Tagged With "International Space Station"
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Re: Iceland: 'No we're not Disneyland'
Iceland is a great destination, but it has limited tourist facilities. The population of the entire island is about 300,000 and there aren't all that many hotel or B&B choices in smaller places. I think the lack of infrastructure is the main problem. They certainly have the space and ability to handle more tourists, but need to develop services for them outside Reykjavik.
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Re: Liverpool: Three Thoughtful Museums
Excellent history lesson Paul. Interesting and good photos too.
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Re: November 30, 2016: The Guggenheim Museum, New York
Mr. Wright was a genius. A beautiful use of space, nicely illustrated, Jonathan. This is actually one of those places I've yet to visit and hope to some day.
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Re: England’s Thames Path: Kew Gardens
My wife Diane and I spent almost an entire day at Kew Gardens. So much natural beauty to see. We arrived from central London at the Kew Station in mid-morning and didn't leave until almost dusk. At one time our son had a possibility of being transferred to London and I recommended getting a place in the Kew Garden area for the beauty and quiet. One of my photos from Kew.
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Re: Trains in Cuba
Great question...and possibly not an easy clear answer. Cuba's trains have generally been in poor shape in recent years as older equipment has run down and spares not available. However, according to Mark Smith (The Man in Seat 61), that's changing with the arrival of a fleet of new Chinese-built locomotives. On his site ( Seat61.com ) he has an extensive update of recent changes in schedules, routes and locations (that's important because Havana's main station is closed for a 3-year...
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Re: Tips to help with packing no matter where you are going
Adding to Mac's point. A big turning point for us was when we started packing for 7 days, no matter how much longer the trip. Usually we have a washer in the apartments we rent, but when not, there's always a laundromat nearby, and usually one that will wash and fold while we tour. We don't often enough change locations to want to keep everything packed (and anyway, I'm a compulsive unpacker) so some of the tools are less useful to us...but I do remind everyone that shoes are actually...
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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)
Originally Posted by Neil McAleer: One great stride to disseminate visual and text information. No flumbling fingers involved! Neil McAleer Great praise from a great author! Neil wrote a number of space-related books (google him), and corresponded with famous astronaut Neil Armstrong, to whom his post alludes.
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Re: Crowded Sky: Boeing finds more room overhead
The Dreamliner has a lot of overhead space compared to the planes I'v flown, so this will even be better!
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#288)
Leave the station and you might run into this scarecrow.
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Re: Slim airline seats unpopular
I think the intent of a lot of the airlines is to move the rows closer together, PHeymont, but give the illusion that you still have the same amount of space. They can squeeze 2-3 extra rows into a plane (depending on the type), so that's at least 12 or so extra seats for sale. But if they genuinely use it to enhance personal space, all the better!
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo? #11
And what possible good is a puzzle without a bit of chicanery - by definition, I should think. I haven't seen the arena at Arles, though it's already on my list for the next visit to France. I have walked past the arena in Verona as it was between the train station and the garden I'd come to photograph. Likely why it came to mind just after the Colosseum.
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo? #11
PortMoresby put the finger on what made this one hard. It was the ancient-days equivalent of being asked to identify a free-standing Barnes and Noble store, or an Exxon station. Easy to know what it is, not so easy to know where . What's been fun in these is watching people dig out bits and pieces that then fuel other folks' guesses. WorkerBee has done that a number of times; in this case, even though T&N doesn't play as a guesser, the geological analysis of the stones was a stunning...
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Re: Suggestions wanted: Andalusia
Will you have a car? I ask, because if you will, you might consider stopping at one or more of the White Towns between Seville & Granada. I stayed a week in a house just outside Iznajar, a lovely little place, and visited a bigger town, Antequera, worth a stop. For a brief stop I'd recommend the smaller town, one of a number in the area, millions of olive trees everywhere. There is no train there although Antequera has a station, but outside the town. Below the town of Iznajar, beside...
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Re: Everglades raccoon
Hope that puppy is well on the mend. Really ? Pete the Python can really put it away. I have read cases in which (late) owners "forgot" to feed their pet pythons and, well, Pete does not like going hungry... Enjoying your Gumbo on the Go photos from The Everglades very much. It is hard to capture in a pic what is so very special there - the space, the light, the plain "nothingness" that we so sorely need to experience. Have you had the chance to see any stars ? The brighter planets are...
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Re: "Spotted On the Road": Everglades City, Florida
"excess baggage?" No, just baggage period! The T basically had room at the back for a few tools and maybe a lunch; there was also a wee bit of space behind the seats. I'm pretty sure there the C had space for an overnighter back there, just that and a spare tire.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Dec. 18 2013: Milan's Bronze Typist
I enjoy the photo and the story, PHeymont, but am drawn to the typewriter. In a few more generations, children will be wondering, "what's that strange thing the man is holding on his lap?" I still remember owning and using a typewriter, but few under the age of 30 do. I recall reading a SciFi short story collection written in the 1950s not long ago that featured a story about a journalist traveling on a space ship. He needed to keep his typewriter anchored so that it didn't float away in...
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Re: Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit, Kennedy Space Center
Thanks for an orbit of memory lane! I think for me the most amazing aspect of the whole space program is how we have moved from each launch being a major news event before, during and after to seeing space in the papers only when something goes wrong--and these days, it seems to be mostly plumbing issues on the International Space Station. Looking at the pictures...it's amazing how big some aspects are, and how small the actual shuttle is!
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Re: Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit, Kennedy Space Center
I enjoyed watching todays launch from Virginia. A Ton of supplies to get aboard the Spacestation ! And 10,000 ants ! The folks on the station have to reach out and grab it as it floats around. Just as well its weightless !
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Re: Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit, Kennedy Space Center
Thanks for the comments, guys! The entire shuttle is actually much longer than I'd thought, maybe 180 ft. What was surprising is how small the living/pilot compartment is where the astronauts spent so much time. It's that space in front of the opened cargo door. The US space program is just a former shadow of itself with the retirement of the Shuttle program and nothing ready to take its place. But I was pleased to hear that NASA is working on the Orion project. It is a rocket based space...
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Re: Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit, Kennedy Space Center
Your comment on the difference between the pilot space and the cargo bay reminded me that a few years ago, one of the astronauts compared the shuttle to a giant pickup truck...
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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: La Dolce Vita (Part 5) Venezia (Venice)
Great pictures...makes me want to go back! Interesting to note: the Mayor of Venice has been very active lately in trying to get the large cruise ships re-routed to keep them out of the fragile space between San Marco and Guidecca...and last month hundreds of people swam out to try to block the ships!
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Re: Staying In Touch on the Road: Part 4
Great Info! Skype is great but I found Magic Jack versatile when the other person is not sitting on a computer. I am also a fan of Google Voice ,but I don't think I'm using all their features.
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Re: Please Don't Squeeze the Passengers: Airbus
Interesting point, Mac. Large planes with bright decor somehow seem to me roomier, even if the seat is the same size. I think there's a balance between physical comfort and "feel" that airlines may not always recognize. On the other hand, I've been on 777s that had so little division of space that my mental image was sitting in a huge concert hall...and felt a bit uncomfortable from that!
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Re: Renting an apartment in Europe
Good tips about Google Maps street view. I guess I should have thought of it, like as a good way to scout out an area. But I guess I still don't know if that is a safe area. How can you see of a place is safe. PortMoresby has a good point. I like having space in a room and being able to spread out. That doesn't mean you have to cook.
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Re: Safe to fly on New Years?
So Waterloo what you're saying is that the space-time continuum would be disrupted by this flight?
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Re: Safe to fly on New Years?
The space-time continuum will only be interrupted if this flight does not land at its scheduled time at New Year's midnight p;us a few. What are the chances of that ?
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Dec. 17, 2013: Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Quebec
Yes Montreal is great. Wish I could go back more often. The fun thing about these attractions is while they are all near one another, there is also a metro station nearby. Cheaper than the taxi and an experience in itself. This is only the tip of the iceberg...so much more to see and experience.
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Re: Renting an apartment in Europe
Hi, I've been renting apartments in Europe, mainly Germany, for years, and the only problem I've had was a complete rip-off booked through Ah-Paris. I've rented from probably 3 different people in Berlin and have paid the deposit up front and cash on arrival. Made me nervous at first, but I was never disappointed. Renting apartments is the way to go. Not only do you get much more space, but you can have your coffee in your jammies, the way I like to start my day. Happy travels!
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Re: The Worst Train in the World
Fascinating read! If I do take this train trip, and it's currently included in the plan, for our hoped for trip to Mynamar later this year, I can't say I wasn't warned. Coming from a country that shakes, rattles, and rolls pretty much every day there were two things about the earthquake that worried me. First, it was big enough to produce screams!! Second, it seems that no-one bothered to check the tracks before the train left the station. And so as I was reading I expected a derailment -...
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo? #15
It's Friday evening here in Texas. I'm on the first stopover of a trip to Girona, Spain. The view is truly fantastic from the top of the space needle in Seattle!
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Re: World's most dangerous airport? Would you land here? Lukla, Nepal
Your pictures remind me very much of the Shimla Airport, same end of runway in space, same commitment required by pilot and passengers alike. The plane was tiny, I sat immediately behind the pilot, a Sikh with headphones perched atop his turban rather than over his ears, unique in my experience. The view was a bit too immediate for my liking but we made it off just fine and bounced in the heat all the way to Delhi. Thanks for the memory, DrF.
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Re: Capital of Culture Series: Liverpool
No offense taken...your remark just started me on a train of thought that stopped at a new station!
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Re: controversial architecture? - Parasol Sevilla
Makes an attractive public space. Thanks for the great pics of your Spanish excursion, John T. Now we all want to go for the churros and chocolate.
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Re: Airbus Survey: 41% Willing to Pay for More Space
Well, so far I've gotten by in what they give me, but I'm old enough to know the difference and might wanna change up someday. And I'd sure rather pay for real estate than baggage space or airline food. Give me one bag free, no soda or peanuts, no movie, no blanket and especially no airline magazine...and hey, I'll spend $50 or so to spread out a couple or three inches! Ever stop to think about those magazines? They're printed on heavy stock, a real weight-bomb, you only read them if you...
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Re: Whom did you say was flying this plane?
Have we all forgotten the HAL 9000 in "A Space Odyssey" "I know everything hasn't been quite right with me, but I can assure you now, very confidently, that it's going to be alright again...I feel much better now, I really do...Look, Dave, I can see you're really upset about this...I honestly think you ought to sit down calmly, take a stress pill and think things over...I know I've made some very poor decisions recently..."
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Re: Buddy, Can You Spare 5.3 Million Dimes?
Sounds great...especially if your airport has a reassembly area. I've been in some where it's go so little space people are dressing on the end of the belt and holding everything up (LaG, for one). Your last one is the best, though...
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Re: Buddy, Can You Spare 5.3 Million Dimes?
Yes, some facilities have no space for reassembly. The least they could do is hand people clear plastic bags for all of their little stuff at the beginning. Toss coins, keys, cell phone etc into clear plastic bag. Toss belt and shoes into clear plastic bag. Slam plastic bags into bin with your luggage items. Grab your plastic bags and luggage items out of bin at the exit and run for your gate, shoeless. At least people would not be fumbling around, trying to get their small odds and ends out...
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Re: Do you Like these Hotel Tipping Tips ?
Garry, I have to disagree with you there...having worked in situations like that. It's certainly true that there are often too many tables to serve (if the owner can get by with three waiters instead of four or five, that's money in his pocket). And it's true that too many tables means poor service, even when you want to do better: You just can't, and that often means lower tips as well. Remember: if the party coming in the door is not on your station, you're not serving them. And if they...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Mar. 30, 2014: Jean Cocteau on Wine
Well, borders change and Jerez is no longer "on the edge" of anything. Aside from the sherry houses, it seemed a pleasant mid-size city with nice parks and squares, a gorgeous tiled rail station and an Alcazar with an interesting history. The last two are featured in a blog here on TravelGumbo. See https://www.travelgumbo.com/blo...-window-into-history
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Re: Up, Up and Away: Airline miles cards with big bonuses
I have a Delta American Express Platinum card that has served us well. The fee is higher than the gold card, but we can check two bags free, priority boarding, and a free companion pass yearly. We fly two or three times a year and the value of the waived baggage fee and the companion pass far exceed the $150 annual fee. The card also accrues one mile for each dollar spent and lately has offered cash back incentives. For example: spend $15 at Panera's using the card and receive $5 credit on...
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Re: Denver airport leads the charge for your phones
Having traveled to Denver in the past month, I'll vouch for that fact there a lot of places to charge your devices. And there are still lots of gates that completely lack chargers, so they still have a long way to go. The free wifi at Denver is quite fast and widely available. Much appreciate! I think this should be a top priority for all airlines -- places to charge that phone and iPad before you fly. It would be good if the consumer organizations provided comparative scores.
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Re: SFO gets OK for emergency cellphone blast
Sounds like an incredibly stupid idea ! In a crowded enclosed space a stampede of a thousand people would create a death toll far greater than the initial problem.
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Re: Feb. 13, 2018: Unusual exhibition in York
As a fan of the history of space travel, this is an exhibit I would have loved to have seen in person. Many thanks for sharing it, Paul!
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Re: Spotted on the Road, Winnipeg, Canada
I lived in Canada for a couple of years and soon learned about the value of having a parking space equipped to plug in a block heater. Is there any reason why they can't also be used to charge an electric car? If not, very handy indeed.
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Re: Air Miles vs Low Fare Airline
We flew Norwegian in May, Orlando-Oslo and were really impressed. The 787 made such a difference and we arrived feeling fresh. The moister air, bigger windows and lighting made a world of difference in how we felt post trip. We brought a decent sized carry-on and personal bag each for free too. As far other extra fees, we didn't pay any. They charge for food or drinks, but we just bought those at the airport. And I think they also charge for blankets, but we brought jackets to cover with and...
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Re: Alitalia: No money, but new uniforms
I'd suggest that, designer duds aside, Alitalia has arrived at this point in the company history because someone, or someones, has their head you know where. I was on an Alitalia flight this past Thursday and for those hours I was unable to put my knees together, so stingy was the leg room (aka "pitch") for my steerage-class seat. I had to place my feet on either side of the seat-back pocket and there they stayed. I'm a mere 5'6" in height and I felt for the tall guy next to me who was...
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Re: Passport Woes
Almost disaster. We once purchased a new Volvo back in 1991 and a trip to the factory in Goteborg Sweden to pick up the car was included. We picked up our new car and crossed via ferry into Denmark without a hitch. But at the German customs and passport control station, I was denied entry including our vehicle. I had shaved off my beard a few months prior, but my passport photo still showed the beard. The German officials kept saying that it wasn't my passport and to produce my real...