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Tagged With "main rail station"

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Re: London- multiple questions

chickpea ·
Thank you for all of the information. I am finally ready to finalize some things since we leave at the end of this month! We have decided not to do Liverpool...seems like we should come back and do that someday. I am thinking the Megabus option may be the way to go to Salisbury and catch the shuttle to Stonehenge from there. That way we can see the cathedral while we are there. Do you know if it is a short walk to the cathedral or will we need to take a taxi from the Megabus stop? Do you...
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Re: Gallery: Bicycles, Lucca, Italy

Paul Heymont ·
These small views, with their varied backgrounds and very personal bikes, give me a sense of knowing Lucca, even though I haven't been there yet. It seems a quieter energy than what comes from bicycles in huge masses...consider this shot from Copenhagen's Osterport rail station:
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Re: London- multiple questions

Paul Heymont ·
I can only help with one of the questions...but GarryRF, one of the TG Gurus, lives in Liverpool and can certainly help with that part. For Stonehenge without a car, there are really two main options. There are a number of tour operators who run coach tours from London to the site; or you can take a train from London to Salisbury and take a bus from the station to the Stonehenge visitor center. The visitor center is new since I was there; it's about 10 minutes by shuttle from the stones...
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Re: London- multiple questions

GarryRF ·
Hi Chickpea. The train from London to Liverpool will take 2 and a half hours each way. You can check out the times and which trains are direct - no changing - at www.thetrainline.com It's always cheaper to book well in advance ! It's over 400 miles round trip. And it's expensive at peak times. Around £200 return. So if you get the 09:40 from Euston Station (London) to Lime St. Station Liverpool its only £39 with a change at Crewe. 20 minute change time. And return at 19:48 Liv - Lon - Direct...
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Re: Four Days in Berlin

Paul Heymont ·
I'll be posting some Berlin blogs in the next few weeks, since we visited last month...but for the moment, I'll start with one of our best experiences—a food walking tour. It's a great way to meet other visitors and to experience local foods and their history. We started at a small cafe/sweetshop and ate our way through breads and meats and pastries and ended up at a beer garden run by a small artisanal brewery, where the owner/brewmaster sat with us and then took us on a tour of his...
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Re: How loooong does it take to get to your airport?

Paul Heymont ·
There's certainly a lot of variation, as I also noted above. And sometimes the planners don't help much either, as is the case with all three of our New York airports, where the whole AirTrain concept is completely botched. At Kennedy, the AirTrain's stations are not in, but sort of near, the terminals. That means you have to drag your stuff outside, across the roadways, and then up stairs or elevator to the train. And then, you have a choice of going to the commuter rail station (about 3...
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#131)

Travel Luver ·
An old spot, but not ancient. Old crumbling cement and overgrown vegetation... A rail that looks abandoned and paved over. Could be anywhere....
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#85)

Paul Heymont ·
For sure not very old. Probably not a church, though these days.... My first thoughts were a rail or air terminal, but seeing the second roof in the background makes me less sure of that...
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#85)

DrFumblefinger ·
I like your idea of a rail terminal of some kind, PHeymont. Perhaps twin rails with a canopy on each side?
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Re: Signs of Boston

GarryRF ·
Lovely walkable city. The trains were a great way to get around too. Just move along one station at a time and pop up out of the underground railway for another look around. Around Quincy Market was very strange. It was St Patricks day and the sun was shining. The sellers were wearing shorts and T-shirts. But around the corner the sun hadn't made any impression. It was still in the shade after a long winter. Snow was everywhere and the market traders wore hats and coats. Around the next...
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Re: Iceland's newest museum: 23 full-size whales!

Paul Heymont ·
Yes, and perhaps we’d better leave the double entendres at this point… But yes, in 2012, the collection was moved to Laugavegur 116, just near the Hlemmur bus station.
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Re: Strictly for the Birds...

Paul Heymont ·
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...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, May 23, 2015: First Class, Nanning Train Station

DrFumblefinger ·
I suspect "stabling" refers to the train being at the station -- like horse returning home. But I love the sense of mystery and imaging you did to, PM! Nothing quite as much fun as a terrible translation!
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Re: Belles lettres et de belles choses: A wanderer's gallery

Paul Heymont ·
Another find for the Belles Lettres category: The 19th-c sign atop the older part of Madrid's Atocha rail station.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, October 17, 2015: Rachel Carson Wildlife Refuge, Maine

TravelingCanuck ·
Very nice. Looks like a very nice peaceful place to go and just clear the head. Places like this are real gems.
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Re: Best Ways To Reach Heathrow Airport Quickly In London

Dan Carter ·
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...
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Re: Stockholm's "blue hall", where the Nobel awards reception dinner is held each year

DrFumblefinger ·
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.
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Re: Belgium: International trains causing delays

George G. ·
When our son came for a visit to see us in the early 1990's, he had to change trains in Hamburg which has many stations. He wasn't sure where to get off, so he asked the German conductor. The conductor pointed to our son's ticket and said your arrival time is 12:10, so at 12:10 get off the train and you will be at your correct station. Guess that doesn't work anymore.
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Re: Around the World in...10 low-cost airlines

Travel Rob ·
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.
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Re: We're more than Tokyo, Japan tells tourists

HS ·
A few simple items to remember when transiting Tokyo ... In Tokyo, JR/Subway maps are available for the asking (FREE from the station attendant) with stations listed in either English or in Japanese. Get a copy of both. Have someone write your destination in Japanese. When approaching someone on the street with a "Please direct me towards xxxx" written in Japanese I have ALWAYS been given good directions. (A mix of English and Japanese does NOT often work) This includes traveling solo in...
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Re: How do you buy your travel?

HistoryDigger ·
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.
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Re: How do you buy your travel?

Paul Heymont ·
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...
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo #153?

Paul Heymont ·
Looks a bit like a turntable with rails? But there's no overhead wire or third rail, so...
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Re: Inset steps, Santiago de Cuba

Travel Rob ·
Good thing its got that rail or it would be called the widow maker stairs.
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Trainman

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Re: Is a stopover in Iceland worthwhile

Paul Heymont ·
A lot of questions! Let me try a few answers... Absolutely I'd say stop in Iceland. Every place in the world is unique, but Iceland is more so, geographically, in climate, and in history. Half a week (or even a week) won't do more than scratch the surface, but you'll be able to visit incredible waterfalls, climb on glaciers, see evidence of recent volcanic activity, and realize that under it all is a huge pool of thermally heated water that provides over 70% of the nation's energy. If that...
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Re: Is a stopover in Iceland worthwhile

Paul Heymont ·
Well, I said so much about Iceland, I decided to leave the rest for another post. Getting from Barcelona (or Madrid) to Lisbon: the only practical way is to fly. Train takes too long for this one, and costs more! From Barcelona to Lisbon, flights on Vueling, Iberia, TAP, etc. run from $35 one-way to about $80 before you hit the high-priced ones. I just looked in May; Vueling and Iberia have $68 in the morning and $35 at 7:30 pm. Madrid-Lisbon, there's a $40 mid-day flight, but most other...
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Re: Weekend getaways. Where's your favorite spot

Dan Carter ·
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...
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Re: Need help planning Morocco trip

PortMoresby ·
If you're passing through Europe and plan to go directly on to Marrakech, keep in mind that the low fare carriers more often than not use secondary airports which will add to your travel time if go straight on. For instance, if you fly into London's Heathrow airport a low fare airline will likely use either Luton or Stansted. I believe British Airways has flights from Heathrow so check on the variables and you may find that with time and costs involved to change airports a bit more expensive...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Jan. 1, 2014: A Bird on the Beach

PortMoresby ·
I think updates of this picture should be a recurring reminder of the seasons. Add coats to the chair, take them away. Add hot beverages, change to cold. And in fits of summer euphoria, add bathing suits, take them away... I'll be watching!
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Jan. 1, 2014: A Bird on the Beach

Paul Heymont ·
I'd volunteer for the assignment, but the picture dates to 2008, and I'm sure the owner of the chair has moved it....
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Jan. 1, 2014: A Bird on the Beach

PortMoresby ·
I think we'd all accept a re-creation then, Backyard Beach Babylon. A truckload of sand, a backdrop, stuffed birds that could change with the seasons to simulate migration for more interest. Your fans await. Or, your fan awaits?
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Re: Road Trip: The Movies and the Cars

Travel Rob ·
I always liked that goofy Vacation Station Wagon. Mainly though I like it when they use regular cars.We have an Edsel and got a kick when we saw one in Pee Wee's Big Adventure.
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Re: La Dolce Vita (Part 6) Murano and Burano

rbciao ·
Dr. Fumblefinger, Nice slideshow with great pics. We were in Venice in 2012 for 6 or 7 days and made an excursion to Burano as a day trip. The first thing we noticed was that tourism has reached the tiny island. There was a new docking station for the vaporetti and all sorts of kiosks selling the usual stuff. The first time we were there was in 2008 and it was a sleepy island that time seemed to forget. In fact, we came across four elderly ladies sitting on a bench gabbing and knitting. I...
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Re: Spain or Portugal?

Paul Heymont ·
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...
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Re: Classic American Cars #7

GarryRF ·
No - you ask for a ride and your gone for a couple of hours. Drive to the Gas Station and fill it up !
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Re: Finding Reiner #6: Frozen Grave

GarryRF ·
Whitney. I was just emailing TravelRob. Maybe you could contact a TV station here in England. The Centenary of WW1 is big news across Europe this year 1914 - 1918 and we have many programmes looking back at all the wars since. Have you seen the "Great Escape" Movie. ( Steve McQueen - James Garner and all ) ? Some facts are true - some "based" on the true story. It's very late here in England. Contact you tomorrow.
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Re: Alternative London Tube Maps.

PortMoresby ·
On the subject of "ghost" stations, tours are offered of Aldwych station, used for movies now, including the latest incarnation of 'Sherlock'. Find out how here .
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Re: The Petite Ceinture, Paris: Where Gumbo Was (#71)

Paul Heymont ·
In an e-mail, Jonathan L provides an update—a happy one—on the Gare Ornano. It appears that about a year after I took my pictures, the station was sold, the KFC is gone, and a new cafe+recycling center has renovated the station; a picture below shows a view of the rear very different from the one below the KFC picture above. The site now also hosts food trucks! Thanks to Jonathan L for finding the followup, which can be found at http://www.larecyclerie.com/ It's in French, but if that's a...
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Re: Coastal California: A Village, a Hamlet, and a Wide Spot in the Road

Paul Heymont ·
Great pictures, great vegetables, great kids... The San Gregorio Stage Stop...would I be right in guessing that it also served as a gas station at some point? The architecture suggests so...
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Re: Coastal California: A Village, a Hamlet, and a Wide Spot in the Road

PortMoresby ·
The Stage Stop is one of those buildings that's become invisible, even while being half the commercial district of San Gregorio. Maybe this illustrates the fact that we see things differently when we're in the picture zone, that it was the first time I really looked at it. I assume it was a gas station, looks like a pump rusting there on the left. But even I'm not old enough to have seen it in action.
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo? #64

Paul Heymont ·
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...
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo? #64

DrFumblefinger ·
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.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Oct 7th, 2014: Grand Central Oyster Bar, New York

Paul Heymont ·
You won't find me eating oysters there (or anywhere!) but I've always loved the Guastavini tile ceilings. Not only gorgeous, but a lot like stepping back into another time in the station (Jack Finney fans will know what I mean...)
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#48)

Paul Heymont ·
Once this started going, it went fast! It is, indeed, Heroes' Square in Budapest, and tomorrow morning you'll know all about which heroes—but I will say that it is not Genghis Khan, nor the 1956 rebels... Congratulations to Lynn for the answer, and to MAD Travel Diaries who obviously knew it, too, from her reference to the station on Budapest's 1896 Metro Line 1.
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Re: Where Gumbo Watched the Sun Rise (Puzzle #20)

DrFumblefinger ·
Acadia is one of the few "main" US National Parks I've yet to visit. A serious gap in my travel map.... Having just spent a large number of hours on an Air Canada flight to and from South America, I found it interesting to read the claim that Acadia sees the first USA Sunrise. The ads on the AirCanada video screens from Newfoundland made it very clear that if you want to see the first sunrise in North America, you need to go there instead. That is something I hope to do soon as well.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Apr. 2, 2014: Looking Across Time

PortMoresby ·
Seeing this picture, I somehow assumed that the Gare d'Orsay was the location of Martin Scorcese's movie 'Hugo'. But now I read that the station in the movie was actually a composite of "Gare Montparnasse, the train station where a major part of the film’s action takes place...the Gare du Nord for its façade and the Gare de Lyon for its geographic location and clock tower, an important plot element in Hugo ." Momentarily disappointed, I read on, "... the Gare d’Orsay, provides another...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Apr. 2, 2014: Looking Across Time

Paul Heymont ·
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?
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Apr. 2, 2014: Looking Across Time

Paul Heymont ·
Bercy is the one, and the one I had the hardest time recalling. But! SMH, as they say these days, I realized that it is actually No. 7! I left out the Gare d'Austerlitz. The 6 came from a reference online, which I since realized was old enough perhaps not to include Bercy, which was a freight station until 1977, when it was reconfigured to handle overnight sleepers, especially those on which you can take your car with you. The two no-longer operating stations are Orsay (of course) and...
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Re: May 31, An Epic Reenactment in France.

PortMoresby ·
I suspect not. There was a question, a few years back when Eurostar came into London's Waterloo Station from Paris, whether it was to make the point to every French person who bought a ticket.
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