Tagged With "Summer Rail Passes"
Comment
Re: SkyMall's Business Dwindles With Increased Internet Usage In-Flight
It would be a shame if they went out of business. I've always found looking at their catalog of things I can live without, but which are highly entertaining, make a long flight pass by.
Reply
Re: How to Irk the Brits
Well, I can see both sides (and have been on both sides). When I stop to take a picture I try to stay out of the way of people trying to pass by...and when the shoe is on the other foot, I try to leave room to avoid ruining someone's picture. A little bit of common courtesy all around makes it all (generally) work...
Comment
Re: Strictly for the Birds...
While searching for some other photos, I came across these two that might have joined the birds above. One is a scene of well-mannered pigeons on a rail at the Musee Rodin in Paris, perhaps waiting their turn to annoy diners in the garden cafe; the other is yet another of those ironic meetings of statue-fied dignity with feathered pit stop...
Comment
Re: Belles lettres et de belles choses: A wanderer's gallery
Another find for the Belles Lettres category: The 19th-c sign atop the older part of Madrid's Atocha rail station.
Comment
Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#110)
I'll pass on adding a hint today...Norman has done enough!
Reply
Re: Lost a US Passport Overseas? What I learned this trip.
I like HistoryDigger's idea of carrying extra passport-sized photos...even if you don't lose your passport, you may find them useful if you need them for a transit pass (as in Paris, for the Navigo). We also carry color copies of the ID page of our passports; in case of loss or theft it may help identify you at the consulate.
Reply
Re: Best Ways To Reach Heathrow Airport Quickly In London
I just noticed this morning in TravelGumbo News that Heathrow Express is cutting its fares because of competiton with train service that wasn't mentioned here. That's what used to be called Heathrow Connect, and is now called TfL Rail, and will soon be called the Elizabeth Line. It's only 15 minutes slower than the Express, and the price is the same as the Tube. Both of those go only to Paddington Station in London, way in the West End, but once TfL Rail is connected to the new Crossrail...
Comment
Re: Stockholm's "blue hall", where the Nobel awards reception dinner is held each year
Garry's got it right. It was initially to be painted blue (like the Swedish flag), but the architect so loved the look of the space he left it as it was when made. Still, the name stuck. Sort of like Tunnel Mountain in Banff, which was to have a railway tunnel blasted through, although the rail was diverted and no tunnel ever made.
Comment
Re: Free pass for baby born on train
I wonder who decided 25 years was generous? The first 5 years she'd ride free anyway, maybe the next 10 unlikely to ride without a paying companion, leaving effectively 10 years or so to really enjoy it. I think a lifetime pass would have been infinitely more appropriate.
Reply
Re: Top 10 Tourist Places In Kerala To Visit During Summer
Yes Kerala is the most visited place in India in all session. Its my favorite destination for honeymoon trip.
Reply
Re: Top 10 Tourist Places In Kerala To Visit During Summer
It seems like Kenala is the most visited place especially in summer
Comment
Re: AAA: Where Americans are going this summer
I would love to go on a road trip to Maui! How do I go about arranging that?
Comment
Re: AAA: Where Americans are going this summer
Start here with these eBay ads for Amphicars, circa 1965...
Reply
Re: Around the World in...10 low-cost airlines
I didn't go around the world last summer, but I did take an array of budget flights, buses, trains and ferries on a two month trip. Norwegian was my favorite budget airline I took. I also enjoyed the Rail and Sail package from Virgin Trains to Dublin from England.
Comment
Re: Emirates cuts U.S. flights, blames 'Trump Slump'
It is likely that all passengers would be rescreened in the UK -- at least that's my experience traveling from Canada and the USA. I'm not sure if the same applies to the checked baggage, but the current threat seems to have to deal with personal electronic devices. These would obviously pass through the UK's screening process.
Comment
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.
Comment
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.
Reply
Re: How do you buy your travel?
I use booking.com the most for hotels and apartments because I can cancel. Sometimes I can't decide what part of town I want to be in, so I book more than one and keep researching until I have found the right spot. (I don't hold extra reservations long...just sayin'.) I love that booking.com now shows apartments and houses via villa.com because I always refer having a kitchen when I travel. I, too, use OTAs to see prices and schedules, and then I go to the airline's web page for booking.
Reply
Re: How do you buy your travel?
Few more thoughts, following HistoryDigger and DrFumblefinger... 1. Definitely check all your affiliations on car rental; after years of getting better price through AAA than any other way I knew, I recently found that going to the same vendors through USAA (my car insurance) gets me even better. 2. Not only does Priceline have good pricing on cars, I've often found I can get 30-40% lower through their blind-bidding (Name Your Own Price) service. 3. RailEurope is something of a red flag for...
Comment
Re: Islamic State opens 5-star hotel...do you have reservations about that?
Thanks, but I'll pass on staying at this one. So should anyone who is Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, gay, female, or the "wrong" type of Muslim.
Comment
Re: Are ATM's at European airport going to cost you more?
My purpose in posting this was to pass along information that I felt was reasonable, although I could not check it myself. I am glad to hear that it moght not be correct, although, as I stated above, in Brazil (my last international trip) I encountered something similar. As someone who travels to Europe once every 2 years or so I felt that this was something I was needed to know, and that I could share for others like me, as a warning of changes that are happening. Maybe I chose the wrong...
Comment
Re: Are ATM's at European airport going to cost you more?
Jonathan, I was in no way suggesting you shouldn't have posted it and was very interested in the information, in fact. It effects us all who travel and as mentioned, I'm surprised it hasn't come to pass sooner. I could have worded my post better. Because the article wasn't fresh I wanted to check the facts as best I could from my computer, to see if the sky really is falling. He mentioned looking for a Barclay's ATM so that's where I went. I have no doubt there are fewer than before. My only...
Comment
Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo #153?
Looks a bit like a turntable with rails? But there's no overhead wire or third rail, so...
Comment
Re: Inset steps, Santiago de Cuba
Good thing its got that rail or it would be called the widow maker stairs.
Comment
Re: Weaker 'loonie' good and bad news for Canada travel
With the fall especially of oil prices (and other natural resources, which Canada is a major producer of), the loonie has indeed fallen compared to the US dollar but kept its relative value with most other currencies, including the pound and Euro. It seems despite a reasonably healthy economic profile, including until recently an almost balanced federal budget and low debt-to-GDP ratio, the value of the Canadian dollar is pegged to its natural resource valuation. With the pullback in the...
Comment
Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Nov. 17: A Night out in Madrid
Really nicely exposed and atmospheric photo PH! Completely typifies the sidewalk eating culture. Come back summer!
Comment
Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Nov. 17: A Night out in Madrid
That is a stunning photograph Pheymont.
Comment
Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Nov. 17: A Night out in Madrid
Thanks for the kind words, guys! I just wish I were sitting there now...
Comment
Re: A Field of (Rusted) Dreams
I'm a truck driver and every time I pass this field I pull over and take pictures. I was there again on Dec. 20, 2013. Sadly most are now gone. Noticed some where no longer there from when I stopped in February 2013 and July 2012. There's probably only about a dozen that remain now. In fact if you view it from google earth you can see the empty spaces where they once stood. Glad I found your post. I've always wondered what the story of this field was. I just posted new shots on...
Reply
Re: Weekend getaways. Where's your favorite spot
Haven't gotten into West Coast stuff yet, but back east I had a few favorites I'd suggest to anyone. One is Lancaster County, PA. I know it's overflowing with fake Amish stuff and all, but behind that there's a real local history and culture (and some real Amish culture as well)...and the Strasburg Rail Road, a steam road that's an afternoon's fun...and the Pennsylvania State Railroad museum...and the National Toy Train Museum (which could take up a whole day if your companions share your...
Comment
Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Nov. 17: A Night out in Madrid
This is a photograph ? Wow, it looks like a beautiful painting.
Comment
Re: Gallarus Oratory, Dingle Peninsula, Ireland
Three more comments concerning Dingle: 1. Leaving the wharf/tourist area in Dingle and walking uphill into the central part of the town was very interesting in that we could interact with the locals and leave the hustle & bustle of the lower part of town. We stopped at a neat cafe for coffee called the Frog St. Cafe and we were the only non-locals in the place. 2. Between Dingle town and Slea Head is the Stone House Restaurant, which overlooks the bay and an ancient fort. The restaurant...
Reply
Re: Spain or Portugal?
Portugal's rail system feels a bit worn in places, and some trains look terrible from outside...but the interiors are clean and the system seems to work. Not a terribly large country, so that time between the two largest cities (Lisbon and Porto) is about 3.5 hours. If you add in getting to the airport early and getting in from the airport at the other end, it's probably faster than flying. Other significant points in Portugal also have reasonable rail service, including Coimbra, the...
Comment
Re: Pere Lachaise: Home to Permanent Parisians
Pheymont, I'm sure you're familiar with Montmartre and know when you're at the cemetery you'll be very close to Rue Lepic and environs, my "home" neighborhood. If you haven't already, from the cemetery walk east on Blvd Clichy to Rue Lepic, turn left and go uphill, jog right/left at the top onto Rue Tholoze where you'll pass my first Paris home, and on a few steps more to the old moulin of Impressionist fame. After years and many visits it's still my favorite village and, after trying...
Comment
Re: What To Do When You Visit Sanibel Island
Katy thanks for giving me so many ideas for weekend trips. That has to be the biggest cup of fries I've ever seen!
Comment
Re: 5 Miami Landmarks to Visit During the Summer
Thanks Katy,especially enjoyed hearing about The Kampong. No doubt Miami is a great city!
Comment
Re: Gallery: The Colors of Summer
The flowers are, of course, spectacular and beautiful...but I especially loved the deep, shaded greens of the tomatoes...
Comment
Re: Gallery: The Colors of Summer
Dr Y, your backyard is incredible!You could easily sell tickets to see those flowers!
Comment
Re: Gallery: The Colors of Summer
A beautiful assortment of color, DrY! I'm especially fond of those huge vibrantly colored poppies.
Comment
Re: National Parks Centennial to get big marketing push
I hope everyone rushes right out to get their Senior Passes, as I did, when you reach 62. $10 to get into every federal recreation site managed by the Forest Service, the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Bureau of Reclamation, for life. Details for it, and other passes here: http://www.store.usgs.gov/pass/senior.html
Comment
Re: Gallery: The Colors of Summer
Hi PHeymont, Travel Rob, DrFumblefinger, Thank you all for the comments. Yes, planting and watching flowers grow in the backyard is one of my favorite pass times in the summer. Here in Calgary, Canada, although the growing season is short, the flowers seemed to know how to take chances! The resulting beautiful blossom and brilliant colors make all the hard work worthwhile .
Comment
Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo? #64
I think the terrain may be deceptive (or the bridge). If the terrain is flat, why would the rail line be elevated in this way? On the other hand, the area may be less flat than it looks from this spot...
Comment
Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo? #64
It not only could be the rail viaduct in Lethbridge, Roderick, it is the Rail Viaduct in Lethbridge. It's really quite an interesting engineering achievement. We'll discuss tomorrow and we'll have a new puzzle for you on Thursday. You guys are getting too good at these! Anyone out there have a puzzle photo they'd like to submit? Please let us know if you do.
Comment
Re: Banff National Park: Hiking in the Subalpine Splendor of Sunshine Meadows
Thanks for the nice comment, MsNomadica, and welcome to TravelGumbo! The Canadian Rockies are a very special place and perhaps no place is this better demonstrated than in Lake Louise. If you're traveling from Seattle, a trip up through Victoria and Vancouver, up and north from Whistler towards Jasper, then down the Rockies through Lake Louise, Banff, Canmore. I'd recommend making a loop drive, down through the Crowsnest Pass, Fernie, Cranbrook, Bonners Ferry, Sandpoint, Couer d'alene and...
Comment
Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Aug. 10, 2014: How DO they DO that?
I remember seeing those two buskers during our time in Verona in August, 2012. They did present a very creative look in a land of creative street entertainers. Verona was a fantastic place for us to kick back and do not too much. Piazza Bra in the evening was like watching the Veronese living room in action. Many nights we would take our gelato to the steps across and to the left of the restaurant section and just watch the world pass by. This was during the Opera season, which brought many...
Comment
Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Apr. 2, 2014: Looking Across Time
And there's a chance for the puzzle-minded: Paris has six operating SNCF mainline rail stations today. Without Google, can you name them all?
Comment
Re: Rafting Montana's Clark Fork River
I was enjoying the photos - until I saw the upturned boat ! I think I'll pass until I get a waterproof watch !
Comment
Re: Walking in England
Like you, I love to explore places on foot. I live next to one of the greatest wilderness places in the world, the Canadian Rockies, so this is where I like to hike. It's never been about speed or conquest, though I do love to make it to the top of a pass or ridge simply because the views are so fantastic. It's about the journey. I never walk without my camera and love to stop for photos, or to watch a doe and fawn, or some quail hurrying to shelter. Often I've shared these photos on this...