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Tell ITN about the funniest thing that ever happened to you while traveling in a foreign country. (ITN prints no info on destinations in the United States.) There are no restrictions on length. The ITN staff will choose each month’s winner, who will receive a free one-year subscription to ITN. Entries not chosen cannot be acknowledged.
This month’s winner is GEORGE N. GIANOPULOS of Fresno, CA:
I read the letters about “getting away from it all” and not maintaining contact when traveling (Nov. ’09, pg. 52 & Feb. ’10, pg. 58). I think the writers miss part of the point, as all of them admit to leaving an itinerary with someone.
Before our trip to Eastern Europe in August and September ’09, my husband, Fred, and I bought an updated Garmin GPS with the Europe map — very easy to use.
While staying for a month in the city of Medellín, Colombia, in January ’10, I started having a toothache. It became so insistent, I did an Internet search for a dentist and sent a request to the Bocca Clinic (Carrera 43A #14-109 [Edificio Novatempo, Office 406], Medellín).
When I checked my e-mail, the clinic had sent me the cell phone number of the director of the clinic. I made an appointment for the next day.
ITN asked for advice for mobility-impaired cruisers (Feb. ’10, pg. 68). After I stopped being able to negotiate stairs without excessive pain, I stopped going on river cruises.
Even if you see a map of the ship and are assured there is an elevator or perhaps a chair lift to the top deck, there is no guarantee that you can get off at any port stop without negotiating at least one flight of steps up to the city streets.
We take a couple of cruises a year and like to make our own flight arrangements. The key is to leave a few days early and not only get our jet lag under control but have time to see the port. Leaving early also helps if weather causes delays or luggage is lost.
For our winter getaway, my husband, Jerry, suggested we go to Iceland to see the Northern Lights. Although Iceland sounds so cold, the average temperatures in February aren’t worse than New York City’s, and when I read up about the lights, I was hooked.
by Ann Cabot, Austin, TX
For our Christmas break of 2009, my family of three adults spent two glorious weeks shuttling between colonial towns and Mayan ruins in Guatemala and Chiapas, Mexico.
Whether you travel with just a carry-on or also check a bag or two, what types — and brands — of luggage do you travel with these days, and why? That was what we asked recently, with the following instructions. Describe the backpack, carry-on and/or suitcase with which you have been most satisfied. So that others can duplicate your purchase, give the brand name plus any identifying model or style name or number. If you purchased it recently, tell where you found it and approximately how much it cost.
