Columns
Cruise accidents in the news. Northeast Passage cruises.
Dear Globetrotter: Welcome to the 489th issue of your monthly foreign-travel magazine. Nancy Gatland of Wilton, New York, wrote, “ITN comes to my home every month; I would be lost without it. Over the years, I have learned so much from the experiences of other travelers.”
The Garden Path
This is the first in a series of three articles on gardens in Sicily. I visited the island at the bottom of Italy’s boot in June 2016 as a guest on the land portion of Overseas Adventure Travel’s “Sicily’s Ancient Landscapes & Timeless Traditions” itinerary (Oct. ’16, pg.
The Geografile
Located on the salt flats of Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, the world’s first salt hotel, the 30-bedroom Palacio de Sal (Palace of Salt), was built in 1998. — Bryan Henry, Contributing Editor, Hollywood, FL
Countries where locals feel safe. Also, cruise ships and smoking.
Dear Globetrotter: Welcome to the 488th issue of your monthly foreign-travel magazine.
The Geografile
Heineken beer got its start in 1592 in a Dutch brewery under the name of De Hooiberg, but it got its name in 1864 when Gerard Adriaan Heineken acquired the original brewery and developed a special yeast that gave his beer its distinctive taste. — Bryan Henry, Contributing Editor, Hollywood, FL
In Britain, the kids are all right
In Britain, the kids are all right Imagine being a kid forced to spend a big part of your summer vacation with robo-tourist Rick Steves (alias Dad). My kids, Jackie and Andy, did that a lot when they were young. I always considered it a great education for them, but they also had a lot of fun.
Emergency hospital visit in Naples, Italy
I was shaking uncontrollably and curled up in the fetal position in the corner of my sofa when my friends found me in my stateroom. “What happened to you?” “I don’t know,” I replied.
Easy riders — taxis and ride-sharing in Europe
I’ve always felt that taxis are underrated, scenic time-savers that can zip you effortlessly from one sight to the next… except during rush-hour traffic, when they’re stuck like everyone else.
Across the ages — expedition into the Qatari Desert
It is not often that you have the opportunity to experience 5,000 years of archaeology in just eight hours. In March 2016, my husband, Paul, and I visited Qatar, a small country roughly the size of Connecticut that juts out into the Persian Gulf. It shares a land border only with Saudi Arabia to the south.
Go outside when you’re inside Europe
After spending 30-plus springs and summers in Europe, it seems to me that, more and more, the culture is celebrated outdoors. Cities and towns everywhere are competing to attract visitors, and there is more than enough music, drink, theater and fun to keep these concerts and festivals going and growing.