For a visit to South Africa, Oct. 7-21, ’03, we took one of the Reality Tours of Global Exchange (2017 Mission St., Ste. 303, San Francisco, CA 94110; phone 415/255-7296 or visit www.globalexchange.org). The land cost of the trip was $2,500 and included all breakfasts and most dinners.
A friend and I went on a 30-day tour of Turkey in July ’03 with Cultural Folk Tours International (5631 Lincoln Ave., Ste. B, Cypress, CA 90630; phone 800/935-8875 or visit www.boraozkok.com).
The total cost, including the flight from San Antonio to Istanbul and return, was $5,720 per person plus travel insurance. We were given a $250 deduction because we paid in full in January.
After a careful selection of cities in eastern Turkey that would provide a mix of ancient civilizations, Roman ruins and Islamic traditions, I contacted six companies found in ITN and chose Asia Minor Travel & Tours (6919 W. Broward Blvd., PMB 259, Plantation, FL 33317; phone 800/532-2938 or visit www.asiaminortours.com).
On a cobblestone street in the heart of Sultanahmet, the historic Old City of Istanbul, is Special Artemis Hotel (Kücük Ayasofya Cad, Cayiroglu Sok, No. 25, 34400 Sultanahmet-Istanbul, Turkey; phone +90 212 516 58 65, fax +90 212 638 25 58, e-mail artemis@artemishotel.com or visit www.artemishotel.com).
Indeed a special hotel in every way, this is a relatively new, 24-room boutique hotel (which was being refurbished and renovated).
On March 12, ’03, my three sisters-in-law and I began a trip that had been in the making for over two years. We flew to southern France, via Paris, for one week of horseback riding at Domaine du Soleil (Route de Villesque, 30610 Sauve, France; phone 0033-0466804515, cell phone 06-82658301 or e-mail barbara.gahn@wanadoo.fr), a large estate on 70 acres of land and home to horses, goats, pigs, chickens, five dogs and one burro. Each of us varied in our riding skills but shared a common willingness to do our best, not a small thing for four women in their 50s.
We took an eastern Mediterranean cruise aboard the Azur, Oct. 29-Nov. 8, ’03. It was booked through White Travel Service (127 Park Rd., West Hartford, CT 06119; phone 860/233-2648). The price of $3,006, for my wife and myself, included airfare from New York’s JFK to Venice, Italy, with port charges and taxes added.
by Julie Skurdenis
I am standing atop Bulethi Pagoda in Bagan, Burma’s most important archaeological site. I’ve huffed and puffed up a steep staircase to the uppermost platform encircling the structure. The platform is narrow — only three feet wide — and I lean back against the stone to steady myself as I gaze out over the plain far below me.
The reader’s letter “Unusual Transactions” (Feb. ’04, pg. 41) brought to mind some of our experiences with credit card companies and our prevacation routine.
We took a fascinating trip, “Southern Africa Odyssey,” Nov. 2l-Dec. 9, ’03, with Odysseys Unlimited (85 Main St., Ste.101, Watertown, MA 02472; phone 888/370-6765 or visit www.odysseys-unlimited.com).
The tour, including land arrangements, safari and round-trip air from our gateway city of Tampa, Florida, is currently priced at $6,195 per person, and the upgrade to business class (which we used) on South African Airways is $3,795 each.
ITN asked its readers to write essays on the subject “Travel is. . .” in 250 words or less. Originally, we were going to print only the top five, but your words were so inspiring that we decided to print the top 10 essays. We featured half of them in the February issue. The remaining essays, as before in no particular order, we present below. Thanks to everyone who entered, reflecting on the whole subject of travel and putting such thought and heart into your writing. Again proving ITN readers are the “true” travelers.
— Armond Noble, Publisher, ITN