Provence and Middle East

Provence

Q: I'll be in Provence from the end of May until the first week of June. Are there any interesting events taking place in the area around that time?

A: May is a wonderful month to travel anywhere in Europe and the further south you go, the more sunshine you'll get. If you are in Provence in May, you'll have the chance of catching two Picasso exhibitions. One is at the Musee Picasso in Antibes (www.AntibesJuanLesPins.com) where a major show of paintings from the Forties continues through June 28.

The other is a new exhibition at the Musee Granet in AixenProvence (www.MuseeGranetAixenProvence.fr) and focuses on the influence of Cezanne (who was born in Aix) on Spanish painters like Picasso. It opens on May 25 and continues until September 27. And if you love comedy and are expert in French language, the last week of May is the time for the Aix Comedy Festival in Pasino.

On May 2324, the town's Cours Mirabeau hosts the Tambourin Festival, an event that's a must for people who are passionate about music and the region. If you can read French, head to the Old Book Market, which is held on first Sunday of every month at Place de l'Hotel de Ville in Aix. If you can make the trip last until June 1415, you'll be there for Aix's Flaneries de l'Art. This is a guided walk through the streets and gardens of the town centre punctuated by the works of the city's contemporary artists and browse through canvases, pottery and ornaments of the city. Do try and stay - it could well prove the highlight of your trip to Provence.

Q: We are going to the Middle East around the end of August and would like to know when Ramadan falls this year. If we have to travel during Ramadan, is there anything we need to know?

A: As you know, Ramadan is the holy month during which Muslims fast from dawn to dusk.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which is determined by the lunar cycle and is about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar. That's the reason that Ramadan begins on a different day of the year and, over time, occurs in different seasons. This year, Western calendars show Ramadan beginning on Friday, August 21 and continuing until Saturday, September 19.

When Muslim people fast it means they consume no food or drink, not even water. Some countries are stricter than others and add smoking and gum chewing to the list of forbidden items. However small children may eat and drink normally.

As a good tourist, you should show respect by not eating in public. Restaurants, coffee shops and snack bars outside of hotels are closed from dawn to dusk. But international hotels will have at least one restaurant set aside where travellers can eat during daylight hours. These designated areas are often curtained off or located behind closed doors, so that those who dine won't give offence to those who fast. Room service is an acceptable alternative. After sunset, many hotels set up buffets in special tents and serve traditional Middle Eastern dishes and special Ramadan desserts.

During Ramadan, even after sunset, the atmosphere is subdued. Shops operating on reduced hours during the day reopen an hour after sunset and do business until midnight.