MALTA
Next month: Mediterranean Food Festival
Eat, drink and be merry in the world's biggest open air museum, Malta. The island boasts 7000 years of history and its sun-baked landscape has featured in films such as Gladiator and Troy.
The Maltese archipelago has a long association with Greek mythology; the neighbouring island of Gozo is thought to be the legendary Calypso's isle of Homer's Odyssey, so where better to dine like a god? The profusion of restaurants on Malta are testament to the island's love of food, as is the annual Mediterranean Food Festival at the Eden Arena in the fishing village of St Julian's.
Try out traditional Maltese delicacies such as zeppoli pastries and Stuffat Tal-Fenek (rabbit stew), alongside dishes from across the region. Greek and Moroccan folk dancers, fire eaters and a Maltese Festival band add to the lively atmosphere from March 2 to 12. See www. visitmalta. com.
Glasgow to Bugibba plus five nights at Bugibba hotel from GBP306, www. flights. otc-uk. com (departs March 10)
BATH
Next month: Literature Festival
It's official. Romance has been elbowed off the best-seller list by crime. Accordingly, this year's Bath Literature Festival has a raft of top crime writers to share their darkest thoughts, including American Sara Paretsky, who created female private investigator VI Warshawski, and Mo Hayder, author of Tokyo.
The festival runs at venues in Bath from March 4 to 12. Other highlights include grande dames of fiction Margaret Atwood, who presents her collection of short stories, and Joanna Trollope, who discusses her new book, Second Honeymoon.
Rula Lenska, whose recent brush with reality television will surely give her plenty to talk about, also makes an appearance, while Sir Derek Jacobi and Lynne Truss evaluate the art of producing an audio book on March 9. Find the programme at www. bathlitfest. org. uk.
Glasgow to Bath Spa with Virgin Trains from GBP136.50 return, www. thetrainline. com Travel details are given as guidance only and were correct at time of going to press
Why not try:
The Winter Olympics in Turin may be coming to a close, but you can keep the spirit alive by heading for Cortina. Nestling in the middle of Italy's Dolomite Mountains, Cortina hosted the Winter Olympics in 1956. Rise to the challenge of white fear, otherwise known as snowrafting - the frozen equivalent of white water rafting. Participants take off from the top of the Olympic ski jump in a rubber dinghy and hold on for dear life as the vessel reaches speeds of up to 60 miles an hour.
Alternatively, crazy sledge offers a feet-first, hi-speed slide down the mountain. Helmet and elbow protectors are provided. Both activities, along with extreme skiing (for experienced or deluded skiers only) can be enjoyed at the Cortina d'Ampezzo resort. Check out www. dolomiti. org for more details.
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