Travelers' Intercom
Atop Cathedral of Quito
The Cathedral of Quito, officially La Catedral, is a not-to-be-missed sight in Quito, Ecuador. The different types of gargoyles, alone, are worth a visit, but for $2 a climb up the towers is an experience which will not be forgotten.
Praise for ACCL
I appreciated Lew Toulmin’s article on the American Canadian Caribbean Line (“The Cruising World,” March ’09).
Sweet treat in Mérida
On an independent trip to Venezuela with two friends in December ’08, we visited Mérida.
Extending your air miles’ expiry date
I have been dealing with a few airlines lately in the matters of protecting or using frequent-flyer miles.
Guatemala easily
I have traveled on my own to Mexico and Central America two to three times a year for 19 years, doing all my own planning, but on a December trip to Guatemala I wanted to take it easy and let someone else worry about the arrangements while I focused on my photography.
Comforters out of place
My wife, Verne, and I took a tour to Egypt and Jordan in November ’08, staying in a number of excellent hotels. In each hotel as well as on our Nile riverboat, the beds were fitted with thick comforters. We were not comforted.
Katadyn water purifier
For a trip to Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos in January ’09, like the writer of the letter “SteriPEN® Sterilizes Water” (March ’09, pg. 56) I too was concerned about the expense and environmental aspects of drinking bottled water exclusively.
Found ‘deficiencies’ on ship
I found sailing from Fort Lauderdale to San Francisco on a Panama Canal cruise aboard Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Infinity, April 13-28, 2008, to be a horrendous experience. For a suite with balcony, the cost was $8,328 per person, double occupancy, excluding airfare.
Among the Datooga in Tanzania
My husband, Colin, and I had a fantastic adventure in Tanzania and Kenya, Jan. 7-Feb. 7, 2008, one that began with a casual invitation from David, a missionary sponsored by our church: “Would you like to come to Africa to visit our mission work?”
(Not) taking food into Chile
Arriving at the Santiago International Airport, Dec. 18, 2008, I went through Immigration and then Customs. As a frequent traveler to less-traveled parts of South America, I am used to bringing snacks in case we miss meals.
Frugal trip to NZ
New Zealand, an expensive country, can be done on the cheap. I spent $2,200 plus my grocery costs on my trip from Thanksgiving Day to Christmas Day 2007.
Billed for tour before accepting it
In December 2008, I called Grand Circle Travel to arrange March 2009 travel for two to Sicily. GCT calls the basic trip a “14-Day Extended Vacation.” They also offer a 6-night pretrip to Malta and a 7-night post-trip on the Amalfi Coast of Italy.
Paul Gauguin cruise
We took a superb cruise in French Polynesia, Oct. 30-Nov. 12, 2008, with Grand Circle Travel (Boston, MA; 800/248-3737, www.gct.com). The ship was the Paul Gauguin of Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
‘Mind the gap!’
ITN readers who have ridden the London Underground and trains are familiar with the unending “Mind the gap” announcements at each station and the weak jokes associated with them. I even have an English postcard with “Mind the gap” printed on it in big black letters.