April 2004

The first air cruise to Antarctica

by Julie Skurdenis

I am standing atop Bulethi Pagoda in Bagan, Burma’s most important archaeological site. I’ve huffed and puffed up a steep staircase to the uppermost platform encircling the structure. The platform is narrow — only three feet wide — and I lean back against the stone to steady myself as I gaze out over the plain far below me.

by Philip Wagenaar, third of three parts

by Jay Brunhouse

I paid a return visit to London’s Bloomsbury in November ’03.

Our family (husband, wife, 16-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter) visited France and Belgium for three weeks in June ’03. While in Paris, we arrived at the Sainte-Chapelle minutes before a free English-language tour was to begin. It was the luckiest day of our trip!

The guide, Vicki-Marie Petrick, was a native of Jacksonville, Florida, who has been living in Paris for 10 years. She has a Master’s in Medieval and Renaissance Art History from the Sorbonne and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Medieval Art History. She also has a background in theater and she teaches.

The airport-to-Paris shuttle service PariShuttle (visit www.paris-anglo.com) was mentioned previously by ITN readers (Feb. ’02, pgs. 74-75). For a trip in September ’03, I tried to call the service and learned that their toll-free number from the U.S. is no longer available. You must call their other numbers or contact them through their e-mail address: ashuttle@club-internet.fr. (I made alternative arrangements.)

GLADYS ROWE SHELDON
Albuquerque, NM

In reference to recent letters (Dec. ’03, pg. 78 & Feb. ’04, pg. 83), I thought the purpose of having an International Driving Permit was to present it in the case you had to deal with authorities in non-English-speaking countries. It serves as a multilanguage translation of your driver’s license, including what type of vehicles you are permitted to operate, i.e., car, motorcycle, etc.

RICHARD MILBERG
Champaign, IL