During my visit to Turkey, Feb. 20-27, ’04, a friend and I had the good fortune to have as our tour guide Ms. Gülden Güllü (1786 s. 8/1 Sagsoz Apt., 35540 Karsiyaka, Izmir, Turkey; cell 90 532 441 9685 or e-mail gulden90@yahoo.com).
Licensed by the Turkish Ministry of Culture & Tourism, she was the best guide ever (and I am 70 and have been “around” a lot). She was full of facts, history, humor and energy and was most kind.
This is in response to Audrey Curtis, who wanted readers to submit articles on traveling alone (May ’05, pg. 122).
(Second of two parts)
The Kingdom of Jordan may not have the oil wealth of its Middle East neighbors to its east. It does, however, have wonderful art and historical riches available now for ordinary travelers to view in this troubled area. Petra is certainly Jordan’s crown jewel and a must for every tourist, but, having gone that far, travelers shouldn’t bypass Jerash, Madaba (July ’99, pg. 146) and Jordan’s capital, Amman. To these treasures, we’d add another site.
(First of three parts)
Nestled in the hills outside of Nagoya, Honshu Island, Japan — and running through Sept. 25 of this year — the 21st century’s first international exposition, EXPO 2005 Aichi, is crawling with robots: a marching Dixieland band, a Tyrannosaurus rex, a lovely but animated “Actroid” who answers questions in English, Japanese, Korean and Chinese and, for active mothers, a child-care robot. There are more, and they represent the future. A well-preserved frozen mammoth and the recently discovered skull of a seven-million-year-old hominid represent the past.
My wife and I, seeking an unusual destination, decided to go to Cyprus, March 11-18, ’05. Cyprus is an island of great beauty that combines Roman ruins, the sea and mountains.
Michael Keating, Olney, MD
I visited Petra, Jordan, while on a cruise ship in 2000. You can travel through the Siq on foot or in a horse-drawn cart. Note the number of your cart to insure a return trip. If you choose to walk down the Siq and through Petra, then return to the Siq and walk back out, understand that it is a trip of four or five miles. You’d better be in excellent condition. — LESLIE STEVENS, Raleigh, NC
(Second of two parts)