Tagged With "European Bee-eater"
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Re: April 2, 2020: Busy Bee in Spring, Liverpool, UK.
Great photo Garry! Just the right amount of movement on the wings. I guess the bee didn't get his self-isolation notification.
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Re: January 20, 2020: Newport Beach, California
Always a puzzle, Garry, when looking at restaurant reviews, because not everyone values the same thing, and not everyone is health-conscious, even if they say so! And it's not just portion size, either: even in more sensible portions there can be a lot of unhealthy extra calories, food that isn't fresh, etc. And with the arrival of plant-based 'meat,' I find myself amazed at how many people who rail against processed food are pleased to eat this incredibly-processed 'food' because it is...
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Re: Sea World gives up its killer whale shows
I grow weary of political correctness. Orcas are highly intelligent animals, no doubt -- and have the "cruelty" we expect of intelligent animals (anyone who's seen them hunt a baby gray whale for hours, only to kill it, eat its tongue and let the rest go to waste knows what I mean). I never saw Blackfish, but I do recall at the old Marineland park in Southern California. The park was closed for a number of months, and the orcas got depressed. Listless, didn't eat, didn't look good. Someone...
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Re: EU Parliament Ends Cell Phone Roaming Charges in 2017
I'm guessing this is going to affect pre paid plans and sim cards for travelers. Anybody else know more, please comment.
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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: Al Fahidi Historical District
In this area there's a really cool museum that we visited - the Museum of Illusions. Also, make sure to eat at the Arabian Teahouse 5 minutes walking from this neighborhood! https://valentinasdestinations.com/
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Re: Sept 1, 2016: Wild Roses on the River Side.
WILD ROSES Wild Fruit - before the birds eat them ! I've been told by other walkers that further along you can only smell wild Jasmine. On the waters edge - where these grow - can best be described as a cool climate. With the onshore breeze off the river it rarely passes above 21c / 70f. So about the same climate as your Mountain rose. The smell really takes you by surprise - like walking into a small room holding a large "Women's Institute"meeting ! Perfume overload !
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Re: October 5, 2018: Sweets Shop, Delhi
Actually K, neither would I, but as the author of 'Supernature' it was kinda in his brief ! His friend advised the beef tapeworm because they're easier to evict than pork ones (!) - he had to eat ~50% extra to placate the sucker (sic) BTW resistances don't really last that long but you're right, I very rarely got, or get ill.
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Re: July 14, 2018: Amsterdam's Dapper Market
The sounds - smells and colours of an open air market. I like the one's that do a taste sampling. And the fur coat you get on your teeth after eating Rhubarb. Stewed and served with custard. Is it true that Rhubarb is the only food that pigs wont eat ?
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Re: Where Gumbo Was #12. Brasov, Romania
Congratulations Worker Bee! Nice write up PHeymont! The Black Church holds some significant memories for me personally as does the whole city. In the aerial shot, if you look closely, you will also find some drab communist era apartment buildings. The time of Ceausescu and the Securitate was a time no one who lived in the country will forget. It was also Romania's baby boom when a lot people of people were born due to no birth control. The Romanian people are talented and o pen and I...
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Re: On Safari in Africa -- wildlife gallery
Thank you for your comments PortMoresby and GarryRF!. Yes, we got quite close to the animals Garry, although you definitely need to have a telephoto lens and best to have a camera with a quick shutter speed. I used my digital SLR on these and shot photos in bursts of 5-6, picking out the one I like best. You need to be very careful about where you eat in Africa, maybe more so than in most places. But we traveled with a quality safari outfit (And Beyond), which not only prepared great meals,...
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Re: Post-Merger AA Route Changes at DCA, LGA
Virign America will bee getting some of AA's slots at LGA - That is a net plus in my book!
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo #5.5
Worker Bee - This does look a lot like the medieval lanes of Rhodes. Except - Those southern European spots do not usually have tidy postboxes and glossy wooden doors. The lane is well kept and recently repaired. I agree that it is a proper residential area. While the overall feel is something Spanish or Italian, because of the postbox and tidiness, I am thinking Kilkenny, Lyon, Quimper or even Brighton. The stone ( is that stone ?) used in that recent doorway lintel is similar to the...
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Re: Where Gumbo Was: #5.5
Worker Bee, my my, what good eyes you have. Nice work. Congratulations. Rhodes looks very interesting, even in brrrrr February. Thanks, PHeymont, for showing us this.
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Re: Montreal: Je Me Souviens
I'll give it some thought while cruising the Hawaiian Islands later this month, if I have a minute when not learning to hula dance, eat poi and look down into volcano craters. Aloha from Montreal, in the Province of Quebec where our provincial government wants to pass a law making it illegal for Muslim women to wear the hijab, for Jewish men to wear the skull cap (forget the proper name) and for South Asian men to wear turbans, if they work in government institutions (i.e. schools,...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Nov 14, 2013 : Guinness Storehouse, Dublin, Ireland
Voyager... along with my free pint of Guinness, I enjoyed a delicious Irish Stew. By the time I finished both, I couldn't eat another bite. Travel Luver...I'm thinking at least two pints of Guinness were consumed by the bartender, a man who as Bling mentioned, gives his all to his work and (cough cough) may have to sample an occasional pint or two to make sure the brew meets his high standards.
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Re: Do you Like these Hotel Tipping Tips ?
I certainly understand GarryRF's comments completely. A guest has a right to expect a good quality meal with good service. That should be part of the dining experience. That said, because I was raised and have lived in Canada/USA my life, I have a sensitivity to food service employees not being paid well and being stressed by their employers. So I tend to follow Dave B's guidelines (thanks for outlining these, Dave!) If I see a waitress is trying hard, I'll leave the 15% tip (and don't come...
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Re: In which US city do people dine out most?
People eat out a lot in xxx because the prices are reasonable, there is a great variety of types of restaurants - thanks to its status as a city of global commerce - and you can be sure of getting lots of free air conditioning .
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Re: 'Elk Sensor' wins Swedish innovation prize
Vehicle collisions with animals kill more people than dog, snake and bee bites combined. And while the photo you use shows an animal that weighs about 1000 pounds, that animal is a moose. I know it's tough for city folks to tell them apart. Here is what a bull elk looks like.... Here's what a cow elk looks like....
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Re: August 2 2017: Duck Herding in the Kerala Backwaters
In Bali I watched from my rented house in the rice paddies as ducks were regularly brought to the fields to eat insects and fertilize the crop. Not to say they don't eat them, too, but probably a similar routine in So. India.
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Re: Jetlagged in Rome
You can be sure it never would have made it to this page if it was bad. It was delicious. I never eat sweet in the morning so this was perfect for me and a something I'd never had before.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, May 7th, 2014: Bees
Sure PortMoresby, the two cameras I use are a Pentax K10D dSLR with a Pentax DA 55-300 mm f4-5.8 lens and the other is a Panasonic Lumix TS2. The Lumix takes macro pictures like nothing else I have used, I am learning to get better at taking macro with my K10D but am still not as good yet as I am with the Lumix. DrF, the honey bee (the one with no hair) was taken in the lovely flower gardens at Lake Louise, Alberta and the bumble bees were taken on a trip to the Bowden Corn and Sunflower...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, November 25, 2014: Fall colors at Upper Kananaskis Lake, Alberta
Hi GarryRF, Yes, this part of the world includes vaste stretches of wilderness. Lots and lots of unspoiled mountains, valleys, forests, rivers and lakes. It is only an hour's drive from west Calgary, so lots of those of us who live here spend our weekends in the Rockies. Much like those in Denver. Camping is wonderful in the summertime, as the weather is mild and the days very long. It's also great to hike here at that time. Camping in the winter is only for the brave of heart. You need to...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Oct. 8, 2014: Onion Soup, Pied de Cochon
I think I'd have to take a knife and fork to that soup ! Looks delicious - how was it ? Did it have you searching for the antacid tabs ? I couldn't eat a main meal after tackling that soup.
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Re: Montmartre Cemetery, Paris
Hmm, that sounds pretty good, ending my days in the old neighborhood, selling peanuts to supplement my Social Security. What I don't sell, I can eat. I can think of worse ways.
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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: Old San Juan: Beautiful...and not all old
Plaza de Armas is NOT the premier pigeon feeding spot in San Juan. The honor goes to the near by Plaza de las Palomas (Plaza of the Doves). This park has a wall with literal Pigeon holes and is the home to hundreds of the birds. There are machine to buy food and if you stand real still they will land on your hands and arms to eat.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Oct 21, 2014: Maltese Bread
I also love a fresh loaf of bread. When it's just right, it's easy to make a meal of just bread and butter. I have great sympathy for those who can't eat gluten. I'm not sure I'd find life worth living without fresh baked goods.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, November 27, 2014: The Feast!
Wow, Ottoman! Don't know if I've ever said this especially with desserts,but that food looks too good to eat. It should be displayed in a museum!
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, November 27, 2014: The Feast!
You're right there Rob ! Too good to eat ! Like a kid in a candy shop. Love seeing displays of disposable art. Like all the shapes and designs you can get on a Frothy Coffee !
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, November 27, 2014: The Feast!
Hello everyone DrFumblefinger, you are so right about the chocolate fountain. If it wouldn't have been for my family holding me back, I would've done the dive. Travel Rob and GarryRF, you are so right when you say the food looked too good to eat. I was rather conflicted when it came time to enjoy these delicacies...my stomach said "This is making me so hungry, eat it!!" but my brain said "Don't eat it for these creations are works of art!!" Eventually my stomach won the battle.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, August 27, 2015: Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Red Rocks Park, Colorado
It's a great summary of a fun place to visit. Besides the amphitheater, there's a drive through the park which takes you by other red rock formations. The park isn't that large, but it is memorable. If you're looking for a place to eat, the amphitheater offers an outdoor terrace restaurant with great views of the Red Rock.
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Re: Signs of Aspen, Colorado
Originally Posted by Travel Rob: Nice of the Bear to tell us to fight back if attacked He is a nice bear to tell us, and that's good advice with BLACK bears only. There are no grizzlies left in Colorado, but the general advice for them is to "play dead" and not fight back. If a black bear attacks you he likely wants to eat you. If a grizzly attacks you he likely wants to dominate you. Of course, you need to use your judgement on the spot, if you've time to assess. A thin wasted grizzly might...
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Re: Punalu'u Black Sand Beach Park, Hawaii Island, Hawaii
Some beautiful photos, Ottoman! I'm fond of black sand beaches because you only find them in places with active volcanoes, and I love volcanoes. White sand beaches are generally formed from the breakdown of coral (often by parrotfish, who eat it and clear the fine particles out the other end). This beach isn't that large, but the black sand is striking. And the turtles -- how lovely they are. They look soooo relaxed. Makes me want to take a nap in that warm sand, too!
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Re: Thinking Cuba? Tickets not so easy yet!
Most city centres have been laid out in the Spanish style with an open park. This is lunchtime when all the school children and workers eat their packed lunches. No radio - music - skateboards - headphones - just peace and tranquillity !
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, January 5, 2014: Modern Toilet Restaurant, Taiwan
I can see it as a novelty place to eat, but am surprised in the franchise interest !
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Re: The Historic Fort and Town of Galle, Sri Lanka
It's a great photoessay of a special place, Travellinn, thanks for sharing these wonderful photos with us. I generally just traveled through Galle, never stopping much except perhaps to look around for an hour or get something to eat. The fort is very impressive, a massive structure of rock and coral. The last time I visited Galle was just after the great tsunami of 2004. The town was one of the most damaged by that tragedy as several massive waves washed through it. Hundreds were killed or...
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Re: Channel ferries: more than a nostalgia trip
The buses ,like Megabus ,sometimes use the ferries as well and it's a great way to break up a bus trip. They make you disembark the bus for safety reasons while the ferry is moving and you can watch the view and get something to eat.
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Re: Travel for Garden Lovers, Part I
Lovely photos......nice mature garden. I envy the roses......the deer eat mine!
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Re: Celebrating Nature on 7 Continents: Asia, part 3 - European Bee-eaters in Sir Bani Yas Island, United Arab Emirates
Beautiful photos Kirsten!!
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Re: Celebrating Nature on 7 Continents: Asia, part 3 - European Bee-eaters in Sir Bani Yas Island, United Arab Emirates
Bee-eaters are amazing birds. I've never seen more than one or two around, so it must be quite a treat to be at the edge of a migration of them! And they fly so quickly -- amazed you were able to get that last photo framed as well as you did. Thanks for sharing these.
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Re: Celebrating Nature on 7 Continents: Asia, part 3 - European Bee-eaters in Sir Bani Yas Island, United Arab Emirates
Thanks, Marilyn!
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Re: Celebrating Nature on 7 Continents: Asia, part 3 - European Bee-eaters in Sir Bani Yas Island, United Arab Emirates
It was pretty amazing... a bit dizzying actually to try and keep up with all of them!
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Re: 'Uncomfortable memory' tour faces Barcelona slave history
It is good that a people face up to and learn from the past. We must learn from the lessons of history, but I do hope this will not become a "self-flagellation" exercise. At the end of the 18th century, everyone had slaves. Every people, every race, every culture, every country participated in the buying, selling and owning of other people. It was the norm. Fortunately, with a few rare exceptions, modern society has become enlightened and the rights of individuals is now a central focus of...
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Re: 'Uncomfortable memory' tour faces Barcelona slave history
'Presentism' is always a danger for historians, but in this case, there's a real issue of interest based on the late-in-the-day entry into slave-owning by the later Catalan grandees; they went into it when all European countries had already abolished it, and when it had been abolished in many colonial areas. Sadly, not Cuba, Brazil, or, at the beginning of that period, the United States. One of the reasons it's important to consider these past things is because they do enter into the...
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Re: 'Uncomfortable memory' tour faces Barcelona slave history
Slavery is just part of a long cruel history. Wherever there is chance to make money, people of any race or creed will gladly join in. Even the African warlords who sold the "prisoners" to the slave ships played their parts in this piece of history. Even today fortunes are made by sending young men to die in the name of "Defence". Money has no morals.
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Re: Vienna's Naschmarkt: 500 years of food
It is a great market. I've only visited it once, and it's enormous and hard to get your head around, although there is a fair bit of repetition among the stalls. There are several excellent restaurants at the market. I've forgotten the name of the place, but there was a southeastern Asian restaurant that we ate at which provided us with one of the best meals we ate in Vienna, a city known for its great food. One of the Austrians at a table beside us began a conversation and told us he...
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Re: Anatomy of a Trip, Oaxaca: Food
That was a delicious piece -- my favorite in this series so far --and your photos of your food made me want to eat Mexican tonight. Sadly, Canadians just don't know how to cook Mexican food.