The name of Sorrento, a coastal town in Italy, had been put deep in my soul for a long time, mainly through hearing various    1    (performance) of the song “Come back to Sorrento”. After consideration, I finally    2    (pay) a visit to Sorrento during the summer vacation. The town was considerably popular for American weddings and traditional food. One evening, while    3    (wander) on the street, I was attracted by a house. A proud citizen told me that was the restaurant    4    Sophia Loren, the famous actress, once dined. Perhaps what impressed me most about Sorrento was their lemons. The fruit provided the raw materials for lemon soaps on sale everywhere.

Beijing Olympic Park, also     1     (know) as the Olympic Green, is located in Chaoyang District, Beijing, with a total land area of 11.59 square kilometers. The famous National Stadium or “Bird’s Nest” is the centerpiece of the park,     2     the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics were hosted. The National Aquatics Center or “Water Cube” hosted the swimming, diving and synchronized swimming events. It was transformed     3     the “Ice Cube” for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, and detachable curling tracks were built on the swimming pool to host curling events.

6 . How to go abroad and minimize your COVID-19 risk?

If you are desperate to go abroad, then what measures should you take?

“Vaccination (接种疫苗) is of great importance.    1    , I would take the view that you’re going to be pretty safe as long as you observe the usual, sensible rules,” says Anthony Costello at University College London.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) agrees.    2    . Travelers are advised to stay at least 1.8 meters away from the people they aren’t traveling with, wash their hands often and monitor their health for signs of illness, too.

You should also take “low risk” with a pinch of salt (有所保留).    3    . That means you have to quarantine (隔离).at home or in the place you are staying for 10 days when you arrive in England. Meanwhile, Portugal remains in the CDC’s “avoid all travel” category.

    4     The US mainly looks at the number of new cases in the past 28 days. Decisions for England are based on broader risk assessments from the Joint Biosecurity Centre, including vaccination rates and circulating variants.

“It is hard to tell which method is right, and it isn’t unusual for two countries to look at the same data and come to opposite conclusions,” says Jeffrey Lazarus at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health in Spain, “Germany closed the border to the UK in the same week when Spain opened it.    5    .”

The eastern Chinese city of Zibo     1     (emerge) as one of the country’s most popular tourist spots in the past few months — thanks to its barbecue. Favored by so-called internet influencers, the city has gone viral on Chinese social media platforms.     2    (video) on sites such as Xiaohongshu show thousands of people traveling to the city to savor (品尝) local barbecue,     3     they say is wrapped in a pancake. When asked     4     attracts them most, travellers say the awesome food in chorus, though the restaurants were not stylishly furnished.

10 . Four winter wonderlands for cold-weather getaways

◆ JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka

Beat any holiday stress with the new HydroSpa opening at Muskoka’s JW Marriott on Nov. 1. The outdoor water entertainment will be open year-round, offering multiple ways to relax including sea-salt floating pools and hot bathtubs.

Stays from $349 / night

◆ Old Stone Inn Boutique Hotel

This historic inn in Niagara Falls offers multiple ways to relax. There’s Winterfest, meals enjoyed in dining domes(穹顶)housed in the inn’s private square, and the Alpine Club offering roasted nuts and wine around a fire pit. The property will host its annual holiday market on Nov. 26.

Stays from $249 / night

◆ Dromoland Castle

If you’re going to go big—and further away—for New Year’s, you may as well go black tie. This grand estate in western Ireland is offering a three - night celebration package, beginning either Dec. 30 or 31. The event on New Year’s Eve includes a cocktail reception and six-course dinner. Guests will have access to various activities on the property’s 450 acres including hunting and farming.

Stays from $2,051 / night

◆ St. Regis Aspen

Along with access to many ski options, the hotel’s guests can expect family-friendly fun during the week leading up to Dec. 25. The workshop here is a craft room where attendees can make everything from toys to gifts by hand. Additional sessions cover winter cooking and house decorating.

Stays from US $899 / night