BERLIN — Organizers of a just-opened exhibition in Berlin hope to challenge viewers to see the worlds of art and soccer from a new perspective.

The exhibition at the Martin-Gropius-Bau museum — titled "Rundlederwelten," or "Round Leather Worlds" — features more than 200 works by 74 artists.

Pieces range from Andy Warhol's 1982 portrait of German soccer star Franz Beckenbauer to Tone Frank's "Rollballpaar," which consists of a pair of soccer balls that meander through the 21,500-square-foot exhibition space, bumping into other works and visitors as they go.

Not surprisingly, Germany's team is well-represented, with works that prominently feature not only Beckenbauer, but the rest of Germany's 1974 World Cup championship team, members of its present-day women's team and the German flag.

Still, the exhibition tries not to glorify one player or team, and many of its works take a critical, ironic or humorous view of their subjects.

In a sculpture by British artist Satch Hoyt, the use of black shoe tongues invites viewers to consider racial inequality in the sport, while a nearby video by German-born artist Ingeborg Luscher draws parallels between business and soccer by featuring a match between teams outfitted in dress shirts, ties and blue and gray suits.

"Rundlederwelten" runs through Jan. 8. The museum, open every day except Tuesday, is located at Niederkirchnerstrasse 7.

Readers' awards

NEW YORK — Despite devastating natural disasters, New Orleans and Thailand ranked among top vacation destinations in Conde Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice awards, listed in the magazine's November issue.

Phuket, Thailand, ranked as the No. 1 Asian/Indian Ocean island, with another Thai island, Koh Samui, coming in at No. 5. Bangkok was named the No. 1 Asian city, with Chiang Mai as No. 5. A number of Thai hotels, like the Bangkok Peninsula and Phuket's Amanpuri, were among the top 100 hotels around the world.

"We're thrilled to see Phuket" among readers' favorites, Traveler's editors wrote. While the survey of 28,000 readers was conducted in April and May, "evaluations are based on the past three years of travel, so the Thai islands are not downgraded for a natural disaster from which most have largely recovered," the magazine explained.

New Orleans came in seventh on the top 10 list of U.S. cities, which started off with San Francisco, Santa Fe, Charleston, S.C., New York, Chicago, and Honolulu.

Although readers chose the Big Easy before Hurricane Katrina hit, editors decided to keep it on the list "as a tribute to an inimitable American city, and in the hope that it will recover fully, and soon."

Carmel, Calif., was eighth on the list of top U.S. cities, followed by Savannah, Ga., and Boston.

Italian cities — Florence, Rome and Venice — took the top three European spots, with Sydney, Australia, snagging No. 1 for Pacific Rim cities. In the Caribbean, St. John, Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands were rated highest, and St. Lucia's Ladera became the first-ever Caribbean hotel to rank No. 1 in the "Best of the Best" category rating accommodations worldwide.

Singapore Airlines retained the No. 1 spot for best international airline, which it has held for 17 of the 18 years the survey has been conducted. Hertz was named best car rental agency, and Crystal took the title of best cruise line.

Skier lawsuit

VAIL, Colo. — In what is believed to be a first for the resort, Vail has filed a countersuit against a skier who sued after being injured while skiing, The Denver Post reported.

"It was never a big case, but now they're coming after her and threatening her with attorney fees," said Joseph Bloch, the lawyer representing the skier, Julia Parsons, a Vail real estate agent.

Vail is suing Parsons for breach of contract, arguing that in purchasing a season pass she had agreed to waive her right to sue.

The Post said Vail declined comment but confirmed it is the first time the company has filed a countersuit against a skier who was suing the resort as a result of an injury.

In court filings, Parsons was accused of skiing out of control, resulting in her collision with a ski bridge rail. State ski law requires skiers and snowboarders to remain in control, the resort's filing said, indicating that if Parson's suit is dismissed the resort would drop its countersuit.

Trial is set for March.

Bloch said that if the resort prevails, "you'll be exempt for suing for the negligence of the resort or any one of its employees for anything, including death."

Parsons, in court filings, said she cut her knee severely when she hit a metal bracket on the Lionshead Bridge that was jutting out and should have been repaired.

"They want to get immunity from everything, and I mean everything — to where if they serve you bad food, too bad; if the lift blows up, too bad; if they fail to clear their lift, too bad," said Jim Chalat, a ski-injury lawyer in Denver who is monitoring the case.

Sydney Skywalk

SYDNEY, Australia — Tourists visiting Sydney can take a new look at the city from a very lofty perspective — a steel walkway perched a dizzying 880 feet up a landmark downtown tower.

Skywalk runs a tenth of a mile around the Sydney Tower, affording 360-degree views of the city and surrounding area, and includes two glass platforms for a vertigo-inducing view of the street far below.

Visitors to the open-air walkway are surrounded by chest-high glass-and-steel walls, and they must don protective blue-and-yellow coveralls and safety harnesses.

The new attraction is more than twice as high as the immensely popular walk to the top of Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Children under 10 are not permitted. Ticket prices start at $109 weekdays (children 10-16, $86). The Skywalk is open 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Wax museum closes

BUENA PARK — The 43-year-old Movieland Wax Museum will close on Halloween because of increased competition from upscale shopping malls and nearby amusement parks including Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm, its owner said.

The Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum across the street also may close, said Rodney Fong, whose family owns both attractions.

"Once Disneyland and Universal Studios became two-day attractions, we began competing with retail, the beach and other activities on the third day," Fong said. "People aren't taking longer vacations or spending more money, so that made it real rough for us."

When the museum opened in 1962, searchlight beams oscillated across the skies, actress Mary Pickford cut a ceremonial ribbon and a freshly sculpted wax figure of James Dean greeted the guests.

It drew up to 1.2 million annual visitors during its peak in the 1960s, and stars including James Stewart, Sammy Davis Jr. and Carol Burnett showed up for unveilings of their wax figures.

"The wax museum had its day," said Buena Park Mayor Don McCay. "It's not a modern tourist attraction anymore."

But some people will miss it.

"It's going to be sad to see this place go," said Gary Graves of Orange. "I've been bringing out-of-town relatives here for years."

Most of the 300-plus wax figures, movie sets and costumes will be shipped to Movieland's more successful sister location at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, Fong said.

Plans call for the museum to be replaced by an entertainment center/pizza parlor featuring arcades, food, rides, bowling and a small theater.

Tribal tourism

RAPID CITY, S.D. — A network formed to increase tourism on Indian reservations in South Dakota is working with tribal artists, storytellers and businesses to organize outings for international tour groups in 2006.

The Alliance for Tribal Tourism Advocates will bring the groups to the Pine Ridge, Rosebud and Cheyenne River reservations next summer.

"The five-day itineraries will involve lodging, several education and craft sessions with stops in Wounded Knee, Kyle, Wanblee and Pine Ridge," Daphne Richards-Cook, executive director of the group, told the Rapid City Journal.

A basic day tour to Eagle Butte on the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Reservation begins at $50, with more elaborate visitors packages costing $210 or more.

For more information, call (605) 341-2378 or go to www.attatribal.com.

Toy museum

PAULS VALLEY, Okla. — A unique museum celebrating action-figure toys has opened here with as many toys in its collection as there are people in the town.

"There will be people who just don't get it," Lenny Brumley, president of the new Toy and Action Figure Museum, told The Oklahoman. "Until they come."

Brumley said he and other community volunteer have spent years planning the collection, which includes more than 7,000 action figures— about the population of Pauls Valley, where it is located.

The museum, which opened Oct. 15, was created in large part with the help of volunteer labor and donated supplies.

The big names — Superman, Batman, Spider-Man — are easy to spot, but there are also other characters, like Captain Planet, Bart Simpson and even the Coneheads from the movie remake of a "Saturday Night Live" skit.

Exhibit rooms include Action City and the Super Girls Room. Colorful murals cover the pastel pink walls.

Kids will be allowed to play with older, out-of-the-box action figures. Donated toys will replace ones that inevitably will break or disappear. A room with Legos and blocks will allow visitors to build their own superheroes, which can be temporarily displayed on shelves at the museum. Dress-up can be played with Superhero costumes.

For details, go to www.actionfiguremuseum.com/ or call (405) 238-6300.

Teton paths

LARAMIE, Wyo. — Officials at Grand Teton National Park are trying to figure out how to improve safety for bicyclists.

One proposal calls for widening the shoulders on park roads, which are not now wide enough for bike riders to use safely.

A second alternative, which the National Park Service favors, would create paths for bikers that are separate from roadways in high-use areas of the park.

A third alternative would create separate bike paths throughout the park.

But Park Superintendent Mary Gibson-Scott has expressed concern that that bike paths in forested areas beyond Jenny Lake might increase the risk of potentially dangerous encounters between bicyclists and large animals like bear or moose.

The Park Service is reviewing public comments it received on the three proposals in the transportation plan.

Malaysia wedding

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysia's tourism minister is trying to assure tourists that an attack by gate-crashers at the wedding of a Brazilian couple was an isolated incident.

The wedding, attended by 90 guests, was held Oct. 15 on Rawa, a popular resort island off southern Johor state. Six men crashed the party and began attacking the guests with golf clubs and sharp objects. The groom suffered bruises on his face and neck.

Police arrested four men, including a 19-year-old member of the Johor royal family.

Officials fear the incident could hurt tourism, which is Malaysia's second-largest foreign exchange earner after manufacturing.

"We are truly shocked to hear that this has happened in a Malaysian tourist resort island," Tourism Minister Leo Michael Toyad said in a statement.

He conveyed his apologies and added, "This unfortunate incident is an isolated case and Malaysia remains a safe place for tourists."

Rattlesnake Wilderness

MISSOULA, Mont. — The Rattlesnake National Recreation Area and Wilderness celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

But the preservation of the 28,000-acre recreation area and its adjoining 33,000-acre wilderness 4 miles north of Missoula was not accepted or understood by everyone when it was first proposed.

At a raucous early hearing on what lands should be designated wilderness, there were shouts and protest signs.

"One man asked us how much it was going to cost for the bricks and barbed wire," Pat Williams, a retired congressman, told the Missoulian. "He truly thought we were going to build a fence around the area so people couldn't use it."

These days, "I think it's safe to say Missoula has one of the best backyards in the nation," Williams said.

The Rattlesnake National Recreation Area and Wilderness offers residents a variety of hiking, backpacking, horseback riding and other opportunities just outside Missoula city limits. Elk, deer, beaver, mountain goats, black bears and more than 40 bird species can be found there, and the area is popular among cross-country skiers and snowshoers in the winter.

"The area is a very significant part of many people's lives," Williams said.

San Juan Marriott

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The San Juan Marriott in Puerto Rico will begin a $60 million room renovation project, according to a hotel spokeswoman.

One of the island's largest hotels, the San Juan Marriott and Stelaris Casino will be completely remodeling and refurnishing its 511 guest rooms and 14 suites, spokeswoman Catherine Leitner said. The renovation should be finished by next year, she said.

The 21-floor luxury San Juan Marriott, located on a beach front in Condado, a tourist strip in the capital of San Juan, offers its guests water sports, a fitness center and tennis courts and has a 10,700-square-foot casino and 10 meeting rooms.

Bermuda tourism

HAMILTON, Bermuda — The number of international tourists vacationing in Bermuda has declined slightly since 2002, according to the government's most recent statistics.

Bermuda's department of statistics recorded 483,622 visitors to the island in 2002. In 2003, the number of tourist dipped to 482,673. In 2004, the number dropped again to 477,754 visitors.

Tourism activist Tony Brannon said tourism was on the decline because the government had an inconsistent marketing plan.

"We have had three ad agencies in the past seven years alone, all of whom have a different take on Bermuda," Brannon said.

Arrivals during the second quarter 2005 (April-June) increased slightly by 174,888 from 165,039 for the corresponding quarter in 2004 — representing a 3.9 percent increase.

While the total number of visitors for 2005 may be on the increase, the amount of money being spent by tourists has not begun to rebound as robustly as Bermuda's ministry of tourism would like.

Last week, Standard & Poor's in New York reported that Bermuda's workers were paid better than in 104 other nations around the world. But it said that tourism was flagging because cheaper Caribbean destinations like Costa Rica and the Bahamas were attracting more visitors.