Travelers' Intercom
Tips on visiting northern India
We wish to commend Margo Wilson on an excellent report, “The South of India — a Good Choice for the First-time Visitor?” (June ’07, pg. 44). Also for the first-time traveler, our comments apply mainly to northern India.
Israel desert sights
Timna Park, in Israel, is huge; it reminded us of Big Bend National Park in Texas. It is the site of 6,000-year-old Egyptian copper mines. You can see the slag from the copper mines and the remains of the smelting ovens.
Luggage lessons
We were booked to take United Airlines flight No. 899 from Los Angeles to Narita, Japan, on Oct. 16, 2006. We checked our luggage, then checked in for boarding.
Street food a risk
The reader’s letter titled “Chancing Street Food in India” (Aug. ’07, pg. 71) provokes a response.
Day tour from Cairo
Flamengo Travel & Tours has a branch in Cairo International Airport run by a pleasant man, Mr. Said Atia (phone 012 212 6291 or 224 3587, fax 586 1621… or at 1 a El Sherifein St., Cairo; phone/fax 023931044).
What to do with travel slides
G.F. Mueden of New York City wrote about his boxes of thousands of travel slides — mostly of landscapes, city scenes and architecture, some with handwritten labels — and asked readers for suggestions on good uses for them (July ’07, pg. 16).
Paris dining options
I would not go across town to eat there, but if you are in the neighborhood a good light dinner can be had in Paris at Plein Soleil (90 ave. Parmentier, Paris 11e, France).
Southern Africa trains
In July ’06 I made a deposit of $2,400 for trips on the following Shongololo Express trains in Southern Africa: Good Hope, March 6-21, 2007 ($3,680), Dune Express, March 27-April 11 ($3,905) and Southern Cross, April 11-26 ($4,350) — total cost, $11,935.
Czech Republic guide
Four of us visited the Czech countryside during the first week of May ’07. We had a guide who was passionate about his country and made sure his guests experienced the real Czech Republic. His name is Petr Zidek. We found him through Original World (131 Camino Alto, Ste.
Historic cemetery in Stavanger
As we were strolling through pleasant neighborhoods between tourist attractions in Stavanger, Norway, in May ’07, my wife and I wandered into the Eiganes Gravlund (cemetery).
River Princess on the Danube
We had a wonderful new experience in cruising — quite different from the ocean cruises we have taken but every bit as enjoyable — with Uniworld River Cruises (17323 Ventura Blvd., Encino, CA 91316; 800/733-7820).
The train to Lhasa
My husband, Uwe, and I flew into Chengdu, China, on June 17, 2007, intending to board the train to Lhasa the next day.
Baggage tips
All luggage seems to be on wheels today. It’s great on flat surfaces, but now we have all these new weight restrictions, and wheelers weigh seven pounds or more. Is it important to you to have wheels or to be able to carry seven more pounds of your stuff? It’s your choice.
Australia Travel Planning
I would like to second David Sutcliffe’s praise (March ’07, pg. 81) for Gayle and Michael Hawker of Tasmania Travel Planning and Australia Travel Planning (4428 E. Willow Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85032; 800/830-8999, www.australian.com or www.tasmania.com).
Christmas markets unpleasant surprise on cruise-tour
Through a travel agent friend, in May ’06 two friends and I booked a Christmas markets cruise with Viking River Cruises. The Nov. 28, 2006, sailing of the Viking Danube Explorer from Nuremberg to Vienna was our first experience with river cruising, but it will not be our last. (We booked a cruise with Viking from St.
Local punished for good deed
In the letter “Car and Driver in Morocco” (July ’07, pg. 34), the writer mentioned that his driver was not a licensed guide and could not be seen behaving as one. That brought to mind a trip my husband, Steven, and I made to Morocco in April 2001.
Keep in mind when selecting a barge
This year we got stung with a barge trip in France and learned a couple of things that are important.
Assessing Botswana lodgings
My husband and I traveled throughout Botswana, then to Victoria Falls, in September and October 2006. We flew into Gaborone, Botswana, and stayed at the Gaborone Sun International Hotel (phone 09267-3951111 or visit www.sun-international.com). Bed and breakfast can be booked at $147 per night for two.
Safeguard your wallet
Dr. Wagenaar’s article on carry-on luggage (May ’07, pg. 87) was extremely informative and useful. I would only add the following helpful household hints.
Rossia cruise + spending cash in Russia
We took a cruise-tour in Russia, the 18-day “Tatars, Cossacks and the Golden Ring,” April 28-May 15, 2007, with Grand Circle Travel (Boston, MA; 800/221-2610, www.gct.com).