Tagged With "Saint John"
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Re: Surprising Speke Hall, Liverpool
Great piece! I can't say enough good things about John Lennon Airport that's next door. Not only is does it have a wide array of budget flights for Europe, the passport control is actually friendly there.
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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: 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: Should Wi-Fi be free in all hotels?
Originally Posted by JohnT: Maybe it's the old capitalist coming out in me, but I think "should" is a strong word. Free access to wi-fi certainly helps me determine where I'll stay, just like free breakfast is...but if a hotel has enough other amenities so that people are willing to pay for it's wi-fi then so be it...although it is easy enough to get free somewhere, I don't value it enough to pay for it. I agree with you John, that market forces will drive this. But the demand for "free"...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Oct. 27: Paris's Stravinsky Fountain
Absolutely wonderful. You can almost hear the music and the splashing water. Thanks for the lovely photos.
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Re: Finishing college. Need help planning trip to U.K,
Hi Hank, In my opinion Manchester is really worthwhile to see and I loved it.Two libraries are really cool there,John Rylands and Chetham Library, in the School of Music.Also the Manchester Art Gallery and the Museum of Science and Industry are well done and free. Manchester has an area of town,the Northern Quarter,that has independant stores and cafes with no chains allowed that's also worth a walk around Liverpool has some excellent sights as well ,but I'll let the expert GarryRF tell you...
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Re: Renting an apartment in Europe
John mentioned the Google street maps...really a very good way to check out a neighborhood, since it has more than just the maps! On top of the zoom scale on the map, you'll see a little orange man. Drag him onto a street on the map, and you'll see photos of the street. It takes a couple of moments to get used to maneuvering, but you can go up and down the streeet, turn and face the opposite direction, "walk" around corners, and zoom in and out. You can use the Windows snipping tool or other...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Nov 22, 2013: Moab before the storm
Wow, that's beautiful! Reminds me of the old John Wayne movie settings.
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Re: The Worst Train in the World
It isn't cool to travel on a train where you get thrown around in the carriage because the tracks are warped with age John ! Many journeys take 24 hours of hanging on like a Roller Coaster ! That's just in Asia. You'll be fine in Europe.
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Re: Canal Saint-Martin: Where Gumbo Was
Well, now, am I disqualified from future participation in "Where in the World..."? I'd hate to have to cash out after an easy one like that. Tell me I can still play please.
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Re: Canal Saint-Martin: Where Gumbo Was
I say Port Moresby can only play if he/she doesn't know where where in the world is. LOL.
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Re: Canal Saint-Martin: Where Gumbo Was
I imagine this is a tough one to formulate - to make it possible to be guessed/known by someone but difficult enough to be fun. Maybe the balance for those who have gotten one right is to wait until the last day to post and then, as you say DrF, only if we don't know.
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Re: Canal Saint-Martin: Where Gumbo Was
My inclination is that if some one knows, they shouldn't hold back, but post. Some will be easy, some will be tougher. But making the brain work is the fun part. PHeymont is sort of running these, as much as anyone runs anything here. We'll see what his take is.
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Re: Canal Saint-Martin: Where Gumbo Was
My answer would be that of course, PM can play...but if he's right too often, he'll have to start selecting and posting the new ones!
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Re: controversial architecture? - Parasol Sevilla
Makes an attractive public space. Thanks for the great pics of your Spanish excursion, John T. Now we all want to go for the churros and chocolate.
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Re: 25 Yr Old Wins $ 1M Picasso for only $ 135 US
Originally Posted by JohnT: I saw this in the paper this morning as well. Apparently there are only 10,000 tickets left... Gotta admit it's tempting...only way I'd ever own a Picasso...just wouldn't go with the rest of my decor though...clashes with "Dogs playing poker." No John, don't think it would clash with the Dog picture. Welcome back. Hope you've recovered from your jet lag and have settled into "life as usual" (ie. starting to plan your next trip).
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#128)
I admit it's a wild reach, but something about the not-parallel alignment tickled a neuron or two. Will be very embarrassed if it turns out to be John Portman.
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#128)
Had no idea who John Portman was and now discover that I stayed in his first atrium hotel, the Atlanta Hyatt Regency, within a year of it's opening '67 or '68. Then at the one at Chicago O'Hare, which I assume was his too, in 1971. I sat in front of a window in our room in one of the silos, which looked out over the runways, amusing myself counting the planes back to infinity as they lined up to land, while I cared for my infant son. Thanks for the memories, John.
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Re: Majorelle Garden - Marrakech
Wow! The colors just pop right off the computer screen! An amazingly beautiful place and again you've given us another reason to follow in your footsteps.
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Re: Majorelle Garden - Marrakech
You certainly have caught the gardens at their most colourful Mac. What time of year was it ?
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Re: Majorelle Garden - Marrakech
The visit was just 3 weeks ago, so mid-October, when the temperatures are pretty nice day and night (mind, the swimming pools get pretty cold....). It's more about the magic time of day GarryRF generally between 4 - 5 pm when the light is at it's best.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Feb 11, 2015: Fruit of the Vine
Hi Paul. Just curious. Would an outdoor wine tasting be permissible in the US? I always find events like this to be so civilised. Folks just mixing and tasting locally produced food and wine. No one over indulging and a beautiful way to enjoy a summers day making new friends.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Feb 11, 2015: Fruit of the Vine
We have a lot of different state and local laws, so, as they say, Your Mileage May Vary. Since New York is a significant wine-producer, it may be a bit easier here, and in summer there are several wine producers sampling at our local Greenmarket
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Feb 11, 2015: Fruit of the Vine
I never knew that New York was a wine producer. I'll add that to my shopping list in August. Blossom Hill of California is a big seller here in the UK. Thank You !!
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Feb 11, 2015: Fruit of the Vine
The Finger Lakes area in the center of the state has long been a big white-wine producer; Taylor is originally from there. There's been a growing industry on Long Island in recent years, where sandy soil in some areas has been good to the grapes. On the whole, NY wines range from extraordinary to oversweet. And, of course, it's home to one of my guilty favorites: Manishewitz Concord Grape wine, kosher for Passover!
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Feb 11, 2015: Fruit of the Vine
Must look into this. I prefer sweet wines. Hate dry wines. Which I know is very unfashionable. But I do love asking guests to try my Italian "Martini. Asti Spumante. Sparkling Wine". I do enjoy converting people with an attitude to sweet wines !
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Re: Mont-Saint-Michel: Like no other (Pt. 1)
Thanks PH, great pictures and journey. This has been on my wish list for many years. Your informative article has pushed it up that little more....
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Re: Mont-Saint-Michel: Like no other (Pt. 2)
A visit to this church, almost exactly 30 years ago, is one of my fondest travel memories. I stayed on the island and went to mass, it was a dark and stormy night (really), the wind howled, we were welcomed in English, the only visitors present in the small congregation and I've never felt so included as a traveler. Part of what I remember was a distinct dip worn into the stone of the stairs on the climb into the church. It appears from the beautiful photo at the top of this page that the...
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Re: Mont-Saint-Michel: Like no other (Pt. 2)
I'd not be surprised if the stones have been renewed; there is construction and reconstruction going on constantly (as it must have also in the Middle Ages). I cropped most of it out, but you can see some of the scaffolding in one of the pictures above.
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Re: Mont-Saint-Michel: Like no other (Pt. 1)
This is definitely on my list of places to go within the next couple of years. Good story, thanks. Tom
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Re: Mont-Saint-Michel: Like no other (Pt. 1)
These are great and Mt. St. Michel is deifnitly on my bucket list.
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Re: World's 10 Best Airports? Maybe...
I totally disagree with the list. It's partly because I'm more budget focused and partly because it takes less time and hassle at the smaller airports.My favorite airports are small ones where security is reasonable and you dont need to be there hours in advance. My tops would include John Lennon( Liverpool) Sanford near (Orlando) and Marseilles, France
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Re: Graffitimundo: Art from the streets of Buenos Aires
Those are all interesting comments, PHeymont. And I do love the attached photo! I am not a fan of graffiti, although I love great street art of the type shown in this blog. But I do recognize the importance of the former as a type of political speech. For example, in Prague the "John Lennon" wall (see photos below) was an important symbol of the resistance to Soviet Communism. After the great singer/songwriter was assassinated, graffiti sprang up on one wall in the city mentioning him and...
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Re: Super-tide at Mont-Saint-Michel: High water and 30K viewers
It's amazing to see that nature can be predicted. We can prepare for it and enjoy its wonder.
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Re: Books That Sent You Packing (your bag, that is)
Detectives and espionage thrillers. George Simenon in France, Eric Ambler all over and especially in Istanbul, an expanding list of Scandinavians going back to Maj Sjovall/Per Wahloo and including Mankell, Nesbo and Larsson; Arnaldur Indridadsen and others in Iceland, Brunetti and Montalbano in Italy...the list is endless and appears to be a real driver of our travel. I've tried to think why, and I think it is in part because detective and spy novels, when well done, are of their time and...
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Re: World's most attractive libraries
I love going to libraries too. Manchester England has two of my favorites Chetham's Library, in the School of Music and John Rylands Library. Chetham's Library, in the School of Music http://www.chethams.org.uk/ John Rylands Library. http://www.library.manchester....venir-Guide-TEXT.pdf
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Apr. 29, 2015: L'Écoute at Les Halles
I can easily see you sitting on top of that "rock", PHeymont.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Apr. 29, 2015: L'Écoute at Les Halles
Is that one of those repurposed shipping container housing projects in the background of the bottom picture? Or what, I wonder.
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Re: Liverpool and Manchester
I stuck to Garry's recommendations for Liverpool both visits and was not disappointed. And to have GarryRF and Mrs. GarryRF on my second visit show me around Liverpool and the surrounding area was really cool! All the museums are wonderful in Liverpool. The Walker Art Gallery is one my favorites in Europe http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/walker/ and the Emigrants to a New World gallery at the Merryside Maritime museum gives an interesting look at those leaving Europe.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Oct. 18, 2015: Olive Grove, Saint-Remy
I always thought picking olives would be a labour intensive task. I watched as the farmers wife placed a round blanket ( with a split in it ) on the ground under the tree. Then the tractor had a claw attachment that gripped the tree. Then it shook the tree for 10 seconds. All the olives fell on the blanket. Job done - 1 minute a tree !
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo? (#137)
Thanks for your comments, gentlemen. Yes, Pheymont, it is both specific and generic and with more clues it will definitely be much more specific. John T, as you know I live in Canada and for tonight, I'll add the tidbit that this is not in Canada. Another photo might help.....?
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Re: Memories of Dijon, France
Great post, George, thanks! Makes me want to go to Dijon, rather than be self-isolating.
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Re: January 21, 2019: Saint John City Market, New Brunswick, Canada
Terrific photos of color and texture. The fresh produce is appetizingly displayed.
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Re: Butterflies Everywhere at the Butterfly Farm in St. Martin
I love watching butterflies fly about and land on everyone -- especially children. It's such a simple pleasure! Never knew about this place, and it's always good to add another stop to one's (evergrowing) bucketlist. Thanks, Samantha!
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Re: Butterflies Everywhere at the Butterfly Farm in St. Martin
Thanks for the message DrFumblefinger. You are right. I really enjoyed watching the kids get so excited when one would land on them. Of course that scared them off, but it was still fun. Glad you enjoyed the post and was able to add to your bucket list. I know mine is huge and keeps getting longer and longer, lol.
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Re: Campaigners ask: Can the QE2 be saved?
A sad story, but not unusual. People get attached to ships, maybe why they're called "she" instead of "it". My son was in the Navy, on the magnificent aircraft carrier USS Ranger, CV61, one of several of that name, the first in 1777, commanded by John Paul Jones. The end of his tour was also Ranger's last, after a voyage to the Persian Gulf for a goodbye battle. Retired just afterward (1993) and stored in Bremerton, WA, I read yesterday that as I write this, Ranger is sailing under tow...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, October 24, 2015: Poppies -- Weeping Window at Woodhorn
We southern North Americans are not that unfamiliar with the poppies, although perhaps the younger ones...in my childhood and on, they were annually a tradition carried on by the American Legion. Actually, a little research tells me that the tradition started with them in 1921, and then spread to UK and Commonwealth! Here's the text of the poem, written by John McRae, a Canadian soldier and physician: In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place;...
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Re: The Stravinsky Fountain, Paris
Not only children play in the fountain in the summer; looking through older pictures I found this intrepid canine happily splashing about.
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Re: Feb. 4, 2016: Speke Hall, Liverpool England
A great place for sure! And it's close to Liverpool's world famous John Lennon Airport.