Tagged With "Palace on Wheels train"
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo? (#39)
PHeymont can be such a tease at times... I'll go out on the limb and suggest these are the "truths" 1) It is a model train set -- very nicely done, by the way 2) It is in a formal display somewhere. Mac said " I have seen reports of some fantastic layouts in Germany". A model trail museum in Europe, possibly Germany? Anyone else have any ideas?
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo? (#39)
Sorry, Mac...but it's not Northlandz. Sorry, DrF...it's not the National Toy Train Museum Sorry, JonathanL...it's not the annual display at the Bronx Botanical Garden But you are all in the right country!
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Sep 15, 2015: Pit Lane, Mdina Grand Prix
I was having lunch in Mdina. Our waiter was a boy about 8 years old. He asked if I'd ever seen a train. "Of course I have. Maybe 4 a day" "When I save enough to leave Malta I want to see a train" he said. Then he asked my Mother in Law if she was my sister. She slipped him a few dollars. He'll soon have enough - I thought - to see a train - even at 8.
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Re: Air Canada Launches Free Layover Program in Toronto
I'm not sure why they're limiting it to people from the USA. Vancouver to Toronto is a 5 hour flight. A layover might be enjoyed by people traveling overseas. A few months ago a dedicated train service from Pearson airport to downtown Toronto began and this has greatly improved access to the city. And also reduced the cost of reaching downtown dramatically. http://www.metrolinx.com/en/pr...press/upexpress.aspx
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Re: A Visit to Topkapi, Part 1
I remember that restaurant fondly. A woman on her own was seated with us and we became instant friends, still in touch after 12 years.
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Re: Channel ferries: more than a nostalgia trip
A timely post, PHeymont. Trying to simplify a proposed trip to the UK and Portugal, and also slip in a bit of Spain along the way, I'm seriously considering the ferries from the south coast of England to Bilbao & environs, then train down to Portugal. I'm sure it will save me money, as opposed to trains, using the ferries, most of which I wasn't aware of until I took a good look at the broken lines showing ferry routes on Google maps.
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Re: GPS: 'Your destination will be...very wet.'
On our recent trip to Sicily, our GPS took us down a farm road that dead-ended, except for a rugged dirt tract that was unsafe to drive in a car (doable in a 4 wheel drive vehicle). The GPS instructed me to continue down the dirt track, but as a human being I declined the machine's advice. Good thing I did, because as we looped back we could see that even the dirt track dead-ended in a mile or so. Somehow we made it to our next destination, although it's easy and expected to get lost a...
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Re: Family kicked off flight
The most interesting part of the article, to me, was the identification of which language each of the people quoted was speaking...and apparently their words were not falling on deaf ears. Except for the tone-deaf parents (and I'm not usually a parent-basher) who apparently allowed their 3-year-old to decide what rules apply. They should have turned their attention to buckling the child in, and not to arguing with the flight attendant. Perhaps, like the anti-vaccination crowd, they think...
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Re: As scheduled Cuba service nears, charter operators face unknown future
With a few exceptions, the charter prices for Americans were really expensive. So for those companies, the gravy train is over.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, May 23, 2015: First Class, Nanning Train Station
I suspect "stabling" refers to the train being at the station -- like horse returning home. But I love the sense of mystery and imaging you did to, PM! Nothing quite as much fun as a terrible translation!
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, May 23, 2015: First Class, Nanning Train Station
With a waiting room like that, I've not sure I'd care to leave and get on the train...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, May 23, 2015: First Class, Nanning Train Station
I'd definitely get on that train. My curiosity about what badly translated signs are out there would get the best of me.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, May 23, 2015: First Class, Nanning Train Station
I wouldn't dream of occupying while stabling in the train rest room, but in the waiting room? I thought that's what they were for. A wise man, or FaMale, should know better than to leave a nice comfortable clean place and get on a train in some parts of the world. It was a lesson it took me several trains to learn on that trip.
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Re: Heathrow Airport Will Show Live Costs and Times to Central London
I wonder why not the tube, as well, I'm guessing the most popular option of all. Considering tube stations have screens for "next train" arrivals, it seems it would be a simple extension to give that information along with those 2 more expensive options. I've paid for speed on the Heathrow Express train, only to have it stuck along the way, making the slower/cheaper Heathrow Connect train or the tube the best option all-around.
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Re: SNCF: Oooops, we made the trains too big!
I'm astounded at the level of incompetence! Does SNCF order trains without providing manufacturing specifics, like how tall and wide a train should be? Really?
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Re: Brits still in love with long-haul holidays
I can get an 11 hour flight from the UK to Cuba, Airport transfers, All inclusive Resort on the Beach and evening Entertainment. 2 weeks in June. Same price as I pay for a return Flight only to New York - 6 Hours. $1250 US. I'll be responsible when the UK Prime Minister gets the Train from London to Brussels instead of Flying.
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Re: Our Sound of Music Tour in Salzburg, Austria - Part Two
I took my wife on the Sound of Music tour from the old Chiemsee Armed Forces Recreation Center when the US Army occupied it. I remember on our bus as we drove away, the guide wanted us to show hands of who saw it just once, and went through the numbers to see who saw it the most. She never asked who never saw it which was only me. Still haven't seen it. Everyone ooohed and aaaahed when we arrived at the gazebo as I stood bewildered and I was the only one that didn't know the do-re-mi song...
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Re: Belgium: International trains causing delays
When our son came for a visit to see us in the early 1990's, he had to change trains in Hamburg which has many stations. He wasn't sure where to get off, so he asked the German conductor. The conductor pointed to our son's ticket and said your arrival time is 12:10, so at 12:10 get off the train and you will be at your correct station. Guess that doesn't work anymore.
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Re: Vintage & Classic Cars of Udaipur 2) 1946 - 1989
Beautiful examples of old cars DrF. I would certainly make it a full day exploring. Few more if you want a look ! http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/...tage-car-museum.html
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Re: Vintage & Classic Cars of Udaipur 2) 1946 - 1989
Brings back memories, I spent hours there, awesome collection.
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Re: Museum find: GE's 'missing' electric car
The argument, and I'm not informed enough to judge it, is that the amount of fossil fuel needed to generate electricity for a plug-in is far less than that required to run a gasoline engine. The same sort of argument that points out that a gallon of fuel moves far more freight on a diesel train than a diesel truck. On the other hand, that's about plug-in cars. For hybrids, it's a different story because the batteries charge while the car is running on gas. So less gas is used than using gas...
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Re: Apr. 20, 2017: World's Longest Train Journey?
That's a train journey that should satisfy even the greatest train enthusiasts!
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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: We're more than Tokyo, Japan tells tourists
A few simple items to remember when transiting Tokyo ... In Tokyo, JR/Subway maps are available for the asking (FREE from the station attendant) with stations listed in either English or in Japanese. Get a copy of both. Have someone write your destination in Japanese. When approaching someone on the street with a "Please direct me towards xxxx" written in Japanese I have ALWAYS been given good directions. (A mix of English and Japanese does NOT often work) This includes traveling solo in...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, September 13, 2015: South of Naples
Sounds like a wonderful way to end a jaunt around Italy. So how did you travel through Italy? By train or car?
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Re: Tilt! Retro railroad offers retro pinball car
Now that's definitely a train car I'd like to visit!
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Re: American to drop seatback entertainment
Most people were interested in having the wifi entertainment, especially if there were some levels that came at no extra cost. BTW this did not include wifi connections that extended off of the train. only to give passengers access to entertainment
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Re: March 2. 2017: Pub Board, Liverpool UK
This was a Bus Replacement Service while the train was out of service on Tuesday. Choo Choo - I'm A Train. Only in Liverpool !
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Re: Iiyama: Hometown Japan
I sure hope things work out well for Iiyama! There seem to be so many places that have lost people and jobs and so forth, and so few of them get such a chance as the Bullet Train. Thank you for a sweet story that's maybe got a happy ending.
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Re: Iiyama: Hometown Japan
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my post! I hope things look up for Iiyama, too. It really is a beautiful town.
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Re: Georgia on my Mind
Hi Dr Fumblefinger, I hope all is well - any trips planned? I have started a new blog focusing on train travel overseas. This is mainly about my 200+ overseas journeys but also will feature other train related topical posts. I would like to pen an article for Travel Gumbo and thought about doing it on one of my Eastern European tours such as Budapest - Bucharest - Chisinau - Odessa - Sevastopol - Lviv - Kiev or Zagreb - Split - Sarajevo - Belgrade - Sofia - Veliko Tărnovo. What do you think?
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Re: Georgia on my Mind
I just had a look at ontrack.blog, Wilbur. I, too, love train travel and will enjoy reading it and getting some ideas! Thanks for letting us know. PM
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Re: Paris to set flat-rate airport cab fares
I like these set taxi prices because there are so many dishonest cabbies in the world. I don't mind taking train or bus if I'm not to tired, but sometimes at the end of a long journey I like to splurge on a cab to get us directly to our hotel. Much more pleasant that way and to me often worth the extra few Euros.
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Re: Verona: More than Romeo & Juliet
There are places in Verona in which you can still see the Roman cart wheel ruts cut into the paving stones. We found that evocative and fascinating. Seeing physical evidence while on vacation from ages past gives the expression "time trip" new meaning.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day. January 14, 2014: Calgary Peace Bridge
DrY, is that bridge (bottom right) maybe the one the C-train (public transit) takes across the river?
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day. January 14, 2014: Calgary Peace Bridge
The bridge on the bottom right of the picture 3 is called Bow River Pathway. It's a pedestrian/cycling bridge connecting the downtown ore - Prince's Island Park - The North bank of Bow river. The Peace bridge and C-train bridge are further west! Ha Ha Karl, you need get out more
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Re: Walking the Buffalo
Pheymont, it was the iconic landscape that attracted me to the area. The tulou in Fujian were the impetus for the trip and when I realized that the area I'd admired for so long, originally in scroll paintings, was relatively close to Xiamen and between there and another intended destination, the cross-border overnight train from Nanning to Hanoi, it was on. As you've likely surmised, my trips tend to be longer than the average tour-traveling visitor and my curiosity such that packages are...
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Re: Sleeper Train Paris to Madrid Ends
Thanks, Rob. Following your link above I found more train information in the Telegraph travel section. I do love trains: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/journeysbyrail/
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Re: Classic American Cars #7
Definitely a little tricky. I couldn't see the grille on the yellow, but on the 51s I saw when I was checking it out, the chrome over the front wheel isn't a straight piece like this (has a little widening with a model name, I think). On the other hand, this one is missing the small panel just before the rear wheel "skirt," but that could have been a victim of time...
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Re: Tokyo on the Cheap
I've heard that- when visiting Japan - its best to have photo's on your phone to show people when asking directions. The Bus - Train - Airport - Beach - Drugstore - Market. Interesting read Rob. What are the rules for socialising in the evening ? Bars - Disco - Restaurants - Dress up and stay away from the Karaoke ? Is this part expensive ?
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Re: Tokyo on the Cheap
Originally Posted by GarryRF: I've heard that- when visiting Japan - its best to have photo's on your phone to show people when asking directions. The Bus - Train - Airport - Beach - Drugstore - Market. Interesting read Rob. What are the rules for socialising in the evening ? Bars - Disco - Restaurants - Dress up and stay away from the Karaoke ? Is this part expensive ? Garry, I forgot to mention that bento.com also has reviews for bars ,clubs etc and gives prices. I've heard horror stories...
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Re: New Hope for the Jet-Lagged?
Until they develop this expensive therapy, do the basics that work reasonably well for me. Stay hydrated. When you arrive at your destination, don't nap. Slip into the local time frame hard as it might be the first day. If you arrive during the day, go for a nice walk. Helps train your primitive brain that its still day (not night like it's telling you) and the exercise will do you good. Go to be early but try to sleep when the locals do. And don't overuse alcohol because of its tendence to...
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Re: The Intrigue of the Orient Express
Thanks for the recommendation GarryRF! Please click or call us on 0800 122 33 64 for more on this legendary train.
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Re: The Intrigue of the Orient Express
A bit over a year ago, when I wrote the blog above, I mentioned the surprise picture I'd taken of my daughter, with the Orient Express sign on our train at Munich, about to leave for Vienna, by then the last stop. Imagine my surprise, and pleasure, this evening when my wife found the picture while sorting through pictures to be scanned from the trip! And here it is...
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo? #64
Looks like an old steel bridge... possibly for a train?
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo? #64
Train seems right. It's long and narrow. Green. Not a rock canyon. Plenty of flat terrain - except right where it's crossing.
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Re: Rio de Janiero - Part 1
Assuming nice weather and a clear day, about how much time would it take to get up to Corcovado (Christ the Redeemer statue) by train. look around and return?
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Re: Rio de Janiero - Part 1
The train takes about 25 min each way. Up top 15-45 min depending on how much photography and looking at things you want to do. The unknown is how long the lines are for the train. Early is better than late.