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A high-speed rail network that carves through the Swiss Alps and features the world’s longest rail tunnel is set for completion in 2020.

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Non-alcoholic cocktails aren’t new. But with increasing alternatives to spirits, wine and beer, bartenders like Will Meredith at Lyaness bar in London see the trend only growing.

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(CNN) — When travelers think of Georgia, its ancient winemaking tradition, epic cheesy breads and trendy nightclub scene usually come to mind.But the country’s greatest asset is actually its snow-capped mountains.Spanning 1,200 kilometers, the Caucasus Mountains cover approximately 60% of the country’s surface area, making the Alps look like child’s play. So why haven’t more people cottoned on to Georgia’s magnificent skiing possibilities?For starters, most travelers have only recently warmed up to the small country that borders Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkey as a viable vacation spot.Then there’s Georgia’s remoteness — it’s a five-hour flight from Western Europe. Those plugged-in travelers who do make the trip over tend to visit in summer, when hiking, off-roading, and winery-hopping are key attractions. Skiers paradiseSwitched on skiiers head to the Caucasus Mountains in the winter to take advantage of the crowd-free runs.Mountain Resorts of GeorgiaThis suits in-the-know skiers and snowboarders, who’d rather keep the pillowy powder, non-existent lift lines and dazzling mountain scenery to themselves come winter.And who can blame them? For the paltry price of around $15, the cost of an average lift ticket (compare that to $61 at Chamonix in the French Alps,) you might get a whole mountainside to yourself. Georgia’s cheap lift tickets used to be a drop in the bucket compared to the airfare it took to actually get to the Caucasus.But in November 2019, Ryanair launched in Georgia with routes starting at $20 from Bologna to Kutaisi, Marseille to Kutaisi, and Milan to Tbilisi (Cologne to Tbilisi will kick off in April). As a result, the country has become a realistic add-on to any European trip — winter ones included — virtually overnight.The insanely economical flights and ski passes — paired with the fact that you can eat and sleep like a Bagratid monarch here for about $10 and $50, respectively — make it an unequivocal bargain for ski travel. And it seems word is traveling fast — five times more skiers took to the slopes in the 2018 to 2019 season than five years prior. Further sweetening the pot are new designer lodges, off-piste experiences, and après-ski perks including fireside khinkali (soup dumplings) and gut-warming chacha (Georgian brandy). Now all you have to do is decide on a mountain. Here are our top resort picks, plus hotel recommendations for when the boots come off. GudauriPositioned around 120 kilometers from capital Tbilisi, Gudauri is Georgia’s most popular skiing resort.Mountain Resorts of GeorgiaFar and away Georgia’s most popular resort, Gudauri is a 90-minute near-vertical drive north from the capital city of Tbilisi. Even the parking lot here clocks in at 7,200 feet, higher than the summits of most slopes in the Alps (squint and you can barely make out the treeline below you). The 56 kilometers of skiable terrain, culminating at an ear-popping 10,750 feet, take in everything from long, moseying cruises apt for snowplowing beginners, to bomb-able black runs prized by speed demons. There are English-language lessons (book via Vagabond Ski & Snowboard School) available for beginners, and adrenaline junkies shouldn’t pass up the opportunity to heli-ski down virgin slopes with Heliksir, an adventure company with a decade’s experience under its belt. A new ski lift connects Gudauri to Kobi, beyond the Jvari Pass, making the resort far more accessible from Stepantsminda, the tourist-frequented town known for its proximity to Mount Kazbek and the hilltop Gergeti Trinity Church. Where to stay: A far cry from the dime a dozen apartment rentals at the base of the mountain, Gudauri Lodge, opened in December, is a shiny ski-in/ski-out retreat where the food — think lamb and tarragon soup (chakapuli) and vegetable walnut pâtés (pkhali) — is almost as sigh-worthy as the mountain views. You’d expect nothing less of culinary firebrand Tekuna Gachechiladze, who runs the hotel’s restaurant and is widely regarded as one of the country’s top chefs. Gudauri Lodge, 4702, Gudauri St, Gudauri, Georgia; +995 557 10 58 58BakurianiThe former training ground for the Soviet Olympic Alpine ski team is very popular with families.Mountain Resorts of GeorgiaYou’ll find a mostly Georgian crowd at this low key resort situated two and a half hours west of Tbilisi in the heart of the Lower Caucasus range. Once a training ground for the Soviet Olympic Alpine ski team, Bakuriani remains a popular hideaway for professional skiers looking to get away from the crowds, especially on weekdays, when the pristine corduroyed trails are virtually empty. There are three interconnected ski areas spanning 18 kilometers of downhill slopes — Didveli, Kokhta and Mitarbi. The latter two are smaller and more rugged than Didveli, which is popular among families and offers ample lodging and dining options, along with night skiing and an alpine rollercoaster. Mitarbi, by contrast, has no accommodations and just one bare-bones café.Bakuriani will host the FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboard Championship 2023, a major feather in Georgia’s cap when it comes to winter sports; new trails and ski lifts are being added as we speak. Ski in and ski out, and in-between, unwind in minimalist digs appointed with king-sized beds, vintage chairs, and wooden and clay furnishings made by local artisans. Mestia Mestia lacks the many amenities of the likes of Gudauri and Bakuriani, but its runs are far quieter.Mountain Resorts of Georgia Only those with a taste for adventure should strike out for Mestia, a tiny village in the far-flung region of Svaneti, known for its millennium-old tower houses and ancient, pagan-influenced mountain culture. Post up here and you can choose between two small ski areas, Hatsvali and Tetnuldi, both situated less than 30 minutes from the village center by 4×4. But don’t expect the creature comforts of large resorts like mountainside lodging, English language signs and full service restaurants, Mestia is Georgia’s wild west when it comes to skiing.The perks to this come in the form of quiet, crowd-free runs (Tetnuldi has five, Hatsvali has four) blanketed with powder. A ski lift installed in 2018 connects Hatsvali to the outskirts of Mestia, so ask for directions at the tourist office on Seti Square and double check that it’s operating (weather-related hiatuses are common). Where to stay: You’ll be treated like family, and fed like a favorite grandchild, at Kristina Guesthouse, a no-frills B&B that will renew your faith in humanity with its gregarious, open-armed staff and soul-satisfying Svan comfort food. Kubdari, the dribbly meat-stuffed flatbread enlivened with coriander, chiles and blue fenugreek, is a menu staple.Flash a smile at Vakhe, the owner, and you may find yourself being handed chacha shots, a high-octane amenity you won’t soon forget. Kristina Guesthouse, Kakhiani Street 33, Mestia, +995 598 799 705Benjamin Kemper followed the siren song of jamón ibérico from Brooklyn to Madrid, where he’s been writing about the places that make him hungriest since 2014.

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The organizers of last month’s cross-country skiing world cup in Nove Mesto na Morave had just enough snow to cover roughly 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) of ski tracks.

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In a statement, the House of Commons — which is housed in an adjoining part of the same building — said remnants from Nazi Germany’s bombing campaign in London were discovered along with pollution and asbestos in the Elizabeth Tower — more commonly known by the name of its iconic clock.The 19th century Gothic building has been wrapped in scaffolding since 2017, and the cost of restorations will now rise from £61.1m to £79.7m ($79.7m to $104m). Plans are still on track to complete the restoration in 2021, the statement said.Decay and damage to “hundreds of intricate carvings,” an “extensive use” of toxic lead paint and broken glass in the clock dials were also discovered, and the commission managing the project said an additional clock expert was also needed.The full scale of structural problems “was only revealed once the project team was able to begin intrusive surveys for the first time ever on the 177-year-old structure,” it added.But the rising costs could anger critics of the lengthy and expensive renewal program set to get underway at the Houses of Parliament over the next decade.”It is very frustrating to learn that the Elizabeth Tower project requires yet more funding, having agreed an extra £32m in 2017,” a spokesperson for the House of Commons Commission said in the statement.”We have requested more detailed information about the lessons learned from this experience — as well as assurances that more robust estimates are prepared for works of this nature in the future.”About 43,000 British civilians were killed during the Blitz between 1940 and 1941, which flattened thousands of buildings and caused major restoration projects across the capital after the war ended.Big Ben — a popular tourist attraction — has been surrounded by scaffolding since 2017. Once works are complete, visitors will be able to use a lift inside the structure. Shortly after the works are finished, a massive, £3.5 billion ($4.5bn) restoration program will get underway to modernize the crumbling and rapidly deteriorating Palace of Westminster, forcing lawmakers to relocate to another building.As a national icon and UNESCO World Heritage Site, its renovation represents a hugely complex operation, and the high costs have been criticized by several MPs.But a report issued in September 2016 by a special joint committee of MPs and members of the House of Lords warned of an “impending crisis” that could not responsibly be ignored.Issues cited include extensive erosion and water damage throughout the palace, with the building’s old pipes and electrics cause for particular concern. Last year, a leak in the House of Commons chamber forced MPs to end their day early.

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Macron made the announcement in the Alpine village of Chamonix after visiting a shrinking glacier located near Mont Blanc. “What we’re seeing with the evolution of the glacier is indisputable proof of the trace of this (global) warming and (climate) imbalance, and essentially of the shift of an entire ecosystem …” Macron said. A landmark 2019 report from the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) found that nearly all glaciers around the globe are shrinking. In addition to the threats posed by climate change, the Mont Blanc area also faces pressures from heavy traffic from tourists and climbers. Last year, a local decree during the busy summer climbing season banned climbers who didn’t book a room in one of three hotels to limit overcrowding. Macron’s visit comes after the mayor of the town of Saint-Gervais-les-Bains urged the president in an open letter to take action against climbers who pollute the mountain with waste, according to CNN affiliate BFM. “Mr. President, taking care of the forests in the Amazon is very good. Ignoring what is happening on Mont Blanc and letting disrespect continue is not tolerable,” mayor Jean-Marc Peillex wrote in an open letter to Macron last September, referring to the “Group of Seven’s” pledge of millions of dollars to help combat fires in the Amazon rainforest. Other alpine towns in France are also feeling the effects of global warming. Just last week, a resort in the central Pyrenees was forced to close to visitors indefinitely because of insufficient snow, BFM reported. In his speech, Macron also announced the creation of the French Office of Biodiversity, an agency that protect threatened environments and biodiversity. “2020 will be a decisive year for biodiversity,” Macron said. “It’s the year in which we could begin to change things if we succeed in building the framework for national and international action and start those deep transformations.” The French government is also taking steps to reduce the environmental impact of the country’s 2.4 million public servants. Starting in July, the government will give 200 euros to state and civil employees that either bike or carpool to work. The government will also transition to electric and hybrid cars for official uses and will eliminate single-use plastic in all its offices.

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