Travelers' Intercom
Britain by foot
My husband, Robert, and I have enjoyed a lifelong love of walking the countryside of England, where if a path between villages was ever a public path, it must be kept so even if the land it is on is sold.
Frequent flyer miles from original airline
For an itinerary in January ’08 from San Jose, California, to Dakar, Senegal, with connections in Chicago and Brussels, my wife and I were ticketed with American Airlines (AA). The initial flight, San Jose-Chicago, was canceled due to a mechanical problem.
Guide in Jerusalem
I was in Israel for a conference and had three days afterward (Sept. 11-14, 2009) to revisit Jerusalem.
Standout suitcase
My suitcases are black, just like everyone else’s, but in 29 years of globetrotting I have never lost a piece of luggage.
Pricey Polynesia
I took a trip aboard the Aranui 3, Sept. 24-Oct. 9, 2009. This is a passenger/cargo ship that stops among some of the Marquesas and Tuamotu islands dropping off supplies and tourists.
Gone fishin’
Before traveling anywhere, the closing times of shops and banks there and the days on which they will be open or closed should be learned.
Trikes in Scotland
During a cruise stop on Aug. 20, 2009, my husband, Bob, and I toured Edinburgh as passengers on a three-wheeled motorcycle with Trike Tours Scotland (phone 0800 056 7779 or mobile 07786 267826, www.triketours.com).
Baliem Valley changes
Sadly, the primitive bridge in Irian Jaya’s (West Papua’s) Baliem Valley, described by two readers in the October issue (page 42), no longer exists.
Take notes of promises made
Eight of us flew Delta/Air France from San Jose, California, to Cairo, Egypt, via Paris, France, on Feb. 27, 2010. When we arrived at Paris’ CDG Airport for our connecting flight to Cairo (on Air France 508 or Delta 8622) at 1:35 p.m., we found out that it was delayed due to weather.
Recommended in Rome
In Rome, I recommend a stay at Casa di Santa Brigida (Piazza Farnese 96, 00186 Roma, Italy; phone +39 06 6889 2596 or 2497, fax 6889 1573 or e-mail piazzafarnese@brigidine.org). It overlooks the elegant, quiet Piazza Farnese, with the Campo dei Fiori market a block away.
View from Hotel Porto Roca
Those who have seen the Cinque Terre in Italy have delighted in the settings of the five little tow
Tips for communicating in Japan
Awaiting takeoff from Los Angeles to Tokyo, the Japanese flight attendant asked, “Ma’am, have you already had a chance to buckle your seat belt?” This question, presented as a pleasant request, intrigued me because an American attendant might say, “Please put on your seat belt so we can take off.”
France fast with Cosmos
My wife, Rose, and I traveled to France with Cosmos (Littleton, CO; 800/276-1241, www.cosmos.com) in May 2010. The eight-day/seven night “Jewels of France” bus tour cost $1,025 each, excluding airfare.
Stripe sufficient
I read the subscribers’ experiences with chip-and-PIN cards (Aug. ’10, pg. 16). My wife.
Give peace a chance
My April 2010 trip to Costa Rica had been, to this point, mediocre, at best.
West Africa visit
I toured Mali and Burkina Faso, Feb. 10-27, 2010, with Craig Canadian Group Travel, Ltd. (Toronto, Ont., Canada; 800/387-8890), who also arranged a post-trip, seven-day hotel stay for me for in Paris through March 6.
‘Lasagna’ packing
I’m an old lady whose early travels were during World War II. When my parents realized that railway stations would no longer have porters, I was told to pack only what I could carry. That not only introduced a weight limit, it put a premium on size, too, for smaller was easier to carry.
Norway adds up
My wife, Joan, and I had experiences similar to that of Kent Shamblin (“Travel in Norway,” Sept. ’10, pg. 17) when we took a cruise on the MS Nordkapp with Hurtigruten (Fort Lauderdale, FL; 866/552-0371) in June-July 2010.
Central America hotels & fun
From the trip two friends and I took through Central America in January 2010, I particularly recommend the following accommodations.