11 days/10 nights in ICELAND, June 15-25, 2009. Highlights: Thingvellir National Park, site of world’s oldest democratic Parliament/Gullfoss waterfall/hot springs in Hveravellir/midnight sun in Akureyri/whale watch in Husavik/ducks, falcons, puffins, terns at Lake Myvatn/Vatnajokull glacier/ Reykjavik city tour/swim in Blue Lagoon. Land, $5,995. Single supplement, $895. Eldertreks (Toronto, ON, Canada; 800/741-7956, www.eldertreks.com).
Eight days/seven nights. Highlights: Based in Asturias Mountains, northern Spain/yoga classes morning and evening/hike Somiedo National Park, Quiros River Valley and along the Cantabrian coast. Land, €1,200 ($1,637). Single supp., €200 ($272).
Spanish Steps (Aspen, CO; 877/787-9255).
by Judith Anshin; Contributing Editor
Cars from the 1920s through 1950s will parade through the medieval streets of Mdina on the island of Malta in the fourth annual Mdina Grand Prix, Oct. 9-12, 2014. In the main square, classic and contemporary cars competing for “best in class” prizes will be showcased in the “Concourse d’Elegance” event. Contact the Malta Tourism Authority (phone +356 22915000, www.visit malta.com).
During a visit to Cancún and the nearby Riviera Maya, on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, Nov. 28-Dec. 4, 2013, my wife, Fyllis, and I stayed at a hotel of Sunset World Resorts (800/494-9173), a group of six properties, each boasting unique attractions. Guests may take advantage of the facilities and services at all of them.
While in Kathmandu, Nepal, in September ’13, I had a massage at the Club Nirvana spa in Hotel Yak & Yeti (GPO Box No. 1016, Durbar Marg, Kathmandu, Nepal; phone +977 1 4248999. Rooms/suites, $240-$750 + tax).
My hour-long shiatsu massage was a superb combination of therapeutic massage, stretching and gentle chiropractic movements. After two weeks with lots of stair climbing, it felt terrific. The cost was only $25.
My husband, Bucky, and I flew Icelandair from the US to London through Reykjavik in September ’04. Due to unfortunate events, we were stuck in Reykjavik for a day, and Icelandair offered us a free bus ride to the Blue Lagoon, where I found out that I could have a floating massage in the outdoor thermal mineral pool.
I lay on a buoyant mat with a pillow roll and a heavy but thin blanket on top. The water was warm, but the air was cool, and the therapist kept gently pushing me down so warm water would flow over my body.
We asked ITN subscribers, “Where have you, in the last few years, had a great massage outside of the United States?” In addition to where it was (including contact info, if possible), approximately when you were there and about how much it cost, we wanted to know what made it great and about any tips you have for others interested in experiencing a massage. The responses appear below.
ITN asked subscribers who had attempted to trace a branch of their ancestry or find lost or unknown relatives outside of the US to each let us know the types of resources they used. We wanted to know which websites proved helpful; whether or not they looked for records of baptisms, marriages or land ownership in a church, courthouse or library; where and approximately when they conducted their in-person search; whether or not they visited a graveyard and any advice they had on doing that, and what sort of expenses were involved in all this.
6 days / 6 nights, departing March 2, June 10 & Dec. 2, 2013. Highlights: Two daily game drives or bush walks in Serengeti National Park to look for lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, antelope / two yoga sessions daily. Land, $3,900. Extraordinary Journeys (New York, NY; 800 / 403-6012).