Tagged With "Virgin America"
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Re: Road Trip, Day 5: My Birthday in Chinatown
What a great way to end a roadtrip. I've visited Chinatown many times in the 20+ years I lived in California, always on the agenda when going to the Bay area. But you saw things in it that I just didn't appreciate. I mostly went for a great meal. You seem to have experienced a genuine slice of China in America. A belated Happy Birthday, PM! Wishing you many more.
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Re: San Antonio’s Historic Missions Receive UNESCO World Heritage Status
That is truly excellent news! Thanks for sharing it, Marilyn. I love these old missions and I'm glad more USA sites are finally being recognized. Seems the UNESCO committee views North America as it's "Orphan continent".
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Re: How do you use the internet while traveling?
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: The Acadian Village in Caraquet, New Brunswick,Canada
That's a great destination, Rob, and I'm so glad you got to experience it and share it with us! Kind people and Dixie Lee chicken -- seems New Brunswick is a-calling! I've traveled extensively thoughout North America but have never made it to the Maritime provinces. Need to rectify that sometime soon.
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Re: Why Missouri is Not just a Fly Over State
Great post! America has lots of great out of the way places worth exploring and I'd like to get to this one someday. I love to canoe and the Current River sure looks inviting. Is there a long stretch of the river you can paddle? Can you rent a canoe there?
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Re: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario (Where Gumbo was #301)
A fine piece of History from a young Town. With a small population it appears to be booming in style and grace. Could even make it to Garry's favourite "Small Town America List". An Oasis of Olde World Quality and Charm. This Town took some locating. Good one Dr F.
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Re: U.S. cuts most Cuba air routes
We were there just before that, in January 2016, and found a broad wave of (over)optimistic expectation that we were the leading edge of a wave, and that Obama was something akin to Mother Theresa and Gandhi wrapped in one. On our last visit, this past January, we had less contact with locals, but found a belief among some that Trump was a glitch and soon the Americans would come again... It seems to me that there are a lot of misperceptions on all sides, including the idea that Cuba is what...
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Re: Touring Maryland's Scenic Eastern Shore
Good to see Robert Morris gets a mention in your blog. He financed the War of Independence with his fortune. Signed the Declaration of Independence. And formed the Bank of America. He did well for a Local - born a mile from my own Birthplace - here in Liverpool UK
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Re: Touring Maryland's Scenic Eastern Shore
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: Portugal to Brits: Can we pay for your doctor?
Most Brits already take Travel Insurance where ever we go. The care we currently get in the European Community as a Member is very limited. I buy an annual Family policy that covers worldwide travel with unlimited vacations. Haven't had to use it for 25 years. "Touch wood". Do you guys in America use that superstition too ?
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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: Exploring Liverpool's 300 years as a port
Another one of Liverpool's great museums with free entrance! I learned a lot about slavery from that museum and later from GarryRF as he showed me some more sights in town . When I was in Charleston, SC, I asked at the Slavery museum if they had any slaves coming to Charleston that had a Liverpool connection. I was basically made fun of for asking the question. The worker was totally unaware of the Triangular Trade that Liverpool was doing. The BBC describes it: "In Liverpool ships were...
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Re: Apr. 7, 2016: Budget Vacation in France
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
Yes DrF. I know camping is popular in North America. But do you drive to a site where you have a tent ready erected for you. Cooker - Lighting - Electric Fridge waiting for you ? With a swimming pool and slides and kids adventure land. There's no RV's on these camps. Caravans and cabin homes are viewable on the link provided.
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Re: How to spend 24 hours in Dublin
I notice the only thing you didn't do in your 24 hours was sleep! I guess that's what the flight home is for. I'm somewhat older and have less energy than you, Seb. One of my favorite things to do in Dublin is to take a walk around St. James Park on a nice day. Or a stroll around Trinity College. But you definitely need to at least try the Guinness in Dublin. Even if you don't like Guinness elsewhere, the Guinness you get here has a better richer taste that stuff we get in North America.
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Re: How to spend 24 hours in Dublin
Haha, there was a little bit of sleep between about 4:30am to 9 when I went, though I didn't mention it in the post! Had a nap on the flight home fortunately
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Re: Turbulence: Is change in the air?
I cross the Atlantic 4 times a year. Pilots know where the turbulence is. They don't fly "blind". There are times when the Atlantic Jet Stream has winds around 500 mph. So if you were to fly into its narrow path you would effectively be standing still. Coming home, from America to England, Pilots choose to fly inside the Jet Stream so a 7 hour flight can be achieved in under 5 hours. Pilots can fly above or below the Jet Stream and turbulence is a manageable hazard.
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Re: Journey through Karnataka: Hampi
Thank you for sharing your journey to an amazing site. Places like this are part of what makes traveling such a pleasure. We in North America learn a lot about the history of Western Europe and some Middle East civilizations and empires from there. However we tend to pass over the rest of the world which included empires and civilizations as great as the Greeks, Romans and Egyptians. Hampi is just another point in favour of a journey to India.
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Re: Journey through Karnataka: Hampi
Thanks a lot for your comments. I fully agree with what you say - I also feel that there is a big hole in my education where the history of places like India is concerned. That is part of the reason why I enjoy doing blogs like this one: it forces me to do a bit of research and to broaden my own horizons.
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Re: America's Cuppa Tea: A visit to the Celestial Seasons Factory, Boulder
I had no idea there was a tea factory in America...excellent and informative article!!
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Re: America's Cuppa Tea: A visit to the Celestial Seasons Factory, Boulder
Not the only tea factory in America: https://www.travelgumbo.com/blo...ton-tea-plantation-1 And grown in America: https://worldoftea.org/us-grown-tea/ Thanks for this one, DrF.
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Re: Campaigners ask: Can the QE2 be saved?
A sad story, but not unusual. People get attached to ships, maybe why they're called "she" instead of "it". My son was in the Navy, on the magnificent aircraft carrier USS Ranger, CV61, one of several of that name, the first in 1777, commanded by John Paul Jones. The end of his tour was also Ranger's last, after a voyage to the Persian Gulf for a goodbye battle. Retired just afterward (1993) and stored in Bremerton, WA, I read yesterday that as I write this, Ranger is sailing under tow...
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#117)
IDK good one to be stumped. Thought a Caribbean or West African Nation capitol; then the Christmas Trees brought us back to North America, and we settled upon Harrisburg, PA. Probably early in December since no snow outside. Beautiful building, the eye can't take in all the detail, wherever it is. Missteacher411
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#118)
I'll be the first to take a stab. Obviously a church, not new, but not ancient. Excellent craftsmanship in the stained glass and altar. A concert, as in many churches, would make me favor Europe over America,
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo? (#119)
Originally Posted by PHeymont: So this is definitely not a revisit to Leavenworth, WA... Folks in Leavenworth do love their mountains and enjoy a good cup of tea, but I think it's fair to say this couple doesn't life in Leavenworth. And I'll go one step further and say it's not North America.
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Re: The Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego
Looks like an amazing place to visit. I wish they would show more of these hidden gems on the "Visit America" ad's on TV. So much more to see of America - than a mouse with ears !
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Re: Signs of Halifax
I'm stuck for choice now between the Charm of the Maritime and my constant search for Small Town America (that includes Canada if you're a Brit) I shall ask Google.
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Re: Emirates Adds a 3rd US Frequent Flier Partner
There are a lot of possibilities with these airlines to both have budget flights and earn lots of miles. The combined route maps must be interesting.
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Re: Is a stopover in Iceland worthwhile
You're most welcome, Travel Luver! Give the VIKING beer a try -- it's pretty good. And made with that great Icelandic water that has a unique taste (and pleasant at that). Also be sure to try their Coca Cola, made with Icelandic water and sugar (not corn syrup as in North America) -- definitely a better product.
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Re: Sometimes a Trip is just a Walk in the Park
I've mentioned in other pages that I love wide open spaces - like the State Delaware Park - but the designer of New York Central Park rung a Bell with me. Frederick Olmsted came to Liverpool to check out the "Peoples Garden" and he wrote in 1850 : "Five minutes of admiration, and a few more spent studying the manner in which art had been employed to obtain from nature so much beauty, and I was ready to admit that in democratic America there was nothing to be thought of as comparable with...
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Re: The ART of Chocolate: Brussels, Belgium
Good point Bling ! We have recipes for Apple Pie that pre-date the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus. Over a hundred years before ! So is this another Baseball story where Americans re-invent something by changing the size of the bat ?
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Re: The Island Metropolis of Singapore
Originally Posted by JaxonSmith: I have been to India many times so the humidity of Singapore does not bother me. I do love its beauty. Thanks for the comment, JaxonSmith. If you're used to humidity, then it's not a problem. I've lived in the western half of North America my entire life where humidity is quite low and it is challenging to adjust to it. I've been told by people who moved from a dry to humid climate it takes about a year to fully make the adjustment.
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo? #5
There are probably a million miles of hiking trails in north America alone. But not many of them are this well groomed, with borders on the side of the path, smooth surface or well made wooden handrails where it seems none are needed. Ferns imply a shaded moister setting. This looks like some kind of urban park to me, not a wilderness park. PHeymont is an east coast guy, although he gets around a lot. I don't hike there, but who knows east coast hiking trails around here?
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Re: Iceland's Secret Life as a Film Star (Really!)
Anyone who has traveled to Iceland wouldn't be surprised by this. It's a country of amazing rugged beauty, just made for cinema. And with Icelandair, it's quite easy to do get there now both from North America and Europe. I suggest people look at some of the scenery in the Golden Circle and South Iceland to understand what I mean by this.
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Re: Megabus Making Bus Travel a Viable Option
That's a good tip, TravelRob! I didn't know much about these buses before reading them. Are they only found in Europe and North America?
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Re: Where's a Warm Spot for March
Welcome, Gulliver, and two weeks will give you a nice break. I'm not sure where you're traveling from. Easiest and cheapest place for a warm break from North America is to head south, especially to Florida or the Caribbean, or from the West coast to Hawaii or Arizona. But the south of Europe is also quite nice this time of year. Italy, Sicily, Greece are places I'd consider going, depending on what interests you and where you've traveled before. Do any of these interest you? Are you...
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo (#13)
As this was uploaded by DrF, I am thinking that this is near a place that I lived for a year. One of the most beautiful parts of North America.
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Re: Pineapple field, Dole Plantation
Pineapples grown in Hawaii are consumed in Hawaii. There is no export to the lower 48 states. Between the locals and tourists that's still a lot of pineapples. Shipping anything to or from a remote island is expensive. Mainland USA gets a lot of its pineapples from Central America.
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Re: Coastal California: Pigeon Point Lighthouse
When I lived in So California, an acquaintance was an avocado farmer. He informed us that at the time about 10% of the avocado crop was stolen each year -- probably higher now. The most stolen crop in America, and impossible to trace I love old lighthouses and their setting on the roughest places on the coast. Thanks for sharing this one with us, PM.