by Julie Skurdenis

My most recent trip to Guatemala, in January 2006, began with the popular television reality program “Survivor.” The show is now in its 12th season, but it was the 11th season, which aired in fall 2005, that set me on the road to Guatemala again. In that season, the series was set in the Mayan archaeological site of Yaxha in the remote Petén jungle of northeastern Guatemala. Here among Mayan pyramids, some of which date back more than 1,500 years, contestants...

Dear Globetrotter:

Welcome to the 364th issue of your monthly overseas travel magazine.

The results of a recent study are based on the typical expenses of business travelers rather than tourists, but Oslo is now reportedly the most expensive city in the world, displacing Tokyo. Trailing those two are Reykjavik, Osaka, Paris, Copenhagen, London, Zürich, Geneva and Helsinki. The rankings were derived by the consulting firm Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), based in London....

STEVE, I want to travel only in the Basque country in northern Spain and France. Cobblestone Travel in New Orleans suspended business because of Katrina, and they were Basque specialists. Can you name another way to see this Basque area without other Spain highlights? — Larry I. Epstine, Fremont, CA

DEAR LARRY, I tried contacting Cobblestone Travel, but, as you indicated, Katrina may have done them in. There is a company in San Sebastian that should be able to help you: Tenedor...