International Travel News articles from August 2005

International Travel News archives from August 2005

Boarding pass.
August 1, 2005... Dear Globetrotter: Welcome to the 354th issue of your monthly overseas travel magazine. In the June issue I mentioned that police in Malaysia had arrested criminals who possessed a machine that, using info gathered tapping into banks'...

There is a magnificent painting by Dali, "Christ of St. John of the Cross," in Glasgow, Scotland.(Travel tidbits)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... There is a magnificent painting by Dali, "Christ of St. John of the Cross," in Glasgow, Scotland. For info, go to www.glasgowmuseums.com and follow through to "St. Mungo Museum of Religion." There will also be more info on the Burrell...

Chiang Mai, Thailand, can be covered on foot or by riding the 3-wheeled tuk-tuks.(Travel tidbits)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Chiang Mai, Thailand, can be covered on foot or by riding the 3-wheeled tuk-tuks. The city, like Bangkok, unfortunately was blanketed in smog during our trip a few years back, but the traffic was manageable and the pace much less exhausting...

Grille Courte Paille was a good chain restaurant in France during our visit in the summer of 1998.(Travel tidbits)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Grille Courte Paille was a good chain restaurant in France during our visit in the summer of 1998. Food was cooked over an open wood fire in the dining room. We found it very good, with ample portions, a pleasant atmosphere and...

One of the first things we learned during our November-December '97 trip to Australia was the "Aussie salute": continually and rapidly moving your hand in front of your face.(Travel tidbits)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... One of the first things we learned during our November-December '97 trip to Australia was the "Aussie salute": continually and rapidly moving your hand in front of your face. We thought the flies would be a problem in the Outback, but one of...

China: a silk road journey.(Cover Story)
August 1, 2005... I had wanted to do the Silk Road again for some time and finally talked my husband into going. Since I planned on spending 30 days, I added a few places to the beginning of the itinerary that I had not yet visited. An unexpected start ...

Reserving wheelchairs in airports.(Traveler's Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... I took a Continental Airlines flight from Seattle to Cancun and return, Feb. 27-March 8, '05. I know ITN does not normally include anything on North America, but Houston is an international gateway plus I was assured by the ticket clerk that...

Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova.(Traveler's Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
August 1, 2005... In the '90s, my wife, Alice, and I three times hired a car and drove through the newly opened countries of Eastern Europe, but we had yet to visit the three countries that were former Soviet states: Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova. In May '05 we...

Funniest thing.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Tell ITN about the funniest thing that ever happened to you while traveling in a foreign country. There are no restrictions on length. (ITN prints no info on destinations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean.) The ITN staff will choose...

Bolivia protests.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... American citizens should defer nonessential travel to Bolivia. Since May 16, various groups have conducted protests, demonstrations and blockades to protest the Bolivian government's hydrocarbons (gas) policy and demand a variety of...

Nepal concerns.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The Department of State remains concerned about the Security situation in Nepal and continues to urge Americans to defer nonessential travel there. Travel via road in some areas outside of the Kathmandu Valley continues to be dangerous. On...

Mumps in the UK.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... At press time, the United Kingdom was experiencing a nationwide mumps epidemic. Most of these cases were in teenagers and young adults, with the greatest numbers seen in the 15- to 24-year age group. In the first 24 weeks of 2005, 40,367...

Bird flu update.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... According to the World Health Organization, as of June 17, 2005, 107 human cases of avian influenza A (H5N1) had been reported: 86 in Viet-Nam, 17 in Thailand and four in Cambodia, resulting in 54 deaths. For more information about H5N1...

Polio connections.(cases of type 1 poliovirus reported in Yemen, Sudan, Indonesia.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... At press time, the World Health Organization had reported 179 cases of type 1 poliovirus in Yemen since an outbreak was reported in April. A total of 39 cases had been reported in Indonesia (in Western Java and Banten provinces) since early...

Current warnings.(News Watch)(Public Notice)
August 1, 2005... As ITN went to press, the State Department had travel warnings on 29 destinations: Congo-Kinshasa, Nepal, Israel/West Bank/Gaza, Afghanistan, Bolivia, Uzbekistan, Haiti, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Yemen, Colombia, Lebanon, Central...

Ruling on cruise ship access for disabled.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... On June 6 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that any cruise ship that sails in U.S. waters must provide access for disabled persons in line with the Americans with Disabilities Act, even if the ship is registered in a foreign country. ...

The anti-smoking movement.(smoking bans in Europe.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Citing a higher incidence of cancer among restaurant and bar workers than those in other jobs, officials in Sweden on June 1, 2005, banned smoking in pubs and dining places. Macedonia followed suit, adding schools, state buildings and private...

France-Italy tunnel closed.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The 8-mile-long Frejus Tunnel, a main highway linking France and Italy, is closed indefinitely. On June 4, a fire on a truck carrying tires burned for seven hours, and officials fear that sections of the tunnel may collapse from the damage. ...

Eurostar splits business from leisure.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The high-speed Eurostar train connecting London with Paris and Brussels through the Channel Tunnel will offer separate cars for leisure and business travelers in first class starting Sept. 1, 2005. The designation "first class" will be...

Austria & Czech pass.(Rail Europe Group introduces rail passes.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... A new Austria & Czech Pass from Rail Europe is the first to link the Czech Republic to an E.U. neighbor. It provides four days of unlimited first-class rail travel within a 2-month period, starting at $200 per person when two or more people...

Kathmandu-Lhasa bus.(Sajha Yatayat starts bus service.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Nepal's state-run transport company, Sajha Yatayat, on May 1 launched its first-ever direct bus service between Kathmandu and Lhasa (Tibet). The 966-kilometer route crosses passes as high as 5,200 meters above sea level and offers views of Mt....

Int'l airport for Kashmir.(rennovation.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... India would like to see more tourists in disputed Kashmir, the Himalayan region of snowcapped mountains and pine forests in the state of Jammu & Kashmir, so it is opening the main airport to international flights. Work has begun on upgrading...

New UK airport.(obin Hood Airport open for business.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... A new international airport has opened in the United Kingdom: Robin Hood Airport in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, northern England. On the site of a former airforce base, RAF Finningley, it will service flights to 21 countries, including Red Sea...

Dutch 'coffee shops'.(law to register cannabis smokers.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... To curb increased crime from "drug tourism" around the 754 licensed "coffee shops" in the Netherlands where owners are allowed to stock up to 500 grams of cannabis for sale to smokers (individuals may legally possess up to five grams), the...

Greece extends hours.(art museums.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... In Greece, the Acropolis and other museums and archaeological sites now are open 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m. daily during the summer season,, and many stores will remain open until 9 p.m. Previously, many museums closed at 2 p.m.

Tivoli Christmas.(Travel briefs)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... In Copenhagen, the Christmas season at Tivoli has been extended, now Nov. 11-Dec. 30, 2005. Vistors will find a Christmas market, skating on Tivoli Lake and Nissekobing village, displaying hundreds of nisser (mechanical pixies). Contact...

France's ancient cities of Europe: largely unknown by the mass of travelers, the bastides of southern France offer hospitality and living history, unhurried and uncrowded.
August 1, 2005... The hostess of our chateau pensione near Naucelle, France, was speaking about her visit to the United States. "In Boston, the tour guide showed us a church and said proudly, 'It is over 250 years old.' We waited for the punch line, but...

4-star's rooms all not equal.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips and recommendations)(Karl Schranz Hotel )
August 1, 2005... During the week of March 13-20, '04, we stayed at the Karl Schranz Hotel in St. Anton, Austria. We went with a group of six couples, booked by Alpine Adventures. We were told it was a 4-star hotel, but when we got there we were assigned a...

Landings infrequent at Pitcairn.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips and recommendations)
August 1, 2005... ITN was mailed a copy of a letter sent to Discovery World Cruises, as follows. I was a passenger on the "In the Wake of the Bounty" cruise of the M.V. Discovery, Jan. 31-Feb. 15, '05. My sole purpose in taking this cruise was to visit...

Monet Adriatic cruise.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips, & recommendations)
August 1, 2005... We took a 14-day Adriatic cruise from Dubrovnik, Croatia, to Venice, Italy, aboard the m/v Monet, March 16-30, '05, with Elegant Cruises & Tours (www.elegantcrusies.com). We arranged it through TravLtips (Flushing, NY; 800/872-8584 or...

Insured by access America.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... In the many years my husband, Ted, and I have traveled around the world on ship, on tours and independently, we have booked travel insurance about two-thirds of the time. We have seldom needed to use it and always questioned the expense of...

Comfort of an assured departure.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
August 1, 2005... One important additional detail about choosing a tour company (Feb. '05, pg. 58) is finding out if the departure dates are guaranteed! We have had three bad experiences with Globus * (Littleton, CO; 800/221-0090 or www.globusjourneys.com); all...

Choosing a tour.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... How do we go about choosing a tour (Feb. '05, pg. 58)? My wife and I have traveled widely using a range of methods: group tours, individually, combined independent and group travel, canal boat rentals, etc. We would suggest the following steps,...

Give singles a break.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... I saw the article in the February '05 issue, page 58. I have always chosen a tour to see different parts of the world, as I am a single traveler (not by choice). I'm hoping readers will write in and let me know how I can avoid the "single...

Mastering solo travel.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... This is in response to Audrey Curtis, who wanted readers to submit articles on traveling alone (May '05, pg. 122). I'm a 66-year-old widow, but because my husband and I had different interests (he trekked in Nepal, I dug in Pompeii), while...

Recommended in Turkey.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... During my visit to Turkey, Feb. 20-27, '04, a friend and I had the good fortune to have as our tour guide Ms. Gulden Gullu (1786 s. 8/1 Sagsoz Apt., 35540 Karsiyaka, Izmir, Turkey; cell 90 532 441 9685 or e-mail gulden90@yahoo.com). ...

Tonga: a South Pacific paradise.
August 1, 2005... Do you have tradewind dreams? Do you wonder what Hawaii and Tahiti were like many years ago? Would you like yours to be the first footprints on a perfect white-sand beach? Consider beautiful Tonga, a collection of idyllic islands whose friendly...

Best and worst places to drive.
August 1, 2005... We asked those of you who have rented cars and driven in various countries to tell us which cities/countries you have found to be the worst in which to drive. (ITN prints no information about destinations in North America or the Caribbean.) We...

Accommodations worldwide: hotels B&Bs homestays apartments.(Column)
August 1, 2005... The following is a listing of some of the hotels, B&Bs, etc., in which ITN readers have stayed over the past year or so (outside of North America and the Caribbean) plus restaurants or sights nearby. Prices are those paid at the time of the...

Candid appraisals of group tours to Viet-Nam.
August 1, 2005... The following are candid appraisals of some of the tours ITN readers have taken in the last year or so to VIET-NAM. When writing to ITN about a tour, please keep it as brief as possible (200-400 words) and include the ADDRESS and/or phone...

Immersed in the Venetian lifestyle and the art of Florence: like countless other travelers, we were spellbound by Venice. Our 3-night stay really meant only two full days, but they were two delightful days that we would repeat in a heartbeat.
August 1, 2005... (Second of two parts) On queue We stayed in a residential area off the Via Garibaldi, a wide thoroughfare just a 10-minute stroll along the lagoon from St. Mark's Square. The frantic pace of much of Venice is left behind when you call...

Highlights of Egypt.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
August 1, 2005... Well, we finally did it, and I must say that there is not much of Egypt that we did not see! My husband and I, our son and daughter-in-law and our daughter and grandson started a 14-day independent tour of Egypt on June 24, '04. Our...

Aswan dining choices.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... Here are some restaurants that we enjoyed in Aswan, Egypt, Feb. 6-9, '05. Panorama Restaurant is on the Corniche El Nil and across from the EgyptAir office. They are very pleasant here and offer fresh lemonade and banana drink. We had...

Tips for driving in Britain.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
August 1, 2005... Many visitors who in their home country drive on the fight-hand side of the road can find driving on the left in Britain a daunting task, but with a little insider information, and by following a few golden rules, they usually get by unscathed....

Booted in Haarlem.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... One helpful hint for driving abroad is to avoid parking infractions. In Haarlem, Netherlands, several years ago, we found marked spaces with few automobiles and no instructions that we could see. But when we returned from the Franz Hals Museum,...

A good look at Berlin.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... Three friends and I booked a trip to Berlin for March 6-11, '05, with Expedia (www.expedia.com). For $905 each, double occupancy, it included airfare, hotel and ground transportation. We flew from the Washington Dulles airport to Frankfurt...

Exchange $$ at legal kiosks.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... I learned of a currency exchange scam during a visit to the Czech Republic in October '04. There are some other countries in Eastern Europe that have obsolete currencies. A prevailing scam in Prague is for people to offer a very wonderful...

Checkpoint security.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... Placing valuables into the open plastic container at airport x-ray checkpoints certainly is a concern (Nov. '04, pg. 18 & Feb. '05, pg. 83). However, there is a solution, if security would only go along with it. I was returning some time...

TSA refund received.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... After returning from a trip to Chile on Nov. 21, '04, I found that the TSA locks on my luggage had been cut instead of opened. I immediately filed the appropriate claim form with the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) reporting that...

Close shave?(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... Regarding the letter titled "Don't Even Think About It" (June '05, pg. 89) with the picture of the interesting xoad sign showing a sailboat with a line through it, my guess is that it means "Don't trailer a sailboat with its mast up on this...

Guatemala travel.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... We were in Guatemala for 12 nights in October '04. The travel agency we used in Antigua, Voyageur Tours (Centro Comercial La Fuente, 4a. Calle Oriente No. 14, Antigua, Guatemala, C.A.; phone [502] 832-4237, fax 4247, e-mail info@travel.net.gt...

Thailand, Cambodia guides.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... We took the "Discover Thailand" tour, plus the optional pre-trip visit to Angkor Wat, Cambodia, with Overseas Adventure Travel (Cambridge, MA, 800/955-1925 or www.oattravel.com) in February '05. The entire 19-day trip was great and our two...

Bhutan's wealth.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... I write in response to the reader's letter titled "Poverty in Bhutan" (April '05, pg. 84). It seems to me that Bhutan must compare very favorably to most countries, including the USA, by any objective measure of poverty. There are no...

Costa Rican time-share.
August 1, 2005... After purchasing a time-share in August '03, I started reviewing the large catalog with listings of hundreds of time-share properties around the world, including information on availability, amenities, nearest airport and more. I have been...

A novel approach to travel.
August 1, 2005... ITN subscriber David Glass of Laree, Alsace, France, wanted to know which novels motivated readers to travel somewhere overseas. In the last two issues we've listed books that moved readers to travel to Europe and to Britain. Shown below are...

Mercedes-Benz Museum.(shedule to open in May 2006.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Just outside of Stuttgart, the new Mercedes-Benz Museum is scheduled to open in May 2006. It will show the company's complete collection of car design and production over the past 120 years. Visit www.mercedesbenz.com.

All aboard.
August 1, 2005... Einstein Year In 2006 Berlin will celebrate the opening of new train stations at Hauptbahnhof/Lehrter Bahnhof, Potsdamer Platz, Papestrasse and Gesundbrunnen on May 28 before the craziness and traffic crunch of the World Cup soccer games....

Sail one of these tall ships.(The Cruising World)(Column)
August 1, 2005... (Second of two parts) Last month I described the romance of tall ship sailing. This month I will give some specific suggestions for fascinating tall ships around the world. Where the tall ships roam Cruising grounds for tall ships...

Deilmann smoking restrictions.(Peter Deilmann Cruises.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... On Peter Deilmann Cruises' nine river ships and the deluxe ocean liner MS Deutschland, all cabins and corridors are now smoke-free, and smoking in the main lounges has been restricted to designated areas. The line is continuing its...

NCL expedites meals.(Norwegian Cruise Line Ltd.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Norwegian Cruise Line (800/327-7030 or www.ncl.com) is adding a new feature to its Freestyle Dining program: flat-panel TV screens around each ship that tell passengers how long the wait for dinner is at the vessel's restaurants. The...

Tours: a selection of escorted tours.(Midway Motor Travel., Classic Journeys., )
August 1, 2005... "GARDENS & ARBORETUMS" -- That tour and a general sightseeing tour of ENGLAND both take place Sept. 24-Oct. 4, 2005. Starting in London, both include counties Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Dorset, Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Wiltshire and...

"Himalaya".(New on the Bookshelf)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
August 1, 2005... "Himalaya" by Michael Palin (2004, Thomas Dunne Books. ISBN 0312341628--288 pp., $29.95 hardcover). It's been called the "Palin effect." Whenever a Michael Palin travel series airs on the BBC, British tour operators are deluged with...

"A Sense of Place: Great Travel Writers Talk about Their Craft, Lives, and Inspiration".(New on the Bookshelf)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
August 1, 2005... "A Sense of Place: Great Travel Writers Talk about Their Craft, Lives, and Inspiration" by Michael Shapiro (2004, Travelers' Tales, ISBN 1932361081--378 pp., $18.95 paperback). Michael Shapiro reports from an offbeat destination: the homes...

Flying fitness.(Travel & Health)(Column)
August 1, 2005... Flying fitness Flying was once a pleasure, but no more. It can be quite stressful. We put up with long security lines, hauling luggage, small seats and curious meals plus long periods of immobility and exhaustion. There are numerous health...

Tips for the solo traveler.(Column)
August 1, 2005... QUESTION: I am a bit of a loner and have no family nearby. While I am not able to travel a lot, I do enjoy my trips, which are usually solo. The December '04 tsunami disaster made me think, however. If something happened to me, I wonder how...

The discerning traveler.(Column)
August 1, 2005... Car rentals and leases (Second of three parts) Last month I talked about the upper age limit invoked by car rental suppliers. This month I would like to discuss other automobile rental and lease-related factors. The following...

London Open House.(opens its door to the public.)
August 1, 2005... During the London Open House, Sept. 17-18, 2005, 500 architecturally significant buildings will open their doors to the public, and all access is free of charge. Buildings range from churches to the new Wembley Stadium and Heathrow Airport's...

Tall ships in England.(Brit bits)
August 1, 2005... In celebration of the 250th anniversary year of the naming of Santander, Spain, a Tall Ships Regatta to that city will start from Torbay, England, on Sept. 3, 2005, with a return race arriving back in Torbay on Sept. 17. To view the tall ships...

Edvard Munch.(art exhibition.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The exhibition "Edward Munch by Himself," at London's Royal Academy of Arts, Oct. 1-Dec. 11, 2005, focuses on the Norwegian artist's lesser-known self portraits. Drawn mostly from the Museet collection in Oslo, there will be 150 paintings,...

Beatrix Potter.(art exhibition.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The Dulwich Picture Gallery, in south London, is exhibiting works by Beatrix Potter, Oct. 12, 2005-Jan. 22, 2006. Included are early sketches, unfinished and first drafts of her illustrations, finished watercolors and early editions of the...

Edinburgh Pass.(allows visitors free entry to 27 attractions.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The new Edinburgh Pass allows visitors free entry to 27 of the city's attractions, including the Edinburgh Zoo, the Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre and the National Museums of Scotland. The pass also provides exclusive offers from 26...

England Pass.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The new BritRail England Pass is for travelers who are not going to Wales, Scotland or Ireland but want to make use of the extensive rail system in England. Prices start at approximately $90 for two days and $169 for tour days. Passes are...

Britain's 'lighthouse ship'.(Brit bits)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Trinity House--the lighthouse authority for England, Wales and the Channel Islands--offers luxury 7-day voyages on its flagship, THV Patricia, from April to October. Still a working ship, it is responsible for maintaining over 400 buoys, 100...

Lizard Lighthouse.(is open daily for tours.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Through September 2005 (from May 1), the 18th-century Lizard Lighthouse, in Cornwall, is open daily for tours. Admission, 2 [pounds sterling]. The website www.trinityhouse.co.uk gives details of lighthouses open to the public, including some...

Britain houses and gardens.(Brit bits)(Book Review)(Brief Review)
August 1, 2005... The 2005 edition of a comprehensive annual guide to historic buildings and gardens in Britain open to the public has been published. "Hudson's Historic Houses & Gardens," edited by Norman Hudson (Globe Pequot Press--9.95 [pounds sterling] from...

University lodgings.(Brit bits)(Venuemasters)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Venuemasters, representing more than 100 universities and colleges throughout the U.K., has introduced an online booking system allowing travelers to search for good-value holiday accommodation at colleges. Visit www.venuemasters.co.uk.

WWII 'Secret Army'.(World War II.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... A new Secret Army exhibition in Beaulieu, England, tells the story of the British and overseas members of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) who completed their training at the Beaulieu "finishing school" during World War II. About...

Best of England.(Brit bits)
August 1, 2005... For a list of the winners of the Enjoy England Excellence Awards 2005--celebrating outstanding B&Bs, hotels, self-catering properties, visitor attractions, tourism websites, etc.--visit www.visitengland.com/presscentre; click on Latest Press...

Cotswold Olimpicks.(Brit bits)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Started by local barrister Captain Robert Dover in 1612 at Dover's Hill above Chipping Camden, England, the Cotswold Olimpicks is held by custom on the first Friday after Whitsun, which in 2006 falls on June 4. In addition to traditional...

Rick Steves' Europe[c].
August 1, 2005... A Venetian mosaic Even after 30 years of exploring Europe, I still have so much to learn. I love wandering through a great city like Venice with a local expert. Here's a sampling of some fun facts and quirky stories that a talented...

Exploring Colonia, Uruguay.(Focus On Archaeology)
August 1, 2005... A trip to Uruguay in April '04 was my first to that country. I went to see Montevideo, its capital city. I also wanted to visit the small town of Colonia (its full name is Colonia del Sacramento) in the southwestern corner of the country, about...

Jurassic Museum in Spain.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Thousands of years ago, dinosaurs roamed Asturias in northern Spain. In fact, the area between Gijon and Ribadesella has so many dinosaur tracks and bones, it's known as the Dinosaur Coast. In spring 2005, the Jurassic Museum of Asturias...

Far horizons.(Column)
August 1, 2005... The long-haul, single-destination group tour--from the inside Previously I have written on the subject of one of the rarest categories of all touring offerings in the U.S. outbound travel marketplace: the long-haul, single-destination group...

Report cards: on-the-spot reports from around the globe.
August 1, 2005... FIRST, FAST & FURIOUS--The following is a sampling of reports received from ITN readers around the globe. ITN invites you to join our corps of reporters--just drop a card in the mail while the travel impressions are fresh in your mind. To...