Features

by Lynn Remly, Arlington, VA

Clattering across eight time zones, the Trans-Siberian Railway line traverses one-third of the globe and all of modern Russian history. While continuing to provide basic transportation in an area with few roads, the train also serves as a draw for hard tourist cash to help kick-start the limping post-Soviet economy.

While most people take the Vladivostok-Moscow route in worn-out cars with primitive facilities, I opted to traverse the 5,806 miles (9,288 kilometers) in style on a private train traveling along the classic route south of Lake Baikal...

By Jack C. Ogg, part 2 of 3 on the Balkans

The aqua-blue waters of the Adriatic, the coves and beaches of the Dalmatian coast, medieval walled cities, imperial Roman ruins, mountain lakes and the forests and vineyards of the interior make Croatia a modern-day Shangri-la.

A country of contrasts

Croatia is a relatively new country, and one of contrasts: geographic, political, religious and ethnic. Settled by the Illyrians, invaded by the Celts and, in succession, conquered by the Romans, Venetians, Byzantines, Ottomans, French and Habsburgs, it became a part of...

—Diane Powell Ferguson, Scottsdale, AZ

Inspired by a positive review in International Travel News by Charles R. Cusack (Nov. ’02, pg. 82), we chose Fish Eagle Safaris (phone 800/513-5222 or visit www.fisheagle safaris.com) for our ninth African safari — the second to Botswana.

Planning ahead

We contacted company owner Bert du Plessis to customize wildlife viewing in the Okavango Delta. In fact, we stayed at two camps the Cusacks had visited, although our final choices were based on different requests.

Since taking our first tented safari in 1995, our criteria...