Tourism representatives from the regions that straddle the Upper Rhine Valley visited Toronto Thursday for a presentation designed to educate Toronto travel agents about the central European region known for its arts and culture, living traditions, food and wine and river cruising. On hand were reps from the Canadian tourist offices of Switzerland, France and Germany, as well as visitors from Alsace, Basel, Freiburg, CroisiEurope (Cruises) and Touren Service Schweda. “This is a special place,” Philippe Choukroun of Alsace Tourism told agents. “Everyone knows the Black Forest, everyone knows Alsace, everyone knows Basil… But nobody understands that they’re so close together!” — making for an ideal base for any European excursion. (http://www.upperrhinevalley.com)