History

Prior to a 3-week tour of Botswana, Zambia and South Africa, my husband, Maurice, and I flew in three days early to Johannesburg and met our guides, Gill and Graham Maskell of Africa 2000 Tours (P.O. Box 1204, Hilton, 3245, South Africa; phone +27 33 3433911, fax 33 3431786). We had traveled with them in South Africa the previous year.

To take advantage of our limited time in the city, Nov. 11-13, 2007, we had asked the Maskells to plan these three days to cover our interests in culture, history, archaeology and food.

My wife, Amber, and I decided to add a quick, one-night stay in Tallinn, Estonia, to our 2-week Nordic capitals tour in July ’07 simply because it was easy to get to and because there was a chapter on the city in our “Rick Steves’ Scandinavia” guidebook.

The city ended up exceeding our expectations and now holds a lofty place near the top of our list of favorite travel destinations. The Baltic capital revealed an engaging medieval Old Town surrounded by a bustling modern city.

I enjoyed Patrick Erricker’s tips on making touring in London more affordable (Dec. ’08, pg. 11). I’m into my sixth year living in Greater London (near the Kew Gardens tube station), and I wanted to share my five tips on enjoying London on foot.

London is a walker’s paradise, especially in April through October when the days are longer. There is more sunshine than people expect, and the weather is rarely worse than a mizzle (between a mist and a drizzle). Best of all, you could walk somewhere new every day for decades and never need a car.

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.

by Claus Hirsch, New York, NY

With many world travelers expanding their horizons beyond the popular tourist spots of Western Europe, increased attention is being paid to the former Soviet Republics and now-independent states of the former Yugoslavia.

When my granddaughter Melody, just 16, begged us to take her to England, I wanted her to experience the England I loved most. My husband, John, and I and our son Huntley traveled with Melody from June 29 to July 14, 2008.

by Marisue Pickering, Orono, ME. Photos by John W. Pickering

by Jay Brunhouse