Travelers' Intercom

As usual, two weeks before embarking on my upcoming trip, I collected and counted all my medications, throwing in a few extra pills of each kind, just to be safe.

As had been my custom for years, I had checked out each prescription on the Internet before filling it at the pharmacy.

Although the medical sites I was using provided excellent information, they never indicated a medication’s maximum and recommended dosages, stating instead that it was up to the physician to order the proper quantity. Thus I could never find out if the prescribed amount was the right one for me....

This year we got stung with a barge trip in France and learned a couple of things that are important.

First, where you go makes a difference. Much of the Briare Canal from Montargis to Châtillon sur Loire is like a green tunnel and the view doesn’t change very much. Indeed, it can be an uninteresting bore. The foliage is thick and you don’t see through it. It was quite different from what we saw last year from the barge La Reine Pedauque on the Burgundy Canal and of which I remarked that every prospect pleases (Feb. ’07, pg. 32).

Second, the design of the boat makes a...

A reader mentioned taking a disability pass to Europe in order to park in spaces for the handicapped (Dec. ’07, pg. 103). At the website www.globalaccessnews.com and after clicking on “Travel Archives,” under “Trips, Tips and Resources” I found the following item:

“Great news! European countries now honor disabled parking placards from the U.S. and Canada. The placards must display the international symbol for disability and state the name of the document holder. Prominently display your documents inside your car’s windshield.”

On the disability pass for my state, Washington...