Tagged With "Amazing Fact"
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Re: November 24, 2016: Enger Tower, Duluth, Minnesota
Hi Garry I never thought of counting the number of steps to the top of Enger Tower for I was too preoccupied with the beautiful scenery; However, thanks to your question I did some internet investigating and discovered that apparently there are 105 steps you must walk to get to the top of Enger Tower (therefore 210 steps in total to get up and down the tower). You really don't need to be an Olympian to get to the top of Enger Tower. Although the number of steps sounds like a lot, and the...
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Re: 50 Years Later, Paris
Thank you for sharing your memories, and wakening some of my own. It's a trite line, I know, but despite all that changes, "we'll always have Paris." In fact, maybe that's 'because' and not 'despite.'
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Re: Nothing sacred: Swiss chalets aren't Swiss!
I'm used to the fact that all the Camrys my family has owned were assembled in Kentucky...but when you see where all the God Bless America souvenirs come from, that is a poser!
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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: Belfast: An Uneasy City
Garry, I'll live with judgemental, but without taking it as a bad thing. Travel and observation involves judgement, even at the simplest level (am I having fun? would I come back here?), but sometimes the circumstances require a deeper look and thought. In that way, for instance (and perhaps unfairly) it is possible to visit Dublin, and have only a historic thought to 1690 and 1916; they're woven into history and customs, but only at a level that does not consciously intrude—but to visit...
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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: 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 #6
"A settlement of people" is interesting. How about trading settlements? There were many European closed settlements. The Dutch in Japan, the British in China (Hong Kong, Shanghai), the Portuguese in Malacca and Macau...there were probably (in fact I'm pretty sure) Arab trading colonies as well... I think we're talking about a bridge into one of these trading settlements.
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Re: Should Wi-Fi be free in all hotels?
Free room wi-fi is one amenity that influences where we stay here or in Europe. We've noticed more and more Italian hotels and b&b's are offering this free service. In fact, we've seen free wi-fi zones in small Italian towns. Let's hope the expansion trend continues because it certainly makes attending to home and business much easier.
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Re: Where in the World is Gumbo? 21.0
Well, I didn't expect anyone to twig it quite that fast, and it's not just because of a polar route. Although we usually don't think of Hawaii extending north of Kauai, in fact the state includes the entire Hawaiian Ridge/Emperor Seamount chain, running up to the Aleutian trench, just off Alaska's Aleutian islands. Mostly underwater, mostly administered by Federal agencies as a preservation/conservation area. Kure Atoll and Green Island is the northernmost habitable place in Hawaii, and it's...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Oct. 30: Monet's Gardens at Giverny
Definitely hundreds! In fact, for the last 40 years of his life, he painted almost nowhere else. He even created a floating studio on a small boat so he could paint within his waters, and nearby on the Seine.
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Re: Staying In Touch on the Road: Part 1
Well, I understand the urge for simplicity and not getting tied down...but both the PowerStick and the RAVPower ar e batteries. The RAVPower isn't big; about the size of a cellphone. But it costs 30% less, and will actually put a full charge on a phone, which the other won't. In fact, it will put a full charge on about 6 phones.
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Re: The Worst Train in the World
Thanks FlashFlyer. The thing about adventures like this is you have no idea what an adventure it'll be until it happens and you can't get out of it even if you want to. So, no guts required. Yes, Burma will certainly change, has already. Currently not enough infrastructure for those wanting to visit but if you've traveled in Asia you know the entrepreneurial spirit is alive & well and it won't be long, I suspect, before it will come to resemble other parts of the region. So, good news as...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day: Haddon Hall, Derbyshire, England
As you may know, DrF, a number of houses in the UK are known as much or more for their gardens as for the houses. Not so in this case, although what they have sets the house off perfectly. The rest is more natural landscape as you can see in the bottom picture. I love the fact that the house is the star, as it should be in this case, and the gardens are a compliment.
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Re: Denver airport leads the charge for your phones
Having traveled to Denver in the past month, I'll vouch for that fact there a lot of places to charge your devices. And there are still lots of gates that completely lack chargers, so they still have a long way to go. The free wifi at Denver is quite fast and widely available. Much appreciate! I think this should be a top priority for all airlines -- places to charge that phone and iPad before you fly. It would be good if the consumer organizations provided comparative scores.
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#178)
This is a tough one. It looks like a National Park in the US, but as we know from TG there are a lot of them . Still unsure of even that fact and if it was a park in US, we still don't know where in the park Gumbo's going. I thought I saw a cemetery in one of the pics. I'll have to wait for more clues.
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Re: John Denver Sanctuary, Aspen
That sanctuary is beautiful and the fact that it's free is amazing. Very nice photos! I'll have to stop there next time I'm in the area.
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Re: Is there Danger in frequent, long-distance travel?
I read about this in the Daily Mail and while I believe there are some medical reasons frequent flying can be dangerous, it failed to show the positives about travel. I too was not convinced about their emotional claims . I found the opposite in my life. "The researchers discovered that new friendships and romantic relationships forged through mobility have a tendency to be situational, expendable and short-lived" "The study found that loneliness and isolation are common among frequent...
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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: In Egypt: Luxor West Bank
Thanks, George. The fact that there really are no throngs makes this the perfect time to visit Egypt.
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Re: Watching for Whales and Seeing More
Sometimes the whales are much more cooperative than what your experience was. So go out and give it a try again! In fact at times, I think they're watching us rather than the other way around. Take this gray whale, for example....
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#69)
While I do see a certain resemblance to Cappadocia, it doesn't look real to me. More like a model landscape, as you'd have with a model railroad, but seemingly without the railroad. Maybe this is, in fact, what Cappadocia looks like from a hot air balloon, which I understand are popular there. I see no evidence of people in the form of actual people or vehicles, unless that's a person in red in the lower right-hand corner.
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo? (#71)
Puzzler's Hint: They are, in fact, wooden barrels...but it won't do you much good to know that! Keep on guessing, folks!
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo? #86
I believe I recall reading somewhere, sometime, that in fact the purpose of the gargoyles was to project roof runoff away from the facade of the building in order to prevent joint damage and seepage. Can't verify, but makes sense to me.
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Re: Finding Reiner #7: Shrapnel & Bones
DrFumblefinger—I've been meaning to read that book about Bonhoeffer. In fact, I'll do so, as soon as I finish Forgotten Holocaust: The Poles Under German Occupation, 1939-1944 by Richard C. Lukas and Norman Davies . My affection for the Polish people I've met has spurred me to deepen my understanding of the German occupation and devastation of Poland.
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo? #56
Aha! Now I see it as fans cheering. In fact - The Audience by Michael Snow at the Rogers Centre in Toronto - where the Blue Jays play baseball.
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Re: Finding Your Hike in Prospect Park
Garry, it’s right in Central Brooklyn, surrounded by residential neighborhoods that range from quite poor to distressingly wealthy. Unlike Brooklyn Bridge Park, born in an age when it somehow seems acceptable to people to make condos part of a park, there would be huge opposition to messing with Prospect Park; in fact, even small changes can generate lots of discussion. But let’s not think parks are always safe; a few years ago, the Yankees were allowed to swap park land parcels for their...
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#72)
Other cities with at least two distinct rail mass transit systems (excluding trams) include Barcelona, New York, and London. So...where is Gumbo? The rest of yesterday's clue should help...in fact each of my comments contains a piece of the puzzle...
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Re: Marriott to offer free wi-fi to all its Rewards member
While business travelers are important to those brands, Marriott and the others make a big pitch to fill those rooms with vacationing and weekending families and couples, too—and I'm sure you've seen a lot of them there. As you point out, the cost of WiFi for business travelers is usually absorbed by the company, so it's hard to see why this new benefit would be attractive to them, since it's already essentially free for them. So it seems obvious that the benefit is, in fact, aimed at the...
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Re: For those who hate Heathrow, Gatwick plans new allure
Gatwick, if selected, will have much better transportation than now; in fact, they are committed to building it even with one runway. Every 2.5 minutes, into Central London. DrF: Gatwick is hoping this will bring some North American flights again; US Airways was the last North American carrier into Gatwick, and they stopped in 2009, sucked into the great vacuum of Heathrow. Gatwick used to have a lot of N. America business back when restrictive legislation limited the number of their flights...
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Re: And life was never the same again: How Barcelona stole my heart
My friend jokes that I am the Queen of reinvention - much like Madonna (the musician type). Forever having a complete change of heart about my life's direction. But I've decided to embrace that now change is good! Keeps things interesting. Wholeheartedly agree Jonathan and Paul. In fact I applied for a few jobs there in the summer! I'm still considering it... Oh, and that tapas place! Just brilliant. Was completely worth the 40 minutes we had to wait for a table!
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Re: Charleston's Grand Mansions: Middleton Place
I was interested to note (aside from the alligators!) the fact that the house at Middleton was never restored after the Civil War. I noted that at Magnolia plantation, not far away, a small cottage was moved in to replace the original house...and it left me wondering. While the planter class certainly reclaimed power after Reconstruction, they must have taken quite a while to overcome the economic damage they brought on themselves.
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Re: A Surreal Visit to the Dali Museum in St Petersburg, Florida
Originally Posted by DrFumblefinger: An amazing building and a most interesting artist, thanks for sharing this! My favorite Dali painting is the Persistence of Memory . This is a very popular painting, in fact, it was the first painting that the Morse's bought for heir collection back in the 40's.
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Re: AirBnB vs New York. Update
As a frequent Airbnb renter (about 16 times) I obviously think it's a valuable thing and want it to succeed. I also think that there's room for reasonable regulation that's sensitive to local needs, and that a reasonable compromise can be found. Let's take the case of New York City...there is a real shortage of affordable housing. While it's not caused by Airbnb, but rather by a series of market issues that I won't rehearse here, it's reasonable for the city/state to ban short-term rentals...
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Re: Signs of Aspen, Colorado
I don't know what amazes me more...this cocky bear telling us we better be ready to rumble if he comes at you, or the fact that he posed with this sign in the first place
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#133)
Time for some more clues. Jonathan, this is a big beaver, but not a giant. And as you know, beavers have a big range. In fact, PHeymont posted a news clip about a Swiss beaver causing traffic problems at this link So a few pictures to hopefully give you a better understanding of this place....
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Re: Beating Jet Lag
Some people claim the newer generations of jet-liners, like the Boeing 787, will reduce jet lag because they allow higher humidity in the cabin and higher air pressure (more oxygen). In fact that was discussed right here on a TravelGumbo during an interview with Norwegian Air . A few more points. I try not to have more than one or two connections on any flight, especially on overseas trips (for people traveling from small cities, this can be challenging). I find the fatigue factor clouds my...
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Re: What do Travelers of all ages want at hotels? Connectivity
As I pick Airbnb apartments (or hotels) for each trip, WiFi is certainly one of the first things I make sure of...in fact, lack of it, or poor reviews, is a deal-breaker. Not only for daily upload of pictures, but also follow-up on questions from the day's sights, plans...it's become as necessary as a bed.
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Re: Beating Jet Lag
Originally Posted by DrFumblefinger: Do you find hydration matters? Can you drink a lot of water? Yes, hydration is in fact quite important. You should drink as much water as you like. Also, 16 hours without food is a long time, so we recommend that you have some light snacks along the way, like some fruit.
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Re: Budget airlines pushing seat squeeze on new planes
Ryanair has also been using a "softer" sell which seems to be working. An article recently in the Guardian points out a 28% growth rate (comparing March 2015 to 2014), a truly impressive gain! I've never flown Ryanair and before I would I would need to talk with someone like Rob and Garry to make sure some of the perceptions I've got about them aren't fact-based anymore.
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Re: Airbnb Questions
1. "...is payment for Airbnb places always processed in the US even for stays overseas?" Airbnb processes reservations for guests in their own currency, pays out in the currency of the host. So you, in the US, will always pay in US dollars, a UK resident will pay in £s, etc. The host posts prices in their home currency and when a guest in another country logs in and searches/books, the price is converted by the website at the current exchange rate and they always see the rate in their own...
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Re: Florida warned: take action against future flooding
Garry, aside from the fact that climate change involves far more than the question of polar ice caps, we're not in huge disagreement, I think. 1. Climate change is a more accurate term than global warming, because it's not all about warming, and in some cases the change brings colder rather than warmer. 2. The effects are not the same everywhere, nor are they always immediately harmful. It is possible for one area to be threatened with inundation while another benefits from a return of...
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Re: Florida warned: take action against future flooding
The issue of what we can do about the "world's changing climate" aside, when I look at a massive stone structure like the one in the photo and realize it's sitting essentially on a sand bar (which is what most of Florida is), I'm not surprised that it might actually be slowly settling and sinking. Just like Venice is. Venice has serious problems but these are mostly due to the fact that the entire city is sinking.
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#110)
I really, really don't mean to spoil the fun, knowing that whenever someone says that he does in fact exactly that. However I'll use the occasion to share a very useful tip for anyone: Google Picture Search. it allows you to search for any picture on the web and it will find similar pictures or - like in this case an exact match. You can either paste in the direct url of the picture or download a copy and later upload it again. If the website doesn't allow that (which really makes no sense...
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Re: Airfares have remained flat for 20+ years
Another factor to keep in mind when considering why flying seems more expensive: while the base airfares are flat when you factor in inflation, earnings are not. Over the past 40 years, depending on measure, real wages (what you get when you factor in inflation) have actually eroded a bit, and at points a lot. Add to which the fact that "wages" as used in those figures includes benefits such as health care, which doesn't translate into spendable income. And add to which many other things...
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Re: Discounts top all in passenger perks survey
I'd agree...in fact, the issue of space is what keeps me from considering some longer flights...and I have been known to change flights for the possibility of a 2-seat row rather than 3...better an aisle and a window without a middle!
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Re: 100 Years of Flight in Kitty Hawk, NC
I empathize with your rainy, muddy experience. That is no fun. As I recall, Kitty Hawk is also very windy, one of the reasons the Wright brothers chose it. They knew if they could fly their plane into the wind for some distance, no one could challenge the fact that they had flown a heavier than air machine. I regard this as one of the greatest stories of the 20th century. Two creative guys from a bicycle shop in the midwest designed and developed a successful flying machine. It didn't take a...
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Re: 100 Years of Flight in Kitty Hawk, NC
Thanks for the comment guys. It has been a while and I did forget to mention the fact that the Wright Brothers were workers in a bicycle shop which makes their story even more amazing! As always DrFumblefinger, thanks for the input
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Re: Museum find: GE's 'missing' electric car
The argument, and I'm not informed enough to judge it, is that the amount of fossil fuel needed to generate electricity for a plug-in is far less than that required to run a gasoline engine. The same sort of argument that points out that a gallon of fuel moves far more freight on a diesel train than a diesel truck. On the other hand, that's about plug-in cars. For hybrids, it's a different story because the batteries charge while the car is running on gas. So less gas is used than using gas...
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#157)
I know, I know!! I messaged you! In fact...I'm here too!