Tagged With "Berlins Brandenburg Gate"
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Re: Wonders of the Modern World
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: 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: Berlin's Museum Island
Great Blog Story. I was at the Pergammon years ago and your story caused me to dig out the old photo album from the basement archives and relive our stay at Alexanderplatz and the museum visit. Thanks.
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Re: Berlin's Museum Island
Glad you liked the story. I hope you enjoy my next pieces on Berlin
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Jan. 20, 2014: The Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California
It is a great photo of a great bridge! And likely a rare day. Most of the times I've been in SF the fog and gloom preclude a nice photo of the Golden Gate.
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Re: Buddy, Can You Spare 5.3 Million Dimes?
Yes, some facilities have no space for reassembly. The least they could do is hand people clear plastic bags for all of their little stuff at the beginning. Toss coins, keys, cell phone etc into clear plastic bag. Toss belt and shoes into clear plastic bag. Slam plastic bags into bin with your luggage items. Grab your plastic bags and luggage items out of bin at the exit and run for your gate, shoeless. At least people would not be fumbling around, trying to get their small odds and ends out...
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Re: Sanssouci Park, Potsdam, Germany
Agreed - there is plenty more to see in the park than is covered here. The Roman Baths and the Belvedere are further examples. The website below provides some further information and photos: http://www.potsdam-park-sanssouci.de/home.html
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Re: Oresund Bridge to get mammoth paint job
I guess this is true of all the great bridges. I know the same happens at the Golden Gate Bridge in san Francisco.
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo #180?
Having come through the passage in yesterday's clue and through a gate we find a building with this room
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Aug. 2, 2015: Uncertain times
My family and I love this section of Berlin. Great pictures. You were there on a beautiful day. And by the way, this is where Reiner (of the Finding Reiner series) drank a beer in Zum Nussbaum, the oldest bar in Berlin (or so he said), before he was doomed to face the Russian Front.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Aug. 2, 2015: Uncertain times
Zum Nussbaum is there, in this picture, nestled at the base of the Nikolaikirche—although like the rest of the neighborhood, it is a reconstruction. But then, so much of life is...
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Re: How to not miss a connecting flight
There are a lot of good tips in the article about streamlining your connections. While I mostly enjoy flying, travel days are busy and tiring enough that I hate to be rushed. I try to get to the airport early (often I've been grateful that I gave myself that extra time), and I don't take flights that have connections I consider too tight. I like at least 1.5-2 hours between my connections. I've been delayed on arrival often enough that having less time than that is no fun. As planes travel...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Sept. 6, 2015: Berlin Buskers
Now I understand how fine arts graduates in Berlin make a living
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Sept. 6, 2015: Berlin Buskers
I think the guys in the top photo were classmates of Harry Potter
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Re: More Art under Your Feet
I usually keep my eyes up, but do glance down from time to time. These are on the sidewalk in the town of Banff. Probably not functional manhole covers, but "art under the feet".
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Re: More Art under Your Feet
Those are not just beautiful, but functional in another way...if not as utility covers, then as guides for pedestrians. Do all the streets have them?
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Re: More Art under Your Feet
Originally Posted by PHeymont: Those are not just beautiful, but functional in another way...if not as utility covers, then as guides for pedestrians. Do all the streets have them? The streets crossing the main street in Banff (Banff Ave) have them, although I don't believe all the streets in town have them. I expect they're just up on the main pedestrian areas of town. But I agree, they are nicely done.
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Re: More Art under Your Feet
In Tokyo, They also use the covers for Fire Hydrants,something I haven't noticed before
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Re: More Art under Your Feet
Thanks to you Paul, I'm now taking a lot of photos of manhole covers and birds on statues. Really some interesting things I never paid much mind to before. Here's a couple more manhole covers. I'll add the my statue birds on your next story. In Oslo Fire Hydrant in Tokyo
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Re: November 30, 2017: Delhi in a Nutshell
The Ajmeri gate, if I'm not mistaken - Ajmer in Rajasthan was much more important in the past, but now known mainly as the portal to Pushkar, where the world renowned 'camel fair' is held. Perched on a conical hill there is the only temple in India dedicated to Brahma
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Re: Bumped up to Business on Turkish Airlines
George G, considering what I've seen in business class while walking through, I think the gate agent was trying to upgrade Business Class by upgrading you!
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Re: Museum Island, Berlin (Where Gumbo was #271)
An amazing collection of sculpture. Worth a few days exploring the Museums alone. Fly Liverpool to Berlin with Ryanair return ticket for a 2 day trip. £105. Serious thoughts ......
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Re: What do travelers like least about airlines?
I was thinking about what I like least about airlines and it's really the lack of info some airlines supply you with. I recently had two good flights on American Airlines. One from Atlanta to Phoenix and then a connector plane to Tucson. So you'd think that would be a positive experience. During my short layover in Phoenix though , American Airlines changed gates of my plane at least 4 times, having passengers move to gates and await various countdowns.The flight was only delayed about an...
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Re: Berlin's Brandenburg International Airport Delayed Again
Oh, no! Not again! Goes to show that not all reputations match reality, I guess... It's ironic that one of Europe's fastest-growing airports is Berlin's Texel, which is slated to close the day Berlin-Brandenburg opens...
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Re: New trend: airport lounges for non-members
It is a pleasure, as well, when making early morning connections in Europe. I've had lounge access through various credit cards for the past few years and truly enjoyed breakfast in a lounge while waiting for the next flight, and even the ability to doze a little, knowing that a) the seat is comfortable, b) my bag is safe and c) the agent at the desk will remind me it's time to walk to the gate! Even at $35 a pop...likely worth it.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, June 29, 2014: Berlin's Fernsehturm
Very nice. My only time visiting Berlin was for the Christmas Markets and I was too focused on mulled wine! I need to go back during the year and actually explore these monuments.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, June 29, 2014: Berlin's Fernsehturm
Originally Posted by MAD Travel Diaries: Very nice. My only time visiting Berlin was for the Christmas Markets and I was too focused on mulled wine! I need to go back during the year and actually explore these monuments. I also know the impact of mulled wine on a cool day
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, June 29, 2014: Berlin's Fernsehturm
I guess I'll need to explore the mulled wine when I get back...we were focused on beer and currywurst!
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Re: World's 10 Best Airports? Maybe...
These are all important international hubs, but I'm inclined to agree with TravelRob. Most of these airports are massive and far from user friendly. Maybe they have a large assortment of restaurants from which to choose, etc. But I like short lines, a quick security screen and a reasonable walk to the gate not requiring a bus or train to get there.
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Re: World's 10 Best Airports? Maybe...
I think the comments, and mine are all hitting on the same point: better airport is not more amenities for while you're trapped there...better airport is not trapping you there. I get disbelieving stares when I tell people that Laguardia is my favorite. But, while it looks a bit dated, its size means you don't have ridiculous hikes, and it's easy to get in and get out. Heathrow T5, on the other hand...especially if you are transferring from T3...is an experience that makes you feel like...
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Re: Berlin's airport tragedy of errors continues
It's hugely embarrassing to my German friends, and a farce of incompetence. What kind of architects and engineers are designing this place????? Correspondence school graduates? Perhaps the should just bull-doze the place and start over again. Might be quicker that way.
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Re: Boarding Etiquitte and Carry-on Bags
I usually try to get a seat in a zone where I'm guaranteed bin space. I usually have a laptop bag for my computer and travel documents, which goes under the seat in front of me. The rest of the items, including spare eyeglasses, camera, medications and clothes go into my carry-on. I can't take the small risk of these items getting lost so I need that carryon with me. It's rare that gate-checked bags get lost but they can. Generally for trips of a week or less, I can get by with just a...
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Re: The newest, biggest, bestest airport: Aren't they all?
I often find that better facilities and more relaxing just mean they've added a shopping mall and an entertainment area to extract more money between gates. So I now have further to walk - and drag my carry-on to get to the gate. Maybe developers see us customers as "Lambs to the slaughter" Squeeze us - until our pockets run dry. I'd be happy if all those moving walkways worked. The cartoon Jetsons never had a problem with them in the 60s. Before they were even invented I think ! Vey...
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Re: On your marks, get set, get on board!
Sometimes getting to your gate involves walking half a mile. Walkways - when they are working - are a necessity to our ageing parents and less mobile neighbours. I just hope distances in this airport are not extreme.
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Re: The newest, biggest, bestest airport: Aren't they all?
I confess to a preference for developing world airports - small, simple, friendly places, like the towns they get us to when we choose to fly at all. I realize that I'll likely need to go through one or 2 of these urban behemoths to get to them, and then I'm reminded I'm on the right track again when baggage claim is a few steps into the building and it's a couple of guys who just pushed a cart to an opening in the wall and I can still see the plane.
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Re: The newest, biggest, bestest airport: Aren't they all?
It's a nicely researched and well-written piece, PHeymont. Thanks. I'm with PortMoresby, though. Given a choice, I'd rather travel to a smaller airport, and avoid these mega-hubs if at all possible. I know at some level you agree with this (based on some of your past comments on Heathrow for example).
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Re: The newest, biggest, bestest airport: Aren't they all?
Far from Third World except In the minds of Gov. Cuomo and Joe Biden, but Laguardia is my favorite NY airport precisely because it's so much smaller.
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Re: Max Gate - home of British author Thomas Hardy
Max Gate seemed to me to be very much more about 'Hardy, the man and his life' whereas his cottage, whilst small and pretty, was I suppose, just his early days. Max Gate was interesting to see. PS I am very impressed that you walked to his cottage from Dorchester!
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Re: Germans Reflect on Reunification
I was in Berlin on Saturday, the day of the 25th anniversary of reunification. There were tons of people in the city, as crowded as I've ever seen any major city. The main activities were in the Tiergarten, especially around the Brandenburg gate. By the time we made our way there, the police had closed down the area and were not allowing more people in because it was overcrowded. Still, everyone seemed well behaved and having a nice time. I think most Germans feel reunification was a good...
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Re: Sanssouci Park, Potsdam, Germany
A memorable destination. Those gardens sure do look very inviting for a stroll. Thanks for making us aware of this special place.
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#306)
Here is your next puzzle clue. A brick wall and iron gate protect the entrance to the garden at this historic site.
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Re: February 17, 2020: San Francisco Views
Go to Fishermans Wharf. Rent a Bicycle. Ride across the Golden Gate Bridge. Stop at all viewing spots. On to Sausalito. Stop for Coffee and a cake. Sit on the sea wall and watch the Fishing Boats cleaning their nets. The Seagulls will steal your piece of cake when you're not looking . Back on the Bicycles and on to Tiburon using the Cycle Tracks. Find the Ferry Terminal then back home to base. Wonderful days excersise !
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Re: July 14, 2016: Humboldt, University, Berlin, Germany
Ottoman -- I notice your name is not on this list. What gives? Surely these men aren't any more distinguished that you?
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Re: July 14, 2016: Humboldt, University, Berlin, Germany
Dr. Fumblefinger...thanks for noticing that my name didn't appear on the above alumni list. Although I believe I am just as distinguished and smrt as the gentlemen mentioned above, the university said that having one Otto on the list was more than enough.
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Re: Ryanair boss: We'll crush German competitors
Most of Mr O'Leary's predictions are just attention seeking and looking for free advertising. If you look on you tube you'll see a list of his comedy acts and predictions for Ryanair from the past years. A very successful man with an Irish sense of humour.
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Re: Ryanair boss: We'll crush German competitors
All that true, but he has picked a couple of truly vulnerable targets...
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Re: Discovering Art and History at Göttweig Abbey
My wife and I took a fantastic road trip down the banks of the Danube from Germany to Vienna. We stopped and toured Stift Gottweig (photo attached) which was a terrific find as you have described. Likewise our weather that day was blustery and chilly during our Thanksgiving holiday back in the mid-1990's. The nearby town of Krems was also a nice stop (photo of the Krems Steiner Tor (stone city gate)) is also attached. Enjoyed your travel description that rekindles the memories of that road trip.