Travelers' Intercom
Russia train + St. Petersburg guide
My two daughters and I took a train from Moscow, Russia, to Riga, Latvia, with Russian Railways in October ’08. We had a sleeper car and it was great. The cost of $170 per person included a room for four persons, and we received tea and biscuits for breakfast.
Changing planes in Sydney
In October ’08, I flew to Sydney on United and then immediately connected to a flight to Canberra on Qantas. My bag was checked “through” to Canberra, though I had to claim it, of course, and go through Customs at Sydney.
Suggests full-fare ‘refundable’ for first leg
My wife, our granddaughter and I took a trip to Germany, June 16-July 2, 2009. I had made all of our travel arrangements on the Internet, including the Deutsche Bahn (DB) train tickets to the various places we were going: Frankfurt, Munich, Ampfing, Würzburg and back to Frankfurt.
Ubud restaurant
In Ubud, Bali, Indonesia, Restaurant Bali Yoga — located on the left side of Jalan Kajeng a 3- to 5-minute walk up from Jalan Raya — seems like a curious name for this little jewel of a place. The husband and wife who own it told me they named it after their first child, a son, Yoga.
Outrageous CDW costs in Ireland
For the past 14 years, my wife, Roberta, and I have made at least one annual trip to Ireland. We always rent a car at the Shannon or Dublin airport and tour extensively.
Inca Express bus
When we think of buses in Central or South America, we often think of old buses where people ride on the top. Well, our bus from Cusco to Puno, the Gateway to Lake Titicaca, was the Inca Express (office in Puno and Lima and at Av.
Kandersteg apartment
My husband, Mike, and son, Scott, and I stayed in a 2-bedroom apartment in the house Roduner-Hus (Dorf, CH-3718 Kandersteg, SWITZERLAND; phone + 41 [0] 33 675 1053, www.adamsalpineeden.com/roduner), Sept. 18-26, 2008.
Avoiding short connections
My wife and I make our own travel arrangements and often are shocked by how often airlines are willing to schedule us into a layover of even less than an hour when changing from a domestic to an international flight.
Accessibility in Venice
I visit Venice often, and although I do not use a wheelchair, it is my observation that seeing Venice in a wheelchair can be done.
Venice to Munich by train
I was a nervous wreck about making it to each train. I left Venice on May 8, 2009, and I HAD to be in Munich by May 15.
Debarked early due to odor on board
My husband, Roger, and I boarded the MS Marshal Koshevoy in Nessebar, Bulgaria, for a Black Sea/Dnieper River cruise-tour to Kiev, Ukraine, Sept. 15-27, 2008, operated by Orthodox Cruise Company (Alabyana, 5, 125057, Moscow, Russia). We booked the tour through Russian Empire Cruises.
Paris Métro and plastic
We returned from France on May 27 to find the June ’09 issue and Abbie Salny’s letter titled “Heads up on Paris Métro” (page 14), which said there are no longer any ticket booths in the Métro stations, only machines that accept credit cards or cash.
Transiting London
Since ITN printed my offer of help to anyone planning a trip to my hometown (Dec. ’08, pg. 11), I’ve made contact with a number of interesting people and have even met some, so it has been an interesting and enjoyable experience which I hope will continue.
Namibia’s nomadic Himba
The 12-day Namibia safari “Hidden Tribes of Kaokoland” that we took Sept. 27-Oct. 7, 2008, was inexpensive and perfectly put together. We traveled with www.explore.co.uk, booked through Adventure Center (1311 63rd St., Ste. 200, Emeryville, CA 94608; 800/487-1600).
Duvet disarray
Regarding “Comforters Out of Place,” I say, “Hear! Hear!” I am tired of ripping the whole comforter off the bed, taking the “down” part of it out and having to remake the bed using just the comforter cover as a blanket. Neither my husband or I can sleep with the things — they’re just too hot.
Securing laptops
Because we carry computers, we are careful never to leave them out when and where hotel staff could see them.
Visiting aid organizations while touring
After I had traveled to over 60 countries, my wife, Anne, and I decided to see what our brother/sister St. Vincent de Paul workers were doing worldwide.
Felt aspects of cruise-tour not up to par
My husband, Tom, and I took the “Danube Discovery Cruise” with smarTours, Sept. 24-Oct. 7, 2008, as well as the pretrip “Dracula Castle Extension” on Sept. 23. The pretrip was a bus tour with a guide and was done very well. After boarding the ship Kleine Prinz, however, the whole trip fell apart, we felt.
Old Town, Vilnius
I found the article about the Baltic States interesting (June ’09). The picture on page 7 is described as “Gate of Vilnius’ Old Town.” It is the Basilian Gate, which is the entry to the decrepit (2005) Holy Trinity Basilian Monastery.