Photo: Ayuntamiento de Carmona

A family in the village of Carmona, Spain, near Sevilla, found a perfectly preserved Roman tomb under their house.

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Would you like to experience the Christmas markets of Germany? It's not too late! There are still staterooms available on a few select Rhine river cruises in December, which include visits to many of the markets.

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Travelers flying to, from, or through Spain should be prepared for delays over the next month.

Security staff at Barcelona's El Prat airport are on strike, leading to long delays. Get to the airport extra early.

A strike by Iberia staff has been announced for August 30 and 31, which will also affect Vueling flights. Both airlines have canceled dozens of flights. A list of canceled flights is here.

Ground staff at Madrid's Barajas airport will also strike on August 30 and 31, which could affect all airlines.

Cabin crews for Ryanair, which serves more than a dozen airports in Spain, have announced strikes for September 1, 2, 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, and 28.

Ryanair pilots have also called for a strike on September 19, 20, 22, 27, and 29.

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I'm frequently amazed and impressed by the copper rain gutters I see on buildings in Europe, even in brand new construction. There's no question that copper is a beautiful and durable choice, but I know that they wouldn't last a week in the area where I live – because they'd be stolen and sold for scrap. Thieves strip copper wiring from unoccupied homes, steal generators for the metals they contain, and pry bronze memorial plaques off of historic markers. They have even been so bold as to strip the wiring from active street lights.

Farmer, author, and former Classics professor Victor Davis Hanson has likened the situation to the Vandals, stripping the valuables from the carcass of the Roman Empire in the 6th century.

Well, the Vandals have arrived in Europe again. Over the past month, bronze bells from three churches in southern France have been stolen, including one that was from the 12th century. Since such items are easily identifiable and difficult to sell, they'll probably end up being melted down and sold for scrap metal. Medieval bells are rare in France, making this latest theft especially painful. Most of the ancient bells were melted down during the French Revolution, itself an 18th century version of the "Return of the Vandals".

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The island of Stromboli, off the coast of southern Italy, is one of the world's most active volcanos.

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