Informing the international traveler since 1976.
Archive for 2007
Paris dining options
I would not go across town to eat there, but if you are in the neighborhood a good light dinner can be had in Paris at Plein Soleil (90 ave. Parmentier, Paris 11e, France). Located just above the entrance to the Parmentier Métro station, it offers an area non-fumeur — not as good as a salle [...]Early dining in Paris
Well off the usual tourist track in Paris is a very French restaurant that serves wonderful 4-course meals for €24 (about $32). It is À la Biche au Bois (45 avenue Ledru Rollin, Paris; phone 01 43 43 34 38), located in between Métro stops Gare de Lyon and Ledru Rollin. It also can be [...]Dining in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is famous for its fine international cuisine. On our July ’05 trip, one of the spots that we thoroughly enjoyed was the highly recommended d’Vijff Vlieghen, or The Five Flies (Spuistraat 294-302 1012 VX, Amsterdam, Netherlands; phone +31 20 5304060, fax 6236404 or visit www.thefiveflies.com). The unusual name originates with Jan Janszoon Vijff Vlighen, [...]Street food a risk
The reader’s letter titled “Chancing Street Food in India” (Aug. ’07, pg. 71) provokes a response. She wrote that despite her “semisuicidal” practice of eating from street vendors in India, she and her traveling companion never got sick, and she would have missed out on a lot of the best of India had she been [...]Legroom medical concerns
In the letter titled “Economy Class Syndrome” (July ’07, pg. 16), the reader’s recounting of her husband’s pulmonary embolism demonstrates the dangers of the airline’s present policy of cramming more and more people into less and less space on their flights. One of my coworkers died of a pulmonary embolism last November immediately following a [...]Historic cemetery in Stavanger
As we were strolling through pleasant neighborhoods between tourist attractions in Stavanger, Norway, in May ’07, my wife and I wandered into the Eiganes Gravlund (cemetery). Despite covering approximately six square blocks, the cemetery has the feel of a small town’s church graveyard. At the time of our visit, flowers were blooming throughout and several townspeople [...]Tips on visiting northern India
We wish to commend Margo Wilson on an excellent report, “The South of India — a Good Choice for the First-time Visitor?” (June ’07, pg. 44). Also for the first-time traveler, our comments apply mainly to northern India. My wife, Sandi, and I traveled to both northern and southern India for four weeks, with a one-week [...]Independent visit to Myanmar
My sister, Jody, and I had a marvelous experience in Myanmar traveling independently, with guide, driver and air-conditioned car, Dec. 28, 2006-Jan. 10, 2007. We made a number of tour members jealous, too. Their typical comment was something like, “I’m so envious of you! We usually travel independently, but Myanmar seemed so isolated and difficult we [...]Central America’s Mayan runis
by Claus Hirsch, New York, NY My first visit to a Mayan ruin occurred in 1982 when I was on a visit to the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. After a long ride over very rough, unpaved roads from Cancún to Chichén Itzá, I saw the spectacular pyramids and ancient ball fields at the site. I vowed [...]How much to tip on tours
Richard E. Smith of Long Beach, California, opened up the topic of tipping on tours (April ’07, pg. 4). Questions he asked included 1) “Should the cost of tipping be included in the tour price?,” 2) “Should there be an existing standard for tipping adhered to by most tour companies?,” 3) “Should an escrow tipping [...]
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