LONDON Next month: John Donne celebration Be among the first people in 400 years to hear a public performance of songs and poems by John Donne. Unseen work by Donne, whose most famous poems include the Canonisation and ForWhom the Bell Tolls, will be heard at St Paul's Cathedral on June 9. Leading performers of early music, including the Sixteen with Harry Christophers and Emma Kirkby, will bring the poet's work to life.
The country's finest classical actors, including Alan Rickman, Juliet Stephenson and Imogen Stubbs, will also recite sermons and letters by the metaphysical poet. For tickets, pounds-15-pounds-35, call 0870 534 4444. All proceeds go to Peace Direct to help areas hit by the Asian tsunami.
Edinburgh or Glasgow to Heathrow with BMI from pounds-64.30 return, www. flybmi. com
SINGAPORE Next month: Great Singapore Sale Shopaholics from around the world unite at the annual eightweek sale in the retail Mecca of Singapore. Malls offer discounts of up to 70-per cent on electronics, fashion, jewellery and food. The event, from May 27 to July 24, includes the Great Singapore Shopping Challenge, where bargain-hunters shop til they drop to win dollars-6000 of vouchers.
The Singapore Food Festival, throughout July, should help keep energy levels high. Visit www. greatsingaporesale. com. sg.
Glasgow to Singapore Changi with KLM from pounds-567.50 return, www. opodo. co. uk Travel details are given as guidance only and were correct at time of going to press
FLORENCE Next month: Calico Storico Even the biggest, toughest Italian sportsmen aren't averse to a spot of dressing up once a year. Calico Storico, a rough and tumble sport that dates back to the sixteenth century, requires participants to dress in period costume of garters and pantaloons.
The game is a fusion of rugby, football and bare-knuckle boxing and it takes place in a giant sandpit with goals running the width of each end. Each team has 27 combatants and a referee, and six linesmen are on hand to break up any fisticuffs during the 50-minute match.
Originally played by noblemen, the teams now represent the four districts of Florence: San Giovanni, Santa Maria Novella, Santa Spirito and Santa Croce.
The spectacle takes place on June 24 at the Piazza Santa Croce, following a parade by the sportsmen through the streets.
Traditions have changed, though, and the winning team no longer goes home with a speciallyslaughtered white calf but a pile of steakweighing the equivalent.
For further information, contact the Florence tourist office on 00 39 055 233 20.
Prestwick to Pisa with Ryanair from pounds-82.43 return, www. ryanair. com
KERRY Next weekend: Walking festival Slather yourself in midge repellent and prepare to conquer some of the Emerald Isle's most picturesque summits. Kenmare in south-west Ireland is the departure point for 20 guided walks during its annual walking festival. The event, from May 28 to June 5, incorporates scenic strolls, substantial cross-country treks and mountain walks.
The highlight is the ascent of Carrauntoohil, Ireland's highest mountain at 1041m (3414ft).
Two climbs take place on May 29 and June 4. For the less energetic, a boat trip across Killarney Lakes to Lord Brandon's cottage offers walkers a hearty lunch before a 15km walk back to Kenmare. Details from www. kenmarewalking. com.
Prestwick to Shannon with Ryanair from pounds-24.41 return, www. ryanair. com
HOLLAND Next month: Vlaggetjesdag The Dutch mark the first big herring catch of the yearwith a day of celebration.
Flag Day, in the coastal town of Scheveningen, near The Hague, is less about flag-waving and more about feeding the hungry hordes awaiting the herring catch.
The first ship back to dry land claims the cash prize, which is always donated to Greenpeace.
Much-loved monarch Queen Beatrix tastes a fish from the first barrel and gives a thumbs up before the crowd can tuck in.
Go native and eat your herring the way the Dutch love it - raw, with a healthy serving of chopped onion and lowered into the mouth by the tail.
Call The Hague tourist information on 00 31 900 340 35 05.
Edinburgh or Glasgow to Amsterdam with easyJet from pounds-104.98 return, www. easyjet. com
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While most mortals happily acknowledge the physical superiority of their equine cousins, the people of Llanwrtyd, Wales, are having none of it. Demonstrating what can only be described as small-town-syndrome (Llanwrtyd is the tiniest town in Britain), runners challenge horses in a gruelling cross-country marathon. The 22-mile race began in 1980 following an ale-fuelled debate in the Neuadd Arms Hotel. Landlord Gordon Green organised what has become an annual challenge for 500 two-legged and 40 fourlegged runners each June. Equine form went unchallenged until last year when Huw Lobb made the finish line three minutes before the first horse and claimed the pounds-25,000 prize. See www. man-v-horse.org. uk for details.
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