Tagged With "Port Said"
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Re: Hamburg concert hall: Overdue, Over Budget, Finished
The German government were offering Hamburg as a suitable venue for the Olympic Games. The good people of Hamburg have said they no longer trust developers and politicians. No thank you. I find the new Concert Hall to be a monster on stilts. Not a pleasant view from any angle.
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Re: Carnival opens 'social impact' program to all
"First, you must cross my palm with silver" - as the fortune teller said. Am I just getting cynical ?
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Re: April 8, 2020: Standley Lake Regional Park, Colorado
Thank you DrFumbleFinger. This whole no travel thing is making me insane, l We've missed two trips already, one because of sickness over Valentines Day and one one because of this irritating virus issue. We also have two more (2+ week road trip through 11 states for our anniversary, and a trip to Atlanta for a convention) before the end of June that will prob not happen. Just so frustrating. I am also worried about a trip to AZ in Sept, NH, VT, and ME in Oct and CA in Nov. Not knowing when...
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Re: Arriving in Venice, 1960
Almost a Big Mistake in Venice. I remember taking my daughter to Venice for her birthday then buying a $750 ring for her in one of the jewelry stores. The owner told me I could get the tax refunded from the government and he said it would be about $700. I said that is almost the entire price of the ring, then he told me the ring was $7,500 because I converted the Lira wrongly on my calculator due to many Lira zeroes with that currency. She did get a ring but not that one.
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Re: 12 Countries ask vouchers instead of refunds
I have said it before and certainly have not changed my mind: why do airlines think they are above the law? There are plenty of other businesses suffering severely at present, but they do not have the option of hanging on to their customers' cash to keep themselves afloat. The way in which airlines have behaved over this issue is simply disgraceful and will have done nothing to engender goodwill amongst their customers. Indeed, many might - at a stroke - have destroyed the benefits of their...
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Re: France: Cameras are watching more than speed
Well said. I've always thought that aggressive driving is more dangerous than speeding...especially in areas where the limit is set too low.
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Re: EU Parliament Ends Cell Phone Roaming Charges in 2017
Yes, it will apply to prepaid plans, which many Europeans as well as visitors use, but it's not as happily absolute as some of the celebrators make it sound. The final June 2017 step depends on a reform of the European wholesale roaming market in which carriers pay each other for roaming use, and is also subject to limits for those who roam "too much." Here's a quote from one of the Parliament members who was a leading proponent of the law (which also originally included provisions for net...
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Re: Where Gumbo Was #12. Brasov, Romania
Hey , i'm so happy that you made this blog about Brasov, my city , happy that someone figure it about and posted the right answer about the puzzle. Everything said here is true, and to add more info about this destination, remind that The Black Church is the most photographied attraction in Romania, and right behind it with Dracula Bran Castle.
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Re: Where Gumbo Was #12. Brasov, Romania
I'm not sure whether it is a case of shifting borders, or of seeking publicity, but Lugosi's official biography said Transylvania...but can you trust Hollywood? Hmmm....
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Re: See Them While You Can: 10 Wins for Historic Preservation
PM (and anyone else I misled)...I went back and found the link that said "Around the World" on their page was actually another link to the same domestic 10. I've edited the reference out of the clip above. Too bad...I was looking forward to reading it...
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Re: "Mind Your Manners!" VisitBritain Warns Hoteliers
TatToo. I cant find any trace either. Could this be another invented story ? I love TravelGumbo because it sends me an Email as soon as some one adds new words to a Post. It tells me what they said too. Then the contributor removes it because they had second thoughts. But the Joke is still in the Email !! Thanks MrX
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Re: Lawrence and the Pirates
Thanks for letting me as close as I'll probably get to the tramp steamer fantasy so many of us grew up with--and which is now, apparently, more civilized than in the fantasies...but still with an edge of danger.
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Re: Lawrence and the Pirates
Great piece and great photos!That way of travel appeals to me a lot more than a luxury cruise ship. Thanks for taking us along the adventure.
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Re: Lawrence and the Pirates
That's an amazing story! I love that scene from Lawrence Of Arabia and can see why it'd make you wanna go.
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Re: Lawrence and the Pirates
Thats a fantastic perspective and life experience. Thanks for sharing that with us.
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Re: Lawrence and the Pirates
A sad addendum, "our" Lawrence, Peter O'Toole, has died in London at the age of 81. One of my very favorites for all time, the movie and the actor. RIP "Orence".
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Re: Lawrence and the Pirates
CNN highlighted Lawrence of Arabia as one of the most influential travel films of all time. Anyone who's seen it will know why. Here's a link to their brief tribute to Mr. O'Toole.
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Re: The "Eiffel Tour" Only Starts with the Tour Eiffel
I'm personally acquainted with one of Brunel's railway bridges, the Gatehampton Bridge over the Thames in Berkshire, England. I was advised by my Thames Path guidebook that I was approaching it. There was a strategically placed bench in a meadow where I sat, had a snack and looked at it from a distance for a bit before walking under it. Not at all knowledgeable, or even much interested, in bridges I tried to get at least a glimpse of what the guide meant when it said "one of Brunel's Great...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Jan. 2, 2014
After being married for 40 years, I took a careful look at my wife one day and said, "Forty years ago we had a cheap house, a junk car, slept on a sofa bed and watched a 10-inch black and white TV, but I got to sleep with a hot 20-year-old girl every night. Now, I have a £500,000 home, a £45,000 car, a nice big bed and a large screen TV, but I'm sleeping with a 60-year-old woman. It seems to me that you're not holding up your side of things." My wife is a very reasonable woman. She told me...
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Re: Frommer's New EasyGuides: A Future for Print
I told Pauline Frommer that I was disappointed with the Frommers' England Guide. She said I'd be Happy with the new Frommers' London (not England) so I wait with baited breath for a read of the new issue.
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Re: A Visit to Ireland: Part 1) An overview of the Country and its People
Thanks for your comments, Garry! We actually had very nice weather during our visit, GarryRF. It was windy and rainy at times, but being from Canada that was no great hardship. Still, good for people to be forewarned and prepared. Always pack in layers and let one layer be a rain shell. It was one of your fellow countryman who said, "There's no bad weather, just bad clothing" or something to that affect, but I can't remember who that was. Didn't try the "moonshine" (no one offered!), but my...
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Re: Frommer's New EasyGuides: A Future for Print
Like GarryRF, I'd rather be in wide open places. But that said, I do love snippets of big cities. A week at a time is about enough to satisfy my need for hustle and bustle for awhile. I know others can't live without the constant adrenaline rush of a city. The beauty of a free world is that everyone can pick what they want.
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Re: Frommer's New EasyGuides: A Future for Print
Beautiful Rideau Lakes In Ontario Canada - and me living in borrowed clothes to enjoy it ! ...and that's me on the balcony looking out ! I said I liked Cold but that Canadian Cold is so cruel !!
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Re: Happy Thanksgiving, from all of us at TravelGumbo!
Yes DrF.... Those Ozzies have some strange habits ! First time in Coogee Bay Hotel Sydney I ordered Steak and Chips (Fries) Guy showed me a Tupperware Picnic Box full of raw steak. You choose, then he puts it on a plate for you. You take it outside to the "Barbee" (BBQ). You cook it how you like it. Then come back in for your Chips and salad ! I stopped at a Restaurant in Bondi Beach and the waiter asked me if I would like a bottle of wine with the meal. "Yes please" I said. "Well git ya...
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Re: The Tulou of Fujian Province
Amazing!! As you said, ahead of the crowd.....what an adventure!
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Re: The Tulou of Fujian Province
I'm amazed at seeing this. At first I was thinking, well, communal dwelling, sort of like pueblos, and then I realized that this is much bigger, since you said there are hundreds of these. Do you know if they are in other areas of China, too? Are people still building like that now?
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Re: Do you Like these Hotel Tipping Tips ?
Before I retired, I traveled quite a bit on business, both inside the U.S. and abroad. I still travel frequently to racing and club events, but almost all are in the U.S. or Canada. That said, here’s my take on tipping: Restaurants – According to the sources I checked, in the U.S. the Federal minimum wage for tipped employees is $2.13. Most states have set higher amounts, but food service workers are still generally paid much lower wages that other ‘minimum wage’ employees. Unless the...
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Re: Do you Like these Hotel Tipping Tips ?
I certainly understand GarryRF's comments completely. A guest has a right to expect a good quality meal with good service. That should be part of the dining experience. That said, because I was raised and have lived in Canada/USA my life, I have a sensitivity to food service employees not being paid well and being stressed by their employers. So I tend to follow Dave B's guidelines (thanks for outlining these, Dave!) If I see a waitress is trying hard, I'll leave the 15% tip (and don't come...
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo? #22
If you hadn't said it was natural, I would have imagined it at night, with cartoon monsters and an even light glowing from within Skull Rock...
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Re: When Debit and Credit Cards aren't your best traveling choices
I've been places where it was not possible to use a credit card much of the time, even when I was told that I could, by the very people who then returned and said, sorry, not working, cash please. But Burma was the only place I can recall that was, when I was there a year+ ago, 100% cash. It's changing now, even there, I've heard. So this has been very interesting, reading about Argentina. Who'da thought?
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Re: Birmingham's Greatest Buildings
I enjoyed Birmingham's architecture a lot, it has changed and it is still changing in a pleasant way. Unfortunately many British people are stuck to the old image of other UK cities, the same can be said for other cities such as Manchester or Leeds. They are totally underestimated because people think they still are those kind of purely industrial minor cities devoted to production but it's not like this anymore. A weekend or day trip is enough to make you change your mind
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Re: 20-year anniversary for 'Stolpersteine' memorials
I found them very thoughtful and moving memorials. By placing them in the pavement, people keep polishing them with their feet. As I've said before, there's no people I know that have faced the crimes of their past generations the way today's Germans face their Nazi infamy.
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Re: February 28, 2018: Ait-Ben-Haddou, Morocco
As I said, quite a few films were shot here. Wikipedia has a list: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...t_A%C3%AFt_Benhaddou Ouarzazate is the centre of Morocco's film industry. We actually visited one of the studios - but Ait-Ben-Haddou is far more interesting.
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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, September 11, 2015: The Black Death!
I haven't a picture, but I did see a sign in the subway once that warned of a $25 fine for tampering with the sign. And that's all it said...
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Re: Kyoto Tells Tourists What Not To Do
Wow. Most of the list IS common sense. But tourists don’t always practice common sense, maybe at times myself included. Thing is, I have observed several Japanese tourists doing exactly what they advise not to do on their list during my travels to Europe. :-/ Most recently, almost felt that the rules didn’t apply to them as I was scolded for taking a picture without flash at Sacre-Coeur (didn’t see the sign). That was my mistake. However, while I was getting scolded for my offense, several...
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Re: August 2 2017: Duck Herding in the Kerala Backwaters
I don't know for sure, but I think that the ducks are probably bred for their meat. Having said that, I did not once see duck on any of the menus here. The destination markets, however, might be elsewhere in India or even abroad.
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Re: Germany's airlines taking up the slack
In a footnote to yesterday's story: Although air traffic in Germany is back to normal, air fares apparently are not. Germany's competition watchdog, the Federal Cartel Office, is investigating complaints that Lufthansa has illegally raised fares on some routes after the Air Berlin collapse. Lufthansa says that it wasn't really raising fares (which went up as much as 30%); it was just their yield management software responding to a spike in demand. In an interview, however, the head of the...
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Re: Airbnb an election issue in Amsterdam
I'm not sure how it can be said with any degree of certainty that data "scraped" from the site indicate anything close to real data other than, for instance, general availability, rather than which days a property is actually booked. Hosts, including me, block days (weeks, months) when the accommodation is used by family & friends or when they, like me, travel out of town. I'm not disputing that rules are broken but suspect it makes better news not bothering to dig through information to...
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Re: March 19, 2018: Winter at Caraquet Wharf, New Brunswick
Brrrrr. I can feel that North Atlantic wind crossing over all that ice. It's a little hard to tell from the photos but I assume the boats are dry-docked fro the winter? Ice can be a very destructive force when it thaws.
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Re: March 19, 2018: Winter at Caraquet Wharf, New Brunswick
A lot of boats are dry-docked for the winter, but I did see others that were not. The Bay looks more like a field. That's an island out there!
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Re: Assiniboine Park, Winnipeg, Canada. Where Gumbo Was #36
In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted won a design competition to improve and expand Central Park with a plan he entitled the Greensward Plan . 8 years AFTER Olmsted visited the Peoples Garden - Birkenhead Park England. He said "that in democratic America there was nothing to be thought of as comparable with this People’s Garden" So he took the plans back to New York. Entered the Central Park competition 8 years later. And won using Paxton plans from the Peoples Garden in England as a guide.
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Re: Assiniboine Park, Winnipeg, Canada. Where Gumbo Was #36
Apr 13, 2013 The boss of New York’s Central Park hailed his first visit to Birkenhead Park which inspired its design as “a dream come true” Doug Blonsky, president and chief executive of the New York Central Park said: “You drive around Birkenhead Park and there is no question that the physical similarities between here and Central Park are there" “To come here and take a look at it is a dream come true for me."
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#69)
I know where it is, it's * ********* !!!! But you said " please give others a couple of days to work on it"!!!!
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Re: Chrome Sparkles at Sherborne Castle (Part 3)
Thanks TG Gurus! I have been lucky enough to have a pass for each of the past 3 years and indeed stayed from early 'til late. Each year has a slightly different mix of cars really by chance rather than for a particular theme showing that there is a lot of lovely metal tucked-away out there. Some cars there that you can walk right up to (but please don't touch!) are valued in 'telephone numbers'. Having said "no theme" in particular, last year was Aston Martin's 100th anniversary, hence the...
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Re: Eiffel Tower Premiers Ultra Modern Glass Floor to Public
Last night BBC news showed a shot looking down through the glass floor. I have to agree with the BBC presenter, Katty Kay, when she said "not me!"
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Re: Route 66 - Pasadena to Needles
Thanks for the journey, JL. This one has been on my wish list for some time. I do intend to make it one day. Also love the Bagdad Cafe. I remember the movie, it was one of those cult classics that, like you said, went almost unnoticed. Good to know the buildings are still there.
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Re: Seat Wars break out in the air...
The Daily Telegraph conducted a poll after the first 2 incidents on "Should Reclining Seats be Banned" and 70% of the respondents said yes. The lack of leg space is a big issue and I hope airlines enact more reasonable legroom space for coach. If the reported stories are true though, some passengers weren't acting mature or reasonable at all and really should face stiff penalties for their actions http://www.telegraph.co.uk/tra...seats-be-banned.html
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Re: Booking.com Changes as Travelers Change : Interview With Stuart Frisby
Good info. I've always thought booking.com had the feel of another user friendly site,Amazon. I've been amazed when I hear about the size of booking.com now,According to CNBC , Priceline's stock price multiplied by more than 45 times since acquiring Booking and their international business accounted for 87 percent of bookings in the last quarter. What especially got me is CNBC also said that booking has over 100 dedicated mobile app developers in its Amsterdam headquarters alone. Can Stuart...
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Re: Marriott to offer free wi-fi to all its Rewards member
And let us not forget the dreaded "resort fees". Defined as meaning anything the hotel wants it to mean. And charged whether we use the facilities it's said to cover, or not. Look in the dictionary for the definition of "chicken shit" and you'll find "resort fees". If everyone must pay it, it should rightly be included in the room rate. Even my favorite, AirBnB, makes options available for hosts - cleaning fee, security deposit, a charge for more than 1 person and even possibilities for...