Features

by Judy Licata and Marvin Herman, Delavan, WI

Following the first half of our 29-day “Journey of a Lifetime” with China Focus Travel (Aug.’08, pg. 38), it was time for our third internal flight; this one would take us to Lhasa in the Tibet Autonomous Region, southwest of Xi’an.

After the 4-hour flight, we arrived in Lhasa, where we stayed at the 4-star Thang Ka Hotel. On the way to the hotel, we passed the Potala Palace, the traditional winter residence of the Dalai Lama, now...

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by Beth Habian, Features Editor

So, it’s time to plan your next trip and you’re thinking… Europe. But you’d like to venture to a place not yet overrun by tourists, an area of rugged, natural beauty, one where the streets of the local towns still whisper the secrets of those who walked there centuries ago. Is there such a place left to be discovered? I believe there is, and it’s called Extremadura.

An introduction

Extremadura is an autonomous community in western Spain...

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by Lynn Remly, Arlington, VA

Since The Wall came tumbling down, visitors to Berlin have flocked to the east side to see what was hidden or forbidden for 40 years. Unfortunately, few people travel beyond the city center and its monuments to see what Berlin is all about.

The municipal district of Treptow-Köpenick in the southeastern part of Berlin, not that far beyond the city center, recalls the days of Soviet occupation, but it also shows where today’s Berlin came from and...

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by Judy Licata and Marvin Herman, Delavan, WI

Mining the Internet for bargain travel to China, we found a gem in the 29-day “Journey of a Lifetime” tour with China Focus Travel (San Francisco, CA; 800/868-7244, www. chinafocustravel.com). Departing San Francisco, a total of 24 people, none of whom initially believed this trip could be done for the price, would ultimately meet in Beijing.

The basic cost for the tour was $3,900 per person. Adding taxes, visa fees, round-trip air...

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by Paula Prindle, Orient, OH

We’ve all heard Churchill’s description of Russia — “a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma” — so my husband, David, and I were expecting culture shock on our August ’07 visit. But our biggest discovery was that modern Russia displays as many similarities to America as differences. Oh, sure, the differences are easier to pinpoint, and pinpoint them I will, but we were surprised and delighted by how comfortable we felt there.

At ease

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by Nancy Tardy, Henderson, NV

Do you like the laid-back ambience of a beach resort town? Have you explored and tired of the Caribbean and Central American resorts that are a 30-dollar taxi ride away from shopping and alternative dining options? Do you like learning about other cultures and sampling a wide range of cuisines? Viña del Mar, Chile, known as The Garden City for its Mediterranean cityscapes, may be a perfect choice for your next trip.

Getting there

For my...

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by Henry S. Lee, Houston, TX

My wife and I took a memorable 2-week Greek vacation in August ’07, spending four to five days each in Crete, Santorini and Athens. We traveled only to Greece because we had missed it on a previous trip and we wanted to focus on one country to experience it more in depth.

My wife and I are budget-conscious, independent travelers. As such, we take public transport, eat in low-key restaurants, shop for local groceries and visit neighborhoods not...

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by Glenna Lybrand, Mount Ida, Arkansas

A visit to Antarctica helped me realize a lifelong dream: to travel to every continent on Earth. The vast frozen wilderness of the White Continent boasts gleaming ice-blue glaciers and abundant wildlife. It is a mystical land with blazing icescapes of luminous intensity and a haunting beauty that defies oral or pictorial description.

Choosing a cruise

My trip began in February ’07 when I, along with my travel friend Betty Prince...

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