July 2008

This interactive crossword puzzle is no longer available online.

I am a longtime subscriber to ITN, which I enjoy very much as I have been to 86 countries. I returned in April ’08 from a trip to Rome, San Marino, Malta, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.

I even slept on a pad on the Saharan sand dunes under the stars. I am 83 years old and am quite crippled with arthritis, but those Tuaregs sure know how to take care of the handicapped. Of course, they had to lift me back up every morning.

Each summer, Europe greets a stampede of sightseers and shoppers with eager cash registers. Before jumping into the peak-season pig pile, consider the advantages of an off-season trip.

18 days/16 nights includes 4-day cruise. Departures through Feb. 16, 2009.

18 days/16 nights, Oct. 25-Nov. 12, 2008.

19-day/18-night tour of NEPAL, May 13-31, 2009, includes 3-day festival. “Challenging” level of hikes (daily in rough terrain).

Highlights: In Kathmandu, Monkey Temple, ancient city of Patan, Old Bazaar/fly through Kali Gandaki gorge in Himalayas to Jomson/trek along Kali Gandaki river to Kagbeni/cross plains to Mustang village of Tanbe/walk canyons, fields and forests of Northern Mustang to Lo Manthang/1,000+ Mustang tribal members reenact Tiji Festival rituals, including dances, horse racing and tug-of-war/return via herding trails in Lo Gekar/two days’ Kathmandu.

8-day/7-night walking tour (longest walking day, 7½ miles) of Tenerife Island, SPAIN. Departures through March 24, 2009.

Highlights: From the Arenas Negras (black sands), ascend El Volcán Negro to picnic in pine forest/on Degollada de la Mesa ridge, walk through limestone peaks, laurel forests/skirt Caldera of Mount Teide, walking through lava flows and pumice/ocean views, rock pools, whitewashed houses along Masca Gorge/El Palmar Valley to hamlet of Teno Alto, then atop La Gomera for views.

Land only, from $2,344. Single supplement, $609.

15 days/13 nights, April 23-May 7, Sept. 3-17, 2009.

Highlights: From Shannon, travel through County Clare to Killarney/Ring of Kerry/Blarney Castle and Woolen Mills/in Cobh, Heritage Centre, Titanic Trail/Castle of Cahir, Rock of Cashel/Viking town of Waterford, crystal factory/Book of Kells at Trinity College/ancient burial ground at Newgrange/coastal Donegal/in Clifden, archaeology lecture/Burren to the Cliffs of Moher.

Land only, $4,595 April, $4,995 September. Single supplement, $1,095.

In Kyoto, Japan, the 80-member Good Samaritan Club (www.geocities.jp/kyoto_samaritan) provides free day tours in English. Comprised of college students studying international communication, the club was established in 1961.

To book a tour, e-mail samaritan-reservation@h.vodafone.ne.jp or call 090 6684 0167 from noon to 1 p.m. or 5 to 6 p.m., Japan time.

Include in your message your name, the gender, nationality and age of each participant, the name and phone number of your hotel and any special requests.

On a 2-day/one-night “low-intensity” bike tour in Thailand, ride in Khao Yai Park (with a short jungle trek) and through Asoke Valley to two wineries for tastings. Day two, bike to a restaurant, then back to the resort for a swim before the 2-hour drive back to Bangkok.

Departs every Saturday. 6,750 baht (near $209); single supplement, 900 baht ($27). Spice Roads (14/1-B Soi Promsi 2, Sukhumvit 39, Klongtan Nua, Wattana, Bangkok, Thailand 10110; phone 66 02 712 5305, fax 5306, www.spiceroads.com).