The pigeon population in St. Mark's Square and elsewhere in Venice (Venezia to the cognoscenti) has become so large, and needless to say so pestiferous (look THAT one up, I dare ya) that the local government has now outlawed feeding the pigeons. I sense Alfred Hitchcock's hand in this somewhere....
Overall, it should make your Venetian visit a more pleasant one. As long as you are not walking along holding anything in your hand that the newly hungry hordes might consider food.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
More China Visa Restrictions
China has announced further curbs on visitors since announcing it has stopped issuing multiple-entry visas. You must now produce your travel ticket both in and out of the country and a hotel voucher before it will accept a visa application. Hong Kong will no longer be able to issue visas for a day trip to Shenzhen, a popular destination for visitors.
It's getting tricky because most tour companies do not produce the documents until fairly close to departure. If the documents are needed to get the visa, it's going to be nail biting time for some folks. My suggestion? Wait til next year. (And I'm glad I went LAST year!)
It's getting tricky because most tour companies do not produce the documents until fairly close to departure. If the documents are needed to get the visa, it's going to be nail biting time for some folks. My suggestion? Wait til next year. (And I'm glad I went LAST year!)
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Victoria Tall Ships Festival
Victoria, BC, will host several tall ships as part of events to celebrate British Columbia's 150th anniversary as a Crown colony.
A starring attraction will be the Bounty, a tall ship built in 1960 for the MGM film Mutiny on the Bounty. The 54-metre square-rigged three-master was constructed in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, based on the original 18th century ship's drawings in British Admiralty archives. She will take centre stage at the festival from June 26-29, 2008. For more information visit www.tallshipsvictoria.ca
A starring attraction will be the Bounty, a tall ship built in 1960 for the MGM film Mutiny on the Bounty. The 54-metre square-rigged three-master was constructed in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, based on the original 18th century ship's drawings in British Admiralty archives. She will take centre stage at the festival from June 26-29, 2008. For more information visit www.tallshipsvictoria.ca
Monday, April 14, 2008
British Airways--bad news
Terminal 5. Could be terminal for certain.
The planned move of the airline's long haul services from Terminal 4 to Terminal 5 will be deferred until June, although this morning, the CEO said it could take as long as October, depending on negotiations with BAA. (Note the difference between BA, the airline and BAA, the company that runs the airport.)
BA and BAA announced, "We will work together to iron out any remaining problems, including the baggage system and its operation and develop a robust timetable for phasing the move of Terminal 4 services into Terminal 5." Robust? I do love exec-speak.
Direct quote this morning from the Executive Director of the Association of Retail Travel Agents. "I moved through Terminal 5 on Saturday and can report that at this time passengers need a minimum of three hours for transiting. You need the three hours to allow for luggage transfers. Some planes are using stairs although mine used a jetway. The jetways are very long and its a long walk to the transit bus. I was going to Terminal 4 and the bus announcement said it would take 18 minutes. However when arriving at Terminal 4 there was a huge lineup to go through security. Transit passengers must go through security again and there are only two X-ray machines. It took 50 minutes to get through and many people did not catch their flight. They would not put anyone through who had a tight connection unless you were in Fast Tract or a wheelchair. They could care less. The airport operator BAA is in charge of security so you can't blame BA. "
The planned move of the airline's long haul services from Terminal 4 to Terminal 5 will be deferred until June, although this morning, the CEO said it could take as long as October, depending on negotiations with BAA. (Note the difference between BA, the airline and BAA, the company that runs the airport.)
BA and BAA announced, "We will work together to iron out any remaining problems, including the baggage system and its operation and develop a robust timetable for phasing the move of Terminal 4 services into Terminal 5." Robust? I do love exec-speak.
Direct quote this morning from the Executive Director of the Association of Retail Travel Agents. "I moved through Terminal 5 on Saturday and can report that at this time passengers need a minimum of three hours for transiting. You need the three hours to allow for luggage transfers. Some planes are using stairs although mine used a jetway. The jetways are very long and its a long walk to the transit bus. I was going to Terminal 4 and the bus announcement said it would take 18 minutes. However when arriving at Terminal 4 there was a huge lineup to go through security. Transit passengers must go through security again and there are only two X-ray machines. It took 50 minutes to get through and many people did not catch their flight. They would not put anyone through who had a tight connection unless you were in Fast Tract or a wheelchair. They could care less. The airport operator BAA is in charge of security so you can't blame BA. "
American Airlines--good news?
Most of us have already heard that American received clearance from the FAA to return all of its 300 grounded jets to service.
What makes me wonder is the rest of the comment I read today (emphasis added). American said it thought the needed repair work had been completed but the FAA said the wiring was still not secured and stowed properly in wheel wells. Say what?
CEO Gerald Arpey said the airline would hire a consultant to make sure it complied with FAA safety rules in the future. Again I am shaking my head.
What makes me wonder is the rest of the comment I read today (emphasis added). American said it thought the needed repair work had been completed but the FAA said the wiring was still not secured and stowed properly in wheel wells. Say what?
CEO Gerald Arpey said the airline would hire a consultant to make sure it complied with FAA safety rules in the future. Again I am shaking my head.
Visa Restrictions as Olympics Approach
China Is restricting tourist visas for the Beijing Olympics. The country has imposed a number of visa restrictions on foreign passport holders in the buildup to the Olympic games. Processing visas will take longer and no multiple-entry visas or one-day travel visas from Hong Kong will be issued. Multiple-entry visas have been suspended until October 17.
Can we say they are feeling the pressure of being in the world spotlight?
Can we say they are feeling the pressure of being in the world spotlight?
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Kudos to Cunard
There's no doubt that travel has changed dramatically in the last century. Even in the last few years. Given the number of failures in the last few DAYS, I wanted to note the news release I just received from Cunard Line. The words in bold are my emphasis. Well done Cunard. Your new Queen Victoria is receiving rave reviews.
Following simultaneous World Cruises in early 2009, Cunard Line's flagship Queen Mary 2 and the new Queen Victoria will celebrate Cunard's 170th year in service by embarking on a series of more than 60 departures calling on over 75 ports in 34 countries. Highlights of the 2009 schedule include additional Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic Crossings (including options to extend or embark a Crossing via Boston) and 11 new Queen Victoria itineraries featuring 18 maiden calls
Following simultaneous World Cruises in early 2009, Cunard Line's flagship Queen Mary 2 and the new Queen Victoria will celebrate Cunard's 170th year in service by embarking on a series of more than 60 departures calling on over 75 ports in 34 countries. Highlights of the 2009 schedule include additional Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic Crossings (including options to extend or embark a Crossing via Boston) and 11 new Queen Victoria itineraries featuring 18 maiden calls
Monday, April 07, 2008
Disegalitarianism
Ever on the alert for new jargon, I try to give all truly goofy newly minted words a shout out. Here is today's entry, found at the end of this snippet from the Association of Retail Travel Agents.
One thing that's quickly changing onboard many ships is the amenities. It used to be that guests shared all the ship's public spaces no matter what category of stateroom they booked. "This is changing," said Adam Goldstein, president and chief executive of Royal Caribbean International. "Guests paying top dollar for the best accommodations expect special treatment outside their stateroom," he added. He dubbed the trend "disegalitarianism."
Looks as if Mr. Goldstein never tried to book one class and dine in another aboard any of the previous or current Cunard ships. Still, with the advent of such fabulous things as the NCL Villa Suites, there is no doubt that guests who want to Greta Garbo it and be alone can certainly do it in style. [I do love these made up terms. I just made that one up with apologies to the great Swedish actress who reportedly never actually said she vanted to be alone.]
One thing that's quickly changing onboard many ships is the amenities. It used to be that guests shared all the ship's public spaces no matter what category of stateroom they booked. "This is changing," said Adam Goldstein, president and chief executive of Royal Caribbean International. "Guests paying top dollar for the best accommodations expect special treatment outside their stateroom," he added. He dubbed the trend "disegalitarianism."
Looks as if Mr. Goldstein never tried to book one class and dine in another aboard any of the previous or current Cunard ships. Still, with the advent of such fabulous things as the NCL Villa Suites, there is no doubt that guests who want to Greta Garbo it and be alone can certainly do it in style. [I do love these made up terms. I just made that one up with apologies to the great Swedish actress who reportedly never actually said she vanted to be alone.]
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Microbrewery Tours by Scruffy Bunch
From the Aussie Specialist Newsletter: Two ex-industry beer and wine enthusiasts have launched a new beer-lovers tour based in Melbourne. After two years of focusing on wine tours, Scruffy Bunch Tours has launched Victoria’s first guided day tour of local microbreweries, focusing on producers in the Yarra Valley including Buckley’s Beers in Healesville.
Now if only the website worked, I could give you a little more of the 411!
Now if only the website worked, I could give you a little more of the 411!
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