by Betsy and Bob Burnett; Jeffersonton, VA
Although we had traveled to many places, we hadn’t visited India, but the lure of the exotic and the prospects of visiting a cousin living there were the perfect excuses to go in November ’10. Accumulated frequent-flyer miles sweetened the pot.
In Acapulco, Mexico, rival organized-crime gangs have increased the level of violence against each other and moved it into areas of town more frequented by tourists. Over a four-day period in mid August, 13 people were killed during attacks on taxis and public buses, with one attack at a taxi stand near the municipal market.
Also in Acapulco, on Aug. 20 five decapitated bodies were discovered near a Sam’s Club store and along the nearby boulevard Miguel Alemán. Gas station owners have protested the extortion by crime gangs and threats against their employees.
On the classical music tour “From the Alps to the Adriatic with KDFC” in May-June ’11, our tour bus, chartered by Earthbound Expeditions (Bainbridge Island, WA; 800/723-8454), traveled through several countries, but when it arrived at Venice we encountered all sorts of red tape.
At the bus arrival area, the Piazza di Roma, passengers must debark from the buses and proceed on their own by taxi or vaporetto (water bus) to Venice.
I almost hate to let the word out on this wonderful find! My husband, Mike, and I spent eight nights in an apartment on Praça de Luís Camões, in the Chiado (historic) part of Lisbon, in February ’11. From the first enquiry we e-mailed to the owner, Paulo, until the day we left Lisbon, this was one of the best apartment rental experiences we’ve ever had! All questions were answered promptly and thoroughly.
by Marvin Herman, Delavan, WI
Articles my husband, R.C., and I read in ITN helped us plan our fall ’09 trip to Croatia and Slovenia. We went to Plitvice National Park because every article we’d read about Croatia mentioned this destination. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen another place quite like it. The color of the lakes is so special, black-and-white photos cannot do it justice. We spent an entire day walking the park’s paths.
Dear Globetrotter:
Welcome to the 423rd issue of your monthly overseas travel magazine.
Tell ITN about the funniest thing that ever happened to you while traveling in a foreign country. (ITN prints no info on destinations in the United States.) There are no restrictions on length. The ITN staff will choose each month’s winner, who will receive a free one-year subscription to ITN. Entries not chosen cannot be acknowledged.
This month’s winner is PEGGY PARKER of Milwaukie, Oregon:
Having been many times to Paris, my wife and I have done all the must-see attractions. During a week’s visit, Sept. 21-29, 2010, we were determined to go to Château de Malmaison, the Empress Josephine’s country house, just outside of the city. We had read about it in ITN (Oct. ’08, pg. 52 & March ’10, pg. 16).
We’d had conflicting advice on how to get there. Here’s how we did it.
A website providing information on how to make your next trip more environmentally friendly — by keeping carbon emissions from motorized transport to a minimum — greentraveller.co.uk lists over 80 ferry journeys passengers can take between the UK, Ireland and Continental Europe.