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Archive for February, 2005
Far Horizons » Under the Microscope: tour departure dates
—Far Horizons is written by Randy Keck. Periodically, in future I plan to do “Under the Microscope” columns which will examine in detail various terms and aspects of tours and touring. This first column will take a close look at advertised tour departure dates listed by tour and other travel operators. When the departure dates are attached [...]Mideast & Mediterranean » Cuenca to Toledo with a camera over my shoulder
—Timeless Roads of the Mideast and Mediterranean is written by Ed Kinney. (Part 5 of 6 on Spain) Continuing on our April ’04 photographers’ tour, entitled “Spanish Explorer,” the eight of us left the mountainous city of Cuenca and drove to Toledo through the La Mancha area of Spain. These austere plains, with occasional windmills, were highlighted in [...]The Discerning Traveler » Friendly Satillieu in the beautiful Ardèche
It was raining when we left Amsterdam on our way to France in May 2003. I put the car on autopilot and drove south until the sun came out. We found ourselves in Satillieu, a typical small town in the French Ardèche. We checked in at the 2-star Chaleat Sapet (Place de la Faurie, 07290, Satillieu, France; [...]Travel & Health » The malaria medication controversy
Is its prevention worse than the disease? This theme has run wild lately with regard to malaria, and it is time to set the record straight. Let’s look at the facts and calm the excitement with some common sense. To understand why we need protection against malaria, let’s understand what we are fighting. Malaria is a potentially [...]New on the Bookshelf
—by Chris Springer, Contributing Editor “Crete” by Barry Unsworth (2004, National Geographic. ISBN 0792266439 — 170 pp., $20 hardcover). Crete has never wanted for literary attention, but this book is a welcome addition to the library of works on the place. After writing a novel set in ancient Greece, Barry Unsworth sets off to explore Crete firsthand. [...]Cruising World » Paradise lost: Sex verdicts threaten Pitcarin’s survival
Island paradise or hell on Earth? Three New Zealand judges apparently took the latter view as they sentenced six of Pitcairn island’s few male inhabitants to two to six years in prison for numerous rapes and assaults that took place over a 40-year period on the last remnant of the British empire in the South [...]All Aboard » Eurostar walks on water
—All Aboard is written by Jay Brunhouse The high-speed Eurostar train linking London with Paris and Brussels through the Channel Tunnel celebrated its 10th anniversary with a news-making “walk on the water,” and at the same time publicists seized the opportunity to report happy operating results. Eurostar had achieved the highest market share in its 10-year [...]Sights in Germany
My husband and I traveled by train to Berlin, Germany, in June ’04. We used public transportation there (U-Bahn and S-Bahn), seeing all of the exciting landmarks such as the Brandenburg Gate, once a dividing point between East and West Berlin and now a symbol of German unity. We visited the Kaiser-Wilhelm Church, or Gedächtnis-Kirche. I [...]Guide in England
I was taken on a private tour of cathedrals and monastic sites in northern England by Michael Boote of English Country Holidays (West View Cottage, Town St., Sutton-cum-Lound, Retford, DN228PT, England; visit www.merviel.com). My tour took place July 6-11, ’04, and cost $2,600. I was traveling alone. For two or more people, it would have [...]Guide in Turkey
After spending three months trying to put together a 3-week trip to Turkey, I was ready to throw in the towel. It seemed there was a choice of either packaged tours or backpacking but little in between. I knew I wanted a car and driver (but did not want to pay the small fortune I [...]
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