Travel: Global Agenda

Holland

A sure sign that the weather is improving - or should be - is the explosion of colour that occurs each spring in 's bulb fields, as the narcissi, hyacinths and tulips appear. With an area the size of 30,000 football pitches dedicated to the cultivation of flowers, it comes as no surprise that the Noord- province plays host to a large number of parades, shows and auctions, including the famous Aalsmeer flower auction which takes place in September. This year, 's largest bulb garden, the Keukenhof, celebrates its 50th anniversary and to complement its 80 acres of vibrant flora, theme gardens and children's area, there will special displays and exhibitions.

Keukenhof Spring Gardens, Lisse, The Netherlands (00 31 252 414 262) until 19 May, nine to 18 guilders. Information on other events in the Noord- region from the local tourist office (00 31 152 512 330)

Madrid

El Greco, Identity and Transformation: Crete, Italy, Spain, 1560-1600 seeks to trace the evolution of this unusual painter, whose roots were in the Byzantine tradition, but whose later exaggerated style was termed "extreme expressionism". An overdue look at a fascinating artist.

Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, 8 Paseo del Prado, Madrid (00 34 91 420 3944) until 16 May, Pts500

London

Irrevocably linked to the London of the Swinging Sixties, photographer Terence Donovan did as much as anyone to capture the faces, fashion and cityscapes of that period for posterity. The 130 black-and-white images which make up the eye that never sleeps, the first retrospective exhibition of his work, illustrate the broad range of his output from 1959 through to 1996 (the year that he died). Subtitled London Photographs, it features the portraits - of people such as Julie Christie, Terence Stamp and Francis Bacon - and fashion and beauty commissions with which he made his name. There are also examples of his documentary work and urban landscapes, as well as shots of his family and of London's East End - the area where he was born and grew up.

Museum of London, London Wall, London (0171-600 3699) until 1 August

Vienna

More than 8,000 people crammed into Vienna's various music auditoria in 1997 to enjoy "The Sound of Easter", the first instalment of what is set to become an attractive addition to this city's roster of musical events. That year, Erwin Piplit's production of Schubert's Lazarus garnered the critical laurels; 1999's candidate for superlatives remains to be seen, but you can take your pick from a varied programme which includes performances by both the Vienna and London Philharmonic Orchestras.

Odeon, Musikverein, Konzerthaus and Staatsopern, Vienna, Austria (00 43 1 4000 8410) from today until 6 April, ATS150-ATS1600