Travelers' Intercom
Applying for a Russian visa
For any of you intrepid travelers who may be planning to attend the Winter Olympics in Russia in February 2014, it is not too early to take a look online at the Russian visa application form. It is daunting.
Memorable Kurdistan
The most memorable trip I have taken is the tour “Exploring Iraqi Kurdistan,” from Adventures Abroad (Blaine, WA; 800/665-3998), April 13-21, 2013.
Found Moroccans camera averse
My wife and I travel to see interesting places and people and take lots of photos. If you like to do this too, do not go to Morocco! On our 2011 visit, people would run out of restaurants and physically accost us, demanding that we either erase the picture or give them money!
Touring rainy Bergen and Ålesund
There is an old Norwegian saying: all Bergen babies are born with umbrellas. My husband, David, and I certainly needed an umbrella during our day in port during a Norway cruise with Royal Caribbean International in September ’12, but we found that in the afternoon the rain was intermittent.
Residence Agnes in Prague
I traveled through the Czech Republic in August ’13 and had the chance to stay in a lovely, new hotel in Prague, the Residence Agnes (Haštalská 19, 110 00 Prague 1, Czech Republic; phone +42 222 312417, fax +420 222 312840).
A Massage To Die For — Floating massage
My husband, Bucky, and I flew Icelandair from the US to London through Reykjavik in September ’04.
Return to Ethiopia
After 17 years, in 2013 I paid a return visit to a truly unusual and interesting country. I was in Ethiopia in 1995 visiting the tribal south on a rugged tour, mostly camping. I returned with a friend, Jan. 6-21, to explore the unique rock churches in the Christian north.
Trips-montage Christmas card
I love to travel, making four or five trips a year. Each year for my Christmas cards, rather than listing the names of places I visited, I create a montage of photographs I took in these places. I then write a personal message on the back and identify the scenes.
Bilbao Greeters
I spent a few days on my own in Bilbao, Spain, in August ’13 prior to joining a group tour.
New Zealand with AAT Kings
I took a 15-day tour, “New Zealand Experience,” with AAT Kings Tours/USA (Anaheim, CA; 866/240-1659). It started on Oct. 8, 2012, and was a wonderful trip, with excellent guides and excellent hotels.
Label all memory cards
When traveling with a digital camera, have a special place to keep your used memory cards and flash drives so they do not get misplaced. On a trip to Southern Africa in March-April ’13, I somehow lost a drive with about 500 pictures on it.
Did not find big-bus touring ‘leisurely’
I took the “Cultures & Contrasts of South America” tour offered by Grand European Travel. It was scheduled to take place Dec. 15-31, 2012, traveling for about five days each in Brazil, Argentina and Chile, with an optional day trip to Colonia, Uruguay.
Neckar River day cruise
My daughter, Gina, and I were in Heidelberg, Germany, on April 24, 2011 (Easter Sunday). It was a glorious day and we decided to take a cruise upriver to Neckarsteinach.
"One more way smoking is bad for you"
Tell us about the funniest thing that happened to you while traveling in a foreign country. (ITN prints no info on destinations in the United States.) There are no restrictions on length.
Edinburgh and St. Andrews
It’s always nice to receive the kind of warm attention upon arrival that I did, as a solo traveler, at the Priestville Guest House (10 Priestfield Rd., Edinburgh, Scotland, EH16 5HJ, U.K.; phone 0131 667 2435).
Brussels’ Rue des Bouchers
My husband, Ed, and I were in Brussels, Belgium, one May ’12 afternoon.
Returning to the homeland: Albania
My father emigrated from Albania 100 years ago and, although my family kept no ties to the homeland, my wife, Anne, and I had been thinking about going there for years. After reading Carol Probst’s article “Albania — Enjoying Europe Without the Cost and Crowds” (Dec. ’12, pg.
Guide in Cambodia
For part of a trip to Southeast Asia, our travel agent arranged for my wife, Pnina, and me to have, in Cambodia, an independent tour guide: Sopheap Bung (16D, St.