Liked Stockholm-Oslo train
A reader reported a very negative experience taking a train from Oslo to Stockholm in July ’07 (Oct. ’08, pg. 18). In contrast, our trip from Stockholm to Oslo on Aug. 8, 2008, was very pleasant.
January 2009
01
Bucharest subway
A reader remarked that in November ’07 the Bucharest subway was “filthy but worked” (Nov. ’08, pg. 14). Things have changed. Both lines I rode on in October ’08 were served by beautiful new articulated trains open from one end to the other, and the whole system was clean.
The historic quarter was in the midst of massive street work, as if they were determined to have the entire area redone at once.
Medicare protection exception
In the October ’08 Discerning Traveler column, Dr. Wagenaar wrote, “Medicare provides no protection outside the US…” I’ve read this elsewhere, but there are two exceptions.
Tour Group Audio Systems: Lagging and distracted
The first trip on which I used the audio systems mentioned by Mr. Roberts (Sept. ’08, pg. 15) was the 13-day “Eastern Europe to the Black Sea” cruise-tour with Grand Circle Travel (Boston, MA; 800/248-3737, www.gct.com). We traveled through Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania, Aug. 29-Sept. 10, 2008.
I really liked them, but I found myself way behind and hurrying to catch up. When I lost the connection, I knew the group was way ahead of me.
Africa 2000 credits
Re my husband, Maurice’s, picture of Tembe National Elephant Park in South Africa (Aug. ’08, pg. 90), ITN neglected to include my comment that our tour there was planned and arranged by Gill and Graham Maskell of Africa 2000 (P.O. Box 1204, Hilton 3245, South Africa; phone +27 33 3433911).
Zakopane
My wife, Margi, and I in August ’07 drove 100 miles southwest from Kraków, Poland, to Zakopane, the famous ski resort. It was crowded because the world summer ski jump championships were being held. . . on special plastic surfaces so that the effect was the same as skiing on packed snow.
We had lunch at the top of an incline railway with good views of the jagged Tatra peaks and the town of Zakopane below. We enjoyed watching locals and visitors alike sit on the steep grass slopes with a view in front.
Visiting Greece
My husband, Ray, and I took a tour of Greece and the Greek Islands, June 13-27, 2007.
Deutschland music cruises
The MS Deutschland, a 520-passenger ocean liner of Peter Deilmann Cruises (Alexandria, VA; 800/348/8287, www.deilmann-cruises.com), offers theme cruises, including classical music cruises. I was aboard for the Sept. 18-Oct. 1, 2008, classical music cruise from Hamburg, Germany, to Monte Carlo, Monaco.
Reflections on southern Iceland
by Leslie Romer, Olympia, WA
Pacific International Hotel, Cairns, Australia
The Pacific International Hotel (43 Esplanade, Cairns, Queensland, Australia; phone +61 7 4051 7888, fax 4031 1445, www.pacifichotelcairns.com) was recommended by a fellow traveler who visits Cairns each year for diving and stays at this hotel. It’s within walking distance of the Esplanade, the night market, the harbor and the shopping and tourist areas.