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The Roman Catholic shrine and healing baths at Lourdes, France, were covered in a thick layer of mud left by floods on Oct. 20. Visits to the grotto’s shrine, altar and baths were suspended, pending removal of debris. The baths were to reopen after water pumps were repaired.
The basilica was not damaged, and Mass continued to be held there.
Security in Colombia has improved significantly in recent years, but violence linked to narco-trafficking continues to affect some rural areas and parts of large cities, and terrorist and criminal activities remain a threat throughout the country, according to the US Department of State.
Two people were killed and approximately 60 injured by a car bomb during an assassination attempt on the life of a former Interior Minister on May 15. Explosions occur throughout Colombia regularly.
In Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, two rangers, one soldier and five militiamen were killed and three soldiers were wounded on Oct. 25 when rangers patrolling with an army escort were attacked by militiamen from the Mai Mai Pareco group.
In western Myanmar, the Muslim quarter of the town of Kyaukpyu was razed when sectarian and ethnic violence erupted again in late October, beginning on the 21st.
In late October, Hurricane Sandy roared through the Caribbean before devastating the eastern seaboard of the United States. In the Caribbean, Sandy left 71 people dead and a few still missing. Heavy rains and resulting floods caused widespread damage in Haiti, Cuba, Jamaica, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.
I frequently travel to developing countries, including Kenya in August ’12. I have never found a truly competent doctor to advise me about travel vaccinations until now.
Kathy Wilhelm made excellent points in her letter “Buying Train Tickets Online” (Nov ’12, pg. 11).
My wife, Paula, and another couple and I visited the Republic of Ireland, June 14-25, 2012. I have a few tips on topics that did not receive sufficient coverage in the guidebooks and Internet resources which we consulted pre-trip.
Six of us flew into London and took a cruise out of Dover in August ’12. Having never been to London, I spent quite a bit of time researching transportation.
I am an avid cruise-ship traveler, having cruised in and around five continents. I recently took a cruise to 10 countries in Northern Europe, and I wish to share eight tips about what to do within the first few hours of boarding any cruise ship.
1. Ask your stateroom attendant for a terry cloth robe. They used to automatically be placed in staterooms but not anymore (unless you are in a suite), though you can ask for one. They run out of these comfy items quickly, so don’t wait to request one.