by Steven Emmet, Solana Beach, Ca.
“Uzbekistan?” “Where is it?” “Why are you going there?” “Is it safe?” These were the questions most often asked regarding my planned April-May ’08 trip.
Not many archaeological sites can claim they were founded by survivors from the Trojan War or that they were visited by Aeneas. Butrint can claim both. Butrint, located in southern Albania close to the Greek border, is the country’s best-known archaeological site. It also is on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
(4 of 4 on India plus Nepal)
When my husband, Frank, and I planned our trip to India, we wondered how we would react to seeing people living in third-world slums or on the street, and to beggars, especially children. Would we feel so guilty about having the money to travel that we couldn’t enjoy our trip?
Istanbul, Turkey, is a wonderful city with many beautiful mosques. When our family disembarked from a cruise ship at Istanbul in July ’08, in a large lot at the base of the gangway there was a sea of taxi cabs. Drivers approached those of us who had not purchased the ship’s bus trip to the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia and offered to show us the city’s tourist attractions for €l00-€125 (near $139-$173).
Part 3 of 4 on India & Nepal
Rob Sangster, Memphis, TN
by Jay Brunhouse
When I learned German in Munich, Germany (München), in 1966-67, Munich was known as The World City with Heart and The Secret Capital of Germany.
While vacationing in Cusco, Peru, April 23-May 17, 2008, and going to school there for Spanish lessons, I had opportunities to try many good restaurants. I am pretty convinced that it would be hard not to find a good meal in Cusco.
Look for the “Meñu del dia” outside a restaurant or ask if they have one. It usually includes a soup, entrée, dessert and coffee or tea and generally runs from 11 to 18 soles ($4-$6) — a good deal.
Here are some good places.
You don’t have to be in Cairo very long to realize that the traffic is horrendously congested.