Travelers' Intercom
Visiting can help Sri Lanka recover
December 26, 2004, is a day Sri Lankans will not forget in a hurry. In fact, it might take a couple of generations, considering the number of children left without parents because of the devastating tsunami.
Reviewers’ Corner
Here are a couple of the latest travel-book reviews written by an ITN reader.
Australian visas online
I had seen a couple of mentions (Dec. ’01, pg. 33 & Feb. ’02, pg. 111) about getting Australian visas electronically for a fee of $15 (visit www.eta.immi.gov.au). I don’t mind paying the fee, but the website did not seem to me to be secure, as I did not see any padlock.
Grim impression of Ethiopia
I returned from a 3-week tour of Ethiopia on Feb. 7, ’05. Imagine my surprise the next morning to find that a featured article (Feb. ’05, pg. 52) in my new ITN was about the Omo Valley, where I had just spent a week.
Handicapped put off ship
My wife and I were passengers on a River Explorer cruise, beginning in Bucharest on Sept. 1, ’04, and scheduled to end in Amsterdam on Sept. 25, with Vantage Deluxe World Travel. Halfway through the trip, when the ship arrived in Vienna late on Sept. 13, we were told to leave the ship early the next day.
Palate pleasers in Athens
My wife and I dined at the following restaurants in Athens, Greece, in February ’05.
Pay it or lug it
In April ’05 I returned from Gatwick Airport, London, to Newark International as I have for several years, twice a year. Please be informed that travelers arriving at Newark now must pay $3 for the use of a luggage cart. Needless to say, I saw no one taking advantage of the “bargain.” JEANETTE HARDIE
Art Deco church, Vienna
While in Vienna in fall 2004, my wife and I went to the Central Cemetery to see the graves of the composers. While there, we decided to take a look in the Dr. Karl Lueger Kirche that is in the cemetery. It was a real suprise for us! The church was restored in 2000 and is now an Art Deco gem.
Caring gestures in BA
Buenos Aires stole my heart and my necklace — and gave it all back with interest.
Private tour of Mideast
Two weeks before Christmas 2004, my husband and I decided to take a much-longed-for trip to the Middle East. Where to go for information? Our ITN magazine, of course. There we spotted a small ad regarding customized trips to the Middle East via Caravan Serai Tours (3806 Whitman Ave.
Aided by Silver Shadow staff
To celebrate our 60th Anniversary, my wife, June, and I decided to “live it up” by taking a cruise on the 6-star Silversea ship Silver Shadow, Oct. 7-19, ’04. We left from Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica, and sailed to Ecuador and Peru and back.
Gorillas in Uganda, chimps in Tanzania
I made my ninth trip to Africa in July ’04, this time revisiting Uganda and Tanzania with three friends. We landed in Kampala, UGANDA, and spent two days there and a day in Jinja (the source of the Nile).
Angkor in Cambodia
A terrific highlight of our September/October 2000 trip to Southeast Asia was Angkor near Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Possible flight stumbling block
On my most recent trip to Bangkok, Jan. 8-14, ’05, I encountered a curious and frustrating situation when checking in for my return flight.
Santiago de Compostela
I really enjoyed reading Rick Steves’ article on Santiago de Compostela in the August ’04 issue. It brought back memories of a voyage my wife and I made in May ’04.
Cruise wish list
ITN asked readers how they go about selecting a cruise (Oct. ’04, pg. 4). When choosing a cruise, my wife and I start with the ports of call. If we haven’t been there as yet and desire to go, we book the cruise. If it is on a ship line where we are past passengers, it is an added bonus.
Overbooking is standard practice
I am writing with reference to the letter titled “Confirmed on Tour, Then Bumped to Another,” from ITN readers Clair and John Kohler, and the response of Grand Circle Travel (Feb. ’05, pg. 30).
The pousadas of Portugal — historic inns with character
by Arline Wills, Lynnfield, MA
‘Outstanding’ guide in Romania
From April 1 to May 15, ’04, we spent four weeks on our own in the Czech Republic and Hungary and then another two weeks in Romania, ending up back in Bucharest.