Tagged With "world tourism"
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Re: Iceland: 'No we're not Disneyland'
Now that Rekyjavik is on the European Budget Airlines destinations list its hard to avoid a rush. It was one of those places you wouldn't visit unless you had a business interest and an expenses account. They're still advertising Iceland on TV, so someone must be pleased with the extra income tourism brings.
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Re: Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (Where Gumbo was #195)
Another reminder of man's inhumanity towards man. Deeply moving moment - like a visit to the gravestones of northern France. Less we forget.
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Re: Dec 15, 2016: Kamloops, BC, Canada
British Columbia, if you've never visited, is a really spectacular destination. The BC tourism board uses the term "SuperNatural British Columbia" when describing it -- and if you don't know why you will after you visit. And it is a nice safe environment for raising polite kids. Canadians, as you known, are mostly polite to a fault (present company excluded).
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Re: Butterfly World, Florida
Such an enjoyable article and beautiful photos! Thank you for sharing!
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#140)
Wednesday's clue...only about a 5-minute walk from the first clue. You might be curious to know it was built both after and before the first...
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Re: Sea World gives up its killer whale shows
I grow weary of political correctness. Orcas are highly intelligent animals, no doubt -- and have the "cruelty" we expect of intelligent animals (anyone who's seen them hunt a baby gray whale for hours, only to kill it, eat its tongue and let the rest go to waste knows what I mean). I never saw Blackfish, but I do recall at the old Marineland park in Southern California. The park was closed for a number of months, and the orcas got depressed. Listless, didn't eat, didn't look good. Someone...
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#140)
Puzzler's apology...very late with today's clue. To make up for it a little, I'll load tomorrow's, too!
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#140)
Saturday's clue...only one more to go before Monday's reveal...
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#140)
I think Garry's got it...because he just posted the scene that was in today's e-mail in a cropped version, and which I obviously forgot to upload here! Congrats, Garry...and let's see who else twigged to it...
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Re: Exploring Willemstad, Curacao’s UNESCO World Heritage Site
Great piece and fabulous destination. I can almost feel the heat and humidity from your photos!
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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: Top of the World! A visit to Burj Khalif
Thanks - I had been wondering what the views would be like. Now I know. (I'm far too mean to pay for such things myself!)
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Re: Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump (That's really its name)
DrF, I'm guessing the answer is a straightforward geologic issue, but can you tell me what determines whether the hills are part of, or alternatively simply adjoin, the mountains? All VERY interesting!
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Re: Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump (That's really its name)
I believe it is an issue of the mountains' origins. A range has a common origin from a common fault line. The Rockies are a fairly new range, and the Porcupines have been around longer and are much more eroded. But I'm not a geologist, PM. I just look at them and think it's all beautiful!
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Re: Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump (That's really its name)
A good answer - scientifically & emotionally! Thanks again.
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Re: Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump (That's really its name)
I loved Head Samshed In when I visited it. Definitely a must see if you get to that part of the world. If you do also go to the Frank Slide site. A massive land-slide took placein the 1920's (I think). i will find one of my photos.
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Re: Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump (That's really its name)
Thanks for the comment, Jonathan. The Frank Slide is in the Crowsnest Pass area and it's very interesting to see. Beautiful valley as well with a lot of mining history
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Re: "Mind Your Manners!" VisitBritain Warns Hoteliers
Perhaps not a trainee journalist. Since the list came from the government's tourism promotion agency, we might presume the author to be a Trainee Bureaucrat, who someday will be, sadly, writing the rules! Originally Posted by GarryRF: The Author of these "Do's and Don'ts" is a Trainee Journalist and has gathered this list without leaving the comfort of her armchair. Lazy journalism based on stereotypes you find in cheap travel guides. Maybe we could start a list of "Do's and Dont's" for US...
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Re: Ghost Images of WWI
Amazing work...and a stark reminder of how recently all this took place.
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Re: Ghost Images of WWI
Recent, indeed. I've taken to comparing events in history to the life spans of people I've known, or who they knew, and it brings it into shocking relief for me. WWI was a fact during the young adulthood of my grandparents, just 5 years before the births of my parents, one of whom is still alive. In that context it seems like it was just yesterday.
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Re: Ghost Images of WWI
The photos are eerie and definitely captivating. Perhaps the most horrific of all the wars, but we always say that until the next ones roll around and are even worse.
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo? # 9
Looks very similar to a Norwegian Wooden Church. Shame you cut the cars out of your Photo. But that would have made it too easy then !
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo? # 9
That's right! Can't tell—my lips are sealed until Friday evening at least... Originally Posted by TatToo: Details. Details. Can't tell - are the roof shingles cut of wood or of slate ?
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo? # 9
Given the shingles appear to continue onto the vertical and near-vertical surfaces, I suspect the shingles are wood.
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo? # 9
How many Folk Singers does it take to replace a roof ? 3. 1 does all the work - and the other 2 hold the ladder while singing a song about how much better the old roof was.
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo? # 9
Looking at the picture again, it occurred to me that it was reminiscent of Northern Thai traditional architecture.
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo? # 9
Well, nothing "Thais" us together like a good puzzle! But alas, this one did not last to the weekend. WorkerBee, our puzzle champion started homing in by e-mail on Wednesday, with an inspired but wrong guess: Once again Gumbo is taking time to visit a church. This church is made of wood on a base of stone. The location is near Barsana (Birsana) in Maramures county, Romania. By Thursday, he had continued his research, and last night he was back with another e-mail, and he had nailed it. On...
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo? # 9
Originally Posted by PortMoresby: Now I am confused. Romanian Bollywood? It's a brave new world, PM....
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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: A visit to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello
Thanks ,it truly is a highlight of any trip to the area.I loved the Location and setting of the house.
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Re: A visit to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello
Jefferson has always been a fascinating and difficult character, with many sides to his life and work. Aside from the Monticello and other designs, he was also a pioneer agriculturalist, importing many varieties of flowers and vegetables, and improving them by breeding. But for me, the hardest task, mentally and emotionally, is to reconcile the brilliant political and philosophical words with an absolute refusal to even question the institution of slavery, when many others of his time in...
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Re: A visit to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello
PHeymont, I never try to judge historic figures through the prism of modern values. Remember in the 18th century slavery was a global institution -- absolutely every country in the world had slaves. And being from Virginia, he knew the southern states wouldn't join northern colonies in forming a new country without slavery being allowed, so I don't think he thought it was time to fight that fight. I think he valued the formation of the new country above all else -- risking his life to do so...
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Re: A visit to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello
I would agree that presentism is a real danger for historians...but without wanting to veer this discussion too far off course, you'll note that I cited two of his close colleagues and acquaintances in Virginia alone, not to mention Lafayette and many others IN HIS TIME AND ACQUAINTANCE who had already concluded that it was time, and many others were acting on it. It was an active debate in his time and place, he was aware of it, and sadly...he took the wrong side.
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Re: A visit to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello
I agree his side was not the right one, PHeymont, but I also believe of greatest importance for him was forming the new country. I don't think we'll ever know his personal feelings about slavery because he didn't write about them.
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Re: A visit to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello
I believe you can tell a great deal about someone from what they leave behind. On a visit to Monticello I was struck by the design of the house and the distinct sensibility it indicated regarding the creative mind of it's designer. I bought a sundial in the gift shop and am reminded of the man every time I look at it.
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Re: A visit to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello
Regarding his feeling about slavery, I have no doubt, because of the nature of the man as shown by the things he did write, he was conflicted. And while he seems never to have come to a personal solution I don't believe, either, that his lack of action was de facto support for the institution. Sometimes there just isn't time to resolve one's own conflicts and be a father of a new nation too. We may be asking too much of human beings if we expect tidy packages and complete resolutions in 1 ...
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Re: A visit to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello
I visited Monticello as a kid and enjoyed the views. I need to go back now and look at the architecture here and especially at the U of V in more detail. My favorite John Kennedy quote (to his staff at a dinner in the White HOuse) I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered at the White House - with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone. Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quo...#G4wQ5S4SazWSs0dq.99
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Re: Where Gumbo Was, #6: The Japanese Covered Bridge, Hoi An, Vietnam
A great Where in the World is Gumbo Pic this week by Port Moresby . I couldn't believe anyone would get it. Hats off to Club2013 for nailing it!
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Re: Where Gumbo Was, #6: The Japanese Covered Bridge, Hoi An, Vietnam
Thanks for this. I'm learning more bout a part of the world I've never been.
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Re: Where Gumbo Was, #6: The Japanese Covered Bridge, Hoi An, Vietnam
JohnT, over the years Asia has become more & more a favorite part of the planet for me to wander and hang out. I think the reason may be, in part, because it's much more in a state of flux than, say, Europe and as a result has more to offer someone who likes a bit of edge to their travels. I fear Europe has become somewhat more of the same wherever I go these days while Asia offers more of what I seem to need. Not to say there aren't parts of Europe to which I still enjoy returning. But...
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Re: Biggest Apple Ever: NY Gets 54M Tourists, Expects More!
We'd have to compare the methods used by the two cities in counting. Tourism figures are notoriously difficult (are business travelers disaggregated? Regional visitors? etc.) It's possible that if Paris used the NY methodology, it would have a much larger figure.
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Re: Biggest Apple Ever: NY Gets 54M Tourists, Expects More!
Originally Posted by PHeymont: We'd have to compare the methods used by the two cities in counting. Tourism figures are notoriously difficult (are business travelers disaggregated? Regional visitors? etc.) It's possible that if Paris used the NY methodology, it would have a much larger figure. Gotcha. A bit of an apples and oranges comparison. Sort of whether to count all migratory birds or only the snowbirds.
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Re: Newgrange; Ireland’s ancient Passage Tomb
It's interesting how we perceive age. In the U.S., we have few buildings over 200 years old, while in other places buildings older than that are part of the housing stock. And here we have a building of intricate design and decoration old enough that we hardly know any of the history of its builders. A reminder to us how much there is to see and know that is beyond our daily lives. Thank you for the tour!
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Re: Newgrange; Ireland’s ancient Passage Tomb
Perceptions of time ! Interesting subject. You do get a little blasé about History when you're surrounded by it. This is my local Church. It's nearly a thousand years old and still in regular use !
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Re: Newgrange; Ireland’s ancient Passage Tomb
Age is relative, isn't it? I guess they called it the "New World" for a reason. That's a beautiful church, Garry, and in such a lovely setting. Maybe you can share more about it with us sometime in a POD or short blog post.
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Re: Newgrange; Ireland’s ancient Passage Tomb
TravelandNature. You'd be surprised at how many people have been saved by that Church. "Regulars" from hundreds of years ago still attend services and Funerals. Next door to this Church is a Pub and folks come out to catch the last Bus at Mid-night. They often see 8 Nuns in white carrying a coffin through the main doors. Which are still closed - of course!
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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: Newgrange; Ireland’s ancient Passage Tomb
Walking the "Walls" that enclose the City - maybe 3 miles around - is a local ritual ! At frequent intervals there are Pubs to stop at. The idea being that you stop at each one , have a drink and proceed to the next. Its only the hardened drinkers who complete the circuit. A friend from Anna Maria Island, Florida sent his daughter to stay with us for a while. Same age as my daughter and they got along like a house on fire ! So when we arrived in Chester I told her our day was walking around...