Travelers' Intercom
Tips on getting to Lugano
While my wife, Paula, and I didn’t find Lugano, Switzerland, to be the most exciting or interesting of destinations, the city is the southern terminus of two of Swiss Rail’s most scenic train routes: the William Tell Express and the Bernina Express.
Condors in flight
On a trip to Peru in October ’07, I went to Cruz del Cóndor, an observation point where the magnitude of the Colca Canyon can be appreciated. It is the best spot for seeing the spectacular condor.
NZ Interislander
I’d rate the trip from Wellington (North Island), New Zealand, to Picton (South Island) aboard the Interislander ferry a “must” for the scenery, but my wife, Eva, and I did have some problems on our most recent visit, in December ’07-January ’08.
Bali guide, hotels
My wife and I (both seniors) spent 12 days in Bali in August ’08. It was the dry season. The weather was excellent, with a high of about 82°F every day.
Opus sectile in Rome
On a free afternoon in Rome, I visited the Palazzo Massimo alle Terme (Largo di Villa Peretti 67; phone 06 3996 7700 — open 9-7:45 Tuesday-Sunday; admission, €7), part of the Museo Nazionale Romano. I knew it contained a fourth-century stone artwork of a type called opus sectile.
New tour brochure prices retroactive
Three of us from California went on a “Discover New Zealand” trip with Explore, March 2-30, 2008. We booked through Adventure Center in June ’07 based on the published brochure and website price.
New bridge in Venice
Scheduled to open in September ’08 in Venice, Italy, after nine years of delay, the Calatrava Bridge — a modern, contemporary structure of iron, glass and marble — links the Santa Lucia train station with Piazzale Roma.
De-wrinkle clothes
I recently read about a spray for $4 that takes wrinkles out of clothes. But you don’t need to spend money to take out wrinkles. All you need is a small spray bottle and tap water.
Bucharest ‘wonderful’
My wife, Debbie, and I were in Romania in November ’07 visiting the Bucharest Stock Exchange. We stayed at the Casa Capsa (Calea Victoriei nr. 36, Bucharest; phone 4021 313 40 38, www.capsa.ro) and it was wonderful — of older vintage but not in need of repair.
Baltic Holidays
Starting in Helsinki, Finland, my wife and I toured the Baltic countries — Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — in August ’08.
Inn-to-inn walking in Europe
My husband and I, in our late 60s, traveled in Italy, Germany and France from April to mid-July 2008 with an emphasis on inn-to-inn walking. We do not like to carry a full pack, stay in hostels or huts, camp, reserve ahead, go with a group or pay a lot to arrange for a tour company’s independent walk.
Guide in Agra
Four of us were in India over Christmas 2007 and had an excellent tour guide in Agra: Javed Khan (phone 91 991 703 1888 or e-mail javedtall12@yahoo.com).
Customizing a travel wallet
For years I have used a self-made closure devised of a Velcro® brand fastener on each of my travel wallets, since the wallets that come with ready-made Velcro® closures haven’t suited my needs. I would like to share with you the technique of applying the Velcro® fastener.
Southern Africa with Vantage Deluxe
My wife, our 23-year-old daughter and I took the tour “Best of Africa: Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia & South Africa,” June 5-22, 2008, with Vantage Deluxe World Travel (Boston, MA; 800/322-6677).
Gobustan petroglyphs
About 70 kilometers south of Baku, Azerbaijan, the settlement of Gobustan and the Gobustan State Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are worthwhile places to visit.
Currency exchange in Bali
Upon arriving in Bali, Indonesia, Americans, Canadians and Europeans are required to pay $25 for a Visa On Arrival (VOA). The visa will be applied to a page in your passport. Most travelers from Asian countries are spared this expense.
Club ABC to Canaries
Spanish Heritage Tours, now part of Club ABC Tours (Bloomfield, NJ; 800/456-5050, www.clubabc.com), offers an 8-day trip to Spain’s Canary Islands which I took March 30-April 7, 2008.