TIMING IS everything if you want to be a smart traveller. By David Wishart Contributing Writer Take Europe. In summer it is overcrowded and _ expensive. Agreed, you might get some sun (or you might not), but many of the major attractions in Europe — such as castles, galleries, museums, restaurants and so on ~— are actually more accessible off-season. Winter is the best time for Europe, when air fares are almost . TRAVEL This is the time for Kurope half the summer rate and some remarkable hotel packages are available. Last season you could buy tickets round trip between Varcouver and London for less than $600, and seven nights in a hotel was $89. This winter hotels are feeling the pinch because the economy is in a slump. As a result, Jow- season rates are better than ever for tourists. Even luxury hotels like the Savoy have specials on offer, in their case a double or twin room with full breakfast, as well as a bottle of champagne, flowers and One of few vices left From page 25 Casanova is rumored to have fed his paramours chocolate instead of champagne as an inducement -.to romance. The Emperor Montezuma downed 50 cups of cocoa a day in order to fortify himself for the evening’s festivities. : _» Even today there are those who “swear by’. chocolate’s seductive “ powers. “Many modern-day chocoholics crave it when falling both in and out of love. : One exnlanation is that choco- late is ricl. 'n. phenylethylamine. — an ‘ amphetamine-like _ chemical “which is: said to help arouse emo- : tions.” - Columbus was ‘the first to bring cocoa beans to Europe. Returning from: his fourth . voyage to the New World in 1502, he brought , back sacks of the beans’ — but only as curiosities. -- It took. the: Spanish ‘con- quistadors, led by Cortez, nearly 100. years to understand their use. - the Aztecs, the | Much © like: Spaniards concocted a chocolate ‘brew. from’ ground roasted beans, powdered spices such as cin- . mamon,-: vanilla. and anise, and boiling water. Chocolate - factories popped up all over Spain. Despite Spanish efforts to keep the secret, choco- ‘Jate had found its way into Italy, Hoiland and France by the mid- 17th century. Soon after, chocolate houses ~ ~ Book hotels for reunions | . From page 29 . This is the season when reunion “ notices: arrive in the mail. If you have received one, make every ef- ‘fort to go’ — it’s a wonderful ex- - perience. As I have mentioned, the big weekend in- Medicine Hat is the last weekend in June for everyone who ever attended Alexandra high school or St. Theresa’s Academy. You don't have to have graduated toattend. The last. time they staged one of these homecomings' 2,600 people showed up. They’re expecting at least that many this time. The reason I’m again drawing reunions to your attention is ac- commodation. My girlhood chum phoned me on Sunday. to say, “Hey, I’m getting you a room tomorrow —. nearly everything in town is filling up!” Bobbie’s house is filled with her . Sisters for the event, as are most | homes: during this Kind: of mega- _ reunion. if you. a are planning to attend any spring or summer reunion anywhere, get your accommoda- tion booked right now. a fancy version of the coffee house — were all the rage with the aristocracy in London. The high price of cocoa beans was beyond the reach of all but the very wealthy. Chocolate was enjoyed almost exclusively as a beverage until the 19th century when a Dutch inven- tor developed a press to separate cocoa butter from the bean, mak- ing modern chocolate candy ’ possible. Milk chocolate was a much later invention, The chocolate bar was in- troduced around’ 1910 but it took the Second World War to boost its popularity. The American - Armed Forces included the fighting food in the. infantryman’s daily rations. ~ Each man marched into battle armed with three chocolate bars — thought to ‘provide enough energy to last one day. While chocolate may once have been sought as.a stimulant and source of nutrition, today’s con- fectionery is primarily a source of calories. A 50-gram bar of milk choco- fate has approximately 260 calo- -ries, only three or four grams of protein and a fat content of be- tween 45 and 60%. Still, chocolate remains one of the few socially acceptable vices left to us. One of life’s small in- dulgences which has managed to escape the ‘sin tax, its primary benefit is the pleasure it gives when consumed. ~ Ba e've spenta king's - a box of handmade chocolates. Lower rates apply in December and January. Theatre-goers don't have to compete with as many tourists in the off-season, and of course there won't be too many people hanging around the Tower of London. Have you been on a British train recently? London to Edin- burgh is a comfortable four-hour journey on new, high-speed roll- ing stock. Edinburgh, by the way, has just been voted the best city in Britain for pubs, and the Good Pub Guide highlights more than 50 around the famous castle. , Up around Sherwood Forest a group of 20 Nottinghamshire hotels were offering bed and breakfast from $92 a couple this winter, the promotion billed as “the Robin Hood rate — it’s a Steal!’’ Nottingham, famous for its lace and ancient pubs, held a Robin Hood pageant last fall, jousting tournaments, minstrels, falcons, story-telling and crafts at the cas- tle, 7 nights a week Any 2 nights (Eri-Sun) : single/double occupancy single/double occupancy Valid for leisure travel only - Excludes Lie eel Taxes not included « Subj x5 ge 2 availability ~ °Thru Feb. : o oN v7 HE H A 8 SB 45 SONGHEES ROAD, VICTORIA, B.C. VA 6T3 TEL: (604) 360-5859 FAX: (604) 360-1041 RESERVATIONS: i. s00- 667-4677 a: tha © STEP 1: © Nor valid withany > : other offer. © Limit one coupon percouple ant 3 coupons per party. | NOT VALID ON VALENTINE’S DAY : Guest Validation Thursda fur this es > vy offer. STEP 2:.. ANY TWO canes upto ; STEP 3.” ° ICHMOND "8331 River Rad 273-7835 WHITE ROCK "14935 Marine Drive 536-7320 : “ » NEW.WESTMINSTER. "900 Quayside Drive 525-3474 ‘HORSESHOE BAY: - 5 Nelson ‘Avenue 92 1-818 our royal restoration — fora lecidedly modest s sum. | ransom restoring The Empress— an impressive $45 million, to be exact. And now we're re-~ ‘storing our Breakaway special, so you can stay at this ~ magnificent waterfront heri- tage hotel from only $89* per night, any night from Oct.13, 1992 —Feb. 28,1993. (Children 18 and under free in parents’ Canadian Pacific EX4 Hotels & Resorts 721 Government Street, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 1W5 (604) 384-8111 or 1-800-268-9471. “Single or double occupancy, plus tax, based on availability and selected accommodation. Other standards of rooms are available, including Business Class, for an additional cost. Discount cannot be appiied to existing discounts (individual travel only). Otfer subject to change without notice. room; maximum two children.) Come dive into The Empress’ new pool and heaith club. Sip afternoon tea in her refurbished lobby. Dine in her handsomely redecorated restaurants. And discover ail of Victoria‘s charm, tightonherdoorstep. . ~ Just contact your travel agent ' or call the hotel directly at (604) 384-8111 or 1-800-268-9411.