Travelers' Intercom
Haarlem, Paris and London
We spent a great 2½-week vacation in Haarlem (Netherlands), Paris and London in May ’05.
Cozy Lake Constance
For 15 days one August, my husband, Jack, and I biked around the shoreline of Lake Constance, also known as the Bodensee, which covers an area of 163 square miles, 210 miles around, and is bordered by Austria, Germany and Switzerland.
Srpska, past and present
My wife, Arlene, and I were visiting Belgrade in Serbia & Montenegro for a week in June ’05 and decided to take a day trip to the Republic of Srpska in Bosnia & Herzegovina. Srpska is off the usual tourist itinerary but well worth visiting because of its natural beauty and geographic location in the Balkans.
Cameras in Antarctica
The January ’06 article by Janet Denninger on photography in Antarctica made me recall a trip my wife and I made there several years ago (pre-digital cameras).
Sweet Confections: Bariloche chocolate
With all the people writing about chocolate in the May ’06 issue, I can’t believe no one mentioned Bariloche, a total chocolate town, which I encountered on the lake crossing between Argentina and Chile. One only has to inhale to gain weight, and there are samples to be had in almost every shop.
Thailand jewelry
Jewelry has always been my souvenir of choice on our many trips abroad. In each country, I try to find a unique gold piece that is representative of the culture and craftsmanship.
Great Polish guide
During the program “The Arts of Central Europe” with Elderhostel (Boston, MA; 877/426-8056 or www.elderhostel.org), Oct. 17-24, ’05, my husband, Maurice, and I had the good fortune of having the Polish segment described by Grazyna Rychlik (e-mail gsp@guidingpoland.pl).
Antarctica ‘beyond expectations’
I departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on Dec. 20, ’05, for a 10-day expedition cruise on the MV Polar Star. I had always wanted to experience Antarctica, and in August ’05 I received a 70th birthday gift from my wife and mother-in-law in the form of a check to cover the cost of the trip.
Where’d all this catnip come from?
In the letter titled “Ensuring Credit Card Usage Overseas” (May ’06, pg. 12), the reader suggests advising the card issuers twice before taking a trip so they don’t make your card unusable by implementing a security watch while you are gone.
Hong Kong arrival tips
The fastest and easiest way to get to Hong Kong and Kowloon from the Hong Kong International Airport is the Airport Express train. There are several options in buying the tickets. After two trips to Hong Kong, Nov. 25-29 (staying at the Shangri-La Kowloon) and Dec.
Jewelry shops
I sell designer jewelry at an upscale specialty store in Las Vegas, Nevada, and consider myself a worldwide consummate shopper. Here are my favorite places to do jewelry shopping.
Swiss cities
My wife, JoAnn, and I wanted to go to Switzerland to celebrate our 10th anniversary, so I said, “Okay, probably in the spring.” While surfing the net for fares, however, I found a round-trip nonstop Miami-Zürich flight on Swiss International on March 15, ’06, for $485 round trip.
Paid for business class to/from cruise
My wife and I took Oceania Cruise Lines’ 16-day “Rio de Janeiro to Manaus” trip, Feb. 14-March 1, ’05.
Cruiser with impaired mobility
As a person who loves to travel but has had severe disability issues from time to time, I am eager to learn of others’ experiences of traveling with physical limitations, so I thought I would share my own.
Guide in London
Having returned from London with my friend Robin’s elderly parents (80 and 88), I wanted to recommend a driver/guide who perfectly met our needs: showing these first-time visitors as much of London as possible from the comfort of a vehicle.
Tour had great guides and one letdown
I joined a 10-day “Imperial Cities” tour of Italy with Gate 1 Travel on Oct. 10, ’05. Our group of 26 had a superb tour guide, Ms. Flavia Sciubba (flaviasole@hotmail.com).
Sights of Sutri
Sutri, Italy, north of Rome, was once known as the “Gate of Etruria.” The Etruscan ruins include a very well-preserved theater from 1 B.C. which is almost round; it is still very easy to see the stepped seats, the niches for grand chairs and thrones and the square openings that led to underground paths.
Heads up for Outback drivers
While on my independent tour of Australia in March ’06, I was waiting for the Adelaide-Alice Springs train to board and got into a conversation with Lois, a lady who had lived in Alice Springs for 20 years.