| Best unearthly landscapes and Should your mate get your upgrade? |
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(Lonely Planet) -- How's this for a space oddity? Forty years have passed since the historic Apollo moon landing, and yet the prospect of space tourism remains as distant as ever. Just as well, then, that getting that out-of-this-world feeling without leaving the planet is easier to do than a Vulcan salute.So all you cosmic cadets, moonwalkers and astral travelers out there -- prepare for lift off, as we take you to some of our favorite outer-space hotspots here on earth.Buzz Aldrin could have been talking about Chile's Valle de la Luna when he described the moon's 'magnificent desolation'. Strange lunar landforms eroded by eons of wild weather crowd the horizon; bleak dunes and distant volcanoes amp up the surreality. For maximum impact, visit at sunset, when the valley is bathed in an unearthly purple, pink and gold glow...Dotted with dramatic steaming fumaroles, bubbling mudpots, weird rock formations and lava fields, Iceland is a sci-film waiting to happen. [Read the full article] London (CNN) -- It sits in the ancient heart of Rome and is an emblem of the city's imperial history as well as an icon of Italy.But plans to restore Rome's nearly 2,000-year-old Colosseum are causing rumblings among heritage workers and restorers, compounded by reports in December that small amounts of powdery rock had fallen off the monument.The current $33 million (25 million euro) restoration plans to restore the Flavian amphitheater, which once hosted spectacular shows and gruesome gladiatorial battles, are being sponsored by Diego della Valle, of luxury Italian brand Tod's, in exchange for advertising rights.Restoration of the monument, which attracts up to two million visitors a year, is due to go ahead in March and will involve cleaning of the travertine exterior, the restoration of underground chambers, new gating, the moving of visitor service stations to an area outside of the building itself and increased video security. [Read the full article] London (CNN) -- Unwanted tickets for the 2012 Summer Olympics can be sold back starting Friday, organizers said Thursday.Those who have already bought tickets directly from organizers will be able to sell unwanted seats for full face value."The resale process will allow those who are no longer able to attend or no longer want their tickets to sell them to other sports fans and help ensure that venues are full at Games time," the London Organizing Committee (LOCOG) said in a news release.LOGOC hopes to cut down on unwanted tickets being sold through third parties or illegally at inflation prices.The tickets will not become immediately available, however. The tickets indicated for resale will go into a pot and be released at a later date.Tickets already bought through authorized third parties are not eligible to be resold through LOCOG's website.Ticket allocation has been one of the few problems facing organizers. [Read the full article] 
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