Travelers' Intercom
Turning the tables
As to which was the world’s first revolving restaurant (Dec. ’08, pg. 63), several readers noted that the Seattle Space Needle opened at the World’s Fair in 1962.
Weak link re code-share tickets
My wife, Carol, and I used the Internet to ticket a February ’08 trip from Orlando, Florida, to Christchurch, New Zealand. For booking the flights, we selected www.orbitz.com because it seemed to offer the best connections by combining several airlines. Our order was placed on Oct. 8, 2007, at a cost of $2,411 each.
St. Moritz restaurant
During a trip to southern Switzerland in May ’08, my wife, Paula, and I visited St. Moritz for two nights during the depths of its spring off-season.
Revisiting Spain solo
Taking advantage of some frequent-flyer miles on United Airlines, I decided to travel to Spain on my own, May 10-27, 2008. It had been 10 years since my late husband and I had been in Spain, and I wanted to revisit the south.
Tel Aviv restaurants
During our visit to Tel Aviv, Israel, Sept. 16-23, 2008, my husband, Jerry, and I ate at three wonderful restaurants that I want to share with ITN readers. Please note that reservations for these restaurants are definitely advised.
Heathrow transfers
Whilst I hesitate to recommend a totally reliable firm or individual for Heathrow transfers, I have suggested to friends visiting from the US that they try the Internet (as I have done, despite being a raw beginner with this technology).
Thrills and chills in PNG
We enjoyed the article on Papua New Guinea by Clark Scott (Oct. ’08, pg. 24). We were there with Mountain Travel Sobek (Emeryville, CA; 888/687-6235, www.mtsobek.com) in 1995 and had some similar experiences.
Medicare protection exception
In the October ’08 Discerning Traveler column, Dr. Wagenaar wrote, “Medicare provides no protection outside the US…” I’ve read this elsewhere, but there are two exceptions.
Zakopane
My wife, Margi, and I in August ’07 drove 100 miles southwest from Kraków, Poland, to Zakopane, the famous ski resort. It was crowded because the world summer ski jump championships were being held. . . on special plastic surfaces so that the effect was the same as skiing on packed snow.
Vienna Boys Choir
You can hear the Vienna Boys’ Choir sing at Sunday Mass in the Imperial Chapel at the Hofburg (Hofburgkapelle) in Austria’s capital. You are actually attending Mass, but I would recommend that you buy tickets.
Nile Blue Tours
I have several orthopedic problems and use a rolling walker to assist with ambulation. I have difficulty walking long distances; my walker has a seat that I can use, if needed.
Day trip to Albania
My daughter and I own a yoga studio and led a yoga retreat to Corfu, Greece, in September ’08. In researching activities for our group, I discovered that Albania is just across the border and easily accessible. Since I find border crossings irresistible, I was determined to visit.
Get to know Malta’s history and people
My daughter Sheila and I visited Malta with Road Scholar (11 Ave. de Lafayette, Boston, MA 02111; 800/466-7762, www.roadscholar.org), Feb. 17-27, 2008. The program-only rate was $2,684 double.
Family trip Down Under
My husband, Fred, and I along with our daughter Rebecca Couillard, son-in-law Greg and 8-year-old granddaughter Sarah visited Australia, Oct. 18-Nov. 12, 2007. This was the fifth trip to Australia for Fred and me, the second for Rebecca and a first-time adventure for Greg and Sarah.
Bucharest subway
A reader remarked that in November ’07 the Bucharest subway was “filthy but worked” (Nov. ’08, pg. 14). Things have changed. Both lines I rode on in October ’08 were served by beautiful new articulated trains open from one end to the other, and the whole system was clean.
Africa 2000 credits
Re my husband, Maurice’s, picture of Tembe National Elephant Park in South Africa (Aug. ’08, pg. 90), ITN neglected to include my comment that our tour there was planned and arranged by Gill and Graham Maskell of Africa 2000 (P.O.