Travelers' Intercom
Volunteering in Cuba
Reading the Feature Article “Cuba – A Long Weekend in Old Havana” (June ’14, pg. 6), I felt the need to compare the author’s experience with our February 2004 visit to Cuba.
Collapsible hiking poles
On my trips, I often go hiking. Since I cannot carry hiking poles onto planes in my carry-on pack, I’ve always had to check at least one piece of luggage. At the sporting-equipment store REI, I found Black Diamond-brand poles, which have three telescoping sections.*
Dublin airport to Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is experiencing increased tourism, with fans of “Game of Thrones” arriving to visit locations where much of this popular TV series is filmed.
Dining in Hong Kong
My wife, Sandy, and I arrived in Hong Kong, China, a stop on our ’round-the-world trip, in July 2013. Looking for excitement, we took the funicular to the top of Victoria Peak.
Luang Prabang lament
I read with interest Fred Steinberg’s piece “Stepping Back in Time on a 4-day Tour of Luang Prabang, Laos” (June ’14, pg. 44). I have visited Luang Prabang three times, in 2002, 2004 and, most recently, 2011.
Copa flight oversold
My husband and I took four flights on Copa Airlines (Panama City, Panama; 800/359-2672) in February and March 2014.
Scanning devices relied upon
The writer of the letter “Now Carries a Doctor’s Note” (May ’14, pg. 43) wanted to know if other travelers with artificial limbs or metal in their bodies carried doctors’ notes verifying the implants.
Traveling & Giving: Reader’s Digest popular
When traveling, I always take Reader’s Digests with me to give to schools and to students who are learning English. From 1992 through 2005, I traveled to Nepal once a year and started carrying the magazines.
Praise for LCA Toptour in Alsace
Just wanted to follow up on the letter “Alsatian Wine Route with LCA Toptour” (June ’14, pg. 12) in which Stephen O.
Pickpockets in Paris
While I enjoyed Rick Steves’ article on street crime, “Avoiding Scams and Pickpockets” (May ’14, pg. 59), I think he left out an important point.
A look at literary Dublin
Dublin is a city with a fascinating history dating back to the Vikings, yet modern Dublin is a city of culture and literary greats.
Kudos to Novotel in Yogyakarta
I want to tell you about the wonderful dinner my wife, Jeanne, and I had in Indonesia on New Year’s Eve 2013.
Water bottle Aquaclip®
Years ago, I discovered a convenient, lightweight, simple and inexpensive way to carry my bottled water on trips. Everywhere I go, people ask, “Where did you get that interesting water clip?” and I tell them it’s an Aquaclip®.
Road Scholar tour of Cuba
I am not a tour person. I’m not into “Everybody out for volleyball,” stops at the tour guide’s brother-in-law’s shop, 5 o’clock dinners at senior center mess halls and having my luggage ready to go outside my hotel door at 6 a.m.
Artificial implants and airport security
I would like to respond to the letter written by a traveler with an artificial knee. Starting in 1998, after my initial hip-replacement surgery, I have traveled overseas numerous times. Since 2001, I have had another hip replacement, two knee replacements and a titanium bolt placed in my shoulder.
Replacing a debit card overseas
Late on Saturday, the day before my scheduled Jan. 19, 2014, departure for a long-anticipated solo vacation in New Zealand, a defective ATM in San Francisco ate my debit card. That left me with $123 in cash at the start of a 2-month trip.
Shangri-La in Tainan
While my wife, Jane, and I were on a group tour of Taiwan in May 2013, we decided to take a side trip via train to Tainan, four hours south of the country’s capital, Taipei. We knew there were several Taoist temples in Tainan.
Mind Lisbon’s slippery sidewalks
The Wall Street Journal article “Slippery Slope: Famous Sidewalks Of Lisbon Have Concrete Competition” by Patricia Kowsmann (June 2, 2014) speaks of the beautiful, colorful, 5-inch-wide, limestone cub
CurrencyGo app
Those with iPhones, iPads, etc., can determine rates of currency exchange by going to the App Store and downloading “CurrencyGo” for $2.