Tagged With "The Italian job"
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Re: A Rambler's London
London really lends itself to walking and exploring, and your post does a wonderful job explaining why....
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Re: Dec 15, 2016: Kamloops, BC, Canada
Her husband is Canadian and went with his job. And she loves the fresh air and wide open spaces. She reckons its a good place to raise her 2 sons,
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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: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Oct 20, 2015: Sicilian Fiat
These cute little Fiats were only 633cc and air cooled. But the tiny little Fiat engines was banned from western Europe for their excessive emissions.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Oct 20, 2015: Sicilian Fiat
Belongs in the pantheon of true "people's cars" along with the Citroen 2CV and (dare I say it?) the ugly duckling of the lot...the Trabi, which was advanced over its peers in a number of ways. Ironic, isn't it, to think the original Fiat 300s like this one were banished for smoking, and now we find that VW's "clean diesel" was smoking a pack a day on the road!
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Oct 20, 2015: Sicilian Fiat
Oh, and let's not forget the original Morris Mini-Minor...not as early as the others, but wonderful in its own right.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Oct 20, 2015: Sicilian Fiat
Let's also not forget the Volkswagon on the European side. And the Ford Model T, which so greatly dropped the cost of an automobile it became a mass consumer good.
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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: Everglades raccoon
The snake is doing the job that he was designed to do. Unfortunately, he is doing so far from his native habitat and finds the native south Florida species easy prey. This python is in the park as the result of accidental or intentional release. Yes, people take their hungry, unwanted pets to the park. The National Park Service is working hard to try to manage the situation. h ttp://www.nps.gov/ever/naturescience/burmesepythonsintro.htm
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo #6
Originally Posted by Club2013: The Japanese Bridge, Hoi An Vietnam Good job Club2013! Welcome.
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Re: Finishing college. Need help planning trip to U.K,
Forgot to mention that my classes and exams are over the first week of May. So I'd like to go after than. When I get back home I need to move to my new job and find a place to live, so I'd like June to do that.
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Re: Finishing college. Need help planning trip to U.K,
Wow, this is turning into a real education!! I checked with my uncle and yes, I can fly Chicago to Manchester and return from either London or Paris to Chicago. The ticket is free to him and he said he would cover any fees as a "graduation gift to me" (he's a pretty cool dude!), but I don't want to burden him with a heavy departure fee, so maybe Paris would be the way to go. I'd like to leave about Friday, May 9th and return 4 weeks later, June 6th. A few days later and returning a few days...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Nov 14, 2013 : Guinness Storehouse, Dublin, Ireland
That's a cool photo! But I guess bartenders are supposed love their job. You sure he might not have had a pint or two before the photo was snapped?
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Re: Minneapolis in the winter
Hi Theodore! I am a Mall of America fan. You can easily spend an entire weekend (or many evenings) at the Mall of America. First of all, the mall is very easy to get to by train from downtown (CICAK did a wonderful job explaining that), and fares are quite cheap (fares go for about $1.75 to $2.25 one way depending on what time of day you ride). As CICAK also mentioned, there is something for everybody at the mall. If you just want to find a warm dry place to walk and people watch, I believe...
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Re: Minneapolis in the winter
Thanks for all the info, guys! That helps. I think if it's really cold out, I'll just go to that big mall and hang for awhile. Especially with the metro going there from near where I'm staying. I do like to see movies (hey, its my job, but I love it!) and that aquarium sounds like fun. I'm less of a museum guy, Chatterbox2, but if they have some of those blonde Scandanavian ladies working there I just might need to become one!
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Re: Do you Like these Hotel Tipping Tips ?
Remember these recommendations were in essence from the hotel owners. They are trying to have the consumer subsidize the poor salaries many of them pay. I'm a reasonably generous person, and I realize that most hotel employees are not wealthy, but I don't tip at those levels. I usually leave a few bucks for the maid if a good job is done, and for an excellent bit of advice or help will as well. But if I ask the concierge where the nearest bus stop is, that's his job and not worth the five...
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Re: Do you Like these Hotel Tipping Tips ?
Often the Waitress will have too many tables to serve. Dashing around trying to cope and not doing a very good job at it! Too eager to catch new customers coming in and claim them as "Another Tip" But no time to do "Customer Service"
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Re: Do you Like these Hotel Tipping Tips ?
I'm well aware that there may be many contributing factors to the problem of poor service. But I'm not there to consider the state of the world nor am I there to balance justice among the poor. I just want a decent meal at a decent price. Just as in any job - my own included - people just want me to do my job. Do it well. No excuses. And they show there gratitude occasionally, with a tip. Its the same with me. Good food and good service gets you well rewarded. Shape up or Ship out !
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Re: Do you Like these Hotel Tipping Tips ?
Before I retired, I traveled quite a bit on business, both inside the U.S. and abroad. I still travel frequently to racing and club events, but almost all are in the U.S. or Canada. That said, here’s my take on tipping: Restaurants – According to the sources I checked, in the U.S. the Federal minimum wage for tipped employees is $2.13. Most states have set higher amounts, but food service workers are still generally paid much lower wages that other ‘minimum wage’ employees. Unless the...
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Re: 1000's Drawn to North Dakota
I have not done that, Rob, but I do have some friends in North Dakota. The wages are good, but before anyone makes the jump there, be sure you understand the cost of housing and such. Apartments and homes are in short supply and expensive. But as you pointed out, so is labor. So if you can share an apartment with someone and are willing to work more than 40 hours a week, you can save a nice stash of cash. Don't just go. Educate yourself. There are excellent job opportunities in the Dakotas,...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Mar.4th 2014: Dubai Water Taxi
It's a great image, Islandman! I really enjoy photos of people going about their every day lives in different locations about the world, a reminder to me how much more alike we all are than different. This photo is made more interesting by their obviously ethnic diversity -- people who have come to Dubai for a good job and to improve their lot in life. The contrast of the old wooden taxi and modern skyscrapers in the background is great!
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Re: Oresund Bridge to get mammoth paint job
We have a friend who has worked as a bridge painter, including, I believe, the GWB. He told us that the pace of the painting and the size of the crew is calibrated to make it a permanent job. The big difference for the Oresund is the vast amount of surface...
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Re: Italy goes after beach hogs with €200 fines
I don't think the Italian authorities will collect many fines. Once people notice their chairs and tables confiscated, they wont go back and ask questions
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Re: Foodie Fun on Arthur Avenue
Now THIS is my idea of a great food tour! Wish I'd tagged along, and thanks for the advice on where to go for my favorite type of food.
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Re: Foodie Fun on Arthur Avenue
Arthur Avenue is definitely a stop on my next NYC visit. Unfortunately my regional area has a dearth of generational family run restaurants and small butcher shops, bakeries and the like.
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Re: Italian town bans barking
If this ban will be enforced, it is effectively a ban on having dogs in that town, because by their nature, dogs will bark. Some do it more than others, but they all will bark sometime. You can try to control and discipline them, but that will have limited success. People love their dogs. I know that's true of me and it's true of many others. Doesn't sound like the kind of place I'd want to live in.
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Re: Italian town bans barking
Calling Dr. Pavlov! We need you back to work on some other aspects of dog behavior. Seriously, it should be possible to train dogs not to bark; the question is what other behaviors would be affected?
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Re: Italian town bans barking
I've had a couple of barkless Basenjis before -but they made other noises besides barking, so I guess that breed still doesn't qualify in Controne
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Re: Italian town bans barking
You might be able to train dogs to bark less, but the only way you can get them not to bark is to surgically transect the nerves that go to their vocal cords, or to surgically mutilate the cords so they don't work any more. Sounds very compassionate, doesn't it?
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Re: Good news, bad news on UNESCO's world heritage
I enjoy traveling to UNESCO sites because most of them are very interesting destinations. I even know of some travelers whose goal it is to see "every" UNESCO listing. Good luck to them! I really think UNESCO is doing it's job by identifying important places and encouraging their conservation. I shudder at the thought of a global UNESCO police swooping in to "defend" these sites. It's up to the countries that govern them to do so. Some do a great job; others don't. Some citizens care, others...
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Re: Japan to get 10 more robot-staffed hotels
While it seems a novelty, it is also a necessity. Japan has an imploding population and doesn't have enough workers to fill all its job requirements. Rather than import foreigners to do the work (aside from key spots like education), as the western countries are doing, they have decided to cope in their own way which includes more automation and increased use of robotics. They prefer to retain their nationality and culture more than they want the extra hands. It will be interesting to see...
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Re: Tidal Basin Memorials, Washington D.C.
I just visited these memorials a few weeks ago. I was especially impressed by the Martin Luther King Memorial, which you photos do a nice job capturing the spirit of. Thanks, George!
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Re: Memphis, Tennessee: 1) Graceland
Thank you DrFumblefinger for an excellent blog with photos to match. Reading this article and seeing these pictures makes me want to go back to Graceland for another visit. Again, thank you for such a wonderful job.
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Re: Magnolia Plantation: Beautiful but Complicated
I was just there. You did am amazing job describing the plantation and your photos are wonderful!
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Re: Montmorency Falls (Chute Montmorency), Quebec. Where Gumbo was #52
It is beautiful. I think I was there about 38 years ago on a family trip after the Olympics. The cliffs and height of the fall gave me the St. Lawrence (after your last clue), but I could figure the exact place. Good Job!
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Re: HOW YOU CAN SAVE THE ASIAN ELEPHANT
Thanks for sharing these thoughts. Elephants are highly intelligent animals, probably smarter than dogs for example. Wild elephants in Asia are having a hard time because of loss of habitat and conversion of their normal range to agricultural land. Most do not have ivory tusks so unlike their African cousins, they are not slaughtered for their teeth. In Sri Lanka I visited the elephant orphanage in Pinnawala a number of times, which I've previously written about on TravelGumbo at this link .
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Re: Gallery: The Tulou of Fujian Province Redux
I liked the last photos, but yours with people are even better! I see now why you stated, "One cannot really feel the monumental size of the some of them from a photograph." Your photos though do a great job in capturing that size !
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Re: Italian Competition Authority fines TripAdvisor €500,000
I don't like the ruling either. Travelers by in large do a great job with their reviews and that's why TripAdvisor is so successful. I think it is harder for people to post fake reviews on booking.com because they require a stay before a review, but it's still possible As long as Tripadvisor is not claiming all their reviews are from real travelers or all are honest or trusted I think the blame should go to the few that are conning the system.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, December 22, 2014: Mr. Kuttan
I've just finished a short book by Alan Bennett, 'The Uncommon Reader', about another notable personage whose job it is to make everyone feel comfortable and welcome in their presence. Seeing Mr. Kuttan's serene face, it makes me wonder what his private thoughts might have been all those years. And if he'd written them down and had them tucked away somewhere, to be revealed at a later date. I suspect not, under the circumstances, but wouldn't it be interesting?
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, December 22, 2014: Mr. Kuttan
Originally Posted by PortMoresby: I've just finished a short book by Alan Bennett, 'The Uncommon Reader', about another notable personage whose job it is to make everyone feel comfortable and welcome in their presence. Seeing Mr. Kuttan's serene face, it makes me wonder what his private thoughts might have been all those years. And if he'd written them down and had them tucked away somewhere, to be revealed at a later date. I suspect not, under the circumstances, but wouldn't it be...
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Re: Marveling at La Sagrada Familia
Thank you Karina. You gave me me another reason to get back to Barcelona. Great job capturing the splendor of the place!
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Re: Americans Leaving Half Their Paid Vacations Ununsed
Sadly, they do translate widely. Among the factors I'm aware of listening to students, parents and friends: 1. People with very little vacation (only a week in many cases) either choose to work for needed extra money, or are trying to save it to take more next year. 2. Job pressure keeps some people working; some are afraid they'll lose jobs by taking what they've earned, while others are promised other compensation. 3. Biggest reason of all: Not enough money to go anywhere!
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, October 10, 2015: Northumberlandia, England
I stared at the pictures for quite a while before I figured it out! What's the history? Must have been quite a job...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, March 16, 2015: Sunday Afternoon in Kerala, India
Being half of an "Older Couple" my wife and I still walk hand in hand. When asked why - I say my wife has to remember where we're going. My job is to remember the way back.
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Re: Nashville, Tennessee.....the Elvis tour continues!
Once again DrFumblefinger you have done a wonderful job putting this blog together. Thank you for you doing this. I enjoyed it very much. GarryRF, I was very happy that I could be of some assistance for this blog, but it's DrFumblefinger who seems to have the magic touch on putting all the pieces of the puzzle together. In this case, I'm the guy who only delivered the bricks, but DrFumblefinger built the house.
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Re: TravelGumbo's Xenophil graduating at Eastern Washington University, Cheney
HUGE congratulations, X !!!! Now, get a job.
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Re: TravelGumbo's Xenophil graduating at Eastern Washington University, Cheney
Originally Posted by PortMoresby: HUGE congratulations, X !!!! Now, get a job. As with most computer science graduates, that's already taken care of PM! Besides his efforts for TravelGumbo, X starts working in his field in a few weeks.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Oct. 18, 2015: Olive Grove, Saint-Remy
I always thought picking olives would be a labour intensive task. I watched as the farmers wife placed a round blanket ( with a split in it ) on the ground under the tree. Then the tractor had a claw attachment that gripped the tree. Then it shook the tree for 10 seconds. All the olives fell on the blanket. Job done - 1 minute a tree !