Tagged With "July 4"
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Re: Tickets: Check before you cancel!
British Airways are trying their best to hold on to their customers' money. We have had 4 flights from Frankfurt to London cancelled by them (on two separate bookings). Whilst by law they should simply refund the money to the credit card, they send you links involving only 'travel vouchers' and phone numbers with automated messages directing you to the same vouchers. It is extremely difficult to find anything to do with actual refunds, but I am persisting. I also am pursuing claims under EU...
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Re: 12 Countries ask vouchers instead of refunds
In a conversation with Travel Rob last week, I set out my minimum conditions before a bailout or other relief can be discussed: 1) All boarding to be by efficiency, no priority for anyone except physical need 2) minimum one free checked bag for all flights over 250 miles (under 250, you should drive or take a train, anyway) 3) elimination of most nuisance fees 4) minimum 32" pitch with no more than 2" recline 5) 20-year cap on exec salaries...CEO to earn max 20x full-time flight attendant...
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Re: Boston in the fall - suggestions please!
Agree with PHeymont. Plan your trips around the leaf watching. Lots of pretty small towns around New England, although many will be pretty booked. I'd leave at least 3-4 days for Boston. Lots to see and do there, including many items relating to the rebellious Yankees throwing off the ties with old King George. And great museums and restaurants and such. We can get into more details if you'd like, but you'll definitely want a good guide book. Many people find a day in Salem (famous for its...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, November 11, 2015: Four Corners Monument
Brings back some good memories. We visited the 4 corners about 15 or so years ago and, of course, had to take pictures of each of us having an extremity in each of the 4 states. The country is beautiful, but it is remote and VERY HOT in the summer. Good advice on being prepared.
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#140)
Puzzler's apology...very late with today's clue. To make up for it a little, I'll load tomorrow's, too!
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Re: Diamond Head State Monument, Oahu (Where Gumbo Was #230)
On my last visit to Diamond Head we left near to the closing time. A large Limousine was waiting to take us back to Waikiki. I hadn't ordered one but the driver insisted we used him to take us back. "I will charge you the same as the Taxi fare you paid to get here" Sounded like an offer too good to refuse ! Before we arrived back in Waikiki another 4 couples had joined our Taxi ride. Had to admire the driver for ingenuity. Very good earner !
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Re: Oct. 3, 2016: Old Store & Post Office, Evinston, FL
We were in Micanopy at a antique store and the proprietor suggested seeing the antique coca -cola cooler in the Evinston Post Office. By the time we got there, it was 4:57pm, three minutes to closing. But the gentleman running the office welcomed us and was not in a hurry at all. I hope to stop by again and ask some more questions at this really neat place. A really great surprise on our day trip. A few years ago, NPR did a story about the Post Office which is well worth reading. ...
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo #187
Here are Friday's double clues...a guardian owl from a building long gone, and an unusual trove of treasures.
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo? (#188)
Saturday's clues include a lovely lawn scene, and another peek indoors. Pay close attention and you'll find more revealed than appears at first glance! Last clues tomorrow...
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Re: London In 1927, Recreated Shot For Shot.
Back to research, and found that between 1903 and 35 there were quite a few colored films, colored in the sense of dye being added (usually by mechanical, not hand, process). 1935's Technicolor Process 4 was the first true color film, made with 4 negatives (CMYK). Claude Friese-Greene, responsible for the London film, used a process (started by his father) that used multiple copies of black and white negatives, rephotographing them through different color filters.
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo? #11
Puzzle Master - Clarification needed - Port Moresby suggested 4 locations - Rome, Verona, Arles, and Nimes. Did the Puzzle Master receive a submission via email with a commitment to only one answer ? TravelandNature simply supplied information in response to a question. TandN does not participate in the puzzles; they are too hard. Artsnletters followed the Puzzle Masters instructions "you can e-mail your answer to suggestions@travelgumbo.com . On Friday night, the vault will be opened, and...
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo? #11
All hail, IAM_NOTATOURIST. Please join us and tell us please, how the heck could you tell the difference between one arena and another? Artsnletters, same question, and the reason I suggested 3 (not 4) as possibilities. Maybe it's the age-old answer, you just had to be there. But still, I'd like to hear it from the sources.
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Re: Staying In Touch on the Road: Part 2
This is a great report PHeymont!Exactly the step by step instructions we all need.Can't wait for parts 3 and 4.
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Re: Finishing college. Need help planning trip to U.K,
Wow, this is turning into a real education!! I checked with my uncle and yes, I can fly Chicago to Manchester and return from either London or Paris to Chicago. The ticket is free to him and he said he would cover any fees as a "graduation gift to me" (he's a pretty cool dude!), but I don't want to burden him with a heavy departure fee, so maybe Paris would be the way to go. I'd like to leave about Friday, May 9th and return 4 weeks later, June 6th. A few days later and returning a few days...
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Re: Spring Honeymoon Help
Congratulations SueZee! We're delighted in your marriage, and you've picked a great country in which to honeymoon. May is not too early to go to Italy, although pack a light jacket just in case. The crowds won't be there yet and you'll save some money when compared to the peak summer season. Where to go is very much a matter of taste. Most definitely you need to go to Venice and I'd say spend at least 5 days here, maybe with a day trip or two (such as to the glass making island of Murano or...
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Re: Finishing college. Need help planning trip to U.K,
That's helpful too, Rob. So with your guys advice, I'm thinking of the following plan, which still has holes I need to fill. I actually like the idea of Paris more than Scotland for this trip, plus I worry about the cost of travel to Scotland back so unless I can get a really cheap plane ticket or train ticket to Edinburgh, I think I'll drop that and focus on eastern UK and then on to Paris. So this is where I'm at now: 1) Arrive in Manchester. Maybe ??2 days 2) Travel Liverpool. 3 days 3)...
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Re: Finishing college. Need help planning trip to U.K,
Here's a link to the current rates: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Passenger_Duty The rates are based on distance from London to capital of the other country; for U.S., that's 3661 miles and the rate converts to about $108, twice that for any class above cattle class. The APD particularly bites for Caribbean people living in UK; they're in the next band up and that means a family of 4 visiting home pay about $750 round trip on top of the tickets!
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Re: Frommer's New EasyGuides: A Future for Print
A review for London ? Haven't been there for 40 years Paul. Really don't like big Cities and the "too busy to care attitude of people who live there" It's just my personal opinion. On the Tube Train into London people don't make eye-contact or talk to strangers. Here in Liverpool you'll be in conversation with 3 or 4 strangers and share a few laughs on the journey ! Someone falls on the street here ( and most of Northern England ) and folks rush to help. London they step over you. Rant over...
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Re: Renting an apartment in Europe
Hi Dreamer I can only tell you about my experiences... 1) How long? It depends. Apartment rental have been around in Europe for a long time. It used to be mostly for a week from Saturday to Saturday, but mostly anything goes now. 2) Buyer beware - It will be up to you to research the neighbourhood. You can do that many ways. Perhaps the easiest is using google streetmaps 3) There is no one way to check in. Sometimes you meet the owner or manager and they will give you the key. Sometimes...
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Re: A Visit to Ireland: Part 1) An overview of the Country and its People
To say that Ireland is typically wet and cold is true of Winter. The Summers are often pleasant and warm but when you get to the West Coast then the wind blows in of a cold Atlantic Ocean. But the weather can change 4 times a day - so there's something there to please everyone. Ireland has wonderful fresh food. Fresh from the sea and farm. Try a locally produced Vintage Cheddar Cheese or an 18 year old Jamesons Whiskey. Soda bread is a local speciality. But stay away from the home made...
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Re: Finishing college. Need help planning trip to U.K,
Hi guys, hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. It was good to be with my family again. Visiting and catching up with everyone took longer than I'd thought, but did do a little research into the trip and came out with this plan. Basically, with GarryRF's advice, I think I'll focus my time in the north to save money cause my budget is limited. After that I'll finish my vacation in London and Paris. I need to find places to stay but more important now just to frame the trip. The details I...
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Re: Flight Attendants Say NO to Phone Calls
On an airplane, you are captive. You can't walk away from the salesman on the phone, the teenager fawning over a new friend, etc. They might not be badmannered, but I don't want my flight to be filled with 4 hours of an insurance guy pitching his stuff beside me. I have as much right to silence as they do to talk.
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Re: Finally some good news! Whistler or Banff
I don't ski either (bad knees), but I've visited both of these destinations. There are pros and cons to each. Both is a little over an hour's drive from their closest major airport, Vancouver for Whistler and Calgary for Canmore. Whistler is close to the coast, but high up. So they usually have good snow, but depending on the year, it can get soggy by spring and sometimes ice crusted. Banff area is far more likely to have nice light powder during the spring break season. Some people swear by...
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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: Tour in a BMW Isetta?
TRob It would be fun to watch a demo derby with only the Imperial and Isettas. What do you think would happen ? One Chrysler takes out - boom boom bam bam - 4 Isettas and makes for the infield ?! Look at the bomber roll ! She's gunning for another isetta, a red one this time.....Ooooh ! That makes it 5-0 !
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Re: Thanksgiving Flyers: More than 25 Million!
Sadly, I'll be one of the throng. My least favorite time of the year to travel, but the most fun weekend of the year to be with family. Makes it all worthwhile All it will take is a bad snowstorm somewhere and things will really come undone. Expect all flights to be completely full, so good luck rescheduling. There's probably more people flying over the Christmas and New Year period, but this travel is spread out over 2 weeks, rather than just 4-5 days.
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Re: AAA Premier a Good Idea for Budget Travelers
AAA seems to choose their contracted towing services very well. I have always had good luck with them. I used the coverage when I had a break down with a rental car in a small town. The rental car company suggested that I call AAA for towing to their office in a nearby larger town to exchange the car. The rental car company had a contract with the same towing company that was under contract to AAA in that area. So that was very easy. If the tow goes over the 200 miles, they charge something...
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#311)
And, to be sure it doesn't happen again, here are the Thursday clues. Keep watching each day for more!
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo #297
Friday's clues...two more days to go! Two brothers built mirror image houses side by side until one brother’s house was demolished so his other neighbor could expand their home and build a carriage house. This house has Italian and French Renaissance influences with a gothic window. The other house has a blend of Italianate and Georgian Revival which is currently a B&B.
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Re: Aug 4. 2016: Delaware City. Delaware.
Delaware City has only one set of traffic lights - how's that for small ! I only get crab when visiting the family in the US. Not here in the UK. I've had crab from Delaware - Chesapeake - Rehoboth Beach (Hooters) down to Ocean City Maryland. All gorgeous and worth waiting for. I've learned to say "These are the best ever" because that's what the locals say. Best Pizza - Best Crab-cakes - Best Chilli Fries. When my son was working his way through University he worked the late shift in a...
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo? #179
It's Friday, and double clues begin to help you catch up to the one who's guessed it already. Here are today's:
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Re: Eric Young Orchid Foundation, Jersey C.I.
Paul Hunter's orchid sequence is incredibly beautiful--I went through 3 times, maybe 4! Thank you, Paul--and Eric Young Foundation, and Dr. Anders . Neil McAleer
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Re: Eric Young Orchid Foundation, Jersey C.I.
Thanks Neil - I'm so glad that you enjoyed them. Paul.
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Re: Irish Ferries cancels schedule for new ship
The Ferries provide an overnight stop on your journey to France and Spain. Leaving in the evening and landing at dawn near to your destination. Many tickets include a cabin for 4 people for the family. Or First Class recliner seats in economy. Many travellers still hate the thought of flying and keep the ferry alternative alive and thriving.
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo? (#129)
Not a theater at all, but very theatrical in appearance. Concerned in a way with sinfulness, but never a brothel. Here's the 4th clue...
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Re: Airbus opens new Factory in the USA
On my frequent visits to Philadelphia from England I always fly with US Airways. Not an exciting experience - just a reliable journey with convenient times. But my last round trip was an amazing transformation. AMERICAN AIRLINES and US Airways have merged and the staff were amazing. The plane was a new Airbus 330 both times. The legroom was more than enough. I usually purchase extra legroom and this time I'm glad I didn't. The food was good and served hot. Free cans of Cola and orange etc.
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Re: Back to Oaxaca: Hoofing It, El Picacho & Teotitlan
Another interesting item from the OLL newsletter regarding the weaving village of Teotitlan: TOUR: ARCHEOLOGICAL RUINS in TEOTITLAN Presented by Dr. Robert Markens Instituto de Investigaciones Estéticas—sede Oaxaca Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México THURSDAY, JANUARY 11 / 9 AM-4 PM MX$350 (M) MX$400 (NM) Local archeologist Dr. Robert Markens will lead a tour of the archeological ruins located in the ancient village of Teotitlan del Valle, world-famous for its woven textiles. This...
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Re: In Egypt: Up the Nile
Back in 1989, when TWA still existed, took their 14 day tour. I believe there were 35 of us. We started in Cairo - 4 days staying at Mena House opposite the pyramids A huge WOW! During our stay there we traveled to Sakkaha and Memphis. Boarded a bus that took us to Alexandria - 2 days staying at Montazah Sheraton. From there we took a train to Aswan (dirty dishes - everyone sick). In Aswan, we stayed on Elephantine Island's Loews Aswan Oberoi. Went to Temples of Philae and flew to Abu...
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Re: Gallery: Jewel Cave National Monument, South Dakota
If memory serves me correctly, the tour was about 90 minutes. Yes, it was quite cool down there but since I had made the trip in late August, it was quite refreshing to be there. At one point, the guide turned out the lights so the guests could see what true darkness really looks like. I have been in the dark before but not like this, it even seemed to mess with your equilibrium and I felt like I wasn't going to stay upright. Yes DrF, that is a "bacon strip" formation. Water running down a...
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Re: Majorelle Garden - Marrakech
The visit was just 3 weeks ago, so mid-October, when the temperatures are pretty nice day and night (mind, the swimming pools get pretty cold....). It's more about the magic time of day GarryRF generally between 4 - 5 pm when the light is at it's best.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Nov. 16, 2014: American Golden Plover
That's fascinating! I never thought about the color differences during migration...what a difference it must be for, say, a North American birder in South America!
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Nov. 16, 2014: American Golden Plover
Yes, Arctic birds are common in southern USA, Central and South America and further north during migration. But to see them in their beautiful breeding colours, you need to go to the Arctic in spring or early summer. This plover had already changed to grey by mid-August.
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#77)
I think it's time for some more clues. Some excellent observations so far. Here's what's true: 1) It is an airport and those are hangers. The hangers do have low doors, implying huge aircraft don't use these hangers. 2) That is a ferry in the foreground of the photo 3) The water is indeed very calm 4) Not a secretive facility. Everyone is welcome. Last clue, another photo. This is what it looks like from the other ferry terminus, looking back at where the original photo was taken. Does this...
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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: Happy Independence Day!
One thing foreign travel shows us is how much the USA has to offer too. I get as much of a thrill being welcomed back home as I do going on my trip.
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Re: Happy Independence Day!
Happy Independence Day, American friends! This is my first one ever, and we're in California for it.