Gadling http://www.gadling.com Gadling http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Gadling http://www.gadling.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[St. Brendan: Did An Irish Monk Come To America Before Columbus?]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/16/st-brendan-did-an-irish-monk-come-to-america-before-columbus/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/16/st-brendan-did-an-irish-monk-come-to-america-before-columbus/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/16/st-brendan-did-an-irish-monk-come-to-america-before-columbus/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

St. BrendanToday is St. Brendan's feast day. To the Irish, St. Brendan needs no introduction. For those less fortunate in their birth, let me tell you that he may have been Ireland's first adventure traveler.

Saint Brendan was an Irish holy man who lived from 484 to 577 AD. Little is known about his life, and even his entry in the Catholic Encyclopedia is rather short. What we do know about him mostly comes from a strange tale called "the Voyage of St Brendan the Navigator," written down in the ninth century and rewritten with various changes in several later manuscripts.

It's an account of a seven-year journey he and his followers took across the Atlantic, where they met Judas sitting on a rock, landed on what they thought was an island only to discover it was a sea monster, were tempted by a mermaid, and saw many other strange and wondrous sights. They got into lots of danger, not the least from some pesky devils, but the good Saint Brendan used his holy might to see them through.

They eventually landed on the fabled Isle of the Blessed far to the west of Ireland. This is what has attracted the attention of some historians. Could the fantastic tale hide the truth that the Irish came to America a thousand years before Columbus?

Sadly, there's no real evidence for that. While several eager researchers with more imagination than methodology have claimed they've found ancient Irish script or that places like Mystery Hill are Irish settlements, their claims fall down under scrutiny.

But, as believers like to say, absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, and there are some tantalizing clues that hint the Irish really did journey across the sea in the early Middle Ages. It's firmly established that Irish monks settled in the Faroe Islands in the sixth century. The Faroes are about halfway between Scotland and Iceland. Viking sagas record that when they first went to settle Iceland in the late ninth century, they found Irish monks there. There are also vague references in the Viking sagas and in medieval archives in Hanover hinting that Irish monks made it to Greenland too.

Gallery: The Voyage of St. Brendan

A model fo the currach of St. BrendanA small currach made of three cow hides.Mermaid in Clonfert Cathedral. St. Brendan is the patron of this cathedral.Faroese stamps showing Brendan's voyageMedieval maps put St. Brendan's discovery in various places. This one has it near the Canary Islands.

Continue reading St. Brendan: Did An Irish Monk Come To America Before Columbus?

St. Brendan: Did An Irish Monk Come To America Before Columbus? originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 16 May 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventureadventure-traveladventureradventurersadventuresAtlanticAtlantic OceanAtlanticOceanbookbooksBrendancurrachcurrachsexplorationexplorerexplorersfaroe islandsFaroeIslandsGreenlandhistoryIcelandIrelandIrishIrish historyIrishHistorymedievalmedieval historyMedievalHistorymiddle agesMiddleAgesmysteriesmysterynavigationNorth AmericaNorthAmericaprecolumbianprecolumbian contactPrecolumbianContactsailingsailorsailorsSt. BrendanSt.BrendanTim SeverinTimSeverinVikingVikingsWed, 16 May 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Catch The May 20 Solar Eclipse From A National Park]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/11/catch-the-may-20th-solar-eclipse-from-a-national-park/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/11/catch-the-may-20th-solar-eclipse-from-a-national-park/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/11/catch-the-may-20th-solar-eclipse-from-a-national-park/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

A Solar Eclipse with a Ring of FireLater this month, North America will witness its first solar eclipse in more than 18 years. On May 20, the moon will pass between the Earth and the Sun, blocking out most of the light from our star and blanketing much of the western United States and Canada in darkness. For astronomy buffs it promises to be quite a celestial event and most will want to take it all in while surrounded by a beautiful setting.

The National Park Service has a few suggestions for those searching for just such a setting. The NPS says that 33 of its parks will offer prime viewing opportunities with six of those falling directly in the eclipse's path. Those six include Redwoods National Park and Lassen Volcanic National Park in California; Zion National Park in Utah; Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Arizona; and Chaco Culture National Historical Park and Petroglyph National Monument in New Mexico.

If the skies are clear that day, the parks listed above will be the absolute best places to view the eclipse, which at its peak will cover 96 percent of the sun and create a "Ring of Fire" around the edge of the moon. An additional 125 parks, mostly west of the Mississippi River, will be treated to a partial eclipse, which will also be fun to witness.

Many of the national parks are planning events for the day of the eclipse, which just so happens to fall on a Sunday. That makes it a perfect time to pack up the family and head out to a park near you for an enjoyable day with a rare light show. For a full list of events, click here.

[Photo credit: Sancho_Panza via WikiMedia]

Catch The May 20 Solar Eclipse From A National Park originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 11 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-travelNational Park Servicenational parksNationalParksNationalParkServicesolar eclipseSolarEclipseFri, 11 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[When Cruise Ships Plug In, Ports Prosper]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/06/when-cruise-ships-plug-in-ports-prosper/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/06/when-cruise-ships-plug-in-ports-prosper/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/06/when-cruise-ships-plug-in-ports-prosper/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

plug inHaving the ability to "plug in" to cleaner shore-based electric power, rather than burning diesel fuel when in port, allows cruise ships to eliminate a jumbo-sized carbon footprint. At a number of ports in the United States, ships are doing just that. Now, the Canadian government has announced that it is continuing its commitment to limit air emissions from the Canadian transportation sector by inviting applications for funding under the Shore Power Technology for Ports Program.

The program will provide cost-shared funding for the installation of marine shore power at Canadian ports that allows ships to plug into the local electrical grid to power the vessel and turn off their diesel engines when docked.

In January, the Government announced it would be making a further $27.2 million investment into the program to help reduce air emissions from ships, encouraging more ports to participate in the program.

"Our investment in shore power will reduce emissions from ports, support a cleaner environment and protect the health of Canadians by improving the quality of air we breathe," said Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport in Portworld. "This program will boost the competitiveness of Canadian ports, provide new opportunities for growth in the tourism sector, and create jobs across the country."

Continue reading When Cruise Ships Plug In, Ports Prosper

When Cruise Ships Plug In, Ports Prosper originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 06 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Canadian Governmentcruisecruise ships plug incruise vacationscruisesCruiseShipsPlugInCruiseVacationsDenis LebelFinanceHolland America LineHollandAmericaLineMinister of Transportplug inPlugInSci/TechWorldSun, 06 May 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo Of The Day: Hidden Rock Wall]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/05/photo-of-the-day-hidden-rock-wall/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/05/photo-of-the-day-hidden-rock-wall/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/05/photo-of-the-day-hidden-rock-wall/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Photo of the Day
This Photo of the Day comes from Gadling Flickr pool member James Wheeler who captured the image using a Nikon D5000. The image is titled "Hidden Rock Wall."

James add this caption to the image: "These days, the mountains to the North of Vancouver are mainly used for hiking and recreation but these mountains have a long history of logging. There are many remnants of the old days of logging, not just stumps of the massive trees that used to line British Columbia's coast but also rubble from the buildings used during the logging.

I noticed this rubble of an old building overgrown while doing the brothers creek hike just north of West Vancouver."

Upload your best shots to the Gadling Group Pool on Flickr. Several times a week we choose our favorite images from the pool as Photos of the Day.

Tips for getting featured: In your Flickr account, check "Privacy and Permissions," and check "yes" on "Allow others to share your stuff." Adding information about your image does not hurt your chances either.

Photo Of The Day: Hidden Rock Wall originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 05 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>British ColumbiaFeatured Flickr photosFeaturedFlickrPhotosFlickr photosFlickrPhotosGadling Flickr poolGadling Photo of the DayGadlingFlickrPoolGadlingPhotoOfTheDayJames WheelerJamesWheelerNikon D5000Photo of the DayPhotoOfTheDaySci/TechVancouverWest VancouverSat, 05 May 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[VIA Rail Canada Debuts Mouthwatering New Train Menu]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/05/via-rail-canada-debuts-mouthwatering-new-train-menu/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/05/via-rail-canada-debuts-mouthwatering-new-train-menu/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/05/via-rail-canada-debuts-mouthwatering-new-train-menu/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

train menuOn most rail systems in the U.S. and Europe, chips and cookies count as "train cuisine." But Canada's VIA Rail system is kicking it up a notch (boom!) with a new gourmet train menu on its legendary trans-continental Canadian route between Toronto and Vancouver.

The menu will include 78 brand-new dishes, which will be made to order with fresh ingredients and prepared on board by VIA Rail chefs. Certain menu items will be regional in nature, befitting the trans-continental voyage. Think dishes like French toast stuffed with cheesecake, roast beef ravioli sautéed with crispy bacon, and scallops and goat cheese sacchetti with truffles served a la nage in lobster bisque.

Sound inventive? The dishes were cooked up during a two-day Menu Creation Challenge, which roped in eight chefs to develop new dishes under the direction of Chef Martin Gemme. The results blow away the honey-roasted peanuts on Amtrak, that's for sure.

Continue reading VIA Rail Canada Debuts Mouthwatering New Train Menu

VIA Rail Canada Debuts Mouthwatering New Train Menu originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 05 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canadagourmet foodGourmetFoodmenu creation challengeMenuCreationChallengetorontotraintrain foodtrain menuTrainFoodTrainMenuvancouvervia railViaRailSat, 05 May 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo Of The Day: Black Rock Beach]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/04/photo-of-the-day-black-rock-beach/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/04/photo-of-the-day-black-rock-beach/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/04/photo-of-the-day-black-rock-beach/#commentsFiled under: , ,

black rock beach

Summer advances slowly. Flickr user LadyExpat (Back in Daejeon) captured this idyllic springtime scene on Black Rock Beach in Halifax, Nova Scotia, this past Wednesday.

It wasn't always quite so lovely round these parts. Black Rock Beach, situated in Point Pleasant Park, was near the site of the public hanging of a notorious pirate in 1809. Today's vision of the beach is not quite so violent, thankfully; it looks like a truly lovely place for a spring or summer picnic.

Have you got a great capture of the changing seasons? Sure you do. Upload it to the Gadling Group Pool on Flickr. Our favorites from the pool end up as Photos of the Day.

Photo Of The Day: Black Rock Beach originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 04 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black rock beachBlackRockBeachcanadahalifaxnova scotiaNovaScotiaphoto of the dayPhotoOfTheDayFri, 04 May 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo Of The Day: Cabin In The Woods]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/20/photo-of-the-day-cabin-in-the-woods/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/20/photo-of-the-day-cabin-in-the-woods/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/20/photo-of-the-day-cabin-in-the-woods/#commentsFiled under: , ,

cabin in the woods

I like this image of a cabin in the woods, despite its slight seasonal dissonance, because it resembles a scrapbook image. "This is Terry in front of that awesome cabin right before she spied a moose and freaked out," it could be annotated.

Or not.

This moody and lush image was snapped by Flickr user mciccone640 in Ontario in March.

Upload your own holiday or holiday-apparent shots to the Gadling Group Pool on Flickr. We choose our favorite images from the pool as Photos of the Day.

Photo Of The Day: Cabin In The Woods originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Cabin in the WoodsCabinInTheWoodscanadaontariophoto of the dayPhotoOfTheDayFri, 20 Apr 2012 05:00:00 EST<![CDATA[British Woman Prepares To Row Across The Pacific]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/19/british-woman-prepares-to-row-across-the-pacific/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/19/british-woman-prepares-to-row-across-the-pacific/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/19/british-woman-prepares-to-row-across-the-pacific/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Sarah Outen will soon start her row across the Pacific OceanLast April we posted a story about Sarah Outen, an adventurous 26-year-old from the U.K. who had set out to circumnavigate the globe using nothing but her own power. Sarah called her journey the London2London expedition and over the past 12 months she has traveled by kayak and bike across Europe and Asia. Now she is preparing to embark on the next stage of her journey, a solo row across the Pacific Ocean.

Sarah is currently in Choshi, Japan, where she is busy making the final preparations to her 21-foot rowboat named Gulliver. That boat will be her home for the next seven months as she undertakes the physically and mentally demanding task of crossing the Pacific. If all goes as planned, and the weather is right, she'll set out tomorrow on a 5179-mile row that will eventually end in Vancouver, Canada.

This isn't Sarah's first ocean crossing under her own power. Back in 2009 she rowed solo across the Indian Ocean as well. That expedition took more than four months to complete and covered approximately 3100 miles of open ocean. The Pacific will provide a similar experience, albeit on a much grander scale.

After setting out from London last year, Outen paddled down the Thames River and crossed the English Channel in a kayak. Arriving on the shores of France, she climbed aboard a bike and began peddling east, crossing through numerous countries in Europe and Asia along the way. She arrived in Japan last October, but the Pacific is unforgiving in the autumn and winter so she has waited until now to start this stage of the journey.

After she completes her row across the Pacific, Sarah will once again return to her bike and continue her round-the-world adventure. The next stage will involve riding across Canada and the U.S. Finally, she intends to cap the journey by rowing across the North Atlantic and back up the Thames River, finishing where she started under the London Bridge.

I'm exhausted just thinking about it.

[Photo courtesy Sarah Outen]

British Woman Prepares To Row Across The Pacific originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-travelcircumnavigatelondonlondon2londonocean rowingOceanRowingPacificPacific OceanPacificOceanrow boatrow pacificRowBoatrowingRowPacificsarah outenSarahOutenThu, 19 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo Of The Day: Ordinary Day]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/14/photo-of-the-day-ordinary-day/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/14/photo-of-the-day-ordinary-day/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/14/photo-of-the-day-ordinary-day/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Photo of the Day

This Photo of the Day comes from Gadling Flickr pool member James Wheeler who captured the image using a Nikon D5000 and is titled "Ordinary Day."

James describes the image as, "Yet another 'ordinary' sunrise from a dock near Jericho beach along the shore of Vancouver."

To end up with this image, James used a Tokina 12-24mm f/4 lens on his Nikon D5000 mounted on a Slik Sprint Pro Tripod then worked it through Adobe Photoshop and Nik Color Efex Pro.

Upload your best shots to the Gadling Group Pool on Flickr. Several times a week we choose our favorite images from the pool as Photos of the Day.

Tip for getting featured: In your Flickr account, check "Privacy and Permissions," and check "yes" on "Allow others to share your stuff." Adding information about your image does not hurt your chances either.

Photo Of The Day: Ordinary Day originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 14 Apr 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Adobe Photoshopfeatured photoFeaturedPhotoGadling Flickr poolGadlingFlickrPoolJames WheelerJericho BeachNikon D5000Ordinary DayPhoto of the DayPhotoOfTheDaySci/TechVancouverSat, 14 Apr 2012 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Summer Hotspot: Montreal, Quebec]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/10/summer-hotspots-montreal/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/10/summer-hotspots-montreal/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/10/summer-hotspots-montreal/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Hungry for some culture this summer? Skip the jet lag, high exchange rates and long museum lines in Europe for one of North America's most cosmopolitan and best warm-weather destinations: Montreal.

The charms that contribute to Montreal's growing cultural reputation are already evident year-round, ranging from its cosmopolitan European-style cafes, a top-notch range of award-winning restaurants and a lively music scene. But summer is truly when Montreal comes out to shine, a time when May-August average temperatures hover in the 70's and international-quality music festivals like MUTEK and Jazzfest draw partiers from around the globe. Design-conscious bargain hunters will find plenty to like in Montreal too. The city was named a UNESCO City of Design in 2006, and bursts at the seams with design-centric accommodations like Hotel Gault and fashion boutiques in the newly resurgent Old Montreal.

Those looking to add in a dose of the great outdoors won't be disappointed either. With Montreal's wildly successful Bixi bike-sharing program now in place at more than 5,000 locations city-wide, it's easier than ever to pedal out for an exploration on the city's 300+ miles of bike lanes and trails. For a more casual outdoor experience, stop by Montreal's sprawling Mount Royal Park with a picnic lunch and just enjoy the warm weather.

Best of all, Montreal is still a relative bargain for budget-seekers. Compared to the Euro (currently $1.30:1), the Canadian Dollar still trades at a more wallet-friendly $1:1. Meaning you can spend those extra travel savings on a few more bottles of Quebec's delicious La Fin du Monde Belgian-style brew, produced in nearby Chambly, Quebec.

Continue reading Summer Hotspot: Montreal, Quebec

Summer Hotspot: Montreal, Quebec originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arcade fireArcadeFireau pied de cochonAuPiedDeCochonbixiBudgetTravelcafecoffeejazzfestLa Fin Du MondeLaFinDuMondemile endMileEndmontrealmount royalMountRoyalmutekplateuquebecsummer hotspotssummer travelSummerHotspotsSummerTravelunescoTue, 10 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[10 Best Cities Around The World To Experience Graffiti Art]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/07/10-best-cities-around-the-world-to-experience-graffiti-art/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/07/10-best-cities-around-the-world-to-experience-graffiti-art/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/07/10-best-cities-around-the-world-to-experience-graffiti-art/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

graffiti "Graffiti is one of the few tools you have if you have almost nothing. And even if you don't come up with a picture to cure world poverty you can make someone smile while they're having a piss." - Banksy, "Banging Your Head Against A Brick Wall"

While often thought of as vandalism, there are many cities around the globe with beautiful works of graffiti that add an aesthetic property to a destination. In fact, many of the cities on this list feature legal graffiti walls, and works commissioned by the city to help enhance and beautify the region. Moreover, a lot of street art helps to tell the story of a culture, express political views and enlighten viewers on important topics.

Want to know where to experience the best graffiti art around the world? Check out the gallery below.

Gallery: Best Cities Around The World To Experience Graffiti Art

Buenos Aires, ArgentinaQueens, New YorkBristol, United KingdomBerlin, GermanyMontreal, Canada

10 Best Cities Around The World To Experience Graffiti Art originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 07 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artbest cities for graffitibest graffiti wallsBestCitiesForGraffitiBestGraffitiWallsbudget travelBudgetTravelculturegraffitiphotosSat, 07 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massive New Ski Resort Gets Approval In British Columbia]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/04/massive-new-ski-resort-gets-approval-in-british-columbia/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/04/massive-new-ski-resort-gets-approval-in-british-columbia/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/04/massive-new-ski-resort-gets-approval-in-british-columbia/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Jumbo Mountain will be home to a new year-round ski resort in British ColumbiaGovernment officials in British Columbia recently approved a plan to build a massive new ski resort in the province's Purcell Mountains. When complete, the Jumbo Glacier Alpine Resort will be one of the largest ski areas in all of North America and will become the first on the continent to operate year-round.

It is estimated that it will take approximately two years and $900 million to complete the project, which is expected to open for Christmas 2014. When it does open, Jumbo will stretch across nearly 15,000 acres and will feature 23 lifts. Eventually it will also have as many 5500 rooms for on-site guest accommodations. Its unique location on the Jumbo Glacier will be one of its defining characteristics of course, as that will provide for four-season skiing and snowboarding.

The new project has been in the planning stages for more than 20 years and has been met with resistance from those living close to the new development. Some fear that it will alter the natural landscape and have an adverse effect on the wildlife in the Jumbo Valley where it will be built. As a result, a special grizzly bear protection and management program had to be created before the resort was given the green light and developers had to meet 195 environmental commitments before receiving the seal of approval. When it is completed, Jumbo is expected to draw thousands of visitors to the region on a yearly basis, creating jobs and additional revenue in the process.

I personally know a number of skiers who would love to have the ability to hit the slopes in the dead of summer and in a few years they'll have that option.

Massive New Ski Resort Gets Approval In British Columbia originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-travelbritish columbiaBritishColumbiajumbo ski resortJumboSkiResortski resort british columbiaski resortsSkiResortBritishColumbiaSkiResortssnowboardingWed, 04 Apr 2012 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo Of The Day: Old Mill]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/31/photo-of-the-day-old-mill/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/31/photo-of-the-day-old-mill/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/31/photo-of-the-day-old-mill/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Photo of the Day closed mill in Canada

This Photo of the Day comes from Gadling Flickr pool member James Wheeler who captured the image using a Nikon D5000 and is titled "Oil Mill."

James describes the image as "thee remains of an old mill that was in operation in the early 1900s. This is just a short walk from West Vancouver along a well-marked hiking trail."

Upload your best shots to the Gadling Group Pool on Flickr. Several times a week we choose our favorite images from the pool as Photos of the Day.

Photo Of The Day: Old Mill originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 31 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>James WheelerNikon D5000Photo of the DayPhotoOfTheDaySci/TechWest VancouverSat, 31 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tsunami powered ghost ship closes in on Canadian shores]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/27/tsunami-powered-ghost-ship-closes-in-on-canadian-shores/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/27/tsunami-powered-ghost-ship-closes-in-on-canadian-shores/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/27/tsunami-powered-ghost-ship-closes-in-on-canadian-shores/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

tsunami ghost shipWhen last year's earthquake and resulting tsunami rocked Japan, the destruction of property and disruption to travel plans were immediate. Minor quakes after the initial tremor did little more damage. But a Japanese squid-fishing boat has been drifting across the Pacific Ocean all year and is now closing in on British Columbia's north coast.

"It's been drifting across the Pacific for a year, so it's pretty beat up," said marine search coordinator Jeff Olsson of Victoria's Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in a Times Colonist article.

The 150-foot tsunami ghost ship was sent out to sea by the weather event and first found drifting right-side-up about 140 nautical miles (260 km) from Cape Saint James on the southern tip of Haida Gwaii, an archipelago on the North Coast of British Columbia. A Canadian Coast Guard plane on a routine surveillance patrol spotted the ship on March 20, causing them to issue a warning to all vessels that the ship is an obstruction to navigation.

"The ghost ship is probably going to be pretty much worthless - nobody's going to want to have anything to do with it because of the huge costs that are going to be incurred [towing it to shore]," said Gray, senior captain with the Vessel Assist towing company reports the Times Colonist, adding "All that garbage, it's going to hit Alaska, it's going to hit B.C. and it's going to hit Washington."

Check out Antarctica in Pictures!

Gallery: Bowermasters Adventures: Antarctica 2012


Flickr photo by elmas156

Tsunami powered ghost ship closes in on Canadian shores originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gadling Flickr pool member James Wheeler brings us this Photo of the Day, titled Starfish Breakfast, taken in Kitsilano, Vancouver, BC, with a Nikon D5000.

James tells us:
"When the tide is low along the shore of Vancouver it is easy to find purple starfish clinging to the rocks. The starfish are about the size of the palm of my hand but the seagulls are still able to eat them, but it takes a while. This seagull was working on getting the starfish down for about 5 minutes before he got to this point where only two tentacles were sticking out of his mouth, nice meal for a gull."
Upload your best shots to the Gadling Group Pool on Flickr. Several times a week we choose our favorite images from the pool as Photos of the Day.

Photo of the Day: Starfish Breakfast originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 17 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>James WheelerNikon D5000Photo of the DayPhotoOfTheDaySci/TechVancouverSat, 17 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[L'Anse aux Meadows: A Viking colony in Canada]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/15/lanse-aux-meadows-a-viking-colony-in-canada/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/15/lanse-aux-meadows-a-viking-colony-in-canada/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/15/lanse-aux-meadows-a-viking-colony-in-canada/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

L'Anse aux Meadows, Viking

The Vikings were some of the best sailors of the Middle Ages. They sailed all over the Mediterranean, far up the rivers of Russia and across the north Atlantic to colonize Iceland and Greenland. For a long time archaeologists wondered if they ever made it to other parts of North America besides Greenland. Although some Viking sagas mention a land called Vinland to the west of Greenland, no reliable traces of further Viking settlement were discovered until 1960.

In that year, a Norwegian archaeologist discovered a Viking village on the northernmost tip of Newfoundland, Canada. Called L'Anse aux Meadows, the site includes several houses made from sod put over a wooden framework. One building was identified as a smithy, and another as a carpenter's workshop. Several distinctively Viking artifacts were found, proving they really did make it here.

The settlement has been dated to about 1000 A.D. and doesn't appear to have been used for very long. One interesting aspect of L'Anse aux Meadows is that it looks like a typical Viking base camp for hunting and exploration. That hints at more Viking sites waiting to be found. Archaeologists found butternuts at the site, a plant that doesn't grow this far north, suggesting the Vikings were sailing to the south or perhaps trading with the Native Americans.

Gallery: L'Anse aux Meadows

Map showing location of L'Anse aux MeadowsThe first day of summer at L'Anse aux MeadowsTwo of the reconstructed housesReconstructed longhouseEntrance to longhouse

Continue reading L'Anse aux Meadows: A Viking colony in Canada

L'Anse aux Meadows: A Viking colony in Canada originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archaeologyarcheologyarcticCanadaexplorationhistoryLAnse aux MeadowsLanseAuxMeadowsmedievalMiddle AgesMiddleAgesNewfoundlandreenactmentreenactmentsreenactorreenactorsUNESCOUnescoWorldHeritageSiteUnescoWorldHeritageSitesVikingViking coloniesViking explorationVikingColoniesVikingExplorationVikingsVikings in North AmericaVikingsInNorthAmericaWiiworld heritage listworld heritage siteworld heritage sitesWorldHeritageListWorldHeritageSiteWorldHeritageSitesThu, 15 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[10 best places to live for avoiding world conflict]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/13/10-best-places-to-live-for-avoiding-world-conflict/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/13/10-best-places-to-live-for-avoiding-world-conflict/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/13/10-best-places-to-live-for-avoiding-world-conflict/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

New ZealandExpatify.com asked the question, "Where would you be the safest if World War III broke out tomorrow?" The answers arrived in a post titled "10 Best Places to Live for Avoiding World Conflict." Irrelevant as it may seem to you, the claws of conflict affect a revolving roster of nations. The knowledge of where not to go because of conflict, or better yet, where to go to avoid it, can be useful if you're planning to live, or even just spend some time, abroad. According to this article, countries that make the safety cut are: Switzerland, Costa Rica, Papua New Guinea, Canada, Seychelles, Finland, Tuvalu, Iceland, Bhutan, and New Zealand. Most of these choices make sense to me, based on what I know, but the undeniably gorgeous Seychelles seems like a somewhat uncertain choice. News stories covering the Somali pirates swarming the Seychelles area are prevalent. To be fair, I'm not convinced Somali pirates are a current threat for World War III. What are your thoughts? Where would you move in order to be as far removed from world conflict as possible?

Continue reading 10 best places to live for avoiding world conflict

10 best places to live for avoiding world conflict originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10 best places to live to avoid world conflict10 safest countries10 safest destinations10 safest nations10 safest places10 safest places to live10 safest places to visit10BestPlacesToLiveToAvoidWorldConflict10SafestCountries10SafestDestinations10SafestNations10SafestPlaces10SafestPlacesToLive10SafestPlacesToVisitbhutancanadacosta ricaCostaRicafinlandicelandnew zealandNewZealandpapua new guineaPapuaNewGuineaseychellesswitzerlandtuvaluworld conflictWorldConflictTue, 13 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Canadian hotel offers amnesty to thieves]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/12/canadian-hotel-offers-amnesty-to-thieves/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/12/canadian-hotel-offers-amnesty-to-thieves/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/12/canadian-hotel-offers-amnesty-to-thieves/#commentsFiled under: ,

old teacupIn honor of its upcoming 100-year anniversary, the Château Laurier Hotel in Ottawa is offering an amnesty for anyone who has pilfered something from the hotel over the last century. The historic, castle-like hotel in the Canadian capital put out the call for the items on February 23, 100 days before the 100-year anniversary, and has already received more than 60 items from people all over North America.

"The amnesty part means there are no questions asked," said Deneen Perrin, the hotel's director of public relations, in a telephone interview with Gadling on Wednesday. "It doesn't matter whether your grandmother took a silver spoon and put it in her purse or if someone's parents maybe worked in the hotel and took something, we'll take it back."

Perrin said that the hotel has had a steady stream of returns, both in person and through the mail. Many of the mail returns had no return address and some who return items in person place them on the front desk and slink out. One gentleman pulled up in front of the hotel and handed a bellhop a circa-1912 doorknob from the hotel before speeding off. Others have sent in old stationery, a print likeness of the hotel, swizzle sticks, teacups, china, old brass keys, and a 20's era utility knife with the hotel logo on it.

Gallery: Fairmont Château Laurier Returned Items

Continue reading Canadian hotel offers amnesty to thieves

Canadian hotel offers amnesty to thieves originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 12 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amnestycanadachateau laurierChateauLaurierhotel theftHotelTheftOttawastealingstealing from hotelsStealingFromHotelsstolen hotel itemsStolenHotelItemsMon, 12 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[10 hotels celebrating centennial birthdays in 2012]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/09/10-hotels-celebrating-centennial-birthdays-in-2012/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/09/10-hotels-celebrating-centennial-birthdays-in-2012/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/09/10-hotels-celebrating-centennial-birthdays-in-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

The year 2012 marks a very special year for many hotels, as some of the world's most prestigious properties turn 100 and join the Century Club. Everyone loves birthdays, and lucky for travelers these properties are celebrating by offering guests discounts, prizes, packages, and parties.

fairmont Fairmont Copley Plaza
Boston, Massachusetts

The Fairmont Copley Plaza opened its doors on August 19, 1912, at an extravagant cost of $5.5 million. In attendance at the hotel's reception were over 1000 guests, one of which included Boston's mayor at the time, John F. "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald, who was President Kennedy's grandfather. To celebrate its 100-year birthday, the hotel is featuring an array of events and promotions, including a "100 Days of Celebration" beginning May 10. During this time, complimentary period costume tours, 20th century music, and cake will be available. Moreover, a Celebration of a Century package will be available through December 31, offering accommodation in a newly renovated room, a private hotel history tour, and a history booklet.

Package rates begin at $100 per person, per night. Call 1-800-257-7544 or E-mail reservations@fairmont.com to book.

Continue reading 10 hotels celebrating centennial birthdays in 2012

10 hotels celebrating centennial birthdays in 2012 originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accommodationsbest hotelsBestHotelsbirthdaybudget travelBudgetTravelcelebrationeventshistorical hotelsHistoricalHotelshotel packagesHotelPackageshotelsluxury travelLuxuryTraveltravel dealsTravelDealsFri, 09 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A travel agent who helps 'people of size' see the world]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/07/a-travel-agent-who-helps-people-of-size-see-the-world/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/07/a-travel-agent-who-helps-people-of-size-see-the-world/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/07/a-travel-agent-who-helps-people-of-size-see-the-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

obese woman on beachAccording to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 68% of Americans are either overweight or obese. But the width of an average coach-class seat on an airplane is just 17 inches, and with the economy picking up and airlines cutting back on flight schedules to stay competitive, empty seats are becoming a rare commodity.

The Canadian government passed a one person, one ticket law in 2008 that classified obesity as a disability and required major Canadian airlines to provide obese passengers with as many additional seats as needed at no extra charge. In the U.S., airline staff occasionally ask larger travelers to buy a second seat but the issue can be contentious. Two years ago, a flight attendant on a Southwest flight removed filmmaker Kevin Smith from an Oakland-Burbank flight because he couldn't fit into one seat and the flight was full. Smith had booked two seats but decided to go standby on an earlier flight. They allowed him to board but then asked him to leave once it was clear he couldn't fit into the one seat.

Smith was outraged and tweeted, "You [messed] with the wrong sedentary processed-foods eater!" among other things to his 1.6 million followers. But anecdotal evidence suggests that many airlines allow obese travelers to travel on one ticket, even if it's obvious they can't fit into one seat. In November, a traveler from Pennsylvania claimed that he had to stand for the duration of a seven-hour flight because his seatmate was too large for him to sit comfortably. The incident garnered widespread media attention, with many readers noting that they'd had similar experiences.

Spirit Airlines offers "big front" seats for an additional fee and other airlines also have new classes of service somewhere between business and coach, but most offer only additional legroom and not wider seats. According to the New York Times, at least three airlines do not allow obese passengers to sit in the emergency exit row. When it comes to airline travel, size clearly matters and the issue of weight and passenger comfort is likely to remain contentious.

Tony Harrell is a board member of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA), and founder of Abundant Travel, a travel agency for "people of size" based in Alexandria, Virginia. In the interview below, I spoke to Harrell about a variety of issues pertaining to obesity and the travel industry.

How did you decide to start a travel agency specializing in overweight and obese travelers?

I started Abundant Travel two years ago, and my main inspiration was my then-girlfriend and now fiancée, who is a larger person. We were trying to find properties and destinations that would accommodate us and it got me to thinking there have to be other travelers who have similar concerns.

Continue reading A travel agent who helps 'people of size' see the world

A travel agent who helps 'people of size' see the world originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kevin smithKevinSmithobeseobese travel issuesobese travelersObeseTravelersObeseTravelIssuesoverweightoverweight travelOverweightTravelsouthwest airlinesSouthwest treatment of obeseSouthwestAirlinesSouthwestTreatmentOfObesetravel agent for obese peopletravel agentsTravelAgentForObesePeopleTravelAgentsWed, 07 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST