May 2012

The US Department of State continues to warn travelers to be aware of security factors when planning travel to Israel and the West Bank and to avoid all travel to the Gaza Strip.

Honduras currently has the highest per-capita murder rate in the world, according to UN statistics. In 2010 there were 82.1 homicides per 100,000 people.

In Mali, mid-level military officers and enlisted men seized control of the government on March 21. The leader of the junta, Amadou Sanogo, claims they took power to avert a national security crisis, noting that the government was not providing enough arms to fight an armed rebellion by Tuaregs in the north.

The junta announced a new constitution and pledged to hold elections in which they would not run.

At press time, ironically, Tuareg rebels aided by Islamist fighters had begun seizing towns in the north, including Kidal, Gao and even Tombouctou (Timbuktu).

Several years ago, some subscribers’ suggested digitizing old photos and slides (Oct. ’07, pg. 46 & Jan. ’08, pg. 78 & May ’08, pg. 63). I saved the information, as we were interested in doing this, but I was discouraged by the overall assessment of how time consuming and/or expensive the process was.

After disembarking from a Mediterranean cruise on Oct. 2, 2011, I stayed at Hotel Nazionale Rome (Piazza Mont­ecitorio, 131 00186, Rome, Italy; phone +39 06 695001, fax 06 6786677). This was my third stay at the hotel, and I just love everything about it: its central location, the staff, the rooms, the service and the fabulous breakfast served. For four nights, two of us paid €270 (near $360) per night for a twin room.

I read the subscriber’s recounting of her lost-luggage experience (Dec. ’11, pg. 27). A few years ago, my wife’s bag never showed up after being checked onto a flight to California from Spain via Mexico City. Dealing with the airline was an extended nightmare, beyond just the issues discussed in the subscriber’s letter. I will spare you those details, but I have suggestions that may be useful. My homeowner’s insurance policy covers personal property that is lost outside of the home.

REPORT ON MEXICO…

Dear Globetrotter:

One-hundred-and-thirty years and counting. . . . In 1883, 31-year-old architect and artist Antoni Gaudí took over a modest little project in Barcelona that had begun the year before, the subject of the photo in the March '12 issue: Sagrada Família Cathedral. (To be precise, the photo depicts the Passion Façade of the cathedral, taken from beneath the portico.)