Travelers' Intercom
Brazil’s Pantanal
My husband, Ed, and I and our daughter, Allison, and son-in-law, Tim, took the tour “Pantanal Expedition” with International Expeditions (Helena, AL; 800/234-9620).
Security pass
I was rushed from my home to the hospital on April 27, 2011, after passing out on my way to the mailbox. I had a pulse of 30 beats per minute. About an hour later the doctors had implanted a pacemaker.
‘Disappointed’ on Cunard’s Queen Eilzabeth
I cruised on the Queen Elizabeth, Dec. 15, 2010-Jan. 5, 2011, embarking in Southampton, England, and visiting Madeira, then crossing the Atlantic to Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados, Dominica and Tortola before recrossing the ocean to Ponta Delgada, Azores, and Southampton.
By Bromo Volcano on Java
A friend and I visited Indonesia, May 5-27, 2011 (Nov. ’11, pg. 4). On Java we stayed near Borobudur temple at the gracious Lotus Guest House (Jl.
In and around Amsterdam
I spent three weeks in Amsterdam and the Netherlands in August ’11. If you have the pleasure of spending more than four or five days there, here are some ideas for saving money.
Smooth rolling in Africa
I would highly recommend the 14-day rail journey aboard Rovos Rail’s Pride of Africa from Cape Town, South Africa, to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, offered by The Society of International Railway Travelers (Louisville, KY; 800/478-4881)
Montevideo cautions
Over many years of travel, I’ve found that the warnings in Lonely Planet guidebooks’ “Dangers and Annoyances” sections are on target and certainly not alarmist.
Tracing ancestors from Germany
From 1821 to 1914, more than 44 million people left Europe heading for North America, and, of those, over seven million sailed from Bremerhaven, Germany.
Dealing with roommate issues on a tour
With some tour companies, you pay extra for single accommodations on the tour unless they find a roommate for you. But what happens if the roommate they find has issues that are not satisfactory to you? Loud snoring, for example.
Violins and more in Cremona
Perhaps the reason Cremona, Italy, is less touristy and more “off the beaten path” is because it’s not on a major train line. I stayed there three nights, May 8-10, 2011, which was just right.
Sumengen Hotel, Istanbul
In Istanbul, I highly recommend the Sumengen Hotel (Mimar Mehmet Aga Caddesi Amiral Tafdil Sokak 21, Istanbul, Turkey; phone 0212 517 6869).
Bilbao delights
Granted, the fabulous, Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim Museum is a centerpiece of Bilbao, Spain, but the city has much more to offer.
Ethiopia with Patrick Syder
Along with seven other adventurous souls, I took a 15-day tour of Ethiopia offered by Patrick Syder Travel (Zenobia House, 23 Bowmans Close, Steyning, West Sussex, BN44 3SR, U.K.; phone/fax +44 [0] 1903 879737).
Solid advice
A reader asked where to find insect repellent and sunscreen in solid form (Sept. ’11, pp. 50-51), which would not need to go into the TSA-required “311” bag in your carry-on.
Luggage lost and lessons learned
After a 21-day study tour in Israel/Palestine, I went to the Tel Aviv airport on Feb. 10, 2011, for my return flight.
France’s ‘Megalithic Parthenon’
My wife, Dorothy, and I visited the Cairn of Barnenez, located near Morlaix, in Brittany on the west coast of France, in May ’11.
Bulgaria by bike
I had heard about the beauty of the Rhodopen Mountain region in the south of Bulgaria and took a cycling tour, Aug. 14-21, 2010, with Penguin Travel (9 Orlej Str., 1421 Sofia, Bulgaria; phone +359 2 400 10 50), which I found online.
Arlequin in Brussels
My husband, John, and I had the luck to find a wonderful hotel in the center of Brussels’ I’lot Sacré (the historic district).
Alluring Alicante
I was delighted to read Martha Wiley’s article “Spending the Day in Alicante” (Sept. ’11, pg. 18). Alicante is a lovely city. One of its attractions is its moderate climate — never too hot or too cold.
Far West Ski Association trips + Romania guide
My partner, Carolyn, and I took a three-week trip to Switzerland, Bulgaria and Romania, Feb. 26-March 19, 2011, with Far West Ski Association (310/319-3757). This trip, like others organized by the FWSA about March every year, was part skiing and part touring.