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June 2007 issue

Insult result

I’m writing regarding the letter “An Altercation Escalated” (April ’07, pg. 66).

Whether Ms. Weiss was interrogated for two hours or six hours is neither here nor there. It’s the behavior of the Schiphol Airport police over a “she said, he said” verbal altercation that is absolutely reprehensible.

Taking Ms. Weiss off her flight because an airport employee felt “insulted”? Give me a break! Is this any way for the “authorities” to treat a 69-year-old woman traveling alone? They should be ashamed of themselves, and that employee should be fired!

DIANE ROBBINS

...

January 2007 issue

The Panama Canal and so much more

My adult daughter Jennie and I chose the line Cruise West (Seattle, WA; 888/851-8133, www.cruisewest.com) for our highly anticipated January ’06 trip through the Panama Canal plus Costa Rica.

Cruise West is tops in small-ship cruising. Their ships, carrying only 94 passengers each, are totally unlike the megaships cruising the Caribbean and we really appreciate them.

They offer educational adventures to study the ecology of an area and the culture of the people who live there. We also like the close bond that develops between the passengers, who are of a like mind. These were...

September 2008 issue

Kuala Lumpur’s Petronas Towers

On a trip to Malaysia, my significant other, Frank, and I spent a night in Kuala Lumpur where, if a visitor does nothing else, seeing the Petronas Twin Towers is a must. Guided by the spirals, and with help from a watch compass, we walked there from our hotel (the Alpha Genesis Hotel (formerly Allson Genesis), approximately $65 in March ’07).

Joined by a bridge at the 41st floor, the towers herald K.L. as an industrial and cultural center. This world-famous glass-and-steel structure of 88 floors dominates yet blends with surrounding buildings.

We were struck by their scale....

June 2008 issue

Abandoning ship

Jean Saulsbury of Mariposa, California, requested advice from anyone who ever had to abandon ship — what to grab, how to be ready, what transpired (March ’08, pg. 95). Here are three responses.

When fire threatens the ship

I was on the Vistafjord (Cunard Line) when she had a fire in the middle of the night on April 6, 1997. I have to say that the crew were fantastic and did a great job.

We were woken by the loudspeaker system about 2 a.m. The ship had sailed from Ft. Lauderdale about 5 p.m. the evening before, so she was diverted to the Bahamas, arriving later that...

February 2007 issue

Complejo Tango

My husband Don, and I attended a marvelous “tango lesson/dinner show” called Complejo Tango Cena-Show (Escuela de Baile-Canto-Musica, Av. Belgrano 2608, C1096AAQ, Buenos Aires, Argentina; phone [54] [0] 11 4941 1119, fax 43082106 or visit www.complejotango.com.ar) in Buenos Aires in January ’06. It was one of the best events of our 24-day trip to South America.

Our travel agent prearranged the evening, which costs $60. It included a hotel pickup and return. Our group was small, 10 to 12 people.

The lesson took about 30 minutes. My young teacher was very patient with my two...

August 2007 issue

Funniest Thing for August

Tell ITN about the funniest thing that ever happened to you while traveling in a foreign country. There are no restrictions on length. (ITN prints no info on destinations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean.) 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 LOIS HALUNEN of Livermore, California:

After arriving at our hotel in Beijing, a couple whom we met while coming from the airport wanted to go out and find a bottle of wine to have with their...

January 2007 issue

Peruvian fare

On a trip to Lima, Peru, in May ’06, we took a day trip to Chosica, a weekend retreat 25 miles east of Lima. Our friends had recommended Fuego Restaurante (Jr. Trujillo sur 406, Chosica; phone 360-2425), and our meal there was the best that we had in all of Peru.

It was typical Peruvian food presented in a manner that would delight Americans. Between us we had a chicken dish, a cuy (Guinea pig) dish, a liter of beer and a mixed drink for a total of 63.70 soles (near $20).

The owners are Jim and Fiorell Gillette (he is a transplant from Ludlow, Vermont).

LOUIS GAUTIER...

July 2007 issue

Inside Japan Tours

My husband, R.C., and I cannot speak highly enough for Inside Japan Tours (Lewins House, Lewins Mead, Bristol, BS1 2NN, U.K.; phone ++ 44 [0] 870 120 5600, fax 870 746 1047) and the trip we took with them in October ’06.

As is our custom for destinations on our wish list, we saved ITN readers’ recommendations for travel in Japan over a period of about five years. When it came time to plan, we checked them all out. It took only a few hours to be certain that IJT was the right company for us.

Planning was easy and the IJT staff very responsive. We did everything by...