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Tagged With "Bibliotheque Nationale"

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Re: Start planning now for family vacations

DrFumblefinger ·
These are all great suggestions for family trips! We always enjoyed taking our kids to national parks when they were small. There was always something to do, somewhere to hike, etc. to keep everyone entertained and involved.
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Re: March 3, 2020: St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

George G. ·
Booked a wedding anniversary trip to St. Thomas and we had a fabulous romantic time. If you get the chance, take the Red Hook ferry to Cruz Bay at St. John's and explore the Virgin Island National Park. Lots of plantation ruins from back in the day when Denmark ruled the Virgin Islands. We had a wonderful lunch and view from the Caneel Bay Resort, which I understand has not reopened after being pummeled by two hurricanes.
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Re: Floating hotel set to anchor in Seine

PortMoresby ·
I haven't booked my last night yet and looked but their website isn't up yet. I'm going to keep checking though. Wouldn't THAT be fun.
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Re: Wonders of the Modern World

DrFumblefinger ·
The Soviets have never been completely transparent about Chernobyl, but this is the story as best as I was able to synthesize it: It seems that the alarm system was malfunctioning (going off all the time) so it was turned off by the tech monitoring the system. He had the fuel rods pulled out of their cooling chambers for maintenance work, was distracted (remember, the alarms are off), then by the time he focused back on the task at hand the rods had begun to melt and couldn't be reinserted...
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Re: Top winners named in Nat Geo photo contest

Professorabe ·
There are some fabulous photos on the National Geographic website. I found clicking on 'Galleries' the best option. Warning: The shots might make you go green with envy!
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Re: Edinburgh, Scotland for 2.5 days....help!

Paul Hunter Landscape Tog ·
Hi Chickpea, Your hotel is very central as you say. There is a regular bus service to certain attractions. We visited in January and had no problem with entry to attractions, the Castle, National Gallery etc. I would only suggest that you check out the individual attractions websites to obtain tickets in advance if you wish. Hope this helps, Paul.
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Re: Portland, Maine: A Big Little City

Paul Heymont ·
It's about 30 miles north of Cabot's Cove, which is near Wells, Maine. Which is at one end of the excellent Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, which combines forest and shore habitats and makes a wonderful walk. It was featured in a couple of Pictures of the Day, and was the scene, back in 2013, of Where in the World is TravelGumbo #5
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Re: New book celebrates Yellowstone, National Parks Centennial

DrFumblefinger ·
That looks like a must read book about my favorite US National Park! Thanks for bringing it to our attention.
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Re: See Them While You Can: 10 Wins for Historic Preservation

PortMoresby ·
Note that the National Trust for Historic Preservation is a private organization. I think that's key in this era of government cutbacks and a congress unable to accomplish anything to speak of. If the National Park Service is unable to maintain it's infrastructure then one can only imagine how little care might go into preserving bits of our cultural heritage lacking big names, such as those on the list above. Commercial interests also have a place in accomplishing what government and...
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Re: Everglades raccoon

TravelandNature ·
The snake is doing the job that he was designed to do. Unfortunately, he is doing so far from his native habitat and finds the native south Florida species easy prey. This python is in the park as the result of accidental or intentional release. Yes, people take their hungry, unwanted pets to the park. The National Park Service is working hard to try to manage the situation. h ttp://www.nps.gov/ever/naturescience/burmesepythonsintro.htm
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo? #33

Andre Pur ·
I don't have a clue... it's a national park?
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Re: The Valley Island of Maui: 2) Haleakala National Park

DrFumblefinger ·
US Immigration is a bit of a hassle, although most Canadians receive about a smooth a ride as possible. In most Canadian airports, you can actually clear immigration within Canada, rather than the USA (infinitely preferable because the lines are so much shorter). Not sure if that's true of Montreal, though. Thank you for your kind words about the Hawaii blogs. Hawaii is a special place. I've always gone and explored it by myself, so in this setting I tend to drift to isolated places that are...
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Re: Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other. (Part 5) The Elephants of Pinnawala

DrFumblefinger ·
Thanks, PortMoresby! And we've not even been to the sacred tooth relic in Kandy, the medieval ruins of Polonnaruwa, the beautiful hill country filled with tea plantations and "The World's End", a wildlife safari at Yala National Park, nor any of the nice beaches (but keep reading -- reports on these are coming). Sri Lanka is a great destination, especially now that the civil war is over. I was doubly lucky to not only be able to visit a dear friend there but to have time to leisurely explore...
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Re: Finishing college. Need help planning trip to U.K,

Hank ·
Hi guys, hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. It was good to be with my family again. Visiting and catching up with everyone took longer than I'd thought, but did do a little research into the trip and came out with this plan. Basically, with GarryRF's advice, I think I'll focus my time in the north to save money cause my budget is limited. After that I'll finish my vacation in London and Paris. I need to find places to stay but more important now just to frame the trip. The details I...
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Re: Idaho's Craters of the Moon National Monument

DrFumblefinger ·
Thanks for reading the piece and for your comment, GarryRF! The "Yellowstone" hot spot has migrated over the past thousands of years from eastern Oregon, across southern Idaho and now sits right under Yellowstone National Park. Actually the hot spot hasn't move at all, the earth's places move away from the hot spot, but it's just another way of thinking about it. I'd be careful about being around an active volcano but don't mind hanging around places like this or much of the Hawaiian...
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Re: Idaho's Craters of the Moon National Monument

GarryRF ·
Yellowstone National Park has over 500 Geyser's - so I guess that counts as a "Hot Spot" (I just Googled it) I remember the smell of sulphur being one of the giveaways to a live site so I'll sniff my way about! Thanks for the info DrF.
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Re: Arches National Park — One of America’s Finest

DrFumblefinger ·
There's a ton of stuff to do around Moab, Travel Luver. There's also scenic Canyonlands National Park nearby, well worth exploring. Off-road biking (bicycle, not motorcycle) is extremely popular. Hiking in the cooler seasons. Whitewater rafting is excellent in the summer. And you're less than a day's drive from your next Utah destination, such as Bryce, Zion, or Monument Valley. One of my favorite spots in the US!
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Re: The Beautiful Pools and Geysers of Yellowstone National Park

DrFumblefinger ·
Hi Andre, and welcome. As DrY is away on vacation, I'll try to answer your question before he gets back. Yellowstone National Park does sit on what is known as the "Yellowstone Hot Spot". You see this in its geysirs and hot water pools. This does have the potential to become a massive volcano and cause a tremendous eruption. As big as any volcano in recorded history and then some. The jet stream would carry the ash and smoke mostly east (towards the Atlantic Ocean), so those areas would be...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, April 25, 2014: The Rewind Electrician

IslandMan ·
I agree. What an amazing picture! Worthy of a place in the National Geographic.
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo? #29

DrFumblefinger ·
Still no responses to this WITW, so time for some clues: 1) This place is in a national capital 2) It is home to some extremely rare and historic documents and books. Do you know where Gumbo is?
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Re: AAA Premier a Good Idea for Budget Travelers

DrFumblefinger ·
I've use the towing service several times over the years, as well as their locksmith service. Excellent service always. And I actually use a ton of their travel books and maps when planning my domestic trips (USA and Canada). Yes, you can check them out but this way you can mark them up and cut out what you need. In Canada, a AAA (CAA) offers a 10% discount on a national parks pass (annual), and their travel agents can help you plan out a road trip with great advice -- all for free if you...
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#178)

Travel Rob ·
This is a tough one. It looks like a National Park in the US, but as we know from TG there are a lot of them . Still unsure of even that fact and if it was a park in US, we still don't know where in the park Gumbo's going. I thought I saw a cemetery in one of the pics. I'll have to wait for more clues.
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Re: Twin Falls, Yoho National Park

Marilyn Jones ·
Your photos are glorious!! I really enjoyed this post abut Twin Falls in Yoho National Park!!
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, September 17th, 2015: Kruger National Park

Mytraveledroad ·
Nice pic looks like you're very close. I want to go to that National Park someday.
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Re: From Corfe Castle to Kingston Lacy - Part 2

Travel Rob ·
Great when the houses show a little of what life was like too! I guess it's good the National Trust owns that wonderful house, but I'd like to see it as TravelGumbos Headquarters!
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Re: Route 66 - Pasadena to Needles

PortMoresby ·
I n the mid-90s the National Park Service sent a team of professionals to do a survey of surviving road and features of the entire route, Chicago to the Santa Monica Pier, with my husband as illustrator for the report. I don't know if it's generally available but it might be interesting reading for someone with more than a casual interest.
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo, #60

Lynn Millar ·
Aha! This one had me because it looked so familiar, but I couldn't place. Yosemite, Sequoia, King National Parks? The fountain must have been turned off the day I was there 3 years ago, because I didn't notice it. Busy sipping tea in the lobby and on the verandah, watching children Easter egg hunt? And yes there is a tennis court on the property along with a swimming pool. It's in the circle in front of the Wawona Hotel south of Yosemite. After a stop there, I had a nice walk in the meadow...
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo, #60

DrFumblefinger ·
After a busy day at the Vail Jazz Festival yesterday, I was surprised this morning to log on and see that this puzzle is already solved. Lynn Millar, you are correct, this is the fountain in front of the Wawona Hotel in Yosemite National Park. I'll have a discussion of the Wawona tomorrow. PHeymont will have a new puzzle for you tomorrow as well!
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Oct. 12, 2014: Sunday in the Park with Dog

DrFumblefinger ·
I like city parks like this one, though they in no way compare to National Parks, which I enjoy infinitely more.
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Re: Taos NM - Indian, Mexican, and Yarn

Jonathan L ·
Historydigger, That is very interesting. We were in Taos this time because I was dropping my wife off at a writers retreat/workshop at the SMU campus in the national forest outside of town.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Aug. 24, 2014: Chicken Hawaiian Style

DrFumblefinger ·
Paul, you're beginning to sound like Ben Franklin who wanted the turkey to be the USA's national bird, not the bald eagle. If he'd seen these photos, I'm sure old Ben would have been advocating for the chickens.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Aug. 27, 2014: No Kidding!

DrFumblefinger ·
Too bad you were there too early to walk to that hilltop. It's actually a Cosmic Ray monitoring station, long since closed, now a National Historic site in Canada. Here's a link that tells you a little more about it. The views from up there are much better than from the Gondola terminus, good as those are.
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Re: Italian Competition Authority fines TripAdvisor €500,000

Travel Rob ·
I know TripAdvisor has had some problems with a minority of people posting false reviews so I can kind of understand in 2012 the Advertising Standards Authority in the UK telling TripAdvisor not claim the reviews were from real travelers or use the word trusted describing reviews. As far as the Italian Competition Authority goes, below is their Press Release when the investigation started in May. It seems like it would be very difficult for TripAdvisor to prevent fake reviews , so I'm not...
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Re: Why you should visit Borneo

Go Live Explore ·
Originally Posted by DrFumblefinger: Some GREAT photos. I presume you saw lots of animals on your travels in Borneo? Is there a specific park or place you'd recommend? Thanks very much! Yeah, we saw so many animals it was incredible. I'd highly recommend Sepilock in the North of Borneo, which is great for spotting wild Orangutans, Sun Bears and Proboscis Monkeys. Kuching, in the South, is a great base too if you want to visit Bako National Park, which is a great place for spotting Snakes,...
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Re: Comics in Brussels

DrFumblefinger ·
I must admit that this was one of my biggest surprises when visiting Belgium. One thinks of folks in Brussels as people who are obsessed with politics, because it's everywhere around them. I found wonderful, helpful, easy-going folks with a quirky love of their comics. Comics, as Travellinn's piece points out so well, are everywhere and a part of their national fiber. Thanks for sharing this piece!
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Dec 4th, 2014: A Ride to Paradise

Paul Heymont ·
A favorite with my kids when they were young (and with me!) Nearby, there is the Pennsylvania state railroad museum and the National Toy Train Museum, as well as all the attractions of Lancaster County "Amish Country." Thanks!
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo? (#39)

Paul Heymont ·
Sorry, Mac...but it's not Northlandz. Sorry, DrF...it's not the National Toy Train Museum Sorry, JonathanL...it's not the annual display at the Bronx Botanical Garden But you are all in the right country!
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Re: Photography at the Edges, New York & San Francisco

PortMoresby ·
One more for the list of wonderful things to see, the world's largest pinhole photograph at Washington D.C.'s National Air & Space Museum. So many things, so little time.
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Re: How to Irk the Brits

Paul Heymont ·
Like all myths exaggerated with a grain of truth or not, he lives on, along with his companions the Snobby Brit, the Nasty Frenchman, the Pushy German and all the rest. These days, it’s easy to find articles creating new misconceptions about Japanese and Chinese tourists. Point being, whatever these so-called “national characters” are, they are built on ignorance and prejudice; it is one of the great things about travel that they seldom survive actual experience.
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Re: Eurostar, Eurotunnel, ferries shut by sailor protests

PortMoresby ·
I may get myself in trouble, not the first time, but this sort of behavior, inconveniencing their fellow citizens as well as others, seems to be particularly part of French workers' way of doing things, and an aspect of the culture in general, self-aggrandizing on many levels. I love France, but not this particular national trait.
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Re: Canada protects arctic area; new national park soon

DrFumblefinger ·
I like the idea of trying to keep some of this ecosystem prestine. But I suspect it will be the least visited national park in the world. And maybe that's for the best,
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Re: How do you use the internet while traveling?

DrFumblefinger ·
I have not been to Japan, but generally my travel experience with internet access has been much more positive than yours. I've generally had good luck with getting on line in Europe, South America and even Southern Africa. Once in a while the internet might be down at a place I'm staying at, but usually it's quickly repaired. Exceptions to this are very rural areas, like in Patagonia and where I'm heading next week, Yellowstone National Park. There is really not internet available at most...
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Re: Florida warned: take action against future flooding

GarryRF ·
Climate change "experts" are saying that: "Antarctica’s massive stores of ice are likely to melt as the planet warms and contribute ever greater amounts of water to the world’s oceans." But the facts are: "The winter ice around the southern continent has been growing relatively constantly since records began in 1979. The US National Snow and Ice Data Centre, which monitors sea ice using satellite data, say that the year’s maximum was 1.54m sq km (595,000 sq miles) above the 1981-2010...
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Re: Airfares have remained flat for 20+ years

Travel Rob ·
I'm with 90% on that survey. Domestic Airline prices did rise steadily from 2009 to 2014 (even adjusting for inflation) according to the DOT. I do think we've had a price break this year because of the steep drop in oil prices. I'm not surprised most customers feel like they are paying more because of what they are getting now. Planes are packed, there's less seat space and a whole array of fees. http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/airfares/national/chart
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Re: Art, Architecture, History and More in Fun Frederick, MD

George G. ·
One of our sister agencies called the Armed Forces Medical Intelligence Center was located in Fort Detrick in Frederick Maryland. I visited AFMIC a number of times and your photos of the National Museum of Civil War Medicine brought back memories. I have not toured Frederick village itself, but your story has prompted me to put it on my list of places to visit.
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Re: Touring Maryland's Scenic Eastern Shore

PortMoresby ·
The bank that Morris was associated with was the Bank of North America. Bank of America originated in the early 20th c. in California. Poor old Morris spent several of his last years in debtors' prison and was buried in his brother-in-law's family plot without ceremony. Wikipedia: "Robert Morris holds the curious distinction as the only Founding Father whose house is a national memorial, but his life is not interpreted at the site."
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Re: Great Falls of the Potomac

Paul Heymont ·
Actually, there were a fair few others around, but not crowded. But that's pretty normal spring runoff; the picture below, taken exactly 10 years before on March 15, 2010, shows what happened when there was a snowier winter, and the one below that is from 1996, when there was a January blizzard followed immediately by enough temperature to melt it in one or two days. Photos: National Park Service
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Re: Peripatetic Bhutan

DrFumblefinger ·
An interesting post, Lester. Thanks for sharing all this information. I've always been puzzled by the concept of Gross National Happiness. How could this be measured? Happiness and enjoyment of life are very important, but it sounds like a government propaganda line to make poor people feel good about their life's circumstances.
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Re: Apr. 7, 2016: Budget Vacation in France

DrFumblefinger ·
Camping in North America is very popular -- mostly in our beautiful National, State and Provincial Parks. Recreational vehicles are around by the thousands. I'm pleased to see that it is also popular in Europe!
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Re: Apr. 7, 2016: Budget Vacation in France

DrFumblefinger ·
There are places that will rent you a set-up tent -- often this is upscale camping (Glamping) and the tents have most of the amenities of a room. Most people around here have their own camping gear and set up their tent where they want. With modern tents and a little experience, that rarely takes more than 10 minutes to do. If people want a vacation with a pool, they generally don't go to a national park. For these purposes there are inexpensive budget hotels of all types around. But I like...
 
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