a - TRAVEL timeless travel ti SOME DAYS it’s hard to believe that I’ve been writing Travel Wise for 18 years. In looking over a few old col- umnis, it’ s also hard to believe how much travel has changed over that time. Among other things, costs are quite a bit different. To make a point, would anyone care to buy a well-worn copy of Europe on $10 A Day? Twenty years ago, our travel opportunities were a lot different. Even 10 years ago I was direc- ting everyone to visit Yugoslavia: “What a beautiful country — Yugoslavia is all the things I hoped Greece might be and wasn’t. “It’s wonderfully clean, green and affordable. The food is great ~ and the people warm and hospit- able.”” However, some of the travel questions I fielded in 1975 aren't a whole lot different in 1983. Most come from people who have had limited travel oppor- tunities. Here’s a sampling with the advice updated for 1993. How do | get a Canadian pass- port? First, you must be a Canadian citizen as opposed to a resident. Only the country of. citizenship can issue a passport. To prove this you must have a birth certificate or citizenship papers. If there is any doubt, start your passport documentation search months before you need the document. Tracing missing birth certificates or other papers can take ages, Don’t assume just because you’ve lived here all your life that you're a citizen. One friend of mine discovered to her herror that she was actually born in the U.S.A. and never naturalized: _ Fortunately, the U.S. govern- ment came through in time and issued her a passport, but she was understandably upset. Anyway, providing you’ve got the proper documentation of citi- zenship, application forms are available at any post office (free). The next step is to have two passport pictures taken. Go to any photographer who specializes in these to be sure you have the right size. The photographer will stamp these on the back with a line for the signature of a guarantor. You sign on the front. Both the photos and the ap- plication form must be signed by someone in a selected profession who has known you for three years (the ‘‘guarantor’'). The list includes doctors, lawyers, school principals — a complete list is on the form. Take the completed form, sign- ed pictures, proof of citizenship and $35 over to the Passport Of- fice in the Sinclair Centre (#240- 757 West Hastings). They will check your form while you ‘wait. and correct any errors. Your documentation will be returned to you and your passport will be ready’ for pickup after three working days. For further information: 1- 800-567-6863. @ What shots must I have before 1: trave! abroad? Gone are the days of the man- datory'smallpox shot. Now, very few places in the world would require proof of immunization against anything — you can get a quick update from our local health unit — 126 East 15th St., North Vancouver, 660- 1273. But just because mandatory shots are almost history, doesn't mean a traveller isn’t a damn fool to go abroad without making sure that his or her regular immuniza- tion for stuff like polio and teta- ES arbara WicCreadie TRAVECWISE nus is up to date. The health unit will advise you if any health risks are present in the areas you intend to visit. What shoutd I pack? I don’t have much hope of educating travellers to pack light. All I can say is that people learn by experience. If you have enough underwear for a week, you’ve got enough for a year. Soap and water is cheap. Heavy and/or bulky items are hard to pack and worse to carry. If the shoes don’t fit, don’t take them. For warmth, layer your clothing; consider wearing light- weight synthetics over closely knitted sweaters, for example. Consider where you're going. It doesn’t do to show a lot of skin in certain religious countries; you may need to cover your head or your feet (slippers) in some cathe- drals or mosques. If you’re cruising, you'll need one cocktail outfit and a couple of outfits suitable to wear for dinner — a sports jacket and tie plus a suit for men. You'll need light sandals for strange beaches and community showers, Shoes with a cushioned sole and covered toes spare your feet from rocks and grit. & How should [ carry my money? Traveller’s cheques. Carry some cash in the denomination of the country for immediate needs such as airport transfers, tips and in- cidentals. Some people advocate an assortment of security belts and pouches but I’ve never been com- fortable with them. However, on some occasions when using the plumbing in the hall I wished I could carry pass- ports, tickets and money in a convenient waterproof pouch. You should never leave anything of value in a hotel room. Every crook knows that a trav- eller has money. But don’t flash cash and put ideas in their ugly little minds. Stick to Timex and leave your expensive jewelry at home. Take advantage of hotel safety deposit .boxes, but never walk around penniless; muggers may kill out of frustration. & What safety advice is important for travellers? Don’t go where you shouldn’t be! Stay out of bad neighbor- hoods, sleazy bars, cat houses and war zones. Back streets in depressed coun- tries may not be hospitable. Suggestive clothing may get you hassled or worse in covntries where women are stili considered chattels. If you get into trouble, try to contact a Canadian consulate or embassy. In an emergency, the Americans and the British have been known to help — there are Steen ay, | SHOP THE FLYERS y wednesday * Cons sumers istributing * Woolco * Eatons }» friday The Bay * Sports Experts * Sears * Moore's the Suit People * Sears * Real Estate Weekly Watch for our Real Estate Home Section sunday * London Drugs * Super Valu * Zellers * Real Canadian Superstore Safeway Shoppers Drug Mart Save-On-Foods IGA Plus The Bay lf you miss any of these flyers call North Shore News Distribution 986-1337 “delivered to setocted aroas only O more of them than there are of ours. Gm Finally, some simple advice, particularly for inexperienced travellers: do your homework! Read as much as you can about your destination so you can ap- preciate the history and geography you'll encounter. yesteryear Keep your itinerary manageable. If you try to visit seven countries in seven days, everything becomes a blur. Keep a diary and, especially, keep notes about photos — dates and locations. 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