Pleasant travel surprises

Ron Carlson of Lakeland, Minnesota, would like to read about pleasant or memorable surprises that other travelers have experienced, such as the time he was in Bangkok and was invited by the police chief’s wife to tour an area of opium dens! (This was 64 years ago, and he was touring with a couple of GI friends on leave from Okinawa.)

Or the time in February 2018 when he and his wife, Joy, spent a week in Montecatini Terme, Italy, and learned there was a puppet parade in nearby Viareggio. They were told parking would be next to impossible, but, as Ron wrote, “We took our chances and found a spot. The ‘puppets’ in the parade towered as high as 50 feet, each with an internal crew of half a dozen or so manipulators. There were fire-breathing dragons, galloping horses and luscious mermaids. It went on for hours.”

If you have a story of serendipity to share (that took place outside of the US), email editor@intltravel news.com or write to Pleasant Travel Surprises, c/o ITN, 2116 28th St., Sacramento, CA 95818. Include the full mailing or billing address tied to your subscription.