Tagged With "British tourists"
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Re: Iceland: 'No we're not Disneyland'
Iceland is a great destination, but it has limited tourist facilities. The population of the entire island is about 300,000 and there aren't all that many hotel or B&B choices in smaller places. I think the lack of infrastructure is the main problem. They certainly have the space and ability to handle more tourists, but need to develop services for them outside Reykjavik.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Nov. 16, 2015: Franklin Automobiles in Tucson, Arizona
The pictures I found on my quick look were all of NY and Montreal tourist buggy drivers...and I since realized that they must be a special case because...even more important than the whip, probably...you have to sit on the side where the lever for the brake is!
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Re: Local Flavor: Pearl Brewery Farmers Market, San Antonio
I'm so tempted to buy the wonderful foods I see in street markets. But being a tourist with nowhere to store and cook I regret I must pass. Much of the fruit and veg I have never seen before and I'm eager to try. Which is true I suppose for most folks in England. If we don't recognise a sweet potato - then we don't buy it. I do miss the vanilla flavoured Apples ( Custard Apples ) I had in Australia.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Jan, 21, 2014: Raccoon, Vancouver, British Columbia
And they are smart. When my kids were young, we used to camp every summer in Maine, at a site where raccoons came every night to feast at the cans. One year I decided I'd had enough, and brought chain tethers to keep the lids on. Worked fine, the lids stayed quiet all night. But in the morning, when we left our tents, we found that our two stryofoam coolers (which were not in use) had been shredded, all the implements from the table were on the ground, and the ropes securing our storage tarp...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Jan, 21, 2014: Raccoon, Vancouver, British Columbia
Yes, that sounds about in character for them. Cute, but cunning. When there is a global Holocaust someday, it will not be the insects that take over the world. It will be the raccoons! Or at least the raccoons will be the commanders. The insects might be their foot soldiers.
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Re: Why I Travel
My early travels in the US were all done with maps. I've been lost many times. So I bought the American Maps for my UK TomTom Sat Nav. Best thing I've done in years ! I love taking roads that aren't tourist routes - and getting lost - now. Explore the back woods and the one horse towns. Explore where the rich folks live and the poor. Taking photo's of local characters. Folks that have worse teeth than the Brits ! Show me the tourist route and I'll go the other way !
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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: Gumbo's Pic of the Day: Jan. 16, 2014: Liverpool Victoria Gallery
Hello GarryRF, good post. Interesting to know there is more to see in Liverpool than The Beatles (it's okay, I'm a huge Beatles fan). I've always wanted to visit there, not only for Beatles sights, but I've heard it's had a revamp over the last few years and is now a tourist hot spot. Can you recommend a good time of the year to visit and how many days to see the main attractions?
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Re: Where Gumbo Was (#9): Poiana Brasov, Romania
This area brings back fond memories I remember falling a lot too because I was unable to buy good boots in an era when Romania rationed just about everything. The hike from Brasov to Poiana is a nice one and there is a bus as well if you don't have a car. Besides skiing, there is also a good tourist restaurant in Poiana that serves hunters food. Not sure if the outdoor ice skating rink is still there?
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Re: Finishing college. Need help planning trip to U.K,
Staying in the UK is no more expensive than being a tourist in the USA. You wont get a month in London. Same as me travelling from the UK to New York. Silly Prices ! So decide on what you want to do over here and start planning, Have a look at the YHA web site. Youth Hostels Association. Forget the Youth reference. My Kids aren't Youths anymore. And I use them too! They are used by Travellers like yourself - and me - across Europe. They are Family groups and Ramblers ( Countryside Walkers)...
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Re: Finishing college. Need help planning trip to U.K,
Hank, While you're in London you can get a Coach (Bus) Tour that will show you Stonehenge and Bath and The Cotswold Villages - very pretty and very old. Leeds Castle (not in Leeds, close to London). Stonehenge is not an overnight stop - remember what I said about distances in the UK being smaller? If you need to fill a gap take the Train (or Bus) to York. Very old - lots of History and a Museum that will take you back 150 years walking the streets of Victorian England. Go into Old Shops and...
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Re: The Tulou of Fujian Province
Wow, an interesting way of living, but people are still living there or is just a tourist attraction?
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Re: The Tulou of Fujian Province
These are living communities. A few have been abandoned in favor of apartment blocks and are melting back into the earth, as mud-brick construction does, but most of the thousands scattered through the hills of the province continue to be villages in themselves, enjoyed and maintained by the Hakka communities that occupy them. A few of the largest individual tulous and clusters have become tourist attractions but if you hurry you'll likely be, as I was, one of the only western tourists for ...
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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: Bear encounters of the third kind, Canada
This clip is just toooo funny! Wonder who the adguys were for that?
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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: 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: Banksy Opens up a Bemusement Park in England
While we are anxiously waiting for Macs report, here is Dismaland's official trailer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2NG-MgHqEk
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Re: Brits on Beach behaving badly? Call (British) cops!
Sounds like the British kids are copying the "Spring Breakers" in Florida. With a hint of "Bikers Week" for the older ones.
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Re: Brits on Beach behaving badly? Call (British) cops!
I think it’s quite a bit like that…away from home, in a place that has tolerated a lot to keep the visitors coming…and is now reaping the whirlwind. Don’t know who did it first or where, but it’s certainly sad to see…especially when people get hurt.
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Re: Good news, bad news on UNESCO's world heritage
I enjoy traveling to UNESCO sites because most of them are very interesting destinations. I even know of some travelers whose goal it is to see "every" UNESCO listing. Good luck to them! I really think UNESCO is doing it's job by identifying important places and encouraging their conservation. I shudder at the thought of a global UNESCO police swooping in to "defend" these sites. It's up to the countries that govern them to do so. Some do a great job; others don't. Some citizens care, others...
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Re: New Orleans—Museum Highlights Young Voices of Resilience
Great piece! Yes, it is good to hear from our children about what they learned in the past decade living in New Orleans after the storm. So many were impacted, many were harmed and suffered PTSD. Great to hear kids speak about the positive outcomes from their Katrina experiences. I can't wait for the new LA Childrens Museum to open in its new and amazing facility in City Park, another NOLA gem. Ya'll come visit soon and often to experience a city like no other, New Orleans. It has not been...
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Re: Banksy Opens up a Bemusement Park in England
Just been there today for exclusive TG coverage! Completely 'alternative' and totally eye opening! I hope to have photos for TG as soon as my laptop is back from the menders. In the meantime, here is a overview starring my own good lady with Dismaland below (on a rainy English summer's day)...
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Re: Banksy Opens up a Bemusement Park in England
I can't wait for your report Mac! That's one park I really like to see.
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Re: Banksy Opens up a Bemusement Park in England
Certainly looks like "Something completely different" To admire its absurdity is quite refreshing. Whether it has international - appeal only time will tell. The beauty of English weather is Mac could have driven North to the Costa-del-Mersey. Cut the grass - take the grandkids to the park and a warm glow of sunburn for not wearing my hat. But with a name like Dismaland I suppose warm rain is part of the experience, Love to see more photos too
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Re: Banksy Opens up a Bemusement Park in England
I saw a report on this a few days ago and wondered when the lawsuit would be filed.
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Re: Banksy Opens up a Bemusement Park in England
I thought the same thing when I saw the photo Rob include with the post, that of Cinderella's castle with Tinkerbell--type flight over it. Disney is very protective of its intellectual property rights. I expect that suit is already being drafted.
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Re: Banksy Opens up a Bemusement Park in England
I think Disney would get bad press by suing and this park is only going to be open a short time, but I guess we will see. In the 1990's , there was a top ten hit by a group called Dada called Dizz Knee Land and I don't think Disney bothered them, but not certain.
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Re: Banksy Opens up a Bemusement Park in England
I understand what you're saying Rob, but that castle is as much a part of Disney's image as it's mouse. This is one of the Disney logos (logo is used courtesy of the Walt Disney company)
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Re: Banksy Opens up a Bemusement Park in England
Although they might be better advised to let it ride. Not only is the parody nature of it possible armor against a suit (in
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Re: Banksy Opens up a Bemusement Park in England
I suspect even the font used by Disney for the name is registered and proprietary. I also think it's all part of the conceptual piece as imagined by Banksy, no fool, and he's hoping for a suit, the sooner the better. All publicity is good publicity and part, I strongly suspect, of his conceptual overview.
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Re: Banksy Opens up a Bemusement Park in England
I think Banksy has read the instructions "retire to a safe distance before igniting fuse" To England where the Courts know the difference between "Satire" and "Plagiarism"
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Re: Banksy Opens up a Bemusement Park in England
"Disney has refused to comment on notorious street artist Banksy's latest work of art - a seaside theme park called 'Dismaland' that skewers the Happiest Place on Earth...The silence from Disney is strange, considering the company's history of fiercely defending it's copyright of Mickey's image. In 2012, the company filed a complaint against the EDM artist Deadmau5, who performs wearing a Mickey-esque face mask." More: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new...Mouse-like-ears.html
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Re: Banksy Opens up a Bemusement Park in England
One thing I know Disney is thinking of is their British fans. They are some of the most devout Disney fans I've seen. They go to the parks and bring back tons of merchandise and they return. If they filed a suit, I think they'd get a lot bad press in Britain.
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Re: Banksy Opens up a Bemusement Park in England
I think devoted Disney fans would welcome a lawsuit. Especially in the UK. Nothing like a good turf war. Think football. Think footpaths.
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Re: Banksy Opens up a Bemusement Park in England
Think footballers in mouse-masks impeding a footpath...
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Re: Banksy Opens up a Bemusement Park in England
Come to think of it, I sure hope Banksy didn't block any footpaths with his endeavor. That could mean more trouble than even Disney could dream up
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Re: Banksy Opens up a Bemusement Park in England
Of course the best defence Banksy has is his anonymity. It is the fact that Banksy's true identity has always been a jealously guarded secret, known only to a handful of trusted friends.
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Re: Banksy Opens up a Bemusement Park in England
Too bad Banksy and Disney couldn't team up in the making of an amusement park. With Disney's money and know how and Banksy's great imagination they could really make something
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Re: Banksy Opens up a Bemusement Park in England
I suspect neither of them are real team players. I think it must be Disney OR Banksy, no meeting in the middle.
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Re: Banksy Opens up a Bemusement Park in England
You guys are certainly mirroring all the thoughts that we had yesterday! I hope that my photos (taken in the drizzle) will come out to show you. The views that struck us immediately were the Dismaland logo above the entry (and on the souvenir T shirts), the Mickey Mouse ears worn by all the staff, the dilapidated, iconically-shaped, crumbling fairy tale castle with it's polluted moat - but perhaps the most dramatic is the centrepiece in the castle with the life-sized princess's pumpkin...
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Re: Banksy Opens up a Bemusement Park in England
Just a couple of dismal (!) iPhone photos to add fuel to the discussion...
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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: The Difference between Tourists and Travelers
Interesting thoughts on a constantly recycled debate. I certainly tried to prise the tourist out of the people in the groups I led, but not all were willing victims. Part of it surely is the time allocated to holidays - the tourist tries to see as much as possible in that time, but a traveller would be as happy poking around local markets - it's TOO easy to get sight-sore !
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Re: The Difference between Tourists and Travelers
I think it may not be all that easy to divide the world into 'tourists' and 'travelers;' the world is not really that binary, and there are many shades between them. And many of those we meet are on the path to deeper experiences as they experience more and travel more. I think of the many new travelers who used to post on the Frommer forums about their desire to 'see as much as possible' and 'do as many countries as possible' in impossibly short time allowances. Some of us who were regulars...
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Re: Heather in Bloom - North York Moors.
A most amazing and lovely landscape (with tip of the hat to its Scottish counterpart). When is a good time for a tourist to see the heather in bloom? I know some folks that would plan a trip just to see these colors.
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Re: Heather in Bloom - North York Moors.
Early to mid august would be the prime time to visit and view.
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo? #62
I have never been to Iceland, although I've flown over it many times (usually covered in clouds), but looking at the Reykjavik Tourist wesite, the windows resemble those of the Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre.
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Re: Poutine. One of Canada's traditional foods. Fried potatoes, gravy and cheese curds! Delicious!!
That looks wonderful! How could I of gone 45 years without trying it?!