Tagged With "Four Seasons"
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Re: Antarctica, part 3. Antarctica Rocks!
Hi Kirsten, Behind in my emails, but did want you to know that the last of your series on Celebrating Nature went live today. I want to personally thank you so very much for sharing your tremendous talents with our audience. I enjoyed reading -- and learned a lot -- from your posts and greatly enjoyed your wonderful photography! I'm sure many others did, too. If you have more material you'd like to post on TravelGumbo in the coming months, it would be our pleasure to host it. Hope you had a...
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Re: Boston in the fall - suggestions please!
Wow! HistoryDigger that is fantastic information, thank you, I will now 'dig' more (pardon the pun) on the web and put some plans into place around those excellent suggestions!! Please - a crucial question for us - would we be "safe" to just book hotels for the arrival and departure days of our tour and simply rely on finding local accommodation as we progress round - or is it really SO busy in this season that I must book every stop along the way? We prefer the 'flexible' approach as it can...
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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: Miami or Orlando to Brussels : $324 Round Trip
If your looking to get to Europe for the holiday season on the Dreamliner cheap, this deal is too good to pass up. From Brussels, it's normally pretty cheap to get to Paris,London or Amsterdam.
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Re: Merry Christmas from all of us at TravelGumbo
yes, to all my friends that I have never actually met. Have a wonderful christmas and holiday season...and i think it is actually us members who should be thanking the gumbo gurus for creating this unique site I am enjoying it very much. Merry christmas all!! Below, a traditional Canadian christmas carol.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEbUtpPQihM
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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: Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other. (Part 5) The Elephants of Pinnawala
Lots to consider. I can't go through Thailand without hanging out a few weeks so the 2 ticket plan may suit me better. I see Cathay Pacific also flies to Colombo, connecting in HKG. Will have to do more research to see if any of the low fare Asian airlines can facilitate a plan. What season is your favorite there? Is there an off-season when there are bargains to be had?
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Re: Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other. (Part 5) The Elephants of Pinnawala
Sri Lanka is almost on the equator so it has minimal seasonal variability in temperature or length of day and night. There is a monsoon season, but that generally translated to an hour or two of rain, often after dark, so don't let this worry you. I don't think there's a bad season. Imagine "high season" coincides with vacations in Europe as most travelers there are from Europe so would avoid the summer months especially.
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Re: Visit Canada! Kiss a Canadian
I think there are three main problems Canadian tourism faces. 1) The weather. Very limited season, unless you want to ski. 2) Expensive airfares. In the last 5 years, air fares went from being competitive to being very expensive -- overly taxed, I guess. And predictably, when you charge more for something you get less of that activity. 3) Heightened border security between Canadian and US border can cause long delays and has greatly reduced cross border crossings in the past 15 years. It's...
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Re: Share Your Budget Tablet and Laptop Picks
If you want something a little larger and with a keyboard and good computing power, there's a new bunch of chromebooks coming out for the holiday season. PC World recently featured one in the $200 price range, weighing on 1.25 kg. Here's that link.
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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 ?
I just don't know what to think. Does every question to a front office staff or concierge deserve a tip? How many envelopes do I need to carry for three weeks for housekeeping? If you are fortunate enough to get twice daily service do you tip both times? On my last trip because it was low season, we spoiled ourselves with a very nice hotel.... I admit more times than one desperately searching my pockets for change or (gulp) even a five Euro note... I understand that hotel staff does not make...
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Re: United's Award Chart: Premium Award Cost Goes UP
Not sure I agree with the "burn 'em" philosophy. At the premium class end, there's certainly been a lot of creep, but not so much in coach, which is more price-sensitive, even for awards. True, summer awards to Europe have generally gone from 50K to 60K, but on the other hand, off-season at American went DOWN to 40K--and with the flexibility of taking one-way awards and combining them in interesting ways...it's actually a better situation. Also, there are some card-linked sales on flight...
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Re: A Springtime Walk in the Desert
Great color and variety! Thanks...I'm going to have to get to the desert in spring, sometime. I visited the Sonora desert in December, and recognize some of these from seeing them without their brilliant display (click HERE for that blog) This is certainly a reminder of how little we know a place when we only know it "in season."
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Re: British Parents Prosecuted For Taking Vacation During School Time
Often we find that the problem is greatest for the working parents with the fewest resources: those working in low-wage service industries whose cycles don't match those of schools. For instance, hospital workers have time off spaced through the year--no slow season, sadly--and workers in tourism-based industries are often most in demand at the very same time that their children are off! I think the solution goes in two directions: First for parents to consider all other alternatives first,...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, August 28, 2014: Elk, Banff, Alberta
Hi GarryRF and Travel Luver! GarryRF...loved your comment. LOL Too funny, and so true. Travel Luver...unfortunately I don't know too much about elk, but I did a little research and came across this article you can link to which I believe will answer your question nicely http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2...k-rut_n_3915764.html In summary, the answer to your question is yes, male elk (aka bulls) can be and usually are much more aggressive during rutting, even toward humans; However, after what I...
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Re: Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
I'm glad that you liked the pics Paul. The floating villages there are the only ones quite like it that I recall seeing in Vietnam. Down on the Mekong it is quite usual to see extensions to homes built far out over the water that they pretty much classify as floating! There are a lot of house-boats on the Mekong too but the villages in Ha Long bay are much more substantial in that they are made up of floating platforms upon which several houses can be built together. In Cambodia a similar...
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Re: Gallery: A visit to Cuba
Thanks IslandMan, There are many resorts in the Varadero peninsular. The Christmas/New Year season is kind of full. But other than that, still unspoiled to me. The tour guy told us that currently 80% tourists are Canadians. I can imagine if sanctions are lifted, there will be lots of tourists from USA, they are much closer in terms of distance.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day: June 19, 2014: Seville Oranges
But they're hardy, have a long season...and make wonderful marmalade! __________________________________________________________________________________
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, June 18th, 2014: Bears
Enjoyed your photos Still Country. Brought back many memories. Haven't been lucky enough to see one this year but it is really exciting for me when I see my first bear of the season.
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Re: Iran: Friendliness, Culture, Modernity - So Far Away From The Clichés!
Hello Dr. Fumblefinger, Thank you for your Feedback! To answer your questions: 1) The infrastructure is good to very good, and it is extremely easy to travel within Iran: there are lots of buses and excellent trains, there is a wide range of hotels, from simple guesthouses to world-class 5 stars hotels, restaurants going from street food stalls to fine dining, ... I have read that with the very fast development of tourism, the high-end category of hotels is the one that might get overbooked...
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Re: Thinking Cuba? Tickets not so easy yet!
Maybe the answer to the number of Hotels needed to accommodate the new visitors from the US is all in the timing. Brits - Canadians - Germans love Cuba in the winter. It's the dry season with no hurricane threat. Warm in the daytime, 75-85f or 24 -29c. Cool enough for a sweater at night. Americans can have the summer !!!
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Re: Autobahn driving hazards: ducks and planes
It must be duck season in Europe! Moments after I posted the story above, I found an Italian weekend story, with video, of Rome police holding up traffic in the Italian capital. A passerby posted a video of the action, and now, perhaps, ducks will replace cats in internet popularity. Anyway, here's the story, with the video embedded near the bottom
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, May 28, 2015: Logan Pass, Glacier National Park, Montana
Awesome pictures. I was in Waterton Park in the early 80s with work in early May before the season opened. The town site had dozens of mountain sheep everywhere. It was so beautiful and peaceful. We were about the only people other then residents there. Must certainly do another trip down that way and go across into Glacier Park as well. Thanks.
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Re: How cold is this winter? Niagara Falls has frozen over!
When the US east coast has a severe winter then the folks in northern Europe escape with a cool and dry season. Perhaps we can put all this talk of "Warming" safely to bed !
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo? (#109)
Leafless trees aren't, as I understand it, necessarily an indicator of 4 seasons. In the tropics, there can be 2 seasons, wet & dry, and some trees lose leaves in the dry season.
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Re: Venice gets OK to tax day-trippers
I think this is an altogether fair action & hope it balances the stress on services & infrastructure. Though I doubt it will discourage individual trippers, some cruise ships, I've read, will cancel stops this coming season claiming they'd have to absorb fees for already reserved passengers. Fewer cruise ships will be a very good thing.
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Re: Stinking fruit cuts flight short
I don't think that devotees would ever describe durian as smelling of vomit or sewage. I count myself amongst them and would describe the taste as resembling custard with a hint of onion, maybe. There are, however, numerous different types of durian - each with a different aroma, which also depends crucially on the degree of ripeness. I shall be hunting round the vegetable stores in South-Western Sri Lanka in December. Unfortunately, it is not the season, but they grow a particularly early...
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#112)
Does the vegetation vary by season, or is it always this brown?
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#112)
Varies by season. Here's one in a greener season, and in bloom.
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Re: To the top of Mount Teide, Tenerife, Canary Islands.
Tenerife is an all year resort and has its peak season around Christmas. One of the rituals on Christmas Day is driving up Mt Teide in a rental Jeep. Take a couple of cooler box's and fill them with fresh snow. Drive back to Playa de las Americas and have a snow ball fight on the sunny 75'f beach with the sunbathers. Something that leaves a lasting memory of Christmas Day.
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Re: Walking across the Ohio: Big Four Bridge, Louisville
No big city involved, but it reminds me of early teen years, walking the old railroad-then-highway bridge across the Missouri River from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The best part was the birds-eye view of the tugs and barges, and the long views downriver. Sadly, that one is gone, now.
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Re: Walking across the Ohio: Big Four Bridge, Louisville
Great post Jonathan. I love bridges and really enjoyed reading about this one and all its history. It's definitely being adding it my to-do list! Thanks for sharing.
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Re: Walking across the Ohio: Big Four Bridge, Louisville
Great travel experience and a fun place from which to see the landscape! Thanks, Jonathan.
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Re: Walking Tours in Andalusia
Hi Pheymont I wouldn't worry about the wine and tapas portion. Things are really inexpensive her, and the tapas has been universally good. It's easy to get three or four tapas to share and a couple of glasses of wine for 15 Euro. As for the tours, we didn't take any, but I think for one day in Cordoba it would be a good idea because I think that day may feel really busy. For Sevilla, I have a mixed opinion, I really love to wonder around, get lost and then navigate my way out...but thats...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Nov 25, 2013: Bald Eagles, Lake Couer d'Alene
I'm enjoying reading these Blogs ! Very educational. Natural history is so interesting. Thanks DrF. Did you know that during the dry season Alligators dig holes in the river bed. When the river swells in the wet season these holes fill with water. And Fish. The Alligator does not harm them. He goes off to find his food in the river. When the river dries out he is left with holes full of Fish who have taken refuge from the receding water. They are the Alligators "Larder" to get him through...
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Re: Tips on Traveling with Parents
I traveled with my mom when she was around that age, and in much the same way - I was the tour guide and she was along for the ride. I did all the work - ALL of it - and she paid for both of us, so I considered it an excellent deal. She did have some ideas where to go - "I haven't seen Italy, Austria, or Switzerland." But we also went to Amsterdam, Bruges, and Paris (she had been to Paris before but wanted to get up close and personal with the Eiffel Tower). I got to pick where to take her...
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Re: Tokyo on the Cheap
A nice piece, Rob. I've always been intimidated at tackling Tokyo on my own, but you've helped me summon up the courage. I especially want to visit that fish auction. When is the best season to travel to Tokyo? Maybe answer this from two perspectives 1) Best weather 2) Least busy with tourists. Thanks!
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Re: Tokyo on the Cheap
Originally Posted by DrFumblefinger: A nice piece, Rob. I've always been intimidated at tackling Tokyo on my own, but you've helped me summon up the courage. I especially want to visit that fish auction. When is the best season to travel to Tokyo? Maybe answer this from two perspectives 1) Best weather 2) Least busy with tourists. I would answer Spring for both cases. Fall would be my second choice. The summer can be humid and the winter a bit chilly. While foreign tourism is up, most likely...
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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 .
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Re: A fall visit to Highwood Pass and hike in the alpine meadow of Ptarmigan Cirque
Thanks for your note, Garry. I also prefer loop hiking trails. This particular place would be great to hike in the spring (which comes late this high up) because of its large numbers of wildflowers. The only time I was up here during that season the trail was closed because a grizzly bear was hovering over a carcass. But the fall colours are also lovely. And get out there and hike before you can't. Would love for you to share a hike from the Liverpool region with all of us.
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Re: Yosemite National Park: A walk among Giants. Hiking in the Mariposa Grove
Thanks for all your comments. Followup: DrY. Yes, you and your family should see this sometime. You would love it! We need to plan out a trip to California for you that includes its best parks and some city sites. PHeymont. Yes, you must DO Yosemite. I recommend mid to late May as the best time to go as the waterfalls are brimming with meltwater. I like hikes of all types and can still do "moderate" hikes, though no longer take on "challenging" ones. But the Mariposa grove is doable by...
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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...
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Re: Help with Provence Itinerary
Nearest St-Remy: - Don't miss Les Baux . The village is touristy but the castle complex on top is fantastic and the views are to die for - you don't need to be a fan of scenery to appreciate them. - Roman ruins of Glanum , walking distance from St-Remy - Arles for more Roman ruins (but I think you've been already?) Farther away: - Day-trip to the Luberon for unmatched scenery and charming little villages full of vernacular architecture - what people build themselves, without an architect.
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Re: Agritourism Bed and Breakfast in Normandy
I imagine there's a real difference between staying on the Mont, compared to staying near the Mont. Yes, you'd give up the view but could always make the trek to get a photo at the appropriate hour, then go back. I was there some years ago and we had no plan regarding where we'd stay. It was off-season so we weren't worried. We found a very modest, friendly hotel on the main street as it begins it's climb, with a view of the cobblestones below and it was perfect. But then, under the...
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Re: Romania-top 10 destinations of 2014
I'm not sure why more people aren't coming to Romania, but I think in the next decade you'll see that change. And alphabet is right. You might get tired of all these masses. Twenty years ago no one was in Prague and now millions visit it every year (to the point where the locals are definitely tired of us) The country certainly is lovely. I presume it's pretty safe for independent travelers to get around in. What would be the best season to travel, especially to enjoy the beautiful mountain ...
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Re: Ryanair cuts fees??!
To improve its brand and profits Ryanair is now selling package vacations. With it's previous rule of just "carry on" baggage it wasn't much use. To take a checked bag cost more than the Flight Ticket. So its competitors were singing their own praises over Ryanair. So its catch up time for Michael O'Leary the CEO of Irish Company Ryanair ! Its only for off-season flights. Many Summer flights are often fully booked in advance.
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Re: Romania-top 10 destinations of 2014
The best season to visit Romania is the Holiday Winter (for Christmas and New Year holiday). This is the best season in my opinion because we have a lot of traditions especially for Christmas, and you'll be very surprised by the guest's hospitality, especially in the rural places like Maramures, Bucovina, or Transilvania- Brasov, Sibiu county. In Brasov county for exemple is a tradition for Christmas where 2 groups of young men called "Feciorii" go and sing Christmas Carols all day for every...