Tagged With "Apps for Pitching High"
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Re: 12 Countries ask vouchers instead of refunds
In a conversation with Travel Rob last week, I set out my minimum conditions before a bailout or other relief can be discussed: 1) All boarding to be by efficiency, no priority for anyone except physical need 2) minimum one free checked bag for all flights over 250 miles (under 250, you should drive or take a train, anyway) 3) elimination of most nuisance fees 4) minimum 32" pitch with no more than 2" recline 5) 20-year cap on exec salaries...CEO to earn max 20x full-time flight attendant...
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Re: France: Cameras are watching more than speed
I'm very wary of surveillance when it applies at an individual level. However, traffic, often high speed traffic, has to be regulated (Highway Code) for us to expect to survive most journeys. Who is it that would object to bad driving being scrutinised ? They may well be grateful some day that someone else's misdemeanour has been noted. if you mindfully do that stuff, you shouldn't. And if you won't behave among the rest of us, then maybe you shouldn't drive.
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Re: Where Gumbo Was #14: A Sewer Journey
How people have solved civil engineering problems is of great interest to many persons. I have visited the Egouts several times over the years. It is very interesting to see how the engineers went about providing - and continue to do provide - this important service for the growing city. A related infrastructure challenge for developing areas is always how to provide clean water for the populace. In Istanbul, it is possible to visit one of the ancient cisterns to see how this feat was...
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Re: Thai Tourism Blossoming
I think of travel in Thailand as "Asia Lite". In a good way. It was the first place I ventured in Asia and have continued to go back, combined with more challenging destinations. So I'm not surprised. It's also my destination of choice for recuperation when the food elsewhere does me in. It's pretty much in the middle of the region with flights in from all over and that, combined with the fresh & delicious food, makes it a relaxing and beneficial spot to forget one's food woes. It's high...
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Re: Should Wi-Fi be free in all hotels?
Technically, it would be possible to create very large WiFi zones, whether free or paid. But since someone gets paid (either on the meter, or a fee for the project) and there is a cost to constructing/installing the equipment to broadcast that signal...it won't happen unless someone is paying. In the case of the hotel, picking up on rbciao's point about breakfast--have you noticed that the free WiFi and the free breakfast tend to come with the budget chains, while the high-end places charge...
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Re: Should Wi-Fi be free in all hotels?
Good discussion! WiFi has for me become an indispensable part of traveling. It allows me to stay in touch with family easily and cheaply (remember how hard it was even 25 years ago -- a phone call could run you $5 a minute? And there was no email). It lets me spend evening hours clearing out a hefty email que, and doing research on what I am going to see tomorrow and the next day. And with "Gumbo on the Go", it lets me share my travels as they happen with fellow Gumboites! I echo PHeymont's...
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Re: Should Wi-Fi be free in all hotels?
Actually, privatized toll roads are the coming thing these days! Some states have sold off roads; others have allowed private companies to build from scratch. The road to Dulles Airport near Washington is a prime example. But the comparisons to WiFi here don't really work. No one charged extra for electric light in hotels when it was new; it simply replaced the gas lighting. It took 70 years of broadcasting to create a pay system. As for WiFi, or internet access in hotels generally, it's not...
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Re: The morphing airline seat. An idea whose time has come
I hope this is something in the near future, and not just a dream. Just did a trans-continental with 32" pitch in United economy, and it was OK...but if the folks in front had done one of those full reclines...fuhgeddaboutit!
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Re: Christmas in Arizona--what to do?
Originally Posted by EyeWonder: Thanks everyone. I have to ask you more questions! My friends have come up with two more suggestions. One is Sedona, and the other is the Navajo reservation that Tony Hillerman wrote all his books about and that has some big canyons. Is that area too far north for warm weather? Navajo country is too far north and too high up for a warm winter break. But if you bring a warm jacket, it will be magical that time of year. Sedona will be nice, but with cooler days...
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Re: The Worst Train in the World
I hope that wasn't your last venture into third world high speed travel. Reminds me of Austria on the Zillertal Bahn Valley Railway. The Train went so slow that passengers would lean out and pick wild flowers from the trackside. Each carriage had warning notices - in English - not to do this. But ....
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Re: Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other. (Part 5) The Elephants of Pinnawala
Sri Lanka is almost on the equator so it has minimal seasonal variability in temperature or length of day and night. There is a monsoon season, but that generally translated to an hour or two of rain, often after dark, so don't let this worry you. I don't think there's a bad season. Imagine "high season" coincides with vacations in Europe as most travelers there are from Europe so would avoid the summer months especially.
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Re: Finishing college. Need help planning trip to U.K,
Summer months are best - between May and September. Snowdon is 3,560 feet high. Temperature drops 5.4 F per 1,000 feet of elevation. This winter has been very warm so far. So the snow will clear early if it continues to be warmer than usual. You'll see the current Temps before you go up clearly displayed. The weather can change suddenly so pack for wind, rain, sun and snow ! The Mountain doesn't warm up. It depends on which way the wind blows. From the South = warm From the North =cold...
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Re: Share Your Budget Tablet and Laptop Picks
I have a high power PC for my hardcore work, but for getting around I like the Google Nexus 7. Nice tablet, slick, fast, less than $200 bucks. Great for using when you fly.
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Re: The Tulou of Fujian Province
HistoryDigger, I'll explain. At the end of the first day of tulou visits, the large tour bus rendezvoused with a small van and it was indicated that I should bring my things and come with a young man. Since no one could explain, I had to simply trust and go along, an interesting sensation. I later realized that I was the only one who had opted for the second day. The young man drove me to a very basic village of mostly new buildings built, I suspect but of course don't know, for...
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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: controversial architecture? - Parasol Sevilla
I wonder how many millions of Euros it cost? Actually, I think I'd rather not know. Thanks again, JohnT for sharing these wonderful photos of your Spanish adventure. You've set a pretty high watermark for other members to match. Have a safe journey home.
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Re: "Spotted on the Road". Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
My thoughts Car # 1 1967-68 Dodge Charger with a 426 Hemi. Not necessarily aftermarket - you could get it as an option. The high rise and the blower were added. They came with dual quads. Car # 2 Most likely 1969 Camaro Super Sport (SS) Coupe. 396 engine. What's special about these beauts ? > They are worth a lot of money these days $ 30 K - $ 40 K.
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Re: Finally some good news! Whistler or Banff
I don't ski either (bad knees), but I've visited both of these destinations. There are pros and cons to each. Both is a little over an hour's drive from their closest major airport, Vancouver for Whistler and Calgary for Canmore. Whistler is close to the coast, but high up. So they usually have good snow, but depending on the year, it can get soggy by spring and sometimes ice crusted. Banff area is far more likely to have nice light powder during the spring break season. Some people swear by...
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo #3.5
Diagnosis by shadow and silhouette! You are setting the bar at 50 m high, PHeymont!
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Re: Portugal's 'Golden Visa' Gaining Traction
The U.S. has a somewhat similar program. If you are prepared to invest $1,000,000 in a U.S. business that will create 10 jobs ($500,000 if it's in a rural or high unemployment area) you and your immediate family are eligible for immediate green cards for permanent residence. Oh, sorry...it is limited to the first 10,000 millionaires each year. The program is the EB-5 visa. If you've got the million, or just the curiosity, click HERE .
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Re: Bye Bye Sky-High Rental Car Fees
Thanks, that was a good article. I got some ideas from it! I always get confused about whether I need to take insurance from the rental and it's always sky-high. I have some credit cards that say they cover it, but I hadn't realized that a lot of time my own car insurance would cover me with the rental. Boy, have we wasted a bunch! The other idea I liked there was taking pictures of the car before you leave their office so you can show them if they try to say you scratched up the car. Feels...
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Re: Beautiful collection of mate cups at the Puerto de Frutos market, El Tigre Argentina. Mate is the national drink of Argentina, a type of tea
Mate' is very high in caffeine and has a lovely smokey flavor. If we look closely at the cups, I believe they are the traditional sort, made from embellished gourds. It's drunk using the "straws". There's a nice version available in the US, 'Morning Thunder' which is combined with black tea, 'Celestial Seasonings' brand. I've even seen mate' available loose at my local natural foods store where they also sell the cups. Fun to see them in situ, DrF.
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo #297
Thursday's clue tells us more about our mystery location. In addition to private homes, this famous street has a few buildings used for other purposes. The church with the sharp steeple was built in the high Victorian Gothic style, while the Jewish Temple was built in the Queen Anne style with neoclassical revival details.
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Re: Swindon's 7 layer traffic circle
That is amazing! And I see it as a convincing argument for traffic lights. Perhaps locals know their way, but for a tourist traveling here it would be a nightmare. While the videoclip says that there are few fatal accidents, that's likely because of the low speeds involved in the roundabout. I suspect the rate of fenderbenders is extremely high. Thanks for sharing this, Jonathan.
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Re: Isle of Portland, Dorset, England (Where Gumbo Was #176)
Wonderful collection of photo's PHEYMONT. Lighthouses are full of history. You can tell where you are on the high seas by checking out the colours it's been painted. SatNav from the 19th Century. My cousin has done 30 years in the British Royal Navy and has moved on to Trinity House who control all the lighthouses around the UK. I thought they were all self lighting - but I suppose they all need painting too !
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Re: Uber To Earmark 1 Billion Dollars for India Over Next 9 Months
I find myself a bit uncomfortable around Uber and its well-oiled connections in the press, which often seems to regard it as the best thing since sliced bread (and what's so good about that, by the way?). All over Europe, Uber has been in trouble for evading rules, taxes and court rulings; in New York, it operates without paying the taxes other operators must, and with insufficient insurance in some cases—and they have a nasty habit of raising its rates whenever demand is high (double or...
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Re: Banksy Opens up a Bemusement Park in England
The Dismaland website crashed again today as people tried to buy tickets. Since the website crashed over the weekend also, people were speculating that this was part of a extended performance to make the bemusement part experience worse. A spokesperson for Banksy assured the BBC that the website crashed because of high demand. dismaland-website-crashes-again-as-banksy-denies-online-ticketing-error-is-a-hoax-10471010
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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: August 23, 2017: Wolf Creek Pass - Colorado
I know it's high up, but there is still an awful lot of snow up there. What time of year did you take the photos, Samantha?
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Re: Paris from the River
Your question reminded me of another squeeze. I worked for many years at Automotive High School in New York, where freshmen were occasionally shown a line of cars outside the shops, parked one behind the other with barely an inch between them, and no space before or after the line. Only the quickest realized they had been moved into place on small dollies, called 'skates.'
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Re: May 10, 2017: Frozen Lake - Clear Creek County, Colorado
HI Garry, I am not really sure. However we were pretty high up (over 8000 feet) so I think it probably does most of the year. I will let you know if we go back sometime this summer
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Re: May 10, 2017: Frozen Lake - Clear Creek County, Colorado
Most of these high altitude lakes remain frozen most of the year. While it's further north, I am very familiar with Lake Louise in the Alberta Rockies. While at only 5200 ft above sea level, it receives a heavy snow fall and the ice remains on the lake until well into June, returning in the early fall. Hiking in the area is really limited to June, July and early September (unless you hike slogging through snow and slush)
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Re: Leadville, Colorado. One of many attractive older buildings in town
The Delaware Hotel! We stayed there overnight in 2007, and carelessly ignored the sign in our room warning us that the effects of alcohol could be magnified at high altitude. Half of my cocktail at dinner was enough to make me tipsy!
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Re: You've got a friend in Pennsylvania...and it's an app!
An excellent idea. Hopefully every state (and province) can put out similar information.
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Re: You've got a friend in Pennsylvania...and it's an app!
I would assume that the basic structure could be the same for all states, and I'd bet a lot of states use the same format for the information because it's shared with Feds, etc. It might be only the ancillary information that would need to be modified. At least I hope that's so! ------ Original Message ------
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo? #37
Looking closer...no sign of a bell, so not a church steeple. When you look closer, too many people (tourists?) for a firewatch station. Long walkway...must connect to some building? Otherwise, why so high off the ground. Can't be a pedestrian bridge; no way down from the walkway level. I'm stumped!
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Re: Goreme, Cappadocia: Where Gumbo Was (#69)
What a great experience and great photos to share it with all of us -- thanks for that! I'm curious about the balloon ride. I presume it was pretty cold up there? How long was the ride? About how high did you go? Did it all feel safe to you?
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo? (#71)
There are a lot of similarities between this station and Atlanta's Brookwood Amtrak Station at 1688 Peachtree St NW, as viewed from the south, including tracks too close together, narrow platforms, long steep stairs, iron fence, the pitch of the roof (which at one time was red spanish clay tile), the brackets supporting the roof, the windows overlooking the track, the weeds, the general condition, the congested neighborhood, and of course the lack of parking.
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Re: Why tickets stay high while fuel prices drop
While it's true that competition and cupidity rather than cost are the basis of pricing, fuel does factor in: when fuel is high, the airlines add surcharges, and when fuel costs drop, they seldom remove them!
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Re: Endangered tourist destinations around the World
Without the tourist would many of these places survive? Without the billions of euros spent on Venice to keep the water out would it still be walkable ? Would the Taj Mahal still be showing the scars of conflict if people didn't visit and contribute to its hunger for refurbishment ? Or maybe leave it to fall into ruin like the pyramids. Which do we remove? The tourists or the high heels ?
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Re: Canada: See it all while you're young (Summer Rail Passes)
I love youth passes . It fosters a lifelong love of travel. I'm sure this a good value but still seems high for youths on a limited budget
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Re: Serra's Church, Mission San Juan Capistrano, California. Where Gumbo Was #46
Somewhere I've got a snapshot of a very young me with a tiny lady holding an object who had insisted my friend take our picture in the garden together. It was in the village of Petra, Majorca and she officiated at the small museum commemorating Junipero Serra's birthplace. I was spending the summer on the island and every student educated in California knows his name almost as well as their own. The address of my high school was El Camino Real, Father Serra's road from mission to mission and...
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Re: A stroll through the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, Vail
Thanks for the comments, Garry. Yes, winter arrives early because of the very high altitude. Over a mile and a half above sea level. Summers are very nice -- warm (75-80F) dry pleasant days (no humidity to speak off), and it always cools down nicely at night, so most places don't even have air conditioning. It really was that empty. No more than 6 folks in the garden including my wife and I, and of course not counting the hundreds of birds flying about.
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Re: Marriott to offer free wi-fi to all its Rewards member
I think you're exactly right, PortMoresby. For quite some time, we've looked mostly at the inexpensive chains precisely because they offer clear and valuable perks: Free breakfast, free parking, free WiFi. Our occasional high-end hotels through Priceline have sometimes moved the per-room fee down to a lower tier, but after you've paid $20/day for parking, $11.99 a day for WiFi...not so lower! The two-tier WiFi issue is becoming a bug for me, too. I recently stayed at a DoubleTree by Hilton...
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Re: Marriott to offer free wi-fi to all its Rewards member
When you have a high-speed data plan on the phone, it can get eaten quickly when used as a hotspot, especially when the whole family is on devices! But if these chains want to be viewed by their customers the way many people view Spirit Airlines...they're on the right track!
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Re: Marriott to offer free wi-fi to all its Rewards member
While business travelers are important to those brands, Marriott and the others make a big pitch to fill those rooms with vacationing and weekending families and couples, too—and I'm sure you've seen a lot of them there. As you point out, the cost of WiFi for business travelers is usually absorbed by the company, so it's hard to see why this new benefit would be attractive to them, since it's already essentially free for them. So it seems obvious that the benefit is, in fact, aimed at the...
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Re: What to expect from Air Travel in 2015
The bar for new carriers is pretty high, though. They can't have full route systems, so they are forced to either try to horn in on high-volume routes, where others can easily drop prices low enough and long enough to push them out, or on low-volume connector routes where money can be made only with poverty-wage crew...which is why the majors have left those routes. We'll see, but I am skeptical.
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Re: New Eurostar Service, London - Provence
(APD = Air Passenger Duty, particularly high to & from UK airports.)
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Re: Visiting Patagonia. 1) El Calafate, Argentina
Thanks, Mac! High compliments from such an experienced travelers. The mountains, glaciers and vasteness of the land were truly memorable. More to follow in the coming weeks....
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Re: Collegiate Church of Notre Dame, Vernon: Where Gumbo Was #31
They are similar in sharing the general features of Gothic architecture...but this one, while nearly as high in the nave, is much narrower. There are quite a few famous Notre Dames, especially in France. Marseille has one high on a hill, overlooking the port.