June 2005

ITN was mailed a copy of the following letter, sent by a reader to Holland America Line.

I am writing with reference to the letter titled “Confirmed on Tour, Then Bumped to Another,” from ITN readers Clair and John Kohler, and the response of Grand Circle Travel (Feb. ’05, pg. 30). Frankly, I was astonished and actually angered by what happened to the Kohlers, particularly because it involved a large and, I thought, reputable tour company.

by Beth Habian, Features Editor

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 S. WOOD of Sedona, Arizona:

While in Vienna in fall 2004, my wife and I went to the Central Cemetery to see the graves of the composers. While there, we decided to take a look in the Dr. Karl Lueger Kirche that is in the cemetery. It was a real suprise for us! The church was restored in 2000 and is now an Art Deco gem.

To get there, take tram No. 71 to the next-to-last stop — the cemetery and church are in front of you.

ROGER F. REAM
Akron, OH

The killer tsunami of Dec. 26 devastated parts of Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India and even reached African shores. The total loss of life may never be known. Thailand’s six southern provinces along the Andaman Sea also were battered by the tidal waves. The popular tourist beaches in Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi and Khao Lak suffered varying degrees of death and damage though, on the whole, much less than their Indian Ocean neighbors.

On my most recent trip to Bangkok, Jan. 8-14, ’05, I encountered a curious and frustrating situation when checking in for my return flight.

The April ’05 “Discerning Traveler” column deals with getting a second passport. There is one significant group of people that has the chance to get a legitimate foreign passport: people who have one grandparent born in Ireland. If you are in this crowd, you are entitled to become an Irish citizen.

You must register with the nearest Irish embassy or consulate by providing official documentation: birth, marriage and any death certificates of your grandparent and parent as well as your own birth certificate and a few other items.

by Fred DeVinney, Oakland, CA

Dear Globetrotter:
Welcome to the 352nd issue of your monthly overseas travel magazine.