Travelers' Intercom
Peruvian fare
On a trip to Lima, Peru, in May ’06, we took a day trip to Chosica, a weekend retreat 25 miles east of Lima. Our friends had recommended Fuego Restaurante (Jr. Trujillo sur 406, Chosica; phone 360-2425), and our meal there was the best that we had in all of Peru.
‘Excellent resources’ in Ireland
A trip to Ireland my husband, Maurice, and I took, Aug. 21-Sept. 2, 2006, was greatly enhanced by two excellent resources.
Northernmost New Zealand
My wife, Carole, and I took a 2-week trip to New Zealand in March ’06. We spent most of our time north of Auckland, especially in the Doubtless Bay area. This area received its name from Captain Cook, who when he passed by wrote in his ship’s log, “Doubtless there is a bay.”
Budapest’s House of Terror
In Budapest, Hungary, the Terror Háza, or House of Terror Museum (Andrássy út 60, Budapest 1062, Hungary; phone + 36 [1] 374 2600 or visit www.terrorhaza.hu), deals with the years of fascist and communist oppression, from WWII to the fall of communism in 1989.
Birding at Daintree
Chris, an expert bird guide and owner of Chris Dahlberg’s Specialised River Tours (Daintree Village, Queensland 4873, Australia; phone 07 4098 7997 or visit www.daintreeriver tours.com.au), was one of the reasons we chose to visit Daintree on our trip to Australia.
Solution for crying babies
Regarding the “screaming infant on a flight” (Nov. ’06, pg. 30), the problem should have been referred to a pediatric physician, not an airline customer relations executive or legal officer.
Pick-me-up in Kobarid
If you’re visiting Kobarid, Slovenia’s, award-winning Kobarid Museum, you’ll do well to have a meal at Restavricija Kotlar (Kobarid, Slovenia; phone 386 [0] 5 38 91 110) before leaving town. It’s located on a square only a 2-minute walk from the museum.
Karneval in Germany
In the November ’06 “All Aboard!” column, Jay Brunhouse mentions Karneval in Cologne, Germany. However, in 2007 Ash Wednesday occurs on Feb. 21, not April 4. Good Friday is April 6.
The Panama Canal and so much more
My adult daughter Jennie and I chose the line Cruise West (Seattle, WA; 888/851-8133, www.cruisewest.com) for our highly anticipated January ’06 trip through the Panama Canal plus Costa Rica.
Across the Russian Federation by train
My wife, Darlene, and I, following a private tour in Mongolia (June ’06, pg. 85), were among a group of 96 people from all over the world who made an incredible private train trip across the Russian Federation along the legendary Trans-Siberian Railway, Aug. 19-31, ’05.
Zero latitude in Ecuador
In Ecuador, La Mitad del Mundo is a site 22 kilometers north of Quito that marks where the French geographical expedition marked the equator in 1736.
Discovery — ‘low-key’ cruise with Brits
My wife, Esta Lee, and I took the “Grand Voyage to Scandinavia,” May 13-June 5, 2006, on the MV Discovery of Voyages of Discovery, formerly Discovery World Cruises (1800 SE 10th Ave., Ste. 205, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316; 866/623-2689).
Untour in Nafplio
My wife, Margaret, and I spent 3½ weeks in Greece in September ’05, and for the first two weeks we were based in Nafplio, less than two hours west of Athens by car. We had arranged to rent an apartment through Untours (Box 405, Media, PA 19063; 888/868-6871).
‘India isn’t a trip for everyone’
In regards to the article “India: Enjoying Your Visit While Leading a Group Tour” by Judith Anshin (Oct. ’06, pg. 22), she wrote only about the upside of her trip to Rajasthan and none of the downs. India isn’t a trip for everyone.
Frequent-flyer joint account
Many years ago, my husband and I acquired a United Airlines MasterCard for which we paid $60 per year and which accumulated many frequent-flyer miles, which we used as needed.
Canceling in-flight noise
A reader recently complained about a screaming child on a flight. I can certainly empathize and offer the following tips.
Supper in Sicily
While traveling by car in western Sicily in September ’06, we were in need of a restaurant for supper. A local merchant directed us to Garten Pub (Via Erice 145, Valderice 91019,Trapani Province, Sicily, Italy; phone/fax +39 0923 892377) as a place to get good rustic Sicilian cuisine.
Exchanging money abroad
In my previous letter on how to handle money abroad (Oct. ’05, pg. 53), I noted that going to the ATM was virtually always the best way to get local currency.
Pleasant HAL Med cruise
Four of us took a 2-week trip with Vantage Deluxe World Travel (Boston, MA; 888/734-0188) in August ’06 that included a 10-day eastern Mediterranean cruise, “Roman Empire,” on the Noordam of Holland America Line (Seattle, WA).