Travelers' Intercom
Hidden pocket
Protecting your money while traveling abroad has gotten more complicated over the years, but not for me.
Driving in Poland a tight fit
On our first trip to Poland, in October ’05, I read that the road fatality rate in that country is one of the highest in Europe.
Amazon jungle cruise
A small ad in ITN caught my eye and my imagination. Who hasn’t dreamed of taking a small boat cruise on the Amazon?
Southern Chile agent
My husband and I were in the southern part of Chile in January ’05 and found the best tour operator we’ve encountered in our years of travel.
To help clothes dry
To limit luggage to “carry-on” only when traveling over an extended period, I pack three shirts, three sets of underwear and three pairs of socks and wash soiled items nightly. Washing is easy, but wringing sufficient water from my wash has been a problem. I now extract water using a lettuce spinner.
The ZürichCARD
I trust Rick Steves, so when he suggested in his “Switzerland 2005” guide that travelers should pick up a ZürichCARD, I listened. In November ’05 I purchased a 72-hour card, and I am very glad I did.
Paris and Nice notes
We took an an excellent trip to Paris (six nights) and Nice (three nights), May 23-June 2, ’05, arranged by France Vacations (Chatsworth, CA; 800/332-5332 or www.francevacations.net).
Warsaw Camera Market
We visited the camera market in Warsaw, Poland, in June ’05. With new and used cameras, computer equipment, cell phones, etc., it’s open only on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Burundanga dangers
Colombia is the center for another type of drug crime. Burundanga, a relative of the sedative and motion-sickness drug scopalamine, has been implicated in date rapes and robberies. Its effect is to block the victim’s memory and reduce willpower.
Sapphire Libya & Med cruise
I took an 8-day cruise to Libya and the Mediterranean aboard the MS Sapphire of Louis Hellenic Cruises (Athens, Greece) in April ’05. I booked it through Advantage Travel & Tours (Poway, CA; 800/882-2098 or e-mail advantaget@aol.com).
Château de Veauce
Most travelers in France are familiar with the châteaux at Chenonceau and Chambord, but the Château de Veauce? Not likely.
The Tin Shed in NZ
The Ostheimers mentioned The Tin Shed Sheepskin Shop (Rangitata 22 RD, Geraldine, South Canterbury, New Zealand; phone +64 3 693 9416 or, free within N.Z., 0508 504 006, fax 693 9531 or visit www.thetinshed.co.nz) on the South Island of New Zealand (Dec. ’05, pg. 103).
Rethinking Bhutan
I have been traveling independently to Bhutan as well as taking groups there since 1999. Having returned from my 26th visit, I feel the need to try to advise those people intending to visit this tiny kingdom in the next few years that they need to go to see Bhutan for the right reasons.
Summer in the Baltics
My husband and I took a trip with Elderhostel (Boston, MA; 877/426-8056 or www.elderhostel.org) to the Baltic capitals — Vilnius, Lithuania; Riga, Latvia, and Tallinn, Estonia — plus St. Petersburg and Moscow, June 23-July 11, ’05.
Easter Island guide
My wife, Mary, and I took a 35-day cruise on Holland America Line’s Statendam, embarking Nov. 17, ’05. This was a wonderful experience for us, even though we had traveled on many shorter cruises.
International cell phone
Number one on my list of things which get packed is an international cell phone. I have one from Mobal Communications, Inc. (171 Madison Ave., Ste. 300, New York, NY 10016; phone 212/785-5800, fax 212/681-7431 or visit www.mobal.com).
Georgia's Military Highway
The Military Highway in Georgia began as a track used by invaders in the first century. Later, as part of the Silk Road, it was an important link between Europe and Asia before becoming the main link with Russia.
Money Matters: trimming wallet, PIN security, rubles vs. dollars
Trimming waist and cost
Motoring in Morocco
I took my sixth trip to Morocco in October ’05 and chose to rent a car for the first time, after reading in a recent issue that another subscriber enjoyed driving there. (I usually use the trains and have found them almost comparable to those in Europe.)