Tagged With "Coast of Big Sur"
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Re: November 30, 2016: The Guggenheim Museum, New York
I'm not a big fan of the Guggenheim's collection, but i do love the building, and wonder why it hasn't become the template for many others. Quite aside from its own beauty, it seems one of the best ways to display art. I'm often frustrated in museums by a labyrinth of rooms, not always well laid out, that keep me from back-tracking to reconsider a painting I'd passed in light of ones I saw further on. The spiral solves that brilliantly. In 1962, my uncle, a painter, took me there to see an...
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Re: Arriving in Venice, 1960
Almost a Big Mistake in Venice. I remember taking my daughter to Venice for her birthday then buying a $750 ring for her in one of the jewelry stores. The owner told me I could get the tax refunded from the government and he said it would be about $700. I said that is almost the entire price of the ring, then he told me the ring was $7,500 because I converted the Lira wrongly on my calculator due to many Lira zeroes with that currency. She did get a ring but not that one.
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Re: The Beluga gets even bigger
It's a beautiful sight as it passes over Liverpool. Descending into Hawarden Airport. It collects new Airbus wings and then returns to Germany. This aircraft is so big it appears to be stationary in the sky as it passes above.
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Re: Tips to help with packing no matter where you are going
I know what Marilyn means about not overpacking...I recently found a picture of us with our luggage on a 2-person trip to France 20 years ago: a pair of 32" suitcases and a flotilla of small ones around them. Of course, now that we pack Kindle instead of books, that's one down...and overall, we're down to not much luggage. Another useful packing tool is gallon and 2-gallon ZipLoc-type bags (there are even larger sizes available!). Their big plus, aside from compression and sealing is that...
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Re: Tips to help with packing no matter where you are going
Adding to Mac's point. A big turning point for us was when we started packing for 7 days, no matter how much longer the trip. Usually we have a washer in the apartments we rent, but when not, there's always a laundromat nearby, and usually one that will wash and fold while we tour. We don't often enough change locations to want to keep everything packed (and anyway, I'm a compulsive unpacker) so some of the tools are less useful to us...but I do remind everyone that shoes are actually...
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Re: Norwegian bank is out of cash, on purpose
While cashless transactions are convenient and popular, and I use them often, I am not supportive of this move. It is a little too much "Big Brother" for me. Consumers will migrate to the purchase platform of their choice. Cash, I'm sure, will become less and less popular with time. But it still has a place and I as a free individual want to make the decision on when and how I will use it. How will people make purchases if there ever is a complete shut down and hack of the bank's computers...
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Re: Portland, Maine: A Big Little City
Excellent piece of History and Interest on Portland. Maine. Perhaps when I've finished my exploration of Smalltown USA I'll add the Big Little Cities to my list. Portland looks so familiar. Is it close to Cabot Cove ?
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo? (#188)
Here's the Thursday clues...inside now. Inside a hall that's 30' x 80' and next to another nearly as big. Living large! And there's more upstairs...
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo? (#188)
And here we go with the final clues for this week, outdoors again, and with as big a hint as I can give...and it has a very interesting connection to the history of this week's puzzle place. One correct answer is in...can we get more?
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Re: France's love-hate relationship with Mickey D
The French see themselves as being the pinnacle of epicural delight. But unfortunately the McD chain provides a good and affordable alternative. Not everyone wants waiter service 3 times a day. Only the well heeled could afford it. The French object to calling a fast food outlet a "Restaurant". So that's the root of the problem. Snobbery. You can take the quails eggs in aspic - at the top of the "dress for dinner" brigade - or a Big Mac to fill your belly. I love a well presented meal as...
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Re: Where Gumbo Was #12. Brasov, Romania
Years ago ,I went. It wasn't as big of a tourist draw back then. If I'm remembering right, they told me at the time it might not of been one of Vlad castles,but I guess that makes little difference in the enjoyment.
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Re: Universal Orlando Goes All Out This Summer
I love Harry Potter and the World of Harry, i'm a big fan It will be a dream come true if i'll ever visit this enchanted place
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Re: Macaroons in a Paris bakery
I'm not a big fan of macarons (sorry, world!) but among them my favorites are coffee and Fruits Rouges. I noticed recently that there is a caramel with sea salt one now available...will report on that in July.
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Re: See Them While You Can: 10 Wins for Historic Preservation
Note that the National Trust for Historic Preservation is a private organization. I think that's key in this era of government cutbacks and a congress unable to accomplish anything to speak of. If the National Park Service is unable to maintain it's infrastructure then one can only imagine how little care might go into preserving bits of our cultural heritage lacking big names, such as those on the list above. Commercial interests also have a place in accomplishing what government and...
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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: Travelodge to relaunch its brand
The UK Company was bought out by a Dubai investment group after running up big debts. So its trying to catch up with the quality of other UK Budget Hotels to survive.
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo? # 9
Considering that F. Scott Fitzgerald's only play, The Onion, features a character who is "the Ambassador of Irish Poland," Romanian Bollywood should not be a big reach! However...not so puzzling. Just as Iceland is Greenland and several other places in the new Ben Stiller "Walter Mitty" film, the film industry of India shoots in unexpected places...although in the video whose link is HERE , there's no attempt to play it as somewhere else.
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Re: Should Wi-Fi be free in all hotels?
Free wi-fi is a nice perk that should be a part of the standard room fee. Years ago the introduction of coffee pots and coffee packets in the rooms were a big step in the right direction. Some chains offer a free breakfast, so why not wi-fi. Free wi-fi is just another step in the right direction.
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Re: Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit, Kennedy Space Center
Thanks for an orbit of memory lane! I think for me the most amazing aspect of the whole space program is how we have moved from each launch being a major news event before, during and after to seeing space in the papers only when something goes wrong--and these days, it seems to be mostly plumbing issues on the International Space Station. Looking at the pictures...it's amazing how big some aspects are, and how small the actual shuttle is!
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Re: How'd We Live Without Travel Apps?
A lot to be said for what might be the ultimate travel app category: Maps and GPS. I know people have their favorites (Google's not the only one, according to my wife...) but almost everyone uses some version on their phone or tablet. Another good one is local transit. Most big cities have a route-finder on their transit site, but you have to find it. But Google Maps and HopStop and some others have transit info for most big cities. One downside: Apple is as bad as Google about business;...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Jan. 2, 2014
After being married for 40 years, I took a careful look at my wife one day and said, "Forty years ago we had a cheap house, a junk car, slept on a sofa bed and watched a 10-inch black and white TV, but I got to sleep with a hot 20-year-old girl every night. Now, I have a £500,000 home, a £45,000 car, a nice big bed and a large screen TV, but I'm sleeping with a 60-year-old woman. It seems to me that you're not holding up your side of things." My wife is a very reasonable woman. She told me...
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Re: Newgrange; Ireland’s ancient Passage Tomb
GarryRF was kind enough to take me to that church It's impressive. People just walk old walls too there like it's no big deal. I guess it's really what you're used to
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Re: Dark Hedges, Ballymoney, Antrim Coast, Northern Ireland
How cool! I love roads like that. That's a photo for a guidebook
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Re: Dark Hedges, Ballymoney, Antrim Coast, Northern Ireland
Thanks for the comment, TravelRob! Yes, it was a cool place. It had an even spookier feel in real life than is conveyed by the photos.
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Re: La Dolce Vita (Part 5) Venezia (Venice)
Thanks for your comments, PHeymont. The cruise ships are BIG business in Venice, and certainly allow a lot of people to enjoy the destination if only for a day. But there are easily places the ships could park that wouldn't hurt the delicate lagoon, then shuttle people into the city.
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Re: Staying In Touch on the Road: Part 1
Well, I understand the urge for simplicity and not getting tied down...but both the PowerStick and the RAVPower ar e batteries. The RAVPower isn't big; about the size of a cellphone. But it costs 30% less, and will actually put a full charge on a phone, which the other won't. In fact, it will put a full charge on about 6 phones.
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Re: Finishing college. Need help planning trip to U.K,
Getting around the UK is very easy using Public Transport. Students travel around the country all the time - going to Uni and back home for the weekend. Friends going to weddings and folks going to London. London - like big Cities in the US - is a Traffic Nightmare ! Fortunately the UK is about the same size as a US State. Maybe Florida ? So its only a few hours by road. Trains are much faster - but more expensive, You're choice. So... look at http://www.nationalexpress.com/home.aspx They're...
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Re: Christmas in Arizona--what to do?
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?
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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: Finishing college. Need help planning trip to U.K,
That's helpful too, Rob. So with your guys advice, I'm thinking of the following plan, which still has holes I need to fill. I actually like the idea of Paris more than Scotland for this trip, plus I worry about the cost of travel to Scotland back so unless I can get a really cheap plane ticket or train ticket to Edinburgh, I think I'll drop that and focus on eastern UK and then on to Paris. So this is where I'm at now: 1) Arrive in Manchester. Maybe ??2 days 2) Travel Liverpool. 3 days 3)...
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Re: Frommer's New EasyGuides: A Future for Print
A review for London ? Haven't been there for 40 years Paul. Really don't like big Cities and the "too busy to care attitude of people who live there" It's just my personal opinion. On the Tube Train into London people don't make eye-contact or talk to strangers. Here in Liverpool you'll be in conversation with 3 or 4 strangers and share a few laughs on the journey ! Someone falls on the street here ( and most of Northern England ) and folks rush to help. London they step over you. Rant over...
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Re: Finishing college. Need help planning trip to U.K,
Everyone's been very helpful! I can't tell you what a great welcoming and helpful group of people you are. My uncle is an employee of Delta, so he has some kind of free ticket that requires me to fly on Delta only (no partners). I will have him check into the dates. I like the idea of flying up to Manchester, slowly working my way to London then returning from Paris. I think going to Amsterdam is more than I can bite off now, plus I want to spend the time seeing stuff, not traveling all the...
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Re: Frommer's New EasyGuides: A Future for Print
I know Paul - I'm just being a bad traveller ! It's like folks go to France and complain that Parisians don't smile! But they do when they know you! I just find big cities much the same. Like Havana is the same as any other overgrown City in the Caribbean! Crumbling Spanish Architecture. Dominican Republic is another good example. I must be getting Claustrophobic Paul ! Give me the wide open spaces of Delaware State Park and I'm in heaven. Some days I have the whole Park to myself. Solitude...
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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: Frommer's New EasyGuides: A Future for Print
Like GarryRF, I'd rather be in wide open places. But that said, I do love snippets of big cities. A week at a time is about enough to satisfy my need for hustle and bustle for awhile. I know others can't live without the constant adrenaline rush of a city. The beauty of a free world is that everyone can pick what they want.
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Re: Renting an apartment in Europe
CICAK, may I suggest you encourage your wife to see the big picture. When you're in a hotel room you are not required to savage the minibar. When you're in an apartment you aren't required to cook. The kitchen just exists quietly should you desire it. What you're there for is to spread out, have privacy with all the comforts of home, possibly be in a more interesting neighborhood & surrounded by people who interest you and who may even be interested in you and any number of other...
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Re: Wow! Iceland Express successor adds U.S. flights
I really am excited about hearing this.I was a big fan of Iceland Express, so I'm hoping Wow will offer the same consistent low prices to North America as they did.
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Re: Finishing college. Need help planning trip to U.K,
England is only as big as Florida ! I haven't seen a Guide book that sub-divides us! Wales is full of Castles, Mountains and Lakes. Tourists often divide England between the North and South. The North is often cooler and wetter than further South. But your Dollar will go twice as far up here in the North! And we're much friendlier. Have a look at places you'd like to visit. York (the old one) will keep you busy for 2 days. Train or Bus from Liverpool. Or a day or two in Europe from Liverpool...
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Re: The Worst Train in the World
Fascinating read! If I do take this train trip, and it's currently included in the plan, for our hoped for trip to Mynamar later this year, I can't say I wasn't warned. Coming from a country that shakes, rattles, and rolls pretty much every day there were two things about the earthquake that worried me. First, it was big enough to produce screams!! Second, it seems that no-one bothered to check the tracks before the train left the station. And so as I was reading I expected a derailment -...
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Re: Happy Thanksgiving, from all of us at TravelGumbo!
GarryRF, You must try the King (Elvis Presley's) favorite sandwich. Peanut butter and banana, fried in butter. Forget about the cholesterol -- give it a go. It's much better than it sounds! Part of the joy of traveling is trying the food. Like "pudding" with your full Irish breakfast (don't ask if you don't know). I remember driving through rural southern Australia and seeing the following sign at a restaurant: "Bugs, $10". I don't know about you but I wouldn't pay anything for a plate of...
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Re: Capital of Culture Series: Liverpool
In Europe, I have had good luck finding value accommodations at Booking.com and Europe-Stays. com. Those sites list hostels with their ratings and prices. A quick peek for June shows several promising choices for around $ 21 USD per bed per night. Unless you just want company, you might budget hotels pricing similar to the hostels. They often charge per person, not per room, which is a big help for the solo traveler. Tune Hotels will work for the London part of your trip, but they are not in...
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Re: Greenland from six miles high!
Originally Posted by DrFumblefinger: The world's climate has a history of change. Ice ages have come and gone. Who knows what tomorrow's weather will be, much less next century's? But I do know the folks in Greenland would appreciate a little warming there. As I look out at the snow in my backyard today, Canada could use a little, too. If you look at the rate of retreat of Sermeq kujalleq, 2012's big thaw and recent GRACE satellite data analysis on mass loss, I think warming is the last...
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Re: Greenland from six miles high!
Dark is not the end of the show. I have seen streaking meteors flash in view. There have been times when I could see a part of the Milky Way or had a view of the Big Dipper. Over the ocean, I have seen flotillas of fishing boats off of places like Newfoundland. Even at night, you can see the lights of the boats bobbing. Once, I even saw a pod of whales in the channel off of Molokai. I peek every chance that I get. You never know what you will see.
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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: Gifts to bring back from Portugal or Barcellona
I may not be much help, because we tend to send postcards to the grandchildren from each city, with notes about what we've seen and think they would be interested in, and to avoid filling the suitcase with physical items. But for those few things we do buy, we usually go to the market! One of our travel rituals, on the first day when we stock the apartment, is to look for a local preserve or jam that we don't see at home (skyberries in Stockholm, for instance). Once we've found one we really...
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Re: Gifts to bring back from Portugal or Barcellona
You might guess from my picture here that I'm proud of Scots ancestry...and the three times I visited there, I always found some cloth item for my friends...nothing big, but with the tartan. I'll bet there are small clothes and the like with typical color or print from almost anywhere...and it squishes small!
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Re: Whom did you say was flying this plane?
Boeing is really big up here in Seattle. I know they make great planes. But like FlashFlyer said, things can go really wrong and I'd just feel better knowing there's someone in the cockpit besides a robot.
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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: Buddy, Can You Spare 5.3 Million Dimes?
This is a no brainer. The money was left behind by frustrated travelers. It should be used to minimize some of the frustration and indignity imposed on travelers at the TSA checkpoints. Little things would make a big difference in the "reassembly area" : + Buy easy-to-clean sturdy benches for the re-assembly area. + Put footstools in front of benches to help with putting on shoes. + Put baskets under the benches so people can place their small backpacks, purses, shoes, and belts out of the...
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo #3.5
Does Grouchy's appearance mean the puzzle has committed une bêtise? If so, apologies and a hint: Il est sur un pont, comme PM dit, mais je ne dirai pas lequel. Jusqu'à demain, à 5 heures!