We're leaving the Middle East and looking for a place to visit on our way back to the States. Bad knees make skiing tough. What would the UK be like then? Other suggestions?

I'd stick with a city (iffy weather means a drive in the country could be less than pleasant) so that bad weather wouldn't be an issue. London, Dublin, Edinburgh, Belfast; Rome, Florence; Paris, Nice... If the weather is good, you can stroll around a beautiful city; if the weather is rotten, you can visit museums and historical buildings, go to the theater and shopping... and not a ski slope in sight.

Lori, <BR> <BR>Like elvira, I would suggest you visit a city -- but I would opt for something like Salzburg, Vienna, Lucerne or even the village of Wengen in the Berner Oberland. I love snow even when I'm not skiing, and I love walking Alpine trails in the snow. In addition, the music season is usually going strong in January in these cities. <BR> <BR>Good luck! E-mail if you need more info. <BR> <BR>s

What about Iceland? Fabulous country to explore.

Thanks very much for your suggestions. Wengen in the Berner Oberland sounds interesting. Or London might make sense. Wouldn't Iceland be very, very cold in January? <BR> <BR>Anyone else have comments? <BR> <BR>

London with the tons of museums (indoor) sounds logical, Brussels? Paris, Prague?

Lori <BR> <BR>I would also go for a city. You need to pick somewhere that will offer you enough activities if the weather is poor which being January it is likely to be. It will also seem colder for you travelling from the middle east. Iceland? Not only would it be very cold but also very dark.

Surely, James was kidding. Iceland in January? How about Antartica where at least it is light?

Hi there. I'm afraid January in UK is very very cold. It is the worst month for snow and frost and it gets dark around 4p.m. I don't think Paris will be much warmer. I suppose it depends on which part of the U&gt;S&gt; you are from. Maybe my cold isn't as cold as your cold! if you know what I mean

Hi <BR> <BR>I went to Italy for a little over a week lat year, right after Xmas through New Years and all. <BR> <BR>It was shirt sleeve weather in Florence, and nippy but very sunny in Venice. maybe in the high 30s low 40s in Venice? Maybe as high as 50 at one point. Florence though was quite nice - I got quite hot in my winter coat the day I arrived! <BR> <BR>so take layers. <BR> <BR>Beth

Lori, <BR>I'm resonding again to give you more info on Wengen, Switzerland. This is mainly a ski destination, but there is a lot to do besides ski. It's a small-ish village in the mountains, and you can go walking in the mountains, sledding down the trails, and take excursions to Interlaken, Lucerne, etc. The best places to get information on Wengen & Switzerland is at www.twenj.com/swissvisit.htm and at www.wengen.com. The first site is a personal website that is one of the most detailed & comprehensive on the web. Wengen is also the host of a major international ski race, the Lauberhorn, in mid-January; and nearby Grindelwald is the host of an international ice sculpting contest also in mid-January. <BR> <BR>E-mail me if you'd like more info. <BR> <BR>s