Dubai World’s Fair (Oct 1- April 2022). This is the first world’s fair in the Middle East or SE Asia. The Emirates government has gone all out with close to 200 countries participating. Themes are the future, robotics, buildings with Artificial Intelligence, and Peace.  Much of the fair is cooled by atmosphere recycling via new technology. Artists, musicians, dance groups from all over the world will perform. Most exciting is the fact that Israel will have a pavilion, a first for this area and its new diplomatic partners. Walk into a building and have a poem written by it for you? Lunch by a famous chef served by a robot?

Decorations are seen on buildings to commemorate the 500th Anniversary of the Fall of Tenochtitlan, at Zocalo Plaza in Mexico City, Mexico, August 10, 2021. REUTERS/Toya Sarno Jordan

Mexico celebrates 500 years since the Spanish conquistadors, and their Indigenous allies, laid siege to what was then the largest city in North America, leading to the downfall of the Aztec Empire. As you walk through the streets of this enormous world capital, you are tracing the original streets of the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan. Artists will paint colored lines on the streets to show you the boundaries of the original city.  A replica of Aztec temples is being built on the elegant main square. History shows itself in the street markets, food ingredients, faces of the locals, and the obsidian stone artifacts sold by vendors. Obsidian was a favored stone for ancient Mexicans.

Cairo opened its new Museum. Go visit Ramses in his new home. If you missed it, check on line for the extravagant parade created to accompany the mummies from the old to new museums. The Cairo Museum was built in 1902 and now lives as the Grand Egyptian Museum at Giza, near the pyramids. Yes you can look into the faces of ancient pharaohs.

Kazakhstan is now visa free to Americans. This country sits between Europe and Asia and is home to part of the Silk Route. Did you know it is larger than Western Europe in area? There are various type festivals in Kazakhstan: some political with enormous military parades celebrating local or former Soviet victories.  Some colorful festivals are Muslim themed, with tribal motifs and amazing crafts and scenes. Some are personal for family events. It is impossible to nail down dates; festivals and events change often in this exotic and unusual area.

The special event in Paris is not a special event. This coming year, Americans who are vaccinated can see Paris without the mobs of other group tourists. You will use your ‘health pass’ or US CDC card for special entry to museums, cafes, monuments and department stores. Mask wearing outside is optional; inside not so. This means you travel safely and again without 50 people between you and the Mona Lisa in the Louvre. A word about the EU Health Pass and Americans. So far the original CDC card is accepted; expect this to change to a simple app that you flash on entering spaces. Germany, The Czech Republic and other Eu destinations will be similarly empty, and the door is open for us as it has not been for years.

Ramadan

Morocco during Ramadan is an experience in food and festivals. Important for tourists is that areas visited will remain open. Local shops and local restaurants might close for some meals as more religious Moroccans fast. The special Ramadan menu is one of the best gourmet experiences of your life.  Visit this half desert/half rolling hills and Roman ruins in April. Why? The Mediterrean area is balmy in the Spring and the Atlas Mountains remain snow covered from the desert oasis of Marrakech.

2022 will be an amazing travel year. Events like Dubai Expo were pushed back to late 2021. The extra year gave operators more time to enhance the events and bring them up to safety protocols. For vaccinated Americans, 2021-2022 is our welcome mat to the world. Join The Women’s Travel Group to any of the above lifetime experiences. We travel safely. We require vaccinations. We return home healthy, with a smile and new friends.