A visit to Greece’s Mt. Athos — a standout in a lifetime of travels
by Bill Altaffer; San Diego, CA
Religious Sites
Maha Kumbha Mela
15-day / 13-night tour, Feb. 15-March 1, 2013, with attendance at a Hindu pilgrimage held once every 12 years. Highlights: Mumbai tour / visit four Shiva shrines / rock-carved Ajanta caves / Omkareshwar island / participate in rituals and ceremonies of the Grand Mela in Allahabad / Ganges sunrise cruise / 20,000 statues at Akshardham Temple. Land, $4,045. Single supp., $1,270. Original World / Spirit of India (Sausalito, CA; 888 / 367-6147, www.originalworld.com).
Africa » Value offers
Africa CAN be affordable, from Egypt to the Cape. Here are some travel selections on Egypt, Uganda, Botswana and South Africa.
Egypt
Pilgrim’s progress in Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela, the Spanish cathedral housing the relics of St. James, has long exerted a powerful pull on travelers. For over a thousand years, pilgrims from all walks of life and all corners of the globe have trod the rugged trail from France across northern Spain in a spiritual quest for forgiveness and healing.
Arriving at the cathedral square, millions of tired sojourners have taken a deep breath and thought, “I made it!” The city has a festive, hippie-like atmosphere as travelers celebrate the end of a long journey.
China with JMG Tibet Tours
Our trip was arranged by JMG Tibet Tours (6001 Falls Circle Dr., Ste. 301, Lauderhill, FL 33319; phone 866/548-4238, e-mail jeff@jmgtibettours.com).
Memorabilia
What do YOU collect on trips overseas? That’s what we asked readers to write in about. We printed some of the responses in last month’s issue, and here are a few more. Have something to add? Write to Memorabilia, c/o ITN, 2116 28th St., Sacramento, CA 95818, or e-mail editor@intltravelnews.com (please include your surface-mail address).
(Second of two parts, go to part one)
Scotland’s magnificent Melrose Abbey
Pictured above is Scotland’s magnificent Melrose Abbey, located only 37 miles southeast of Edinburgh’s airport. It was made famous in a poem by Sir Walter Scott, who was instrumental in getting the ruins restored in the early 19th century.
JOAN HANSEN
Sacramento, CA
Synagogue in Tunisia
In his August 2012 column, Philip Wagenaar stated that El Ghriba Synagogue on Djerba Island in Tunisia was destroyed by a bomb attack in 2002. This is inaccurate.
Bhutan temple burns
Wangdue Phodrang Dzong in eastern Bhutan was destroyed by a fire on June 24. Perched on a cliff above the confluence of two rivers, the location of the temple-fortress, which was built in 1639, made it difficult for the 14 fire engines to get enough water up to it to put out the fire.
Most of the artifacts were saved. Prime Minister Jigmi Thinley promised that the temple would be rebuilt.