Tagged With "British Foreign Office"
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Re: Tips to help with packing no matter where you are going
Very useful reminders Marilyn, thanks. Absolutely agree with "don't over-pack" (I still do and get cross with myself when I have unused items at the end of the trip. And yes, Kindles, packing cubes and ZipLoc bags have made great additions to my bag in recent years. Two other thoughts occur: 1) fast drying travel clothing (wash and wear overnight) helps lighten the load 2) don't pack every last item of shampoo, tea bags, snacks etc etc in the belief that you can't possibly buy x x x-thing in...
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Re: Notes and Noticings from the road
Actually, I think the banks have a fairly minimal (as small as I can make it) impact on my currency transactions, in part because I never deal with exchanges; I use bank ATMs. That way, the exchange takes place not on my account, but as an interbank transaction at the base rate banks use with each other. I used to use my ATM card from Citibank, but eventually they began charging a 3% foreign exchange fee even on withdrawals. At that point, I opened an account with Charles Schwab, a brokerage...
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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: How'd We Live Without Travel Apps?
Google Translate was indispensable when my teenage son came down with a throat infection while in Bangkok. I typed in his symptoms, translated it to Thai, and showed the pharmacist. Ten minutes later he had a regimen of amoxicillin and some throat lozenges. I like XE Currency app for my tablet and iPhone. Also Groupon - there are franchises in foreign countries and right now I'm keeping an eye on Dubai Groupon for an upcoming trip. Finally I like Yelp when I'm traveling in the USA.
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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: 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: 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: 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: Kyoto Tells Tourists What Not To Do
It is one of those real-life bad jokes. I find particularly humorous the rules about when and how to take photographs. Anyone who's stumbled upon a group of Japanese tourists know that they'll fight for the best shot if they have to! Guess the rules apply to foreign guests, not local residents.
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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: A House in Essaouira
Well PortMoresby now you are disturbing old memories... With all it's fading here is a photographic snip of my memories of Essourira around 1980. Note your blue boat is already there but I wonder if more boats became blue with the advent of tourism. Property in the town was only just starting to be purchased by foreign folks at that time. It was always an place of charm and tranquility and great for a sea food Sunday lunch.
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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?!
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Re: Poutine. One of Canada's traditional foods. Fried potatoes, gravy and cheese curds! Delicious!!
I don't know, Rob! The cheese is less important to me than the gravy. French fries with gravy are commonly available in Canada. Beats ketchup or that mayonnaise-like stuff the Belgians use. It's very filling and really hits the spot on a cold day, but is a meal all by itself.
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Re: Sylvia Hotel, Vancouver, British Columbia
The outside of the hotel is remarkable! Did you happen to get any photos of the lobby. ?
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Re: Sylvia Hotel, Vancouver, British Columbia
I do indeed have photos of the interior....It's got a great bar area with wonderful views of English Harbor. Stay tuned....
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Re: Granville Island Market, Vancouver. 2) Seafood and the rest
When I bought this computer it had 16 Million colours. Who would use that many ? Well congratulations DrF !! I think you just did. An extravaganza of colour and diversity. Even the photos are fattening !! You've excelled yourself again DrF. You certainly have an eye for the finer things in life !!
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Re: Granville Island Market, Vancouver. 2) Seafood and the rest
Thank you for your kind words, Garry! Besides the good food and their freshness, I love markets for all their colors and smells, and for the hustle and bustle of the crowd. It's the stuff good travels are made of!
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Re: VisitBritain, British Air point out "undiscovered places"
VisitBritian is my favorite official tourist info agency and what they are doing really is working .
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Re: How to Sleep in the Air
They key would be to lie flat, I think. If you've an extra $5000 kicking around, you too can have a great transcontinental business flight, complete with a lie-flat bed.
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Re: How to Sleep in the Air
For the rest of us, in "main cabin," my best helpers are loose clothing, moderate liquids before and during, avoid getting sucked into inflight entertainment. And seek your best seat: I sleep best in right-hand window seats, others have different preferences.
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Re: Happy Independence Day!
One thing foreign travel shows us is how much the USA has to offer too. I get as much of a thrill being welcomed back home as I do going on my trip.
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Re: Marriott buys Canada's Delta hotel chain
It is actually a great move on Marriott's part, because they don't have that much of a presence in Canada. Delta runs quality hotels and are in many Canadian cities. And a benefit of the strong US $. You can buy foreign goods at a discount now, including hotels.
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Re: Sylvia Hotel, Vancouver, British Columbia
Can't wait to see that! I can't help but wonder how the exterior looks in different seasons, but your Fall Shot is hard to beat!
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Re: Poutine. One of Canada's traditional foods. Fried potatoes, gravy and cheese curds! Delicious!!
And yet there are many Canadians who put their noses up at it! (including some of my Canadian relatives, I believe). The amazing thing is that it's only a mid-20th century invention...what could have taken so long? And to my amusement: When you read French newspapers, the leader of Russia is...Poutine!
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Re: Poutine. One of Canada's traditional foods. Fried potatoes, gravy and cheese curds! Delicious!!
PS...Imagine this served alongside a Franceschina in Porto!
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Re: Poutine. One of Canada's traditional foods. Fried potatoes, gravy and cheese curds! Delicious!!
Originally Posted by PHeymont: And yet there are many Canadians who put their noses up at it! (including some of my Canadian relatives, I believe). The amazing thing is that it's only a mid-20th century invention...what could have taken so long? And to my amusement: When you read French newspapers, the leader of Russia is...Poutine! OMG! I never would have thought of it as "red" food! But I think Vlad likely is more interested in caviar and young hookers than in potatoes with cheese and gravy!