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LONDON February European HoHay Of A Lifetime When Dickens got bored be apparently used to pop over to Covent Garden to count the pineapples Covent Garden in bis day was a noisy colorful market The warehouses were full of fruit lowers and vegetables from all comers of the Empire and fleetfooted porters flurried back and forth with creaking carts creating a of sound with the crying out their wares These days Dickens would barely recognize the place the former market has moved to Nine Elms near Vauxball and Covent Garden has been spruced up and turned into a shopping centre with over 30 shops craft studios galleries bou tiques and restaurants Its not noisy as it was in the 19th century but the exterior looks much the same as it was then If anything the build ings look better The attractive iron and glass facades have been cleaned and the elegant Italianstyle plana designed by Inlgo Jones In 1630 has come back into Its own again now that it has been freed from the clutter of overflowing stalls But Garden is only one of several areas that have taken on a new lease on life London following in the footsteps of cities like San Francisco Boston and New Orleans is undergoing a renaissance of sorts restoring rebuilding and redecorating its rundown districts inject ing them with life and turning them Into new exciting tourist attractions The Garden as locals call it is steeped In the history of the theatre there are over 18 theatres In the surrounding area alone and the narrow streets that wind around the complex are lined with theatre supply stores art galleries and fine art book stores St Katharine by the Tower is another new development It is as Its name suggests right next to the Tower of London which in itself takes a whole day to go around St Katharine is a kind of London version of Torontos a collection of wharves and warehouses converted into stares snack ban and a pub Cobbled walk ways line the River Thames and the docks have been made into a marina complete with a floating maritime museum The docks like Covent Garden had their heyday during the days of the British Empire They were designed by Thomas Telford the Scottish canal builder and the place was a hive of activity during the century when ships of all shapes and sizes sat In the harbor loading and unloading their colorful cargoes Ivory cloves cigars spices sugar and rum were all carried onto carts pulled by heavy plumed horses the tractor- trailers of their day Travelling menageries enter tained the passersby and the drinking houses were crammed with all manner of folk It was a place where according to a contemporary report you could buy bear a beer or a whore at any time of the day or night Things bad quietened down considerably by the tune the 2Mb century rolled around By the end of the 1960s the docks were derelict their warehouses empty and the windows smashed Today St Katharines is unrecognizable Linchpin of the new com plex a World Trade Centre a hotel and a terminal St Katharine by the Tower was restored primarily to attract business to a rundown area but because of its proximity to the tower and the Thames It has become a tourist attraction as well Many of the warehouses have been made into gift shops and snack ban and the Dickens Inn an lBth century pub Is a delightful spot to stop for lunch The hostelry was discovered quite by accident When workmen started stripping a brick warehouse they discovered a building underneath and the pub has been renovated In period style complete with wooden floors liberally sprinkled with sawdust Travel Because of the favorable rate of exchange roughly to pound sterling London Is once again a cheap destination for Canadian travellers British Airways links Toronto with London and this season the airline is of fering hotel and theatre packages at rock bottom prices Further Information coll Travel Georgetown Marketplace 8770138 Club Med continued from page children at and then the staff has post- dinner activities such as movies or games until pm when the youngsters head back to mom n pop Babysitters can take over at that point or perhaps after the nightly show put on by the GOs or a visiting professional troupe like the mimes of Eleuthera or the voodoo dances of Haiti Some of the activities for the younger kids are the same as for the older group but the two schedules are staggered so the little ones never get underfoot with the big kids The activities range from your basic YMCA or summer camp programs arts n crafts swimming movies to the not-so- routine such as the daily videotaping circus skills or computer workshops video games sailing or water skiing Despite the obvious romancing of the fam ily market Club Med is not trying to turn it self into an overgrown daycare center Not every village will have a Mini Club which will cut down the pitterpatter of little feet and the inevitable distractions that can occur when youngsters congregate Apart from simply being away from that factor alone can make many a vacation successful the Club Med hit a home run for those who want to do a little or do nothing those who wont to sit and read a book in the special shade beach at Cana for Instance or participate in every activity shoot every basketball return every volleyball serve or tennis volley catch every popup In softball or touch every piece of coral seen while snorkelling or scuba diving at say Buc caneers Creek In Martinique or Fort Royal In Guadeloupe Swimming water skiing snorkelling sailing volleyball and tennis are found at every village in the American Zone Paradise Islands tennis layout by the way is the biggest hideout Tor racqueteen In the Club Med system and Fort not only boast Mini Cubs but are be only villages with an underwater photo laboratory no charge for camera use but a small fee for film Eleuthera and Ixtapa are the lone computer workshop sites while offers a chance to play golf free on a nearby Robert Trent Jones Jr championship course small charge for clubs ana carts And scuba diving Is available at Buc caneers Creek Fort Royal Eleuthera Cuncun Blanca and Tahiti Barbara Thomas met a honeymooning couple from Toronto in who focused on the scuba diving Theyd never gone ocean diving before although they had just gotten their certlcicatlon at home but It was Tor fresh water so they were anxious to learn about the ocean They enjoyed that part of it but they also said it had cost them day just to rent equipment when they were taking lessons at home but the equip ment didnt cost a thing at Gab Med it was all part of the whole thing That kind of economic saving Is another appealing aspect of Club Med Except for liquor and souvenirs and incidentals everything comes complete with the pack age price There are no additional charges for equipment court time or youname It except in rare coses Every village has one or more excursions which are available at extra cost such as the daylong trip to the fosinatlng historic hilltop Citadel of Cap In Haiti shop ping trips from several villages or the deep sea fishing at or I dont know about anon else says Bob Gibson but thats the only way wo could have afforded this trip We knew what it was going to cost right from the start except for our booze and maybe some Tshirts or other souvenirs Were not big drinkers so thats no big expense and it really means with their special rates for the girls that we all get a relaxing and enjoyable vacation KLM PLANNING A EUROPEAN VACATION No need to run around in circles tofind a bargain EUROPEAN CAROUSEL HASITALLI CarJhotel lockages from Motorcoach Tours from Bicycle Trips from 1250 Rai Programs from Car and camper rentals from Byhold packages from See your travel agent for further information and a copy of our spectacular 68page full colour brochure agency Georgetown market place 8770138