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Faro
Good news for the endangered Iberian lynx, and those hoping to see its numbers increase in the wild. Two kittens have just been born in Portugal, where the lynx once roamed, and will be held in captivity until old enough to be released. You won’t see the furry little felines wandering about the Algarve’s beaches though, as they’ll be in a protected area to ensure they go forth and multiply, and hopefully help save this rare species from extinction. Amy Dennis
| TRAVELLER | MAY 10
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Our European Correspondents give us the lowdown on what’s happening in and around their cities
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Turin
Savvy locals in Turin are selling 3D glasses to pilgrims as they visit the city’s famous shroud on display until 23 May. The brainchild of a holographic expert, the specs supposedly show details hidden from the naked eye, allowing visitors to decide for themselves whether they think the burial cloth of Christ is indeed genuine or a fake. Though the Church says the glasses won’t make a blind bit of difference to the viewing experience. Carmela Mira
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La Rochelle
The beach resort of Les Sables-d’Olonne has two unusual jobs up for grabs this summer – the two successful applicants (one male, one female) will get €5,000 each for rubbing sunscreen into tourists in July and August. Wannabee “creamers” (the official job title) must log on to lejobdelete.com, write an application and post a photo of themselves. The public can vote for their favourite hopeful before the jury selection in June. Louisa Reynolds
photos © getty, photolibrary, corbis, david o’byrne
THE BUZ Z |
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Paris
The French capital is no stranger to political protests and as the regional elections loom, Parisians are once again using the street as a platform for their opposing views. This time, however, they’re ditching placards for posters, plastering them up in metro stations across the city. To make a proper job of it, the resourceful rebels are swiping ads from illuminated displays and replacing them with theirs instead. Vive la revolution! Deborah Hatch
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Malta
Careering along in a manner usually reserved for racetrack drivers, Malta’s rickety orange buses have long been tourist attractions. But, sadly for some, their days are now numbered. As Malta’s historic capital Valletta gets a makeover, its Bedford buses will also be replaced by shinier and more environmentally friendly models. As for their colour scheme, it still remains to be seen whether the future is that vibrant shade of orange. Jo Caruana
GOSSIP
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Istanbul
A new open-air museum will house artefacts excavated as part of the new metro station at Yenikapı. The size of four football pitches, the site will eventually become a hub linking Istanbul’s European and Asian sides, however the scale of treasures found has already delayed the project by four years. Discoveries include 8,000-year-old graves, city walls built 1,500 years ago, and the remains of 34 Byzantine ships. David O’Byrne
MAY 10 | TRAVELLER |