Columns

October 2006 issue

How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice

Yesterday I was surprised to receive from my ex sister-in-law an e-mail with pictures of a brand-new grandchild. How wonderful that we can communicate our joy so easily and quickly! Having not seen that side of my family for a few years, I was anxious to see how my nephew, whose new baby had just arrived, had grown into a man plus, of course, who the baby resembled.

I was disappointed to find that of the five images, only one was in focus and showed the baby clearly. Most were blurry, had people’s faces cut off or were generally disappointing.

Now, I know my sister-in-law has...

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August 2006 issue

Addressing a cruise line, single share rates, tour shopping stops
Q

Steve, I am enclosing an exchange of correspondence I had with Princess Cruises some months ago. I consider the response from the Passenger Relations Specialist inadequate and, basically, insulting. Although he stated that my letter was being referred to others within the Princess hierarchy, I received no further response. My question to you is twofold: is there any logic to my position on the change in the manner in which repeat passengers attain different levels in the Captain’s Circle and the line’s prejudice in favor of “quantity” rather than “quality,” and why do you think Princess...

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August 2006 issue

Sun and fun

We all love a sunny day, especially when traveling. The sun lifts our spirits, gives us vitamin D, warms us, lights our way and gives life. But the sun is a double-edged sword; it can cause sunburn, dehydration, heat stroke, drug reactions, premature aging of the skin and skin cancer.

The sun can do all this through electromagnetic radiation, primarily ultraviolet radiation, or UV. Most of the sun’s radiation is blocked by the ozone layer present in the Earth’s atmosphere, but as the ozone becomes more and more depleted, more of this radiation is making it to the surface of our...

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April 2006 issue

Turkish delight
By Philip Wagenaar

(First of three parts, jump to part 1, part 2, part 3)

Language Note *In the introduction to this article, the Turkish word ılık is used. In Turkish, neither “i” in this word has a dot on top. The Turkish alphabet has two “i”s, one with a dot and the other without. The one with the dot is pronounced as the English “ee” and the one without the dot, as in the word “in.” — P.W.

“Çorba, çok ılık, lütfen” (“Soup, very warm, please”)*, I told the waiter when I ordered my first course.

Five minutes later, the lukewarm liquid arrived. I repeated the phrase, “Çorba, çok ılık, lütfen...

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November 2006 issue

Should I Visit the Middle East?

Some friends shake their heads, and others are envious of Moreen and me for our travels in the Middle East. They ask, as do some ITN readers, if it is safe there for travelers. I can’t offer a definite yes or no, but I believe it’s relatively safe in many Middle Eastern countries.

For example, I had planned to take a trip to Libya in April of this year. The tour was canceled, not for security issues but because Libya stopped granting tourist visas for U.S. citizens. When Libya again offers visas, I plan to go there.

Certainly, there are countries in the Middle East I wouldn’t...

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May 2005 issue

Catching flamenco performances in Sevilla, Spain

by Linda Ledray

QUESTION: I am planning a trip to Spain in the near future. I expect I will be traveling alone, as my friends don’t travel much these days. It’s a shame. I love flamenco music and dancing — watching, that is. I just don’t feel comfortable going out to a nightclub alone but cannot imagine not being able to watch flamenco while I am there. Any suggestions? — Emma Rose, Steamboat Springs, CO

ANSWER: I am glad to hear that you love flamenco, and I agree. I cannot imagine a trip to Spain without enjoying the national dance. But you don’t have to miss it and I...

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June 2006 issue

Basque Spain and France, the Ghan, air vs. rail in Europe

STEVE, I want to travel only in the Basque country in northern Spain and France. Cobblestone Travel in New Orleans suspended business because of Katrina, and they were Basque specialists. Can you name another way to see this Basque area without other Spain highlights? — Larry I. Epstine, Fremont, CA

DEAR LARRY, I tried contacting Cobblestone Travel, but, as you indicated, Katrina may have done them in. There is a company in San Sebastian that should be able to help you: Tenedor Tours (P.O. Box 5070, San Sebastian, Spain; phone/fax +34 943 313 929).

I spoke with the...

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January 2006 issue

Tragedy fuels debate re Antarctic cruising
By Lew Toulmin

The tragic death of popular cruiser, explorer and businessman Stephen Glyn Thomas in a hiking accident in Antarctica has fueled debate about the future of cruising and tourism in that region.

Stephen Thomas, 51, of Cambridge, England, was a successful businessman and multimillionaire who had launched three major information technology firms, including Geneva Technology, which he sold to a U.S. company for £500 million. Thomas had long had a dream of sailing to the high latitudes of both poles, and in 2003 he set off from Ipswitch, England, in his 66-foot sailboat Magic Dragon with...

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