Tagged With "Airport Collaborative Decision Making"
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Re: Best and Worst U.S. airports: No surprises
I believe Airports should be judged solely on whether you had a pleasant experience. There is no way Orlando isn't in the Top10. New York is a disgrace. But I pass through as an alien - US residents see no problem. Philadelphia is a dream. Excellent Airport.
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Re: Switzerland: First passengers for world's longest tunnel
That sure is a long tunnel, and from a country that likes to make them as much as the prairie dogs I see on the plains. I would think ventilation would be a problem in such a long tunnel. Would you know if the trains need their own oxygen system? Having driven through the Swiss tunnels by car before, which were about 15 km long as I recall, the air was extremely bad in them and made me regret not driving the scenic route over those windy roads across the mountains.
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Re: Top 10 Most Beautiful Gardens In The World
I think that's one of the problems with so much travel journalism: Top-Tenism, the urge to line things up in order and crown a winner. That means, often, directing attention away from wonderful things that 'didn't make the list.' I'd much rather see lists of 'Ten wonderful gardens you might enjoy' or 'ten restaurants I've enjoyed.' As for gardens: Some are quite formal, others either informal or with the goal of showing nature rather than decor. Some are large, others small. Some are...
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Re: Just how much tax is in your ticket?
My recent, free Air France ticket - LA to Paris to Barcelona and then Venice to Paris to LA the tax was $577.97.
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Re: Just how much tax is in your ticket?
Originally Posted by Ron B.: My recent, free Air France ticket - LA to Paris to Barcelona and then Venice to Paris to LA the tax was $577.97. That's a lot of travel, Ron, but it certainly makes one relook at the definition of "free".
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Re: Norwegian bank is out of cash, on purpose
While cashless transactions are convenient and popular, and I use them often, I am not supportive of this move. It is a little too much "Big Brother" for me. Consumers will migrate to the purchase platform of their choice. Cash, I'm sure, will become less and less popular with time. But it still has a place and I as a free individual want to make the decision on when and how I will use it. How will people make purchases if there ever is a complete shut down and hack of the bank's computers...
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Re: Norwegian bank is out of cash, on purpose
I'm not surprised that this is happening in Scandinavia, of all places. Many years ago I had friends in Denmark and Erik was an electrician. There wasn't enough work for all the electricians so they rotated the work and he worked for 6 months, then had 6 months off, paid. Sounds good? However, during the 6 months he was off he wasn't allowed to do any electrical work at all, including on his own house. I (and he) found the rule regarding his own house absurd. I see it related to the banking...
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Re: Calabria to Sicily: A bridge too far?
I like it when people take on huge tasks and succeed at them. The American Space Program was like that -- expensive, risky, exciting and one of man kind's greatest achievements. This bridge would be a great engineering triump. And I think it would be important to link Sicily more closely to Italy. It would make the island much more accessible and allow freer flow of people. 9 billion Euros is a lot of money, but is probably comparable to the debt the US government runs up in a few days, so...
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Re: The Floating Reed Islands of the Uros People, Lake Titicaca. (Where Gumbo was #139)
Lake Titicaca is a beautiful place unfortunately didn't make it to the floating islands. Next time I make it there definitely will have to go for that experience.
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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: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, November 13, 2015: Views over Tallinn, Estonia
So beautiful. I'd love to make the trip!!
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Nov. 16, 2015: Franklin Automobiles in Tucson, Arizona
I’ve heard that, but I’ve also always wondered if it were true, since a driver holding the reins on a horse or horses would want to be able to exert equal force on either side…and all the pictures I can find of buggy drivers seem to show the driver in the middle! One site I just looked at suggests that Ford made the switch to make it easier for passengers to get in and out, by moving the driver away from the curb; the same site suggests that in the early days on the Continent, right-hand was...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Oct 20, 2015: Sicilian Fiat
This Tatra V570 was produced in 1933. Three years before the VW Beetle. It had a rear mounted air cooled engine. Lower centre of gravity to make it more stable. And aerodynamics to improve its efficiency. The Czech company tried to sue for copyright infringement - but Adolph H. dismissed the claim. He invaded Czechoslovakia in 1939. VW finally paid up in 1961.
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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: Bamburgh Castle, England
Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland looks amazing. I often visit northeast England to see friends; I will certainly try to visit the castle the next time I make the trip!
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Re: Top winners named in Nat Geo photo contest
There are some fabulous photos on the National Geographic website. I found clicking on 'Galleries' the best option. Warning: The shots might make you go green with envy!
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Re: Al Fahidi Historical District
In this area there's a really cool museum that we visited - the Museum of Illusions. Also, make sure to eat at the Arabian Teahouse 5 minutes walking from this neighborhood! https://valentinasdestinations.com/
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Re: South America, part 3 - Nesting Leatherback Sea Turtles
Fascinating! I was just visiting Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia today and discovered that leatherbacks like to spend their summers off the coast feasting on jellyfish. Amazing what long journeys they make to lay their eggs.
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Re: Wave Hill Arboretum, Bronx, New York
Great piece and photos! You've convinced me to make a longer trip to NYC. My short stays don't do your spectacular city justice.
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Re: Money Savings Tips, for your Big Trip - Part 1
Yep, it definitely adds up. Thanks for the comment. Make sure to read part 2 coming this week.
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Re: EU moves to ban single-use plastics
Just another example of the European Parliament wasting my taxes on a Worldwide problem. The 25% of plastic waste is a good clue to the origin of the problem. Shipping. Cruise ships, cargo ships and container carriers have a choice to make. Pay to have the trash removed in port. Or dump it at sea while they are still off the Radar.
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Re: October 5, 2018: Sweets Shop, Delhi
I imagine that with all the places you've been and eaten at, you likely have the antimicrobial resistance of penicillin. But those of us who get out less often do need to be careful. Nothing can spoil a vacation quite as much as a case of vomiting or diarrhea. A few minutes of gustatory pleasure don't make up for hours or days of GI distress. I wouldn't recommend the tapeworm therapy, even if it works. Has nasty potential side effects.
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Re: October 5, 2018: Sweets Shop, Delhi
Actually K, neither would I, but as the author of 'Supernature' it was kinda in his brief ! His friend advised the beef tapeworm because they're easier to evict than pork ones (!) - he had to eat ~50% extra to placate the sucker (sic) BTW resistances don't really last that long but you're right, I very rarely got, or get ill.
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Re: Sept. 30, 2018: Murals of Santurce, Puerto Rico
While it was a perfectly nice neighborhood when I lived in Santurce, what a pleasant difference almost 50 years can make!
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Re: Notes and Noticings from the road
Actually, I think the banks have a fairly minimal (as small as I can make it) impact on my currency transactions, in part because I never deal with exchanges; I use bank ATMs. That way, the exchange takes place not on my account, but as an interbank transaction at the base rate banks use with each other. I used to use my ATM card from Citibank, but eventually they began charging a 3% foreign exchange fee even on withdrawals. At that point, I opened an account with Charles Schwab, a brokerage...
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Re: Belfast: An Uneasy City
Human conflicts always go deeper than face value. To make sense of each case it's necessary to "Follow the Dollar". Religious Freedom motivates the masses. Financing conflicts produces great wealth for the few.
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Re: Where Gumbo Was #12. Brasov, Romania
Originally Posted by Andredeya: I can make it possible It would be our pleasure at TravelGumbo to give that fine piece a home, Andredeya!
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Mar. 19, 2014: Bouillabaise
A number of times we've found dishes or cooking methods that have become part of our routine at home--but I'll pass on this one because (among other things) the particular fish needed are only available here at prices that would make you think they flew first-class! But we have continued to make the meat-stuffed zucchini we learned in our Bologna cooking class two years ago. No shortage of domestic zucchini!
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Re: Macaroons in a Paris bakery
I just wanted to make sure someone was looking, PHeymont! The strawberry was my favorite. Which one did you like best?
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Re: Where Gumbo Was #14: A Sewer Journey
IslandMan - Good one ! Your island home of Malta is an interesting case in point of modern water and wastewater management. The limestone and clay geology there leads to rapid groundwater runoff during the winter rains. Because of this, precious water is reused after treatment in one of the two above ground sewer plants. Water has always been a very valuable resource on the island. Perhaps you might like to make a report sometime about the natural springs and history of the Maqluba doline in...
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Re: Crashing the geocache
Hello TatToo, I live in Europe especially Germany. I do know Geocaching and of course the game is known here. If you don't have a GPS device with a European card in it you can use your mobile phone as long you have the geocaching app. Before your son goes to Europe just with that mobile phone, make sure he looks for geocaches in areas he will be first and download the map and the cache itself. Even if you don't have an Internet connection they can use it via GPS. I did it in USA and it has...
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Re: The Maltese Islands – Underrated gems or best kept secret ?
Thanks IslandMan! Your history insights and photos do make it look like an ideal travel destination.
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo? #11
Fortunately for the puzzle...those are very common rocks in quite a few places the Romans (yes, it is of Roman origin) lived and built. Don't you wish you could read that sign to the left? Gumbo checked carefully to make sure you couldn't!
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Jan. 4, 2014: Frutta Fresca, Roma
I love walking through markets - the smells, the colours and the rare fruits that don't make it to the Supermarkets! And sometimes the samples of local cheese ! I could spend all day there.
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Re: Everglades raccoon
Those are all good resources, TravelandNature, and I certainly believe in responsible pet ownership. Lord knows we own enough pets and my wife just rushed the dog to the vet because he tore off his toenail (and was bleeding badly, poor boy ) Make sure you have a deep wallet or access to a lot of meat if you adopt a python. The python consumes 25 lbs of meat per year for each of its 225 lb adult size. Steaks and live catch preferred.
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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: Where in the World is Gumbo #6
The tiles in the center of the bridge make wonder if a former Portuguese colony is involved. So i'm going out there and say this is a border crossing between Malaysia and Malacca built by the Portuguese...it all works, you know...except for the architecture of the bridge itself....shrugs
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Re: Should Wi-Fi be free in all hotels?
Good discussion! WiFi has for me become an indispensable part of traveling. It allows me to stay in touch with family easily and cheaply (remember how hard it was even 25 years ago -- a phone call could run you $5 a minute? And there was no email). It lets me spend evening hours clearing out a hefty email que, and doing research on what I am going to see tomorrow and the next day. And with "Gumbo on the Go", it lets me share my travels as they happen with fellow Gumboites! I echo PHeymont's...
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Re: Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit, Kennedy Space Center
Last launch I watched was from the East Coast of Florida - maybe near Cocoa Beach. The Sky was complete darkness, just a few stars and the moon. We were listening to the launch radio station from about T minus 15 minutes - as NASA described the last minute checks. A few seconds before launch time you could see the ground at Cape Canaveral illuminated like a bright white flare. The steam from the launch pad turned into a white cloud and on "Zero" the rocket was moving slowly into the air. For...
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo #5.5
Worker Bee - This does look a lot like the medieval lanes of Rhodes. Except - Those southern European spots do not usually have tidy postboxes and glossy wooden doors. The lane is well kept and recently repaired. I agree that it is a proper residential area. While the overall feel is something Spanish or Italian, because of the postbox and tidiness, I am thinking Kilkenny, Lyon, Quimper or even Brighton. The stone ( is that stone ?) used in that recent doorway lintel is similar to the...
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Re: The "Eiffel Tour" Only Starts with the Tour Eiffel
T&N, you make an interesting point about the air circulation and coolness of Eiffel's building. These days we are constantly reading about advances in "green design," intended to reduce excess energy use. Ironic how well some of those principles of making life bearable were known so long ago by those who didn't have the option of mechanical air-conditioning! Another example is in today's blog about Gaudi's Casa Battlo in Barcelona, which uses an open well through the center of the...
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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: Just over 2 weeks to Christmas. Be sure you get your letters mailed to Santa
The letters are triaged by elves, and the ones by naughty kids don't make his reading list. But all the good kid letters do!
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Re: Budget Way to Use a Cell Phone and VOIP in Europe
Sounds like a real money-saver, at home in the U.S. but it might not suit all travelers abroad. Since the phone uses the Sprint network (CDMA) you couldn't just add a local SIM in Europe where GSM is used. That would mean it would only work on wi-fi in Europe, and you might find it inconvenient to not be able to make or get calls when you were away from it.
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Re: Films that affected your Travel destinations
This is going to seem odd, I guess...but as a kid I really enjoyed the Road to.... pictures with Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour. Nothing really serious about them on the surface...but all of them play in some way with the idea of different cultures and how not understanding them can lead to strange circumstances. Of course, in the Road films, no really bad consequences ever happen, but still...they did make me curious.
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Re: Films that affected your Travel destinations
Casablanca...and it's funny, but it didn't make me want to go to Casablance, it made me want to go to "Paris before the war." And if Ingrid Bergman could be there with me...
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Re: Please Don't Squeeze the Passengers: Airbus
If this standard were adopted, it might be the single greatest improvement in quality of travel in economy class. 17 inches is alright if no one is beside you, a rarity today. On an Transocean flight, it make sleeping very difficult indeed. I'm glad to see Airbus take this proconsumer stand.
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Re: Please Don't Squeeze the Passengers: Airbus
I've never flown an A380, Mac. They still haven't caught on in North America, where Boeing clearly dominates the market. One thing that I've wonder about is with all those people to board (somewhere over 500), is the process of getting on and off the plane very slow or have they figured out how to make this move along with reasonable efficiency?