Tagged With "historic houses"
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Re: Al Fahidi Historical District
In this area there's a really cool museum that we visited - the Museum of Illusions. Also, make sure to eat at the Arabian Teahouse 5 minutes walking from this neighborhood! https://valentinasdestinations.com/
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Re: July 28, 2016: Coit Tower, San Francisco, California
It really is one of the most beautiful cities in North America. Thanks for reminding us of these great views!
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Re: The Maltese Islands – Underrated gems or best kept secret ?
It does not seem fair that one place should have so much going on. Worse, it is less fair that I am not there ! Thanks for the great pics and a bit of history. What are the good months to visit for water sports like paragliding ? Is it winder or the surf stronger some months than others ?
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Re: The Maltese Islands – Underrated gems or best kept secret ?
Thanks for your comments TatToo. Summer is the best time for water sports,from May to October. Most operators usually shut down over winter. There isn't much surf to speak of unless there is an exceptionally stormy day, but the northern parts of the island are more suited for windsurfing and paragliding as the winds from the northern Mediterranean tend to have more strength in them
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Re: The Maltese Islands – Underrated gems or best kept secret ?
That's a great piece about a great destination most of us have not heard a lot about. Would you know if there are direct flights between Malta and Sicily, Islandman? How would you recommend connecting these two. I think a great way to spend two or three weeks would be to combine stops at Sicily and Malta.
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Re: The Maltese Islands – Underrated gems or best kept secret ?
Thanks IslandMan! Your history insights and photos do make it look like an ideal travel destination.
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Re: The Maltese Islands – Underrated gems or best kept secret ?
Hello DrF, there are direct flights from Sicily to Malta and also a daily ferry. Yes, many visitors take in Sicily when coming to Malta, or they combine it with other European destinations. There also regular cruises around the Mediterranean which stop in the Grand Harbour for a day.
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Re: See Them While You Can: 10 Wins for Historic Preservation
I like to see some of the Nation's heritage preserved. I've actually been to a number of these places and enjoyed them all.
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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: See Them While You Can: 10 Wins for Historic Preservation
PS - Pheymont, I haven't found the International list (faulty website or faulty eyes, I suspect the latter). Would you post a link, please?
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Re: See Them While You Can: 10 Wins for Historic Preservation
PM (and anyone else I misled)...I went back and found the link that said "Around the World" on their page was actually another link to the same domestic 10. I've edited the reference out of the clip above. Too bad...I was looking forward to reading it...
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Re: See Them While You Can: 10 Wins for Historic Preservation
Bummer. Thanks, though, for your attentive concern! And for the interesting post, of course.
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Re: In Egypt: Three Houses
I am traveling to Egypt in April...can't wait!! Thank you for this excellent article!
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Re: May 8, 2018: Downtown Leadville
So inviting! Thank you for showing us such a great destination!
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Re: San Juan's El Morro: Layers of Stone, Layers of History (Where Gumbo Was, #84)
Fascinating history. Stunning photos. Thanks.
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Re: San Juan's El Morro: Layers of Stone, Layers of History (Where Gumbo Was, #84)
A missing bit: El Morro and the historic site as a whole is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but while I included that in the Tags and Collections for the blog, I forgot to mention it in the text! My apologies...
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Re: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario (Where Gumbo was #301)
A fine piece of History from a young Town. With a small population it appears to be booming in style and grace. Could even make it to Garry's favourite "Small Town America List". An Oasis of Olde World Quality and Charm. This Town took some locating. Good one Dr F.
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Re: May 29, 2016 - Grants Tomb
Those are great photos Jonathan! Another place I want to get to!
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Re: Feb. 11, 2016: Flatiron Building, New York City
Glad you grabbed one of my favorites! Even though it's sometimes had embarrassingly badly-dressed stores in the base, it's always had a real dignity to it. Incidentally, it was New York's first building with a steel skeleton instead of masonry, which allowed it to be built very rapidly. In a way, it was an advertisement for its owner, the Fuller company (still a major builder). Daniel Burnham was the architect—which doesn't mean the building was popular when new!
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Re: Feb. 11, 2016: Flatiron Building, New York City
Incidentally, as you can see, it IS more or less the shape of a flatiron, and not a right triangle...
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Re: Feb. 11, 2016: Flatiron Building, New York City
Hmmmmm...looking at the picture you posted of the roof of the Flatiron Building Paul, it looks like a right angle triangle to me. There's only one way to settle this...my wife and I would love to visit New York again. So, one day (hopefully sooner than later) we'll have to meet on the Flatiron roof...I'll bring a carpenter square. If I'm right, you owe me a Guinness. If you're right, I'll buy you a delicious beverage of your choosing. Either way, visiting Manhattan again and meeting you is a...
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Re: Feb. 11, 2016: Flatiron Building, New York City
Love to meet you there (or anywhere, since I don't think there's public access to the roof!)...and I'll be glad to buy the Guinness, since it turns out I was wrong about the triangle...the corner of 22nd St. and 5th Avenue is the right angle. You might find this article about it interesting: The Museum of Math did what might be called a performance piece, with 500 mathematicians measuring it in lightsticks and applying the Pythagorean theorem...
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Re: Feb. 11, 2016: Flatiron Building, New York City
HI there, Great post. We were in NYC last October and this was definitely something my husband really wanted to see. Have to admit it is pretty cool to see in person. Thanks for all the info and happy memories.
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Re: Feb. 11, 2016: Flatiron Building, New York City
Hello Paul and Samantha : ) Paul, I do hope that one day we will have the opportunity to meet. Thank you for your insight of the Flatiron Building. You indeed are a good sport. Samantha, I am glad you enjoyed my post of the Flatiron Building. You sum it very nicely by saying that seeing this building in person is pretty cool.
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Re: Strasbourg & Route Du Vin
We had a two-day flying visit to Strasbourg (pre-TGV) a few years ago and loved it...and now you've pushed it way high up the re-visit list! Thanks...
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Re: Strasbourg & Route Du Vin
Wonderful photos and descriptions! I'll be adding Strasbourg to my travel list!
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Re: Strasbourg & Route Du Vin
What a beautiful and great destination! I've also not visited it before but it's definitely on my radar. How much time would you recommend for a first time visit?
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Re: Strasbourg & Route Du Vin
DrFumblefinger— A few days could be enough in Strasbourg itself, but if you want to tour the vineyards, I'd stay a week in the area. You could stay two nights in Strasbourg and then a night or two in Riquewihr and beyond. And I'd suggest renting a car to go at your own pace. For my next trip, I will plan at least full week in the region because I want to stop at the vineyards and visit more of the museums. And don't forget Chateau Haut Koenigsburg.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, October 9, 2014: Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Pennington County, South Dakota
Hi Travel Luver I apologize for the lateness of this response. In answer to your question, I unfortunately did not see the monument lit up at night...my travel schedule didn't permit it. I too hope to go back to Mount Rushmore in the near future, primarily to see it lit up, for I have heard it is quite special, and the photos I have seen confirm that. When you make it back to Mount Rushmore, I hope you will share your adventures with us. Thanks for your feedback. I appreciate it. Take care,...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, October 9, 2014: Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Pennington County, South Dakota
Amazing place! I saw it once as a boy but see I need to get back and study it more. Did you see it lite up at night? I seem to recall that's quite special.
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Re: Coastal California: Pigeon Point Lighthouse
We must have passed Pigeon Point on our way to see the seals on a February visit to SF about 10 years ago...I wish I had known! Besides the seals, the highlight of that trip was breakfast in a roadside diner surrounded by avocado farms...a product reflected in practically every breakfast on the menu!
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Re: Coastal California: Pigeon Point Lighthouse
In that part of the coast, it's more likely to have been artichokes, grown there and all the way down to Salinas/Monterey. Avocados are a Southern California crop.
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Re: Coastal California: Pigeon Point Lighthouse
When I lived in So California, an acquaintance was an avocado farmer. He informed us that at the time about 10% of the avocado crop was stolen each year -- probably higher now. The most stolen crop in America, and impossible to trace I love old lighthouses and their setting on the roughest places on the coast. Thanks for sharing this one with us, PM.
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Re: Coastal California: Pigeon Point Lighthouse
I'm not surprised about the avocado theft, guacamole being one of the CA food groups.
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Re: Coastal California: Pigeon Point Lighthouse
I didn't mean to imply purloined produce...just that as a local product, they had a high place on the menu. From the conversations around us, it appeared that many of the others were growers...
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Re: Coastal California: Pigeon Point Lighthouse
PHeymont -- did not mean to imply that your restaurant proprietors were thieves. Just to point out that the crop you were surrounded by is a target of theft.
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Re: Coastal California: Pigeon Point Lighthouse
Gentlemen, I think you missed my point somewhere above. Artichokes grow in Northern California, avocados in Southern California. As far as I've observed, never the twain shall meet. Just to confirm, is this it? If so, not avocado.
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Re: Coastal California: Pigeon Point Lighthouse
No, really, we know the difference. And we saw the avocados and ate them. I haven't found production figures yet for San Mateo County yet, but it is significant.
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Re: Coastal California: Pigeon Point Lighthouse
I see no mention of avocados: https://agwm.smcgov.org/sites/...26%20PDF%20Print.pdf
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Re: Coastal California: Pigeon Point Lighthouse
Great. I will be in Santa Cruz in a couple of weeks with HS friends and suggest we go thePigeon Point lighthouse! thanks again for a wonderful journey! Denia
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Re: Gold Country California: Malakoff Diggins, Ranger Connie in Charge
Lovely, once again. i take it you went up No. Bloomfield Road not Tyler Foote.....lol....I did that ONCE too!
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Re: Gold Country California: Malakoff Diggins, Ranger Connie in Charge
It does seem a fascinating place! Enjoyed your very lovely historic photos and narrative. I suspect we've all meet a "Ranger Connie" in our lives. Sometimes a little power backfires. I'll need to visit this part of California sometime. What is the altitude of this area? Suppose fall and spring are the best times to visit?
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Re: Gold Country California: Malakoff Diggins, Ranger Connie in Charge
I did, indeed, Dgems. And this last time, too, up one way, down the other. But it seems to me one is about as bad as the other and I'm so glad I decided not to live up there! The altitude at the park is about 5,000', DrF, and it gets quite a bit of snow when there's moisture to be had. So, anytime but winter is a good time. Tours by "herself" are summer only. Grass Valley and Nevada City are at about 2500'.
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Re: How much is that in dog years? Greyhound hits 100!
Greyhounds actual buses now are pretty good . i think its their bus stations that are in need of updating . I've also noticed if things go wrong ,it's very hard to get good customer service. Hopefully that will improve with MegaBus offering competition.
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Re: Historic Route 66 (pt 4) - Gallup to Albuquerque
I love scenery like this! That natural bridge was unknown to me, but something else I now need to go see. Thanks for sharing it.
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Historic Route 66 (pt 4) - Gallup to Albuquerque
The last leg of my journey on Route 66 was from Gallup to Albuquerque. The is a lot to see on this leg, but I rushed to meet The Amazing Ms. D ,who was flying in to Albuquerque for a writers workshop. Therefore I only had time for one thing. I chose...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Oct. 28, 2013: Northern Pacific Depot Museum, Wallace, Idaho
Wallace is located in Idaho's panhandle near the Montana state line. It sprung to life during a silver mining boom in 1884. Within a few years Wallace was very prosperous and, with 2000 residents, the third largest town in the new...
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Walla, Walla: “So nice they named it twice!”
What’s a Walla Walla? It’s a Indian name meaning “many waters”. It’s also the name of a charming city in southeastern Washington; nestled close to the Columbia and Snake River valleys, and with a river of its...
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San Juan's El Morro: Layers of Stone, Layers of History (Where Gumbo Was, #84)
El Morro, the giant fortification that's guarded San Juan Harbor for nearly 500 years, is the sight we saw before we saw it. Its image is everywhere when you do online research for a trip to Puerto Rico; its "garitas"—small domed...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, April 25, 2015: Форт-Росс (Fort Ross)
It had been raining off and on as I drove down California Highway 1 along the Mendocino and Sonoma County coast, when I arrived at the closed gate to Fort Ross State Historic park, a real blow. I hadn’t visited this beautiful and...