Travel: Global Agenda

Virginia

Williamsburg, capital of , celebrates its 300th anniversary this year. A series of events and exhibitions is planned throughout 1999 to commemorate the occasion but May Day has been marked out as the official 300th birthday. This weekend sees the College of William and Mary and Colonial Williamsburg hosting re-creations of life in Williamsburg circa 1699. A corresponding exhibition opens today at the DeWitt Wallace gallery but the highlight of the celebrations is a May Day performance by Washington's National Symphony.

Williamsburg, , US. For further information contact the Williamsburg Area Convention and Visitor's Bureau (001 800 368 6511) or visit www.300th. ontheline.com

Paris

If you were planning an exhibition entitled "Marriage", where else would you choose to hold it but Paris, the romance capital of the world? The exhibition of more than 60 wedding dresses includes examples from designers Galliano and Stephane Plassier (who made a dress of edible white chocolate). Each dress is displayed alongside films and varied media in what is both a sociological appraisal of the institution and a fashion fanfare.

`Marriage' is at the Musee Galliera, 10 Avenue Pierre 1er de Serbie, 75116 Paris (00 33 1 47 20 85 23) until 29 August. Open Tues-Sun from 10am-6pm, Fr45

Cornwall

Beat the eclipse crowds heading down to Cornwall in August and go now to catch the third Daphne du Maurier Festival of Arts and Literature. This year's action will be centred around a specially designed village in the grounds of Fowey Community College. Participants lined up for the 10-day event include Timothy West, Prunella Scales, Sir John Mortimer, Mel and Sue (of Channel 4's Late Lunch), Beryl Bainbridge, Alan Titchmarsh and Honor Blackman. After boat trips, garden open days, readings, plays and walks through the countryside that inspired du Maurier, the festival draws to a close with some serious jiving in The Cotton Club Revue.

Fowey, Cornwall, 7-16 May. For a free festival brochure (detailing locations, timings and prices) call 01726 74324

Mexico

Spice up your life with fun and fireworks in the city of Puebla. An hour's drive from Mexico city, the celebrations take place this week in a grand fiesta to mark perhaps the greatest victory in Mexico's history. Cinco de Mayo (5 May) is a public holiday that marks the day in 1862 when 2,000 Mexicans defeated a French army three times its size. If fireworks don't do it for you, join in the dancing, feast your way along the street stalls or blag yourself an invitation to one of the numerous parties. Finding somewhere to stay may be a problem, so plan on partying through the night.

5 May, Puebla, Mexico. For more information, contact the Mexican Embassy Information Centre (0171-235 4320)