during the first three eclipse of the sun, and we had arrived with our tour group eager, excited and nervous. It turned out that the people of Libya not only were friendly, but very excited to have visitors from all over sky. Some people were screaming, some laughing and some crying as the power of something greater than ourselves was experienced. Telescopes, videos and cameras were trained on the black disc in the sky for what seemed a long time, but all too quickly the "diamond ring" of the emerging sun signaled the end of totality and the return of sunlight.

It turns out that Libya was a lot more than just a place to see the eclipse. We saw ruins from Roman and Greek civilizations along the Mediterranean coast. These World Heritage Sites are Sabratha, founded in the sixth century B.C., Cyrene from the seventh century B.C., and Leptis Magna, one of the great Roman cities, with its coliseum and amphitheater. These alone were worth the trip to a country just beginning its tourism industry and very willing to please visitors. To submit an item to Travel People, send an essay of 400 words or fewer and a picture of you at your the world.

Many were forward, wanting their photo taken with us for their memories and very curious to know from where we had traveled. The eclipse site in the middle of the desert had been assembled a few days prior, with tents to accommodate 2,000 people. In addition, two dining tents with excellent food were provided. Generators provided the power to light this minicity and run the free Internet and Wi-Fi computer stations available. Entertainment was provided by a group in nomadic costumes parading at night with native music and dancing, a fantastic fireworks display, and locals selling souvenirs from tents in the area.

The big event we had come for is difficult to describe, and really needs to be experienced. At 12:26 p.m., the moon came between the Earth and the sun, blocking out the latter and producing a total eclipse lasting about four minutes at our site. The temperature dropped 20 degrees, from 90 to 70, in just a few mtnutes, and bright stars appeared in the PHOTOS COURTESY OF GREG MEYER Greg Meyer, in traditional garb, and the Sahara Desert minicity of tents that would accommodate 2,000 people. LAS VEGAS ADVISOR Klondike, another victim By Anthony Curtis Special for The Republic This week, the Klondike Hotel and Casino will close its doors for good another victim of Las Vegas' building boom. The 153-room property, at the far-south end of the Las Vegas Strip, has catered to the low-budget crowd since opening in 1961.

The new owners of the 6-acre parcel have announced plans to build a $1 billion, condo-hotel-ca-sino. Construction could begin in early 2007. The Klondike joins the Boardwalk, Westward Ho, Bourbon Street and Lady Luck as smaller casinos that have closed in the past year to make way for the city's numerous new casino and condominium projects. Tribal increase: Meanwhile, Las Vegas isn't the only game in town. Recent statistics show that the gambling destination, along with your name, address, and daytime phone number, to Linda Vachata, Travel People, The Arizona Republic, 200 E.

Van Buren Department NF-18, Phoenix, AZ 85004, or traveleditorarizona republic.com. Photos-cannot be returned. Articles are subject to editing. Total eclipse of the sun The middle of the Sahara Desert was the best place to see the March 29th total eclipse of the SUn. TUNISIA Tripoli 85 3 I LIBYA 4 w- tVEUROPE jk Jo Anne Izumi The Arizona Republic AFRICA TO OUR READERS Share adventures with your peers The Travel Explore section keeps you abreast of travel deals and news about Arizona, regional, national and international destinations.

But we want to hear about your adventures, too. Where did you find a great deal? What was your biggest surprise in Europe? Your best day in Brazil? Describe your best travel adventure in 75 words maximum. Or comment, also 75 words maximum, on an Arizona Republic story published in the Travel Explore section, i Write to I traveleditoriarizonarepublic.com or to Zada Blayton, Travel Letters, The Arizona Republic, 200 E. Van Buren NF-18, Phoenix, AZ 85004. Include your first and last names, address and phone number.

Letters are subject to editing. More shows on the Strip Blue Man Group The indescribable spectacle of music and motion. The Venetian, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South, venetian.com or 1-800-258-3626. 7:30 nightly plus 10:30 p.m.

Saturdays. Cirque du Soleil: Ka Martial arts, puppetry and pyrotechnics. MGM Grand, 3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South, mgmgrand.com or 1-866-774-7117. 7:30 and 10:30 p.m.

Tuesdays-Saturdays. Cirque du Soleil: 0 Water spirits combine acrobatics and diving. The Bellagio, 3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South, bellagio.com or 1-888-488-7111. 7:30 and 10:30 p.m.

Wednesdays-Sundays. Cirque du Soleil: Mysten Muscular acrobatics and dance. Treasure Island, 3300 Las Vegas Blvd. South, treasureisland.com or 1-800-392-1999. 7:30 and 10:30 p.m.

Wednesdays-Saturdays, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sundays. Cirque du Soleil: Zumanity The "sensual" side of Cirque. New York-New York, 3790 Las Vegas Blvd. South, nynyhotelcasino.com or 1-866-606-7111.

7:30 and 10:30 p.m. Fridays-Tuesdays. le Reve Not a Cirque show, but a visual and musical spectacle created by Mystere director Franco Dragone. Wynn Las Vegas, 3131 Las Vegas Blvd. South, wynnlasvegas.com or 1-877-323-7469.

7:30 and 10:30 p.m. Thursdays-Mondays. Mamma Mia! The music of ABBA at a big fat Greek wedding? Mandalay Bay, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South, mandalaybay com or 1-877-632-7400. 7:30 p.m.

Sundays-Thursdays, 6 and 10 p.m. Saturdays. ft NIGER CHAD-f 1 ft 2 Shows add Vegas touch to Cirque's 'Love' days of the trip as they wind their way from Quiet Lake through the mountains and into the Yukon Valley. The trip is run by Wilderness Inquiry, a non-profit group that integrates its trips to include older and younger people, people with disabilities, and novice and experienced backcountry travelers. Cost is $1,875 per person, including canoes, meals, camping equipment, support staff, and guides and adaptive equipment for the disabled.

Transportation to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, is not included. Details: Wilderness Inquiry, l-(612)-676-9400 or l-(612)-676-9475 (TTY) or www. wilderness inquiry.com. t- i ON THE WEB 1 i i Protect your vaiuaoies on road with zipper alarm Travelers venturing into sticky-finger zones might want to check out the zipper alarm for handbags. TagAlarm polices your bag while you're distracted by tourist sights, exotic markets, subway rides, etc.

The idea is that when a bandit tries to unzip your bag, a sirenlike noise goes off. (There's also a panic button.) TagAlarm is $19.95 with batteries; $21.95 turith thr nrlHitinnal rpnlar.fi- ment batteries. Details: www.tagalarm.com. The Arizona Republic and wire services What is Nepal's largest city? ten Flying the best The top airports in the world for 2006, from Skytrax's annual passenger survey: 1. Singapore Changi International 2.

Hong Kong International 3. Munich (Germany) International 4. Kansai (japan; International 5. Seoul (South Korea) Incheon International 6. KLIA-Kuala Lumpur I (Malaysia) International 7.

Helsinki (Finland) Vantaa I 8. Zurich (Switzerland) 9. Dubai International i of progress "Cool by the Pool" on its third-floor pool deck from 5 to 8 p.m. daily. Admission is free.

Tables Spiked: Downtown's Gold Spike has taken out all of its table games. Known for its $2 blackjack tables, the casino remains in operation as a slots-only house. Question: How much does a helicopter ride to the Grand Canyon cost? Answer: There are many choices for helicopter tours to the Canyon. But the standard tour, which includes a pass over the Strip, Hoover Dam and Lake Mead, then a landing and lunch in the Grand Canyon, will set you back about $300 per person. Pricey, yes, but this is one of the great non-casino adventures for Las Vegas visitors.

For information about current Las Vegas shows, buffets, coupons and good deals, go to wwwZasVegasAdvisor.com. CIRQUE DU SOLEIL An early scene in Love portrays the dilapidation of postwar England. It was Avenue that brought the Broadway West talk to a crescendo. Musicals have always been part of the mix on the Strip, of course, from Theodore Bikel's Fiddler on the Roof in 1968 to Ben Vereen's Chicago in 1999. But the producers of Avenue a 2004 Tony winner, stunned theater presenters across the country when they announced they would skip touring entirely and open in Vegas instead.

The doomsday scenario was that all the biggest shows would follow suit, leaving regional venues such as Arizona State University's Gam-mage Auditorium out in the cold. Selling a brand Clearly, that is not going to happen. Avenue will tour, as will Monfy Python's Spamalot, which opens at the Wynn next year although there's a catch. "(Spamalot) will tour, but it will not tour Arizona, Utah, California and Nevada, the states that surround Vegas. We're shut out," says Colleen Jen- Scc SHOWS lx T3 win at U.S.

Indian casinos increased by 15.6 percent in 2005 (the latest auditing period). The total win was nearly $23 billion, with the $7.2 billion of tribes in California alone outpacing the Strip's $6 billion win during the same period. Elvis returns: After a few months' hiatus, the Elvis Presley statue at the Las Vegas Hilton has been returned to its spot in the Courtyard, to the immediate right of lobby front doors. The famous statue was dedicated on Sept. 8, 1978.

It was removed in the past year while the lobby was undergoing renovation. More pool parties: Add the Plaza and the Las Vegas Hilton to the list of casinos with summer pool parties. The party at the downtown Plaza runs from 6 to 10 p.m. on Thursdays, with a $5 cover charge for men only. The Las Vegas Hilton is running 'Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular' When: 7 p.m.

Sundays and Thursdays; 7 and 10 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; dark Tuesdays. Where: The Venetian, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Admission: Recommended to purchase two weeks in advance, although walk-up tickets are sometimes available.

Details: www.phantomlasvegas.com, venetian.com, 1-866-641-7469 or 1-(702)-414-7469. Cirque du Soleil: 'Love' When: 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. Thursdays-Mondays, starting next Sunday. Preview performances, 7 p.m. today and Tuesday-Thursday.

Where: The Mirage, 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Admission: (25 percent off for previews). Details: cirquedusoleil.com, mirage.com, 1-800-963-9634 or 1-(702)-792-7777. to a half -empty theater on many nights.

In fact, the only legitimate hit musical in recent years has been Mamma the cutesy ABBA revue that has been running strong at Mandalay Bay since 2003. So much for Broadway West. Still, Hal Rothman, author of Neon Metropolis: How Las Vegas Started the Twenty-First Century, says the idea isnt dead. "Avenue and Hairspray were high-priced shows that were a little outside the comfort zone for the average vLsitor," he says. "Las Vegas succeeds by planing the rough edges off of reality and giving the middle class a luxury experience at a middle-class price.

The wide center succeeds' here, not the avant-garde. So I doubt enthusiasm for the idea will wane. Phantom will do very well." SHOWS Continued from Tl experience. You are literally immersed into the world of the Phantom, without taking anything away from the theatrical integrity of the show." Tonight, after two AlitS weeks of tweaking 1 1 il 1 TP during preview per- fr-V-A r- ormances, Phan-VCU AS torn: The Las Vegas STYLE Spectacular starts Jl 1 what is expected to be a very long run at the Venetian. One of two gargantuan productions in previews this monjh along with Love, Cirque du Soleil's tribute to the Beatles Phantom is also the latest in an increasingly crowded lineup of musicals at Vegas hotels, a trend that has led boosters to tout the Strip as "Broadway West." Prescott resident Lucy Greeneich was in Vegas earlier this month for one of the first Phantom previews.

"I was really impressed with the choreography, the music, the costumes, and the special effects were really something," she says. Hitting a sour note? Greeneich has seen the full-length Phantom in London and San Francisco, but like several other fans in attendance, she wasn't disappointed in the stripped-down version. "I didn't miss a thing," she says. "They had the most important music, the songs that everyone knows." A hit? That's about as sure a bet as you'll find in Vegas. Yet, even as the Phantom was rattling the chandelier for the first time at the Venetian, crews were peeling the giant Hair-spray sign from the side of the Luxor, leaving a sticky brown square to mar the mirrored pyramid.

A smash on Broadway, the campy tuner lasted just four months here. It was shuttered two weeks after Avenue whose nine-month run at Wynn Las Vegas ended after playing GEOQIMZ ANSWER Katmandu Chicago Tribune.