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My own travel style has evolved over the years. In the past I generally bought one big, fat, wonderful railpass for my entire trip. These days, I cobble together a few cheap flights within Europe, some rail trips and a modest car rental (which I find is becoming a better value than rail).
Renting a car in Europe is generally more expensive and more complicated than in the United States but worth it for the freedom to explore Europe at your own speed.
Malta’s “In Guardia” parade reenacts the historical inspection of Valletta’s fort and garrison by the Grand Bailiff of the Order of the Knights of St. John. During the 40-minute show, the fort’s garrison, some 70 participants in full regalia, demonstrate a range of military drills from the era.
The RentaDreamCar (Burleigh Heads, QLD; phone 1300 226 412) “Drive Day Tour,” accommodating four to six people, allows visitors to Queensland on Australia’s Gold Coast to drive a Ferrari 360 Modena AND a Lamborghini Gallardo in one day.
One day into a week-long Mexican Riviera cruise, an engine room fire on Nov. 8 left Carnival Cruise Lines’ Splendor dead in the water. 3,299 passengers and 1,167 crew were left without electricity and, hence, no air-conditioning, hot water or hot food. Toilets backed up. While food was airlifted in, tugboats towed the ship 200 miles to San Diego within three days.
Passengers were offered a full refund and a free future cruise. Anyone booked on any of the nine additional Splendor cruises that were canceled will be refunded and get a 25% discount on a cruise.
In Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Nov. 22, the last day of an annual three-day water festival marking the end of the rainy season, 5,000 to 7,000 people packed onto a narrow suspension bridge connecting the city to a park on an island. The bridge’s swaying caused people to wrongly think it might collapse, the panicked crowd then stampeded and the crush left 351 dead and 395 injured.
As of Jan. 1, passengers boarding flights in Austria are being charged an “ecological air travel levy” similar to the levies in Germany and the UK (Nov. ’10, pg. 67). The charge is €8 (near $10.50) for European flights and €40 ($52) for long-distance flights.
We’ll have details of our new game, but, first, results and winners of the latest one. It was asked, “Which airline did you use in 2009 to fly to an overseas destination?”
For three days in May 2009, my wife, Rose, and I were shown around the Abergavenny part of Wales by good friends of ours from England, Betty and Alan Madden. The Angel Hotel was our base (July ’10, pg. 48).
For countless trips around the sun, my discourse on subjects of interest to international travelers has required constant diligence to keep from lapsing into preaching to the choir. It is my choice to risk that, on this occasion.
by Yvonne Horn