07
Tell ITN about the funniest thing that ever happened to you while traveling in a foreign country. There are no restrictions on length. (ITN prints no info on destinations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean.) 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 PEGGY PARKER of Milwaukie, Oregon:
An Amsterdam-Budapest cruise on Viking River Cruise's (877/668-4546) Viking Pride one May evoked these observations:
The Danube, immortalized as “blue,” is actually a dirty gray color.
My wife and I visited London in April ’07 for the 11th time. On our first trip, in 1984, we were with a hosted group. We learned that we prefer to have the freedom to explore in more detail, so we have been traveling independently ever since.
At Westminster Abbey, the group entrance is on the north side; however, independents enter at the front, where you can either pick up a map and wander on your own or rent an excellent audio guide for £5.
My wife, Renate, and I traveled to Belize, Jan. 16-31, 2008. All arrangements for this trip were made through companies found on the Belize Tourism Board’s website (www.travelbelize.org; click on “Places to Stay”). The site offers hundreds of hotels, resorts, etc., and we were really lucky with the ones I mention and recommend them.
We spent the first three days at the Embassy Hotel & Mission House (Airport Ring Road, Ladyville, Belize; phone 011 501 225 3333, www.embassyhotelbelize.com), right across from the airport.
Best meal — This was in Cape Town at the Khaya-Nyama Game Restaurant (267 Long St., Cape Town, 8001, South Africa), which served everything possible, such as buffalo, ostrich, warthog, etc. The average price was $20. Small place; reservations almost a necessity.
Best deal — This was with Explore, out of London, going overlanding for 28 days for $3,000 plus $500 local payment. We were camping for 24 days and had four nights in hotels. All campsites had hot showers. There were some chances to upgrade to hotels or fixed tents.
After 27 years, in March ’08 my wife and I went back to Egypt; we went on the Grand Circle Travel trip “Ancient Egypt & the Nile River.” BIG difference 27 years later!
by Henry S. Lee, Houston, TX
In western Ukraine, the island-town of Kamyanets-Podilsky is a genuine geographic wonder. The old town is on an island with a river that loops almost completely around it. Cliffs rise on both sides of the river, thus the town itself is a natural fortress. It is full of old, decaying structures and only now is getting the attention it deserves. Across the Turkish Bridge, which spans the river ravine, is the town’s 14th-century fortress. — BERNARD BERICH, Philadelphia, PA
Dear Globetrotter:
Welcome to the 389th issue of your monthly overseas travel magazine.