Tagged With "Spanish Steps"
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Re: Belgium and Sweden see night-train link
I haven't found a definitive answer to that; the nearest I have come is speculation that DB is concerned about competition with existing conventional trains along the route; DB is the major carrier on the route, but they are clearly not doing much of a job of it as the schedule I've linked here shows. The minimum number of train changes is 2, with some itineraries requiring 8! And the ones with only 2 or 3 changes sell for nearly $200, compared to $70 with 8 changes. I'd think a direct...
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo #356
Tomorrow we step inside this beautiful place. Get your guesses in!
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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: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Jan. 11, 2014: Please Close the Gate.
Learning to respect the Religions and Cultures of others is an important step that opens your mind to the world around you and everyone's unique differences.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Jan. 11, 2014: Please Close the Gate.
Originally Posted by GarryRF: " Learning to respect the Religions and Cultures of others is an important step..." Indeed, it is. And combined with a sense of humor, I could not agree more.
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo #10
I think we may need a new category here, Gumbo Puzzlers Emeritus. Several of us may want to step aside and have a pint while we watch the rest work it out. Then, of course, we could join with a new name (or 3) if it was VERY important to win. Not accusing anyone, you understand.
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Re: Yelp Offers Health Grades for LA Restaurants
Then maybe for a next step Yelp might add health grades for the cities in which the restaurants are located.
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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: Please Don't Squeeze the Passengers: Airbus
Airbus has taken a major step in passenger comfort with the introduction of the new Airbus 380, their new double-deck airliner. Just as a large cruise ship will sail choppy seas in much greater comfort due to its size and sophistication, the new 380 is so much more smooth, quiet and comfortable up in the skies. Sure seat sizes and configuration will vary between operators but certainly the overall 'environment experience' is so much nicer
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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: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#183)?
Time for another clue. We step inside the door and start exploring. Here is one of the rooms we find....
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Re: Finnair adds weigh-in to check-in
Yet another step in the complete dehumanization of the flying experience. Every airline faces this challenge and deals with it successfully, yet only Finnair and Hawaiian Air need to weight people like they're freight. Shame on them. I had no plans to fly Finnair, all the more now when I read of their corporate mentality.
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Re: Gallery: City of Balconies
They seem to be at about the depth that's sometimes referred to as a "Juliet balcony," just deep enough to step out of a stuffy room into the fresh air and hope for a suitable suitor to serenade you from below...
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Re: Marriott to offer free wi-fi to all its Rewards member
The main clients of larger upscale hotels are business travelers, not mom and pop travelers. These are the same travelers that pay 10x what we pay to fly at the back of the plane for the privilege of a slightly larger seat and being able to get out 4 minutes before I do. Most don't care about wifi charges because their businesses pick them up. I think Marriott's action is a step in the right direction and they should be applauded for it. I've been a premier Marriott member for years so I get...
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Re: The Banff Park Museum National Historic Site. Where Gumbo was #(133)
Thanks for your comment, Vagabond. It is a great place to take kids, who are fascinated by all the displays. But even as an adult, it was fascinating to take this step back in time to how a Natural History Museum presented information 100 years ago.
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Re: Sick of Your Credit Card Being Declined While Traveling? Visa Offers New Service
It may be clever, but, having had few difficulties using my credit cards in some pretty off-the-beaten path places, I'd say the implications far outweigh any benefit for me. If Facebook gives me the willies, I don't even know how to describe straightforward tracking. I'm not sure avoiding Visa's service will protect my hiding places alone, but not signing up is a step in that direction.
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Re: Sick of Your Credit Card Being Declined While Traveling? Visa Offers New Service
The credit card companies are shy about any purchases abroad of a substantial amount, because of they risk they pose. Even if I call and let them know my step by step plans, I can still run into trouble with one or more cards. I don't carry my cell phone on major international trips (yet) and don't like the idea of geotracking me. If someone has stolen wallet, they could just as easily have stolen my identity. PIN identifications works fairly well, but even that is not without glitches as I...
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Re: Catalunya: What to Know Before You Go
Great piece! Thanks for sharing why the Catalan language is so important. I'll make sure to learn a few words before my next trip.
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Re: Catalunya: What to Know Before You Go
How timely! I was just in Catalunya this past week on a trip to visit PortAventura World and Tarragona. I loved experiencing the local culture - and previous to my trip I had no idea that Spain wasn't more homogeneous.
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Re: Catalunya: What to Know Before You Go
Speak about timely -- I leave for Barcelona next weekend! Thanks for the great post, Olivia.
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Re: Catalunya: What to Know Before You Go
Barcelona's one of my favorite destinations...thanks not only for taking me back, but for helping me see better part of what attracts me!
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Re: Catalunya: What to Know Before You Go
Hey, really beautiful pix! Love to hear more about food and all!
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Re: Kruger National Park - South Africa. Pt 2
I would not want to approach a bull elephant in my car, but having done several safaris, the animals all but ignore you in the Range Rover vehicles. Apparently they only see a box on wheels. They do not have the ability to discriminate what's inside the box. But if you step out of the vehicle onto the ground, they will become aware of you and you now are on today's menu. The best travel experiences of my life were the days I've been on safari. It's not cheap, but is most memorable. So...
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Re: Chip Credit Cards to Change the Way US Tips at Restaurants
Note that the tip suggestions on the machines have a habit of creeping up. New York cab tips were about 15% for years, as a standard, and as recently as 2 years ago, a Times survey found that was about the norm. But...when you pay by credit card, the machine offers a choice of 20%, 25% or 30%. To use 15%, you have to go back one step in the process, make a manual entry, and then back to the close-out screen...all while you're trying to get out of the cab and stop holding up traffic. I'll bet...
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo? (#119)
Originally Posted by PHeymont: So this is definitely not a revisit to Leavenworth, WA... Folks in Leavenworth do love their mountains and enjoy a good cup of tea, but I think it's fair to say this couple doesn't life in Leavenworth. And I'll go one step further and say it's not North America.
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Re: American to drop seatback entertainment
Gee, I just flew an AA 737 from NYC to San Juan and it didn't have either, so this would be a step up. Or I will just plug into my ipod and read a book.
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Re: Sometimes a Trip is just a Walk in the Park
I've often advised travelers with jam-packed itineraries to step back and leave themselves time to take a walk in a park or sit there a while, experiencing what the locals see and do. That is absolutely excellent advice. I hope that most people were wise enough to take your advice. Many of my best trip memories are made of such stuff. Thank you so much, PHeymont, for this walk in the park. It is just what my jangled nerves needed today.
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Re: Check Your Statement! A Big Hotel Credit Card Breach...
It's been a long path. For a long time, observers thought it was because they were committed to contactless (RFID) technology as the next step...but that hasn't advances as fast as some predicted, and it has big security issues, too. Now that MC and Visa have set down a "you must comply or you will be responsible for fraudulent charges" rule for next year, we're seeing motion. BUT...so far most issuers have been sticking to chip-and-signature, not and-PIN, which guts the whole process.
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Re: Finding Reiner #2: Chasing Ghosts
Another brilliant post, HistoryDigger! Thanks. I think you've described the situation many young German men were in, and it's a lesson for all of us to fight tyranny at every step and with all we have. It is also a reminder to me how a government that is "a friend of the people" can crush those same people if their power isn't checked. After the Nazis had seized power, there was no tolerance for dissent. You were either with them -- or you were in big big trouble (possibly even fatal...
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Re: New Book Line coming from Frommers
Glad to see Frommers with all these new travel guides coming out! There is still a great need for travel guides and i hope travelers will step up and show their support by buying copies.
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Re: United Campaign: Enforce carry-on limits, reduce complaints and crowding
I hope this effort is a real and continuing one and that other companies follow. Carrying everything onto the plane, to my way of thinking, is like any trend where if enough people say it's a good idea, even when it's not, hoards fall right into step, like lemmings. If I was offered valet service for a nominal fee to have someone carry my suitcase for me and I wouldn't have to touch it from the time I arrived at the airport until the time I was leaving at my destination, I'd jump at the...
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AA, USAir frequent fliers: the next step is here
Starting tonight (January 8), frequent fliers who are both AAdvantage members (AA) and Dividend Miles members (USAir) will be able to start the process of eventually merging their accounts into one. The step now is to match up the two accounts so that...
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AA/USAir miles programs merge starting Saturday
The time has come for the next step in the 15-month-old merger of American Airlines and USAir: merger of the USAir Dividend Miles program into American's AAdvantage. All USAir accounts will be frozen on Thursday, Mar. 26 for the transfer; anyone...
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Boeing in SC: First 787-9 delivered, union election set
Two milestones for Boeing's plant in North Charleston, SC. This week the plant, which has been building the original 787-8, delivered its first stretch 787-9 version, and the International Association of Machinists, the union representing most Boeing...
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More Merger News: AA to get"single certificate" next week
The Federal Aviation Administration is allowing the merged American/USAir to take the next step on its merger path; it announced Monday that it will issue the "single operating certificate (SOC)" that will remove the last barriers to the company...
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NYC&Co: We bring you tourists, we'll show you how to serve them
Taking a step beyond just beefing up the number of tourists arriving, New York City's tourism promotion agency, NYC&Co. has developed a program to help businesses and attractions in all five boroughs be ready for the numbers. And they are impressive numbers. Last year 56.4 million visitors came to New York; the city is pushing to hit 67 million by 2021. The new program, called "Tourism Ready" builds on Brooklyn's success in branding and marketing itself; experts including former...
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MSC stre-e-e-e-tches its fleet with new midsection
If the headline is a bit puzzling, the concept is a bit amazing. MSC Cruises, having decided that some of its ships were smaller than optimal, decided to stretch them out. It's now halfway through a 4-ship refit that involves slicing the liners in...
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AA, USAir: Next step, combining reservations
USAir, AA planes at Washington on the morning of their 2013 merger. That was the easy part... Now that American/USAir is past the legal hurdles, tidied up labor contracts, and merged the loyalty programs, they're ready for the big one: merging...
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Flying Round-the-World with no fuel!
Two veteran Swiss pilots are at nearly the midpoint of a round-the-world flight on the Solar Impulse 2, a solar-powered plane with a wingspan greater than a 747's. Among other reasons for the huge wingspan is to make possible use of 17,000 solar cells...
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Bobbies on the Beat in Spain's Ibiza
Spanish authorities on the Balearic Islands vacation spot of Ibiza have arranged for a dozen British police to work with Spanish Civil Guards this summer when British tourism is at its height. The idea is that the British cops, who will have free...
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Fort Barrancas Has it All: Cannons, Gun Turrets,Tunnels and Great Views
Fort Barrancas is located within the Naval Air Station in Pensacola. You have to show your drivers license, or other ID, to enter the base. It sits on the barranca ,or bluff, overlooking the entrance to Pensacola Bay. This National Historic Landmark...
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Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage (Part 1)
Lisa Day presents the first in a two part series on hiking and experience the Kumano Koda, a pilgrimage trail in Japan.
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May 11, 2017: Spring Ice Storm, Thunder Bay, Ontario
It's spring, and if you live in the Great White North, you never know what type of weather Mother Nature will spring on you.
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Norway getting an all-electric fjord ferry
Norway, a world leader in electric transportation, is taking another step with an all-electric ferry to link towns along its fjords.
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The Bikaner Mail
Bob Cranwell shares the story of a most memorable train journey -- an experience uniquely Indian.
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House panel votes big changes for FAA
The House Transportation Committee is working on the FAA appropriation bill, and is proposing a slew of new rules to go with it.
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Yellowstone: Old Faithful Inn & Geyser
PortMoresby arrives in Yellowstone and begins her visit at the logical place, Old Faithful Geyser and its companion, the Old Faithful Inn.
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Taj Mahal's 'facelift' includes a mud pack
Section by section, the modern wonder is being cleaned by a mud pack that absorbs grease, waste and more.
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WestJet shows off its ambitions with big Dreamliner order
WestJet orders 20 Boeing 787s to expand its international reach, while also planning to enter the ultra-low-cost market at home.