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In May 2000 my wife, Josie, and I had a good walk around Geneva, Switzerland, which I think is quite impressive but which Josie thinks deteriorates as you leave the lakefront. In this city, one of the world’s tallest fountains jets nearly 500 feet into the air from the lake. I have some concept of the power and equipment needed to send that volume of water into the sky and it continues to totally awe me.
DONALD KINSER
Alameda, CA
Often, readers’ suggestions for article topics get passed through to me to evaluate by ITN Editor David Tykol. This is logical since I have a history of writing about travel issues, especially those that involve a bit of controversy.
I spent 10 nights traveling in Peru with two friends in October ’03. We started with two nights at the Puno Hotel at Lake Titicaca and ended the trip staying at the Sanctuary Hotel at the entrance to Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu was fantastic and the Sanctuary Hotel was great. I would go again.
MARLENE SNEDAKER
Pt. Pleasant, NJ
(Part 2 of 4 on Rio)
If you travel directly to Seville from Lisbon via Beja, Portugal, as we did in June 1998, you will take route 433, which winds pleasantly through the hills of the Parque Natural Sierra de Aracena. Spend a day or so at Hotel Galaroza Sierra (phone 959 12 32 37 or fax 959 12 32 36), which is 70 kilometers west of Seville at Galaroza, Spain. We liked the tranquility of this modern facility, with swimming pool, situated on a hill overlooking the forest. The cost was about $50. For info, visit www.hotelsearch.com.
DONALD SCHUBECK
Cooper City, FL
On my most recent trip to Lithuania, in June-July ’03, I went to celebrate a coronation that took place 750 years before. Mindaugas, honored as the founder of the Lithuanian state and the unifier of its many tribal groups, was crowned king in 1253. He was the only Lithuanian ruler ever to bear this title. Mindaugas’ reign as king was brief, a mere 10 years, during which he repelled the Tartars invading from the south and the Teutonic knights from the west. In 1263 he was assassinated. He was 44 years old.
Sure, the dollar is down, but your interest in Europe is up. You can still take your dream trip if you know how to make the most of your dollars and sense. Here are my top tips for stretching money.
To commemorate the 60th anniversary of D-Day, The Orangery restaurant at Kensington Palace and the New Armouries restaurant at HM Tower of London will feature, for one year only beginning June 2004, special World War II menus. The wartime menus, using limited amounts of ingredients as in times of rationing, will be available alongside the more modern menus.
VisitBritain has a new brochure on beautiful and historic gardens of Britain. It includes info on events and festivals (2004 is the “Year of Gardening” in Britain); insider tips from head gardeners; garden tours and holidays; courses throughout Britain, and seasonal information on which gardens to see and when.
The brochure is available free from VisitBritain’s Travel Center, 551 Fifth Ave., Ste. 701, New York, NY 10176-0799; phone 877/899-8391 or e-mail travelinfo@visitbritain.org.
The resort Gleneagles is celebrating its 80th birthday in 2004 with “Classic Scottish Sojourns,” in which guests can explore Scotland via private chauffeur-guided tours.
The 3-night/4-day program costs $1,800 (guaranteed in U.S. dollars), based on double occupancy, and includes accommodation, full Scottish breakfast daily, one full-day tour OR two half-day tours and 17.5% VAT. Also included are one round of golf, one whisky tasting and one massage for each guest.