Columns

(3rd of 3 parts on Brazil)

It was a flight from Salvador to Brasilia, connecting with a flight northwest to the Amazon and Manaus, that started the final part of my September 2014, partially hosted, small-group journey through Brazil with longtime ITN advertiser ElderTreks. 

Manaus is the capital and largest city (pop., two million) in the state of Amazonas. Founded in 1669 as a fort on the banks of the Rio Negro, 6 kilometers from its convergence with the mighty Amazon, the settlement achieved town status in 1832 when it was named Manaus, an altered spelling of “...

Mastery of Europe’s major cities — Rome, Paris, London, Vienna — is the mark of a good traveler. Teeming with color, energy and cultural vibrancy, these places, while expensive, richly reward the thoughtful traveler.

There are plenty of ways to thrive in big European cities without going broke. And the good news is that, in so many ways, the less you spend, the more you’ll engage in the life around you. 

So stow your camera, roll up your sleeves and enjoy the real thing. Here are some of my top tips for keeping your expenses in check without compromising your travel fun....

Dear Globetrotter:

Welcome to the 467th issue of your monthly foreign travel magazine. Whew! I’ve worked on 463 of them… and still love doing it. Every month brings interesting mail, and it helps to have good-spirited, dedicated coworkers. 

Your letters of encouragement are inspiring too. With ITN largely reader written, this is a group project. And let’s not forget the advertisers who help support the magazine; if you notice something interesting in one of their ads, give ’em a call. It’s all coal for the engine that is ITN.

OK, let’s get to the news. Credit for this...