August 2015

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Located in Longgang National Geological Park in southwestern China’s Chongqing Municipality, the Yuanduan skywalk opened on April 26. The horseshoe-shaped, glass-floored bridge extends out 87½ feet from a cliff edge 2,350 feet above the valley floor. 

Northwest of Shanghai, China, the city of Suzhou — known as the “Venice of the East” due to its many canals — has created an English website. 

TraveltoSuzhou.com describes the history of the 2,500-year-old city and lists sites of interest, trip-planning tips, things to do, festival dates, shopping attractions and tour packages.

The US and Cuba announced on July 1 that they would open embassies in each other’s countries on July 20, the first time the nations will have had diplomatic relations since 1959. As of press time, the embassies’ locations had not been announced.

In May 2015 the US removed Cuba from its list of states that sponsor terrorism.

I’ve always been a fan of budget travel tips. For 30 years I’ve written and lectured about ways to stow away, picnic and get special deals to be able to afford international travel. My feeling has long been that “you experience more by spending less.” 

17-day, 16-night family-focused luxury expedition cruise. Minimum age, 7. Highlights: Buenos Aires fly to Ushuaia, ARGENTINA; board Le Boreal/kids’ workshops on science, art, writing, seamanship, navigation/view whales/explore South Georgia/king penguins, elephant seals/Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetlands, Paradise Bay, Lemaire Channel (“Kodak Alley”). Dec. 19, 2015-Jan. 4, 2016, from $18,995 ppdo; single supp., from $9,950.  Dec. 13-29, 2016, from $16,995 ppdo if booked by March 31, 2016; single supp., from $9,995.

12-day, 11-night tour in highlands of BOLIVIA, March 11-22 & March 25-April 5, 2016. Highlights: In La Paz, visit markets, organizations, restaurants/Santiago de Okola, fishing community at Lake Titicaca/Uyuni Salt Flats/hike on Island of the Sun/quinoa tour in Salinas de Garci Mendoza/farm tours in Jatun Yampara and Hampaturi Valley. Land, $2,000 ppdo. Single supp., $105. La Paz on Foot (710 Calle Indaburo, esq. Calle Jaen, La Paz, Bolivia; phone +591 71543918, www.lapazonfoot.com).