Tagged With "Europe"
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Nov 17, 2015: Mdina Gates, Malta
Mdina is one of the few places I've been that's, in my experience, unlike any other. I thought it so beautiful on my first visit that I booked a room in the closest hotel just outside this gate and spent several days exploring it and the adjacent town of Rabat. Lunch at the restaurant of, I believe, the only hotel in Mdina, the Xara Palace , was memorable, wonderful service and food and a small compensation for not staying in the 5 star hotel. Thanks for the memory, IslandMan.
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Re: The Memorials of Berlin - Part 2
Excellent coverage and photos Jonathan. If I have a return trip to Berlin, these places will absolutely be on must see list.
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Re: The Maltese Islands – Underrated gems or best kept secret ?
It does not seem fair that one place should have so much going on. Worse, it is less fair that I am not there ! Thanks for the great pics and a bit of history. What are the good months to visit for water sports like paragliding ? Is it winder or the surf stronger some months than others ?
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Re: The Maltese Islands – Underrated gems or best kept secret ?
Thanks for your comments TatToo. Summer is the best time for water sports,from May to October. Most operators usually shut down over winter. There isn't much surf to speak of unless there is an exceptionally stormy day, but the northern parts of the island are more suited for windsurfing and paragliding as the winds from the northern Mediterranean tend to have more strength in them
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Re: The Maltese Islands – Underrated gems or best kept secret ?
That's a great piece about a great destination most of us have not heard a lot about. Would you know if there are direct flights between Malta and Sicily, Islandman? How would you recommend connecting these two. I think a great way to spend two or three weeks would be to combine stops at Sicily and Malta.
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Re: The Maltese Islands – Underrated gems or best kept secret ?
Thanks IslandMan! Your history insights and photos do make it look like an ideal travel destination.
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Re: The Maltese Islands – Underrated gems or best kept secret ?
Hello DrF, there are direct flights from Sicily to Malta and also a daily ferry. Yes, many visitors take in Sicily when coming to Malta, or they combine it with other European destinations. There also regular cruises around the Mediterranean which stop in the Grand Harbour for a day.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Dec. 18 2013: Milan's Bronze Typist
I enjoy the photo and the story, PHeymont, but am drawn to the typewriter. In a few more generations, children will be wondering, "what's that strange thing the man is holding on his lap?" I still remember owning and using a typewriter, but few under the age of 30 do. I recall reading a SciFi short story collection written in the 1950s not long ago that featured a story about a journalist traveling on a space ship. He needed to keep his typewriter anchored so that it didn't float away in...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Dec. 18 2013: Milan's Bronze Typist
I was struck, actually, by the size of the typewriter (sort of like an Olivetti Lettera 22, the chic portable of the 1960s). When Montanelli started out, surely a typewriter you could put on your knees was as strange an idea as computers were in our childhood (I'm giving away my age, I know)!
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Re: Is JetBlue thinking of Europe?
As cross Atlantic fares remain excessive then there's still plenty of room for the new kid on the block to make a good living.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Sept 2, 2014: Luxembourg Gardens, Paris
Thanks ,great to see the Jardin du Luxembourg in different seasons.It is one of my favorite places in the summer for people watching.
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Re: Catching the Tour de France 2014
What fun! Glad your iPhone was working (hanging on to you was the least your hubbie could do) and am actually surprised at how fast its shutter speed is. These guys are really moving and most cameras would have caught them with a blur except in the sports setting (very fast shutter speeds). I think all big events like this are best enjoyed with new friends over a glass of one's favorite beverage! Thanks for sharing this moment. Most of us will never see the tour first hand, but now we know...
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Re: Catching the Tour de France 2014
I've missed it by days a few years ,but it sure looks like fun! Hopefully one day I'll catch it. Thanks for letting us enjoy the Tour from a distance!
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Re: Catching the Tour de France 2014
Love the pics, but we need one of "Hansie" holding you up. Such fun for you both!!!!!! xxxmoi
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Nov 4, 2014: Empty Cafe, Paris
Excellent -- almost sad -- photo, Islandman. Tables and chairs are made for folks to rest and enjoy.
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Re: For those who hate Heathrow, Gatwick plans new allure
I would hate for Heathrow to get any more complex to get around in that it already is. I like flying into Gatwick, although a lot of carriers don't offer that airport from at least my part of NorthAmerica.
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Re: For those who hate Heathrow, Gatwick plans new allure
Maybe part of a proposal for Heathrow could include making it less complex to negotiate. I've never had a problem with it, although I know it's the airport people love to hate. Never having flown into Gatwick, I can't compare. The other 2 I have used are Stansted & Luton, but, like Gatwick, transport to them is limited compared to Heathrow. I'd prefer they get it all right at one, rather than have 4 less than convenient. Maybe I'll just charter a plane and go into City next time, which I...
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Re: For those who hate Heathrow, Gatwick plans new allure
Gatwick, if selected, will have much better transportation than now; in fact, they are committed to building it even with one runway. Every 2.5 minutes, into Central London. DrF: Gatwick is hoping this will bring some North American flights again; US Airways was the last North American carrier into Gatwick, and they stopped in 2009, sucked into the great vacuum of Heathrow. Gatwick used to have a lot of N. America business back when restrictive legislation limited the number of their flights...
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Re: For those who hate Heathrow, Gatwick plans new allure
There is no problem with London City, I wasn't suggesting expansion. Au contraire, and for those who can use it, it's the best.
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Re: AirBerlin Black Friday: $499 to Europe R/T!
It's a fantastic deal! Milan is a budget airline hub too so you can go to a lot Europe for not much more. Time to buy those spring break tickets
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Sep 15, 2015: Pit Lane, Mdina Grand Prix
I was having lunch in Mdina. Our waiter was a boy about 8 years old. He asked if I'd ever seen a train. "Of course I have. Maybe 4 a day" "When I save enough to leave Malta I want to see a train" he said. Then he asked my Mother in Law if she was my sister. She slipped him a few dollars. He'll soon have enough - I thought - to see a train - even at 8.
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Re: Traveling to Europe soon? It may pay to prepay...
I do think it's a good year to add Europe. And with cheap airfares available now for spring and summer all the more reason Another currency that has has dropped compared to the US dollar recently is the Canadian Dollar. http://www.theglobeandmail.com...air/article22446079/
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Jan 20, 2015: Musee d'Orsay Clock, Paris
Back in the time when a watch was a sign of affluence these timepieces must have been a great show of wealth. This clock in Chester England was erected on the cities two thousand year old Roman Walls at about the same time as your example.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Jan 20, 2015: Musee d'Orsay Clock, Paris
Now THAT'S a clock, Garry....sensational!
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Jan 20, 2015: Musee d'Orsay Clock, Paris
Since we're on turn-of-the-last-century clocks, here are a couple more. The first is the facade clock of the Musee d'Orsay itself, seen from the inside looking out over the Seine, and the second is a detail of the clock tower designed by Lluis Domenech i Montaner for the Sant Pau Hospital in Barcelona. Just clockin' in...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Jan 20, 2015: Musee d'Orsay Clock, Paris
This was one of my favorite museums in Paris. It is absolutely gorgeous like Islandman said. I love impressionist art and this place had quite a bit. I look forward to going back again one day. Thanks for the wonderful memories.
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Re: Channel ferries: more than a nostalgia trip
The buses ,like Megabus ,sometimes use the ferries as well and it's a great way to break up a bus trip. They make you disembark the bus for safety reasons while the ferry is moving and you can watch the view and get something to eat.
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Re: Channel ferries: more than a nostalgia trip
A timely post, PHeymont. Trying to simplify a proposed trip to the UK and Portugal, and also slip in a bit of Spain along the way, I'm seriously considering the ferries from the south coast of England to Bilbao & environs, then train down to Portugal. I'm sure it will save me money, as opposed to trains, using the ferries, most of which I wasn't aware of until I took a good look at the broken lines showing ferry routes on Google maps.
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Re: Europe's cost-of-living has wide range
There are websites devoted to helping people sort out the possibilities worldwide. This is one I've found useful: http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/rankings.jsp
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Re: Left Hand Drive Vs Right Hand Drive Countries
When two moving Stagecoaches were facing each other on a narrow track the driver would crack the whip - using his right hand - and cause the Horses to shy to the left and away from the noise it made. So they passed each other without hindrance.
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Re: Left Hand Drive Vs Right Hand Drive Countries
On September 3rd, 1967 Dagen H (or “H-Day”), short for Högertrafikomläggningen (“the right-hand traffic diversion”) millions of Swedes switched from driving on the left side of the road to driving on the right. Looks like fun from a distance.
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Re: Left Hand Drive Vs Right Hand Drive Countries
The Swedish experience is fascinating. Here's a link to more details. What makes it especially fascinating is that Sweden had always had cars with the driver and steering on the left, initially American imports, but had driven on the left. I would have expected a surge in minor accidents at the time of the change, but instead, the article says, the accident rate dropped sharply because drivers were now better placed to deal with oncoming traffic!
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Re: Emperor Ludwig's Ettal Monastery and Abbey, Bavaria
A beautiful destination I was previously unaware of. Thanks, Samantha.
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Re: Emperor Ludwig's Ettal Monastery and Abbey, Bavaria
A beautiful monastery. Visited many times on our road trips from Augsburg to Garmisch and beyond. I never could drive by without stopping. One of my snowy day photos.
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Re: A weekend...I don't know where...
Surprises can be fun, but I enjoy researching a destination before I get there. Still, I can see the appeal of the idea to a lot of people.
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Re: A weekend...I don't know where...
Rob, I thought of you when I first found this...it sounds like you and me: Anything to be on the road, hardly matters where!
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Re: A weekend...I don't know where...
The cost seems pretty reasonable too. It is a good idea because it exposes you to cities that you wouldn't of picked on your own. Sometimes those cities end up being your favorites. I think TG's destination page is like that too. I now want to go so many places that were not remotely on my radar.
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Re: Scandinavia booms with Europe's fastest-growing cities
Now I know why I got the impression, on my last trip, that Europe was growing at a pretty robusr rate, opposite of what I'd heard.. I visited 5 of the top ten 10 growth cities on that list.
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Re: Are airline alliances costing you $$$ on flights to Europe?
Basically Norwegian Air told us the same thing and it's true. If the public supports Norwegian and other airlines that attempt to break the alliances trans-Atlantic hold, lower prices will follow. https://www.travelgumbo.com/blog/norwegian-air-1
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Re: Jan. 28: Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Berlin
When I was in Berlin I wanted to see this tribute, but I simply ran out of time. Thank you for sharing these wonderful photos of such an important monument.
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Re: Jan. 28: Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Berlin
I was impressed by the name of the memorial. "Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe". Full credit and kudos to the Germans for acknowledging what happened and their role in it. I'm not sure if other countries would have used such strong language.
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Re: It's not a train, it's not a plane, but it's superfast!
If not cost prohibitive, it would be an excellent way to travel around Europe.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, June 3, 2014: British Telepone Box, Malta
I enjoy these British phone booths! I'm not sure the last time I saw a phone booth in North America. Maybe at an airport somewhere, but they've all but completely disappeared (thanks to near universal ownership of cell phones).
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Re: Finding Reiner: Taking a Break in Cologne
Thanks,I really enjoyed your tips for Cologne. The food looks great Hans meal alone sounds like it's worth a trip there!
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Re: Finding Reiner: Taking a Break in Cologne
A River Cruise from Amsterdam through Germany (inc Cologne) , France then into Switzerland is an amazing journey. http://www.vikingrivercruises....basel/itinerary.html Or you can follow the Rhine from North to South by car and stop wherever you please. The road runs along side the River for most of its journey !
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Re: Finding Reiner: Taking a Break in Cologne
Next time I'll take that river cruise. Thanks for the update.
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Re: Finding Reiner 4: Who Was He?
Thanks for another moving piece. Those illustrations by Maria Lebedeva are museum quality!