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The 5th-century monastery of St. George lies in the gorge of Wadi Qelt, between Jerusalem and Jericho.

Dear Globetrotter:

Welcome to the 543rd issue of your monthly worldwide travel magazine, keeping dreams of travel alive while actual travel has been on hiatus.

We recently heard from Joaquin Ho of Orlando, Florida, who was reflecting on his past travels. He has an information request for his fellow ITN subscribers: “What dishes or types of food have you enjoyed most on your travels and what was it that you liked about each?”

So tell us about some of your favorites, describing them as best you can and telling us where you found them (outside of the US) and...

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A female and a young male polar bear — Svalbard Islands, Norway. Photo ©Juan Gil Raga/123rf.com

Dear Globetrotter:

Welcome to the 489th issue of your monthly foreign-travel magazine.

Nancy Gatland of Wilton, New York, wrote, “ITN comes to my home every month; I would be lost without it. Over the years, I have learned so much from the experiences of other travelers.”

It’s good to know that ITN is getting the job done. While we physically cannot print all there is to know about every travel destination or every aspect of travel, we certainly — in addition to providing hard news — showcase the adventures, advice and opinions of our...

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The Maya ruins of Chichén Itzá, on Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula, include the Warriors’ Temple pictured here.

Dear Globetrotter:

Welcome to the 546th issue of your monthly worldwide travel magazine, keeping the travel embers glowing.

Fair is fair. On July 9, President Biden signed an executive order proposing sets of rules to encourage competition and expand consumer rights across many markets, including air travel.

The order directs the US Department of Transportation, led by Secretary Pete Buttigieg, to propose a rule requiring airlines to promptly refund any fees for services paid for by passengers but not provided by the airline,...

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Basso living (life on the street) in Naples. Photo by Rick Steves

As we’ve had to postpone our travels because of the pandemic, I believe a weekly dose of travel dreaming can be good medicine. Here are a few favorite European memories from Naples in Italy — a reminder of the fun that awaits us at the other end of this crisis.

Strolling through Naples, I remember my first visit to the city as a wide-eyed 18-year-old. My travel buddy and I had stepped off the train into vast Piazza Garibaldi. A man in a white surgeon’s gown approached me and said, “Please, it is very important. We need blood for a dying baby.” Naples...

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Beach bungalows at Ærøskøbing. Photo by Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli

As we’ve had to postpone our travels because of the pandemic, I believe a weekly dose of travel dreaming can be good medicine. Here’s one of my favorite European memories from a tiny Danish island — a reminder of the fun that awaits us at the other end of this crisis.

Few visitors to Scandinavia even notice Ærø, a sleepy little island on the southern edge of Denmark. It’s a peaceful and homey isle, where baskets of strawberries sit in front of farmhouses — for sale on the honor system. Its tombstones are carved with such sentiments as: “Here lies...

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Strolling atop the wall overlooking Dubrovnik. Photo by Trish Feaster

As we’ve had to postpone our travels because of the pandemic, I believe a weekly dose of travel dreaming can be good medicine. Here’s one of my favorite European memories from the city of Dubrovnik in Croatia — a reminder of the fun that awaits us at the other end of this crisis.

Jostled by the crowds, I walk toward the still-stout medieval wall encircling Dubrovnik, deservedly known as the “Pearl of the Adriatic.” It’s an unforgettable mile-long stroll above the city. While constructed over many centuries, today’s impressive fortifications...

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The port town of Hydra. Photo by Rick Steves

As we’ve had to postpone our travels because of the pandemic, I believe a weekly dose of travel dreaming can be good medicine. Here’s one of my favorite European memories from one of my favorite Greek isles — a reminder of the fun that awaits us at the other end of this crisis.

The isle of Hydra — just an hour by fast ferry from Athens — has one town, a quaint little harbor, isolated beaches, and some tavernas. There are no real roads, no cars, and not even any bikes. Other than zippy water taxis, donkeys are the only form of transportation. Slow and...

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Salema's fishermen share their beach with travelers. Photo by Rick Steves

As we’ve had to postpone our travels because of the pandemic, I believe a weekly dose of travel dreaming can be good medicine. Here's one of my favorite European memories from Portugal’s Algarve, the sunny south coast of my travel dreams — a reminder of the fun that awaits us at the other end of this crisis.

The flatbed fish truck rambles into the village tooting the “1812 Overture” on its horn. Today’s my beach day and I was ready to just sleep in. But it’s market day in Salema and the parking lot that separates the jogging shorts from...

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