International Travel News articles from June 2005

International Travel News archives from June 2005

Boarding pass.(Editorial)
June 1, 2005... Dear Globetrotter: Welcome to the 352nd issue of your monthly overseas travel magazine. "As a longtime subscriber, I must write every so often to tell you how much I enjoy the magazine." So wrote Ann White of Concord, California,...

SAA, D.C. to Jo'burg.(South African Airways service between Washington Dulles and Johannesburg )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... South African Airways (SAA) has begun service between Washington Dulles and Johannesburg (refueling in Accra, Ghana), and from July 2 through Aug. 15 it is offering an inaugural fare of $807 round trip in economy class, with the option of...

Guinness[R] Brewery.(St James's Gate Brewery)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... In the St James's Gate Brewery in Dublin. Ireland, the 7-floor Guinness[R] Storehouse is Ireland's number-one visitor attraction. It has exhibits on the history of brewing and the story of Arthur Guinness and his family and offers guests a...

'Ensor to Bosch'.(Travel briefs)
June 1, 2005... At BOZAR, the Centre for Fine Arts in Brussels, the exhibition "Ensor to Bosch" presents 100 works of art, June 15-Sept. 11, 2005. The Flemish Art Collection--from the three largest Flemish art history museums--includes masterpieces and forms...

Inca ruins and amazing animals on a private tour of Peru and Ecuador.
June 1, 2005... In May '04, my wife, Jean, and I and friends Cass and Marlene Candell embarked on a wonderful private tour of Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca and the Manu Wildlife Reserve in the jungle headwaters of the Amazon in Peru, followed by a week in the...

Lucky passport.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The April '05 "Discerning Traveler" column deals with getting a second passport. There is one significant group of people that has the chance to get a legitimate foreign passport: people who have one grandparent born in Ireland. If you are in...

Possible flight stumbling block.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... On my most recent trip to Bangkok, Jan. 8-14, '05, I encountered a curious and frustrating situation when checking in for my return flight. I used China Airlines (www.chinaairlines.com) from New York's JFK Airport, since they had the best...

Help the recovery in Thailand.
June 1, 2005... The killer tsunami of Dec. 26 devastated parts of Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India and even reached African shores. The total loss of life may never be known. Thailand's six southern provinces along the Andaman Sea also were battered by the tidal...

Art Deco church, Vienna.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... While in Vienna in fall 2004, my wife and I went to the Central Cemetery to see the graves of the composers. While there, we decided to take a look in the Dr. Karl Lueger Kirche that is in the cemetery. It was a real suprise for us! The church...

Funniest thing.
June 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...

Egypt attacks.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Two French tourists and one American were killed in the Khan al-Khalili bazaar in Old Cairo, Egypt, on April 7 when a suicide bomber blew himself up with a crudely made bomb. It was the first attack against foreigners in Cairo in seven years....

Thailand violence.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The far south of Thailand has recently experienced increasingly serious and frequent incidents of violence. On April 3 and 4, a series of bombs were detonated in Hat Yai and nearby Songkhla city in Songkhla Province and in Yala province. The...

Lebanon concerns.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri of Lebanon was assassinated Feb. 14, 2005, in a car bomb attack in which at least 19 other people were killed. Protests, including against the U.S. Embassy, took place in Beirut and other cities. Syria...

Israel/West Bank/Gaza.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to defer unnecessary travel to the West Bank and avoid all travel to Gaza. Terrorist attacks within Israel have declined in both frequency and associated casualties, but the potential for violence...

Yemen warning.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The security threat to all U.S. citizens in Yemen remains high due to terrorist activities. The Department has authorized the voluntary departure of dependents and nonemergency personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa.

Attacks in Chad.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... In recent months, all regions in Chad have experienced a sharp rise in incidents of highway banditry targeting civilians. Three foreigners were either killed or critically injured as a result of highway attacks. Tensions along the...

Central African Republic.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Although an American officer is again posted at the U.S. Embassy in Bangui, the Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens against travel to the Central African Republic (CAR). In March 2003, rebel forces that had been operating in...

Congo-Kinshasa security.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against travel to Democratic Republic of the Congo. Despite efforts to advance the peace process following the 2003 formation of a transitional government, there has been periodic fighting in North...

Togo tensions.(elections)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... In April 2005, some regions in Togo, especially Lome, experienced sporadic election-related violence. On April 22, just two days before the election, the Minister of the Interior unilaterally announced that the election should be postponed...

Tunisia alert.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The United States Government has strong indications that individuals may be planning imminent terrorist actions in Tunisia. Americans are urged to remain vigilant with regard to their personal security.

Ecuador leader removed.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The security situation in Quito, Ecuador, remained unsettled following the April 20 removal of Ecuador's president, with the vice-president's taking the oath of office, after a week of increasingly confrontational protests. American citizens...

Stopping at select sites on a Eurail tour of Austria, Hungary and Romania.(Cover Story)
June 1, 2005... It sounded like the perfect itinerary to me. We would begin in Vienna, a city I had been dying to see but had not yet had the pleasure of visiting. We would continue to Hungary, which is emerging as a fashionable travel destination while still...

Overbooking is standard practice.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2005... I am writing with reference to the letter titled "Confirmed on Tour, Then Bumped to Another," from ITN readers Clair and John Kohler, and the response of Grand Circle Travel (Feb. '05, pg. 30). Frankly, I was astonished and actually angered by...

Rude awakenings on cruise.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2005... ITN was mailed a copy of the following letter, sent by a reader to Holland America Line. I am writing in reference to our cruise on the MS Noordam, May 9-19, '04, out of and returning to Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy. This was a cruise...

Aided by Silver Shadow staff.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2005... To celebrate our 60th Anniversary, my wife, June, and I decided to "live it up" by taking a cruise on the 6-star Silversea ship Silver Shadow, Oct. 7-19, '04. We left from Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica, and sailed to Ecuador and Peru and back. ...

Private arrangements in Viet-Nam.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2005... My wife, Carol, and I wanted a custom tour of Viet-Nam so we could include five days on our own in the Mekong Delta city of Vinh Long where I had taught English a couple of years ago. We also wanted a tour that would emphasize contact with...

Iran visit 'marvelous'.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2005... Our 16-day trip to Iran in September-October '04 was absolutely marvelous in all respects, and our concerns about what it might be like, based on "information" published in the States, were totally baseless. We recommend visiting Iran. Its...

Santiago de Compostela.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2005... I really enjoyed reading Rick Steves' article on Santiago de Compostela in the August '04 issue. It brought back memories of a voyage my wife and I made in May '04. While Rick is correct in saying that the Cathedral is Santiago's one real...

Social centers in India.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2005... All Hindu temples in India seem to be places where devotees and their families can congregate--take a nap on the stone floor, have a picnic, sell flowers or trinkets and visit with friends. Children's heads are shaved on their first visit to...

Caring gestures in BA.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2005... Buenos Aires stole my heart and my necklace--and gave it all back with interest. On our first day of a long-anticipated trip to South America, in November '04, my grown daughter, Linda, and I settled into our centrally located hotel in...

The pousadas of Portugal--historic inns with character.
June 1, 2005... It had been 20 years since our first visit to Portugal. When we returned in September '04 we found that not a lot had changed, especially in the northern area. Women still carry baskets and bundles on their heads, men are seen leading donkeys...

A novel approach to travel.
June 1, 2005... ITN subscriber David Glass of Laree, Alsace, France, wrote, "There must be people like us who have been motivated to travel by the images and ideas presented in novels. It would be interesting to hear of other readers' motivations. Let me start...

Accommodations worldwide: hotels * B&Bs * homestays * apartments.
June 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 plus restaurants or sights nearby. Prices are those paid at the time of the visit and conversion rates are approximate. ...

Exploring the Emerald Isle by bus and train.
June 1, 2005... A misty sky hovered over a pastoral patchwork of emerald and lime. White-capped waterfalls cascaded in glistening sheaths along the green hillsides and weaved through the wild heather and forested terrain. In the distance, a glimmer of sunlight...

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

Discovering the treasures of China and Japan on a luxury cruise.
June 1, 2005... My wife and I are inveterate travelers but had never .been to Japan, high on our list of places to go. We also love to take cruises and had heard a lot about Crystal Cruises (phone 866/446-6625 or visit www.crystalcruises.com) and its good...

Gorillas in Uganda, chimps in Tanzania.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
June 1, 2005... I made my ninth trip to Africa in July '04, this time revisiting Uganda and Tanzania with three friends. We landed in Kampala, UGANDA, and spent two days there and a day in Jinja (the source of the Nile). Then we headed with our guide, Cliff...

The Orkneys and Shetlands.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Column)
June 1, 2005... Wanting to take a 2-week trip into lesser-known territory of the U.K., in September '04 I covered a lot of ground, first visiting London, the Isle of Man and western Scotland (April '05, pg. 16 & May '05, pg. 79). At long last, I was leaving by...

Driving in France.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
June 1, 2005... For a first-time visitor to France, a tour may be the best bet. A single traveler will do well with a railpass, but for two or more persons who want to explore France more thoroughly, a car is best. CAR RENTAL--Rent your car from a U.S....

Cruise wish list.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)
June 1, 2005... ITN asked readers how they go about selecting a cruise (Oct. '04, pg. 4). When choosing a cruise, my wife and I start with the ports of call. If we haven't been there as yet and desire to go, we book the cruise. If it is on a ship line...

Choosing a cruise.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)(Column)
June 1, 2005... What factors do I consider when choosing a cruise? Time of year and itinerary are on top of the list. I go between September and May (no holidays). Prices are lower and there are fewer families. I go to a shop that specializes in...

Don't even think about it.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Here's an interesting sign that I saw during a week's visit to the Walchen Sea in Bavaria, Germany, in May '04. It was close to a lake, but for miles there was no place to launch a boat along the steep shoreline, plus there was no way one could...

Private tour of Mideast.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Two weeks before Christmas 2004, my husband and I decided to take a much-longed-for trip to the Middle East. Where to go for information? Our ITN magazine, of course. There we spotted a small ad regarding customized trips to the Middle East via...

'Outstanding' guide in Romania.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... From April 1 to May 15, '04, we spent four weeks on our own in the Czech Republic and Hungary and then another two weeks in Romania, ending up back in Bucharest. Szeged, Hungary, is a city we highly recommend. It reminded us of Paris with...

Central Portugal base.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The small town of Nadadouro was our base in Portugal during a stay in 2001. Ninety kilometers north of Lisbon, this area is ideally located for exploration of central Portugal, including the towns of Obidos, Fatima, Nazare, Tomar, Peniche,...

Angkor in Cambodia.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... A terrific highlight of our September/October 2000 trip to Southeast Asia was Angkor near Siem Reap, Cambodia. We were not prepared for the vastness of Angkor's temple area. We spent four hours seeing Angkor Thom (a city with a large...

Worth their weight in gold.(Travelers' Intercom: Readers' opinions, tips & recommendations)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2005... I've noticed that some readers disdain the use of travel agents. My wife and I have traveled extensively (several trips yearly, to a total of 75 countries) and we've found our local travel agent invaluable and well worth the modest air travel...

All aboard!(mass rapid transit)
June 1, 2005... Taipei metro Approaching my destination, I heard the recorded woman's voice announce over the train's loud-speaker, "Here we are in Danshui [MRT] station. Thank you for your patronage." Is that polite or what? When you ride the...

Hotel discount card.(All aboard)(Get More Europe Card)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Travelers from the U.S. can purchase a "Get More Europe Card" that gives them 25% off standard room rates (and in certain restaurants) at any Radisson SAS Hotel & Resort Or Park Inn Hotel in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, seven days a...

Tours: a selection of escorted tours.
June 1, 2005... TRAVEL MEMOIR WRITING IN ITALY--Seven nights, Oct. 22-29, 2005. For aspiring or established writers. Highlights: Daily creative travel memoir and journal writing workshops with author and filmmaker Jillian Robinson (sharing your writing is...

"The Travel Book: A Journey through Every Country in the World".(New on the Bookshelf)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
June 1, 2005... "The Travel Book: A Journey through Every Country in the World" (2004, Lonely Planet. ISBN 1741044510--444 pp., $39.99 hardcover). This hefty coffee-table volume earns its definitive title. Assembled by the editors of Lonely Planet...

"Long Way Round: Chasing Shadows Across the World".(New on the Bookshelf)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
June 1, 2005... "Long Way Round: Chasing Shadows Across the World" by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman (2004; Atria Books. ISBN 0743499336--312 pp., $26.95 hardcover). He toured alien planets in the "Star Wars" films and romanced Nicole Kidman in "Moulin...

"Knopf Mapguides: The Italian Lakes".(Book Review)
June 1, 2005... "Knopf Mapguides: The Italian Lakes" (2004, Knopf. ISBN 0375710442--48 pp., $8.95). This is a small book containing but 48 foldout pages, including index pages, and measuring 5" x 7". It has six sections, one for each of the major...

Avian influenza (bird flu): update.(Travel & health)
June 1, 2005... A few months ago I spoke about Avian Influenza, or the Bird Flu (Dec. '04, pg. 85). The disease is related to human influenza but is not the same as the usual flu, which causes trouble in people on a yearly basis. Bird flu, however, poses a...

How to obtain the necessary entry visas.(The Discerning Traveler)
June 1, 2005... (Second of two parts) In last month's column I discussed the necessity of having sufficient blank pages in one's passport and reported many other items gleaned from the Department of State website. This month I will discuss the various...

Tips for the solo traveler.(travel to Thailand)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... QUESTION: I was just beginning to plan a long-awaited trip to Thailand before the tsunami. I was going to spend a full week in Phuket, as I love to snorkel and relax and read on the beach. I have heard differing opinions about travel to that...

German aviation.(Air and Space Center launched)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The Air & Space Center has opened at the German Museum for Technology in Berlin. An extensive permanent exhibition spotlighting 200 years of German aviation history, it displays more than 40 aircraft, from a Messerschmitt Bf 109 to the...

'Youth' BritRail Passes in 1st class.(Brit bits)(RailEurope Inc.)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Until now, "youth" versions of BritRail Passes--priced 25% lower than adult passes--have been available only in standard (second) class. This year, Rail Europe is offering youth versions of most of the BritRail line of passes in first class as...

'Royal Scotsman' rail.(Brit bits)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The luxury train Royal Scotsman offers round-trip journeys from Edinburgh from April through October in 2005. Journeys range from one to seven nights. An example--the popular 4-night "Classic," offered June-August, runs from the Highlands...

Shop London.(Brit bits)(www.visitlondon.com)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The pocket-sized guide "Shop London" gives a breakdown of London's shopping regions--such as Fashion & Designer, Music, Jewellery and Toys--and includes sections on London's markets as well as "villages" (such as Hampstead and Richmond). It...

Cycling in Britain.(Brit bits)(www.cyclecityguides.co.uk)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... A new book highlights more than 400 of Britain's best cycling routes which are not only scenic but segregated from cars. The 384-page "Traffic-free Cycle Trails" by Nick Cotton (CycleCity Guides--12.99 [pounds sterling] from British bookshops)...

Welsh writers' routes.(Brit bits)(www.writersroutes.com)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... A new "Writers' Routes" website brings to life the literary heritage of southwest Wales. It features favorite Welsh writers, extracts from their work and the latest on the region's literary events and news. Motoring routes allow visitors to...

Scottish ancestry.(Brit bits)(www.ancestral scotland.com)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The 50 million people around the world who claim Scottish ancestry may access the VisitScotland website www.ancestral scotland.com for information on their family backgrounds. They can access parish records dating from the 1790s, and links are...

Somerset garden.(Brit bits)(Hestercombe Gardens)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Hestercombe Gardens in Somerset, an Edwardian formal garden designed by architect Sir Edwin Lutyens and planted by Gertrude Jekyll, is just over 100 years old and in April opened a new visitor center with a restaurant, exhibition gallery, gift...

Seeing Wales on horseback.(Britain)
June 1, 2005... The Trans Wales Trail ride is a unique way to see seldom-explored parts of wild, wonderful Wales. On a 6-day, 7-night equestrian adventure, guests will cross almost the entire width and length of Wales, from the English border to the Irish Sea,...

Winding, windy Arcos.(Rick Steves' Europe[c])
June 1, 2005... Arcos, a small town on the southern tip of Spain, smothers its hilltop, tumbling down all sides like an oversized blanket. On its narrow streets, drivers pull in car-door mirrors to fit around tight corners. The labyrinthine old center is a...

In Paris, the top floor of Printemps department store (64 blvd Haussmann) has an inexpensive self-service restaurant with a great view.
June 1, 2005... In Paris, the top floor of Printemps department store (64 blvd Haussmann) has an inexpensive self-service restaurant with a great view. The Galeries Lafayette department store next door has several self-service and full-service restaurants as...

The unknown Great Wall.(Focus On Archeology)
June 1, 2005... The Great Wall. There's little doubt that it is China's most famous sight. Stretching almost four thousand miles across China, it meanders snake-like over mountains and valleys and over vast steppes and arid deserts. Some sections of the wall...

On our tour of Lebanon in November '98, highlights included the Reconstruction Project of Beirut.(Focus On Archeology)
June 1, 2005... On our tour of Lebanon in November '98, highlights included the Reconstruction Project of Beirut; Beirut highrises as well as old buildings laced with bullet holes; shrines of saints; palaces of emirs; castles of Crusaders; wine caves;...

Bolivia, land of contrasts and mysteries.(Adventure Travel for the Mildly Adventuresome)
June 1, 2005... (Part one of two) Bolivia is a land of former fantastic riches and present poverty. A major part of the country is steaming Amazon lowlands. Most tourism is to the nearly 3-mile-high Altiplano, with the highest capital in the world, La...

Concorde Hotels.(Adventure Travel for the Mildly Adventuresome)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Hotels is offering U.S. dollar guaranteed rates through Dec. 31, 2005, at many of their hotels in Europe, the Middle East and Asia (subject to availability). Example--an executive club deluxe single or double room at the Paris Concorde...

'Free Vienna Stopover'.(Austrian Airlines )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Anyone flying from New York City or Washington, D.C., to a destination beyond Vienna within Europe on Austrian Airlines can make a stop in Vienna at no penalty. The "Free Vienna Stopover" needs to be requested when making the original ticket...

Chile's Colchagua Valley.(destination)
June 1, 2005... Two hours' drive south of Santiago lies one of Chile's most renowned wine-producing regions, Valle de Colchagua. On my last visit to Chile, in February '05, I had the opportunity to visit, albeit too briefly, this impressive valley of abundance...

Keck's beyond the garden wall.(Colchagua Valley tour)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... "The covenant of fine imbibing, The vine toils in patient reverence, Its treasure time revealed." --Randy's summary reflection of all that's fine about the fruit of the vine Our final stop in Colchagua Valley was Vina Casa Silva (www....

Volunteers for Peace.(Far Horizons)
June 1, 2005... Volunteers for Peace is a nonprofit membership organization promoting over 2,800 International Workcamps in more than 90 countries. Typical workcamp projects include construction and restoration of housing or community buildings; trail...

Strict rules on Inca Trail.
June 1, 2005... The Peruvian government has started to more strictly enforce the restrictions they set up in 2002 regarding the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. The intent is to protect the fragile eco-systems along the trail, improve working conditions for porters...

Botanical painting classes, Peru, Italy.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Inspired by the new garden walk of over 100 local species of orchids at Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge in Peru as well as the discovery in 2002 of a remarkable new orchid in the Andes, Orient-Express Hotels is holding a Botanical Painting...

Puppet theaters, Denmark.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... "125 Years of Danish Puppet Theatre" is a new retrospective featuring more than 30 complete puppet theaters along with paintings and sketches, including some by Denmark's Queen Margrethe II for a production of "The Sailor-Boy's Tale" by Karen...

Bike Germany riverside.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The 500-kilometer Weser Cycle route in Germany starts in the Weserbergland hills about two hours north of Frankfurt and runs along the banks of rivers to the North Sea, passing castles and palaces, historic towns and Weser steamboats. Routes...

Castle in Croatia.(reopens for visitors)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... In Croatia, the Dubovac historical site near the town of Karlovac has been reopened to visitors. The fortified manor was built in the 13th century and gained its renaissance image in the 15th century. There is a permanent exhibition in the...

Dracula's footsteps.(Travel briefs)(hiking tours)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Take a Dracula-themed walking or hiking tour in Transylvania, Romania, visiting Bucharest, Sighisoara (birthplace of Vlad Tepes), Castle Bran and more. A 7-night itinerary, including stays at inns, most meals, hikes of four to six hours,...

Nicaragua protests.(public transportation fares hike)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... A recent price increase in public transportation fares has resulted in numerous protests by students in Nicaragua, primarily in Managua. Bus and taxi drivers have demonstrated in support of the increased fares. These demonstrations have on...

Risk in Russia.(terrorism alert)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Acts of terrorism, including bombings and hostage taking, have occurred in Russia over the last several years. Bombings have occurred at Russian government buildings, hotels, tourist sites, markets, entertainment venues, schools, residential...

St. Petersburg pilfering.(police officers stealing tourists money)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The San Francisco Chronicle reports that off-duty, uniformed police in St. Petersburg, Russia, have been approaching tourists walking home from bars at night, demanding to see their travel documents and stealing their money. Authorities advise...