Tagged With "Huey Long"
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Re: Switzerland: First passengers for world's longest tunnel
That sure is a long tunnel, and from a country that likes to make them as much as the prairie dogs I see on the plains. I would think ventilation would be a problem in such a long tunnel. Would you know if the trains need their own oxygen system? Having driven through the Swiss tunnels by car before, which were about 15 km long as I recall, the air was extremely bad in them and made me regret not driving the scenic route over those windy roads across the mountains.
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Re: Boston in the fall - suggestions please!
Glad that you and the lovely Mrs. are able to hit the road again, Mac! How long will you be in the area and do you just want to "leaf-watch" or are there other things you'd like to sightsee?
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Re: Boston in the fall - suggestions please!
Hi Dr. F! We anticipate staying around 2+ weeks (flexible) and whilst "leaf watch" is the prime excuse, we expect that the route will touch on all 6 counties (?) of New Hampshire. I cannot believe how long it has been since we were able to travel...
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Re: Norwegian bank is out of cash, on purpose
Although I don't use cash every day, I sure want it when I need it. After living through Hurricane Katrina and the LONG power outage of the aftermath, I recognize when cash is crucial. And yes, DrFumblefinger poses a good question about the lack of cash during cyber warfare, which goes on regularly even if we choose to ignore it. Maybe we should go back to bartering for everything. But most of us have lost the art.
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Re: Miami or Orlando to Brussels : $324 Round Trip
Great price! Even for a week long getaway.
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Re: Gorge of the River Allen, Northumberland
Great photographs. Looks like a very beautiful place to go for a long walk. Thanks for a look at a part of England most don't see.
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Re: Exploring Willemstad, Curacao’s UNESCO World Heritage Site
It was a long time ago and warm, yes, but I seem to remember Curacao being dry, think goats & tumbleweeds.
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Re: Marriott buys Starwood for $12.2 billion...what's in it for loyalists?
Received this e-mail this morning. Today we're excited to share the news that Starwood Hotels & Resorts will join together with Marriott International to create the world's largest hotel company. For our Starwood Preferred Guest® (SPG® members, this will mean even more choices in even more places, giving you access to 1.1 million rooms across 5,500 hotels and resorts in more than 100 countries. We will work to bring you the very best of SPG and Marriott Rewards®, two of the most...
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Re: Marriott buys Starwood for $12.2 billion...what's in it for loyalists?
I'm hopeful, since I think the last thing in the world Marriott should want to do is to signal Starwood loyalists that they aren't valued. Wonder how long before SPG rewards will book Marriott rooms...that could be a quick thing to do!
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Re: July in France: More than Bastille Day
Great photo of the lavender field. I remember all the years living in Germany, seemed there were weekly fests going on in our village or in one of the neighboring villages. Any excuse for outdoor music and to gather with current and new friends to drink local wines and beers along with plentiful grilled meats. I truly miss that part of European living. Fests all year long and never a rain date ... they just put up tents and partied in the rain. Photo of my wife Diane with two musicians at a...
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Re: South America, part 3 - Nesting Leatherback Sea Turtles
Fascinating! I was just visiting Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia today and discovered that leatherbacks like to spend their summers off the coast feasting on jellyfish. Amazing what long journeys they make to lay their eggs.
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Re: Oct. 3, 2016: Old Store & Post Office, Evinston, FL
A very cool destination! I love old places like this, especially ones that still work! You don't stress it, but they have a nice display of Elvis memorabilia. Makes me wonder if he stopped by long ago when he was touring the southeastern USA>
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo #187
Here are Friday's double clues...a guardian owl from a building long gone, and an unusual trove of treasures.
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Re: Why do Americans pay more to fly Norwegian?
This is really disappointing to me. I'm sad that Norwegian is doing this and that other airlines have done this practice for a long time. Mainly though I'm disappointed to see the above answer given to NRK by spokesman, Lasse Sandaker- Nielsen, who we interviewed on TravelGumbo. At that time of our interview, I found his answers refreshingly direct. https://www.travelgumbo.com/blog/norwegian-air-1
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Re: Money Savings Tips, for your Big Trip - Part 1
And don't forget: use a miles-earning card for everything you DO spend! Between bonuses for new cards and steady use, you can go a long way!
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Re: Money Savings Tips, for your Big Trip - Part 1
Yep, it definitely adds up. Thanks for the comment. Make sure to read part 2 coming this week.
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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: CS series jets are now Airbus A220
An unfortunate necessity to ensure survival. But long term it should be good for everyone. Employees and shareholders. And us -The Travellers !
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Re: Belfast: An Uneasy City
I think I have to disagree on comparing human societies to plate tectonics; over the latter we have no control, but I would hate to ever think we've exhausted the possibility of dealing with the former. Examining mass religious conflicts generally reveals other issues beneath. That's certainly true of the long and tortured history between the two islands and the two Irelands. While James was a Catholic and William a Protestant, the real issues behind the conflict that set Ireland's future...
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Re: Crashing the geocache
Hello TatToo, I live in Europe especially Germany. I do know Geocaching and of course the game is known here. If you don't have a GPS device with a European card in it you can use your mobile phone as long you have the geocaching app. Before your son goes to Europe just with that mobile phone, make sure he looks for geocaches in areas he will be first and download the map and the cache itself. Even if you don't have an Internet connection they can use it via GPS. I did it in USA and it has...
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Re: Made in Puerto Rico - Jibaromania!
It sounds like Isla Verde has come a long way since the days when Cecelia's Place and one other, on the water at the end of Calle Amapola, were the only places to eat outside the 2 big hotels (Americana & El San Juan). It was my home then and it may be time for a return visit.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Dec. 18 2013: Milan's Bronze Typist
I enjoy the photo and the story, PHeymont, but am drawn to the typewriter. In a few more generations, children will be wondering, "what's that strange thing the man is holding on his lap?" I still remember owning and using a typewriter, but few under the age of 30 do. I recall reading a SciFi short story collection written in the 1950s not long ago that featured a story about a journalist traveling on a space ship. He needed to keep his typewriter anchored so that it didn't float away in...
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Re: The "Eiffel Tour" Only Starts with the Tour Eiffel
T&N, you make an interesting point about the air circulation and coolness of Eiffel's building. These days we are constantly reading about advances in "green design," intended to reduce excess energy use. Ironic how well some of those principles of making life bearable were known so long ago by those who didn't have the option of mechanical air-conditioning! Another example is in today's blog about Gaudi's Casa Battlo in Barcelona, which uses an open well through the center of the...
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Re: Thai long-tail boat
The long tailed boats are a site to behold. You may well have captured the only time in which one was quiet. That engine roars like no other motor. They are just a tad overpowered. Terrific photo.
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo? 7.8 update
Gumbo is looking at a long-beaked echidna in Papua New Guinea!
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Re: Finishing college. Need help planning trip to U.K,
Sadly, that $4K isn't going to go a real long way in UK...it's a pretty expensive place. You'll need to find seriously cheap lodging and really mind your pence! If you're not really stuck on UK, you might look at other places where English will do, including Jamaica and Puerto Rico or even Guyana. If UK is really IT, though, you should look into hostel costs, and into sharing sites like couchsurfing.com. Depending on when you're going, you might find some luck with college spaces that are...
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Re: Finishing college. Need help planning trip to U.K,
Hi Hank, I've actually found the UK a pretty reasonable destination in recent years, especially outside of London.(My budget was way under yours for a month long trip to Europe last June.)A lot of museums are free. Transportation costs within the country can be reasonable too.Not only do they have advance cheap train tickets but they have bus and budget air choices.And of course there are some good budget hotel chains as well, such as Travelodge and the Tune Hotel Have fun and keep watching...
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Re: Finishing college. Need help planning trip to U.K,
Starting to get things planned now Hank ! You have the choice of flying into Edinburgh in Scotland. Manchester in the North of England. Or Gatwick / Heathrow which both serve the London area in the South of England. You can get a Train to Paris to end your tour with a few days of Culture in a foreign language ! Fly back to the US from Paris will save you hundreds of Dollars because you wont pay the UK "Departure Tax" but not vital ! Liverpool is less than an hour on the Train from...
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Re: Spring Honeymoon Help
Congratulations SueZee! We're delighted in your marriage, and you've picked a great country in which to honeymoon. May is not too early to go to Italy, although pack a light jacket just in case. The crowds won't be there yet and you'll save some money when compared to the peak summer season. Where to go is very much a matter of taste. Most definitely you need to go to Venice and I'd say spend at least 5 days here, maybe with a day trip or two (such as to the glass making island of Murano or...
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Re: Frommer's New EasyGuides: A Future for Print
What great news to hear that a publisher recognizes the need for practical budget travel information. I can spend ages on the Internet trying to work out a basic trip scheme. When a location is new to me, I need that overview in hand. It does me no good to read that the Paris' Luxembourg gardens are wonderful when I am trying to work out how long I can afford to be in Paris. It does me no good to know that there are marvelous chambre d'hotes in the Ile de Cite when what I need is a couple of...
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Re: Renting an apartment in Europe
Hi Dreamer I can only tell you about my experiences... 1) How long? It depends. Apartment rental have been around in Europe for a long time. It used to be mostly for a week from Saturday to Saturday, but mostly anything goes now. 2) Buyer beware - It will be up to you to research the neighbourhood. You can do that many ways. Perhaps the easiest is using google streetmaps 3) There is no one way to check in. Sometimes you meet the owner or manager and they will give you the key. Sometimes...
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Re: The Valley Island of Maui: 2) Haleakala National Park
US Immigration is a bit of a hassle, although most Canadians receive about a smooth a ride as possible. In most Canadian airports, you can actually clear immigration within Canada, rather than the USA (infinitely preferable because the lines are so much shorter). Not sure if that's true of Montreal, though. Thank you for your kind words about the Hawaii blogs. Hawaii is a special place. I've always gone and explored it by myself, so in this setting I tend to drift to isolated places that are...
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Re: The Valley Island of Maui: 2) Haleakala National Park
Yes, we will go through U.S.Immigration at Trudeau Airport in Montreal. At one time, the U.S. Immigration hall there had a huge banner across it emblazoned with the words "WELCOME TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" It isn't there anymore. Someone must have figured out this was still, after all, Canada. Yes, 17 days is a long time on a ship. I am travelling with a friend who needs this type of getaway just now.
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Re: Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other (Part 1a) Colombo
Ah Galle Face Green! Many a delightful stroll taken with my folks on a Sunday afternoon in the 1960s, then home for tea at 42 Galle Face Court, the flats opposite the hotel. Ah sweet memories Ouch that seems a long time ago.....
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Re: Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other (Part 1a) Colombo
Originally Posted by Mac: Ah Galle Face Green! Many a delightful stroll taken with my folks on a Sunday afternoon in the 1960s, then home for tea at 42 Galle Face Court, the flats opposite the hotel. Ah sweet memories Ouch that seems a long time ago..... I was told the Galle Face Green was actually green until the pope showed up and a massive crowd destroyed the grass. After that it became the Galle Face Brown. The green is slowly trying to make a comeback, though. I actually visited someone...
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Re: Safe to fly on New Years?
This raises an interesting question. Since the calendar is based on the rotation of the Earth relative to the sun and the plane is in flight, is it still the year before on the plane as long as you do not touch down ?
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Re: The Worst Train in the World
Thanks FlashFlyer. The thing about adventures like this is you have no idea what an adventure it'll be until it happens and you can't get out of it even if you want to. So, no guts required. Yes, Burma will certainly change, has already. Currently not enough infrastructure for those wanting to visit but if you've traveled in Asia you know the entrepreneurial spirit is alive & well and it won't be long, I suspect, before it will come to resemble other parts of the region. So, good news as...
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Re: Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other. (Part 5) The Elephants of Pinnawala
Thanks, PortMoresby! And we've not even been to the sacred tooth relic in Kandy, the medieval ruins of Polonnaruwa, the beautiful hill country filled with tea plantations and "The World's End", a wildlife safari at Yala National Park, nor any of the nice beaches (but keep reading -- reports on these are coming). Sri Lanka is a great destination, especially now that the civil war is over. I was doubly lucky to not only be able to visit a dear friend there but to have time to leisurely explore...
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Re: Finishing college. Need help planning trip to U.K,
Hi everyone! I'm back. Just arrived at my parents home for Thanksgiving. Not had a lot of time to work on this trip since I last visited TravelGumbo, but some progress to report. I have a firm ticket reservation for Manchester, returning from Paris, though a few days off the dates we talked about. But 29 days in Europe! Whooppeee!! I have a guidebook from the Library which I'm going to go through this long weekend (one by Fodors). I think this will help. Anyone know of a good pocket size...
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Re: Idaho's Craters of the Moon National Monument
Quite an extensive piece of work DrF. Very interesting. And a pleasure to read. Is the site still hot below ground ? I've visited a few volcanos and climbed the crater. But knowing its been dormant for so long doesn't inspire me to overstay my welcome !
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Re: Greenland from six miles high!
I agree it's a spectacular sight not to be missed and that there's more to Greenland that just the ice sheet. 2014 will see me on my 7th month-long visit in the last 9 years. I will again hike alone from Sisimiut on the west coast to a location north east of Kangerlussuaq (something like 110 - 120 miles) and then join colleagues doing wild goose research. By all means aim to set foot on the ground there and enjoy camping in the remote arctic landscape - being alone out there is a unique...
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Re: Is Pre-check or Global Entry worth it?
I think if you're a frequent business traveler, especially from a city with a busy airport and long TSA lines it makes sense. But for the average traveler who flies maybe every other month, it doesn't pay to go through yet another hassle. All the more so if you're main airport is smaller with a smooth TSA process.
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Re: Visit Canada! Kiss a Canadian
I think there are three main problems Canadian tourism faces. 1) The weather. Very limited season, unless you want to ski. 2) Expensive airfares. In the last 5 years, air fares went from being competitive to being very expensive -- overly taxed, I guess. And predictably, when you charge more for something you get less of that activity. 3) Heightened border security between Canadian and US border can cause long delays and has greatly reduced cross border crossings in the past 15 years. It's...
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Re: East Coast TGiving Travelers May Need a 'Plan B'
That is all part of Thanksgiving. Bad weather and lots of delays for Thanksgiving Eve are a long standing holiday tradition. Somehow, the flight delays always seem to happen on the way to grandma's house on Wednesday, not on the return trip on Sunday to go back to work.
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Re: Airbus Survey: 41% Willing to Pay for More Space
Good for Airbus! It seems the airline industry may have reached a tipping point where people will pay a little more for a little comfort. I hope that's the case and that they listen and provide options. I always look for a good airfare, but I also look at what kind of comfort that airfare buys me and am willing to pay a little more for a little more. 8-12 hours on a plane is not great fun, although I can divert my attention usually. But it's made infinitely more pleasant by a few extra...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Dec. 4, 2013: Patterns from the Air
Hi Louie Louie, It has happened to me once, but usually it's not an issue. I have a small pocket camera I keep at hand when flying. When I see something that interests me, I pull it out and take a photo. (remember to turn the flash off, it won't help and will cause a big bright spot on the window) So long as you don't send or receive a signal, it isn't a problem. With the softening of TSA inflight electronic requirements, this should be even less of an issue in the future.
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Re: Doctor List for Traveling
Here's another resource that might help you: The International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers. It's a non-profit, it's been around a long time, and you can join for free. IAMAT provides a directory of doctors around the world who speak fluent English and have been checked out by the organization for standards and certification. You can read more about them and join here: http://www.iamat.org/
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Re: WiFi on the way for international flights
I've been told that wi-fi over the ocean is a real technological challenge, because it requires constant re-positioning of 2 moving targets (the plane and satellite). In contrast, Wi-Fi over a continent only involves connecting one moving target with a stationary one, a simpler thing to do. Glad to hear this problem seems to be mostly solved. It would be nice to catch up on some wi-fi chores while on a long flight (although I usually manage to fill such flights watching movies or working on...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Mar. 20, 2014: Spring - at last!
It beats the locks on a bridge that they have to cut off,that's for sure. I've seen people plant long living trees and always thought that was a nice idea too
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, April 25, 2014: The Rewind Electrician
I suspect this picture may stand as the best on this site for a long time, unless of course, Mac has another which beats it. Mac, can you comment, please, on the lighting? I'd very much like to know how you managed to get it so even. Did you alter it or was it that good in the camera?