07
While visiting family in London in March ’06, my wife, Kay, and I took an excursion to Manchester. We booked complete travel, including local train, subway (tube) and long-haul train via Transport for London (Central Customer Services, 23rd Floor, Empress State Bldg., Empress Approach, London, SW6 1TR, U.K.; phone 020 7222 5600 or visit www.tfl.gov.uk), which allowed the selection of schedule and carrier plus online payment by credit card.
Airport self-service check-in kiosks look great and sound great; unfortunately, they are of no value to someone like me because they cannot verify my age.
On Feb. 10, ’06, I traveled from Texas to New York. At the Dallas/Fort Worth airport I had an opportunity to check in using a kiosk. It was wonderful. In 30 seconds I had my boarding pass and a receipt.
There were three self-service kiosks and so the line moved quickly. Because it was a new venture, there were two employees to help, if help were needed.
We have been using self-service check-in kiosks for several years. Usually, we are flying Northwest Airlines out of Detroit Metro. Our last experience was on Dec. 27, ’05, out of Metro, with return on Jan. 20, ’06, from Tampa.
I write in answer to ITN’s request for information on airport self-service check-in kiosks (Feb. ’06, pg. 4).
My wife and I spent four days in Viña del Mar, Chile, in March ’06 prior to embarking the Rotterdam in Valparaiso for a cruise. Having been to Santiago before, we decided to try the seaside resort of Viña. The weather was perfect and the crowds were gone, since the “summer” school holidays ended early in March.
In planning for a trip to Antarctica in January ’06, I decided to also visit Iguazú Falls on the Argentina/Brazil border. While searching the Web, I found the Buenos Aires travel agency Partir Viajes E.V.T. (Av. Córdoba 679, 1° C, Buenos Aires, Argentina, C.P. AAF1054C; tel. +54 11 4515 1888 or visit www.partirviajes.com. ar). My contact there was Noelia Delpech (e-mail noelia@ partirviajes.com.ar).
When one goes to Buenos Aires, the culture one most experiences is the culture. Yes, there are fine museums and interesting structures. However, it is walking through the barrios, going to a tango salon and the theater, visiting the street markets and enjoying a great variety of wonderful food and wine that makes Buenos Aires such a delight.
Tango shows are still alive and well in Buenos Aires (April ’06, pg 16 & June ’06, pg. 15). I saw a great one at El Viejo Almacen (Balcarce e Independencia [c1064AAO], San Telmo, Buenos Aires, Argentina; www.viejoalmacen.com) on Jan. 12, ’06.
For $69 I had a delicious dinner, went across the street to the theater, had a tango lesson, then saw a great show. There were a few songs plus other entertainment (but only as a filler while the dancers changed costumes).
I joined a 10-day “Imperial Cities” tour of Italy with Gate 1 Travel on Oct. 10, ’05. Our group of 26 had a superb tour guide, Ms. Flavia Sciubba (flaviasole@hotmail.com).