Archive for October, 2004

I didn't leave the
lights on, did I?

You're supposed to come back from a vacation rested and free from stress, ready to get back to a productive schedule. Georgia resident Beverly Mitchell wasn't so lucky. She took a 2-1/2 trip to Greece only to arrive home and find that some nut had moved into her house, was wearing her clothes, had changed the utility bill to her name and redecorated the place to suit her tastes. Police say they'd never seen anything like it. CNN reports.

Look at me.
I'm reading The Economist.

CNN lists ways to achieve the best travel deal. I didn't know you could "achieve deals," but CNN has professional editors and I learnt English as a second language, so who am I to criticize?

Among other things, you are advised to buy cheap tickets on overcrowded flights but to look the part for a business upgrade. That, a fresh breath, fluent use of polysyllabic language and not ostentatiously staring at the check-in personnel's sexual parts will get you a long way to an upgrade. Notice how I myself obviously fully qualify. Thanks CNN for the precious insight.

Amusing faux travel guide: Molvanîa: A land untouched by modern dentistry. From Jetlag Travel Guides, "Taking you places you don't want to go." The book appears to be not-so-loosely based on Romania, in my estimation. From the back cover:

Molvania, birthplace of the polka and the whooping cough, is often overlooked as a tourist destination, but thanks to this updated Jetlag Travel Guide, the keen visitor can now enjoy one of Eastern Europe's best-kept secrets...WHEN TO GO: Those wanting a quieter, less-crowded experience might consider visiting in the "off season" periods such as winter or during the Lutenblag Jazz Festival. WHERE TO EAT: Cafe Cravben is run by a married couple — if the arguments from the kitchen are anything to go by — and the menu is changed frequently. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the table linen.

For whatever reason, the publisher promises a whole series of these make-believe travel guides.