Travel Tidbits

The Palámidi fortress in Nafplio, Greece, was the best of all the fortresses we visited in that area on our trip. It was built by the Venetians from 1711 to 1714 but was seized by the Turks the following year. My wife and I must have burned up four rolls of film between us on the structure. Adding to its appeal were all the colorful spring wildflowers coming up in crevices between the rocks. If you’re more ambitious and have the time, you can walk up 999 stairs from the town to the fortress. — RICHARD BERNER, San Diego, CA

I spent the night at a farmhouse in the Burren, Ireland. The Burren is a vast, open plain or highland dotted with farm buildings and ancient ruins of Druid temples. It is almost always windy. It was cool and rainy in May ’04 but beautiful and many shades of green. The drive there was along the sea and then up a narrow, winding road called the Corkscrew. There were no pubs or cafés for dinner, so I made do with the tea that is usually served when you arrive plus some cheese I had with me. — LYLA FULLER, Salt Lake City, UT

Crossing the Atlas Mountains is a visual experience. From Marrakech, Morocco, my daughter and I began an eye-popping journey of lush lowlands and high and higher mountains, many snow-covered. There were rocks everywhere we looked and little or no vegetation. We crossed the High Atlas chain the first day on our trip in April ’02, eventually stopping for the night at Agdz. On the way, our guide had us stop at two notable kasbahs: Kasbah Telouet and Ait Benhaddou. Yes, they are VERY worthwhile. And, as they are made of mud and thus are gradually disintegrating, it’s a race between Mother Nature and government largesse — and I think Mother will win. — GENE McPHERSON, Sturgis, SD

CORRECTION — In a “Travel Tidbit” last month, a writer mentions spending two days in an English-style city in New Zealand and walking along the Avon River. He names it as Queenstown, but that city, in the southwest part of NZ’s South Island, is situated on a lake surrounded by mountains, is not at all English in style and is a skiing center in the winter. He must be referring to Christchurch (the largest city in the South Island), which does have a river Avon bounded by lovely flower gardens and parks and is very English in character. — BARBARA GLAVISH, Incline Village, NV