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[Ancient Curses Uncovered In Two Countries]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/25/ancient-curses-uncovered-in-two-countries/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/25/ancient-curses-uncovered-in-two-countries/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/25/ancient-curses-uncovered-in-two-countries/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

ancient curses, curses, curse, Carlisle
It's been a good week for ancient curses.

A "cursing stone" has been discovered on the Isle of Canna, Scotland. More precisely called a bullaun stone, they're natural or artificial depressions in a stone that catch rainwater and give it magical properties, usually to heal or to help women conceive a child. A shaped stone is placed in the hole that's turned to make a prayer or curse.

The bullaun stone on the Isle of Canna is at the base of an early Christian cross dating to about 800 A.D. Now a round stone carved with a cross has been found that fits exactly into this depression. While bullaun stones are found in several European countries, it's uncommon for both the stone and the base to be preserved.

Over in Italy, two ancient curses have been translated. A Spanish researcher working at the Archaeological Museum of Bologna has revealed the text of two curses inscribed on lead tablets in Roman times. Called a defixio, such curses were common in Greek and Roman times and often came mass produced with only the name of the target needing to be filled in. The ones in Bologna target an animal doctor and a senator, making it the first such curse found against a Roman senator.

One reads in part, "Crush, kill Fistus the senator. . .May Fistus dilute, languish, sink and may all his limbs dissolve ..." The one against the animal doctor is no less nasty: "Destroy, crush, kill, strangle Porcello and wife Maurilla. Their soul, heart, buttocks, liver. . ."

Many museums have examples of these ancient nastygrams. One at the British Museum was found in London and curses a woman's memory. Since it's the only record of her to survive, it appears the curse worked.

Curses can be found all over the place. In Carlisle I came across a cursing stone made in 1525 by the Archbishop of Glasgow against the Border Reivers, Scottish raiders who stole English livestock. There's a photo of it above. You can read the text of the curse in my article about Carlisle.

Ancient Curses Uncovered In Two Countries originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 25 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ancient cursesancient religionancient romanancient romeAncientCursesAncientReligionAncientRomanAncientRomearchaeologyarchaeology newsArchaeologyNewsarcheologyarcheology newsArcheologyNewsblack magicBlackMagicBolognaBritish MuseumBritishMuseumbullaunCarlislecursecursesdefixioEnglandfolk magicfolkloreFolkMagicItalyLondonmagicmajickRomanRoman EmpireRoman EnglandRoman religionRomanEmpireRomanEnglandRomanReligionsciencescience newsScienceNewsScotlandsuperstitionFri, 25 May 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Literary Maps By The Literary Gift Company]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/literary-maps-by-the-literary-gift-company/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/literary-maps-by-the-literary-gift-company/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/literary-maps-by-the-literary-gift-company/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


What makes a destination complex and thick with curiosity is its history and culture. These interests shape your perception of and experience in a place. On a trip to Baltimore my family took while I was in high school, I succeeded in convincing my parents to take me to Edgar Allan Poe's grave. Literature often provides a great backdrop to a place; writers describe the ins and outs of a place with beautiful accuracy. And that's why I think these literary maps made by The Literary Gift Company are so cool. These maps of both England and the U.S.A. have been formed with the names of writers from the two countries. If you love travel and literature, check these out here.

Continue reading Literary Maps By The Literary Gift Company

Literary Maps By The Literary Gift Company originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 24 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gifts for readersgifts for writersGiftsForReadersGiftsForWritersliterary gift companyliterary giftsliterary mapliterary mapsLiteraryGiftCompanyLiteraryGiftsLiteraryMapLiteraryMapsliterature giftsLiteratureGiftsmap of englandmap of usamap of writersMapOfEnglandMapOfUsaMapOfWritersThu, 24 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video Of The Day: Partial Solar Eclipse Shadows]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/23/video-of-the-day-partial-solar-eclipse-shadows/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/23/video-of-the-day-partial-solar-eclipse-shadows/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/23/video-of-the-day-partial-solar-eclipse-shadows/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Mark Day is a videographer with an eye for beauty. Instead of lamenting over the fact that he couldn't stare straight into the partially eclipsed sun during the solar eclipse he saw on May 20, he decided to make a video of the surreal shadows cast from the eclipsed sun. I saw the video first on Laughing Squid. The crescent shapes make hard surfaces look like rippling water, reflecting the sunlight in fragments. Did you see the solar eclipse on May 20? If so, did you see it in full or partially? Let us know what your eclipse experience was like in the comments. Feel free to link to any photos of videos you have.

Continue reading Video Of The Day: Partial Solar Eclipse Shadows

Video Of The Day: Partial Solar Eclipse Shadows originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 23 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eclipse videoeclipse videoseclipsed sunEclipsedSunEclipseVideoEclipseVideosmark dayMarkDaypartial solar eclipsePartialSolarEclipsesolar eclipseSolarEclipseWed, 23 May 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Get Ready For The Olympics With Andaz's World Food Marathon]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/19/get-ready-for-the-olympics-with-andazs-world-food-marathon/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/19/get-ready-for-the-olympics-with-andazs-world-food-marathon/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/19/get-ready-for-the-olympics-with-andazs-world-food-marathon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

andaz liverpool streetWhile the Olympic Games are associated with international sports, Andaz Liverpool Street in London will be focusing on international food during the weeks leading up to the big event.

The five-star luxury hotel will be looking to staff members of its four Andaz restaurants - 1901, Catch, Eastway and Miyako - to help create the menu. Pulling from the 40 different nationalities that represent the Andaz Liverpool Street team, 26 unique cultural dishes were created. This number isn't random, as it embodies the 26 miles in a marathon. The tasty festival will run from July 2 to July 27, the 26 days leading up to the Olympic Opening Ceremony.

Some of the dishes attendees can expect include Korean Spicy Pork, Polish Golabki, Slovakian sheep's cheese dumplings, Colombian bandeja paisa and South African Bobotie.

"With all eyes on London this year as the 2012 Olympic season gathers momentum, Andaz Liverpool Street wanted to pay tribute to the multicultural base of the city with a variety of dishes from around the world, which celebrate different cultures, allowing our guests to take a journey of the culinary kind through what we have called the World Food Marathon,'' says Arnaud de Saint Exupéry, the Andaz Liverpool Street General Manager.

Get Ready For The Olympics With Andaz's World Food Marathon originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 19 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andazculinarydrinkeventsfoodlondonolympicssportsworld food marathonWorldFoodMarathonSat, 19 May 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Four UK Museums On Shortlist For Art Fund Prize]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/17/four-uk-museums-on-shortlist-for-art-fund-prize/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/17/four-uk-museums-on-shortlist-for-art-fund-prize/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/17/four-uk-museums-on-shortlist-for-art-fund-prize/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

UK Museums, Hepworth WakefieldFour UK museums have made the shortlist for the Annual Art Fund Prize. The winner will get a hefty £100,000 ($161,000) donation, most welcome in these times of economic austerity.

One of the museums, the Hepworth Wakefield, only opened a year ago and has already smashed attendance expectations by attracting half a million visitors. Located in Yorkshire, it focuses on contemporary art and has an innovative modern building design.

The Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter is housed in an elaborate Victorian building and has a broad-based collection ranging from local archaeological finds to Egyptian mummies, British watercolors and digital art. There's also a natural history section with fossils, birds, insects and a rather intimidating tiger.

The Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh reopened last December after a major renovation and now features free entrance and 60 percent more space to show off all those guys in kilts. The Watts Gallery in Guildford showcases the work of famous painter G.F. Watts as well as a huge collection of Victorian photographs and temporary exhibitions of British art.

The winner will be announced on June 19.

[Top photo of Hepworth Wakefield courtesy Carl Milner]

Four UK Museums On Shortlist For Art Fund Prize originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 17 May 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artArt FundArt Fund awardArt Fund prizeart galleriesart historyart newsArtFundArtFundAwardArtFundPrizeArtGalleriesArtHistoryArtNewsEdinburgh UniversityEdinburghUniversityEnglandExeterFoodFestivalGuildfordmuseummuseum newsMuseumNewsmuseumsScotland tourismScotland travelScotlandTourismScotlandTravelscott brownScottBrownUKUK museumsUK tourismUK travelUkMuseumsUkTourismUkTravelYOkrshireThu, 17 May 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Eco-Friendly Hotel Amenity: Pedal-To-Power LCD Television]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/15/eco-friendly-hotel-amenity-pedal-to-power-lcd-television/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/15/eco-friendly-hotel-amenity-pedal-to-power-lcd-television/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/15/eco-friendly-hotel-amenity-pedal-to-power-lcd-television/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

bikingFor those interested in keeping vacation weight off while also doing something good for the planet, the Cottage Lodge in Brockenhurst, United Kingdom, is offering a unique amenity. Instead of allowing guests to turn on the television the old-fashioned way, the bed and breakfast features a pedal-to-power LCD television in their Standing Hat room.

The purpose of the unusually active method of television powering is purely environmental. While you'd think some travelers may not be happy about having to work to turn on their TV, the accommodation has actually received positive feedback, especially from cyclists.

"I focused on three things when constructing the room: reducing waste, minimizing pollution and using resources with the lowest impact possible," the hotel's owner, Christina Simons, explained to the Telegraph. "I also wanted to show that being green can also be exciting and fun, and guests love cycling on the bike."

And for those with low stamina, don't worry, you also have the option to make use of the electric supply generated by photovoltaic cells on the roof, so you'll still be going green while you travel. In fact, the hotel utilizes many sustainable features, like solar panel heating in the summer, heating via a wood burning stove in the winter, low-impact building materials and furniture created by a local tree surgeon from a single fallen beech tree.

Eco-Friendly Hotel Amenity: Pedal-To-Power LCD Television originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 15 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accommodationsadventure travelAdventureTravelbike powered tvBikePoweredTvbudget travelBudgetTravelcyclinghotelsunique amenitiesUniqueAmenitiesTue, 15 May 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[In-Flight Cellphone Calls To Be Allowed On Virgin Atlantic Flights]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/14/inflight-cell-phone-calls-to-be-allowed-on-virgin-atlantic-fligh/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/14/inflight-cell-phone-calls-to-be-allowed-on-virgin-atlantic-fligh/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/14/inflight-cell-phone-calls-to-be-allowed-on-virgin-atlantic-fligh/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

inflight cell phone service to be offered on Virgin AtlanticPassengers on Virgin Atlantic will soon be able to make in-flight cellphone calls, send texts and browse the web on their way home from Europe, it was just announced. The new service is part of the airline's upgrade to the Airbus A330, which will also provide expanded in-flight entertainment, USB ports and a very spiffy upper class. Cellphone service will initially be available only on London to New York flights, but will be expanded to more cities by the year's end. There are a lot of caveats, however: you'll need to be on a Vodafone or O2 network, only 10 calls will be allowed at one time and service won't be cheap. Calls will cost 1 GBP per minute and texts 20p each. You'll also still need to turn off your devices for takeoff and landing, and turn them off within 250 miles of US airspace, so no flight-long games of Words With Friends.

Gadling readers: would you use this service? Do you think it's any improvement over the old-school in-flight phones? Or will it just be another amazing innovation that no one appreciates?

[Photo courtesy Flickr user Highways Agency]

In-Flight Cellphone Calls To Be Allowed On Virgin Atlantic Flights originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 14 May 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Airbus A330cellCell PhoneEuropeFlickrinflightinflight cell phoneInflightCellPhoneinternetlondonmobilenew yorkNewYorkSci/Techtechnologytextvirgin atlanticVirgin Atlantic AirwaysVirginAtlanticVodafone Group PLCMon, 14 May 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Museum Month: JEATH War Museum, Kanchanaburi, Thailand]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/14/museum-month-jeath-war-museum-kanchanaburi-thailand/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/14/museum-month-jeath-war-museum-kanchanaburi-thailand/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/14/museum-month-jeath-war-museum-kanchanaburi-thailand/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

bridge on river kwaiHistory has never been my favorite subject, but once I began traveling in earnest, I discovered something. If I visited a destination, I usually became obsessed with its history or indigenous peoples. Unfortunately, I didn't discover this in time to save the downward trajectory of my GPA when I was a student, but it's made me sound infinitely more worldly in daily life.

I found the JEATH War Museum in Kanchanaburi, Thailand, purely by accident. Anything historical pertaining to war is a subject I normally avoid - I'm a girl like that - with the exception of the "Platoon" soundtrack. Thus, the most I knew about "The Bridge on the River Kwai," which is located in Kanchanaburi, is how to whistle the tune. The town and bridge are actually located at the confluence of the Rivers Kwai Noi and Kwai Yai, at the headwaters of the Maeklong (Mekong).

I ended up there because I had a few days to kill prior to flying home, and it's less than a two-hour bus ride west of Bangkok. Kanchanaburi sounded peaceful, and is a popular getaway for backpackers and Thai urbanites. The main activities are dining in the many "floating restaurants" on the river, taking cooking classes, hiking in beautiful Erawan National Park and sightseeing (more on that after the jump).

I ended up meeting two fun Australian girls at my riverfront guesthouse, and we proceeded to spend the next three days together. On our first afternoon, I asked them how they'd ended up in Kanchanaburi, and they told me they were there to visit the JEATH War Museum and pay tribute. I looked at them blankly.

"The what?" I asked. They looked at me with pity, thinking, like millions of Aussies before them, that the American educational system is an abysmal failure (no argument there).

"The Japan, England, America, Australia, Thailand, Holland War Museum," one of the girls said patiently. "Y'know, it's dedicated to the thousands of Allied POWs who died while constructing the Bridge and Death Railway from 1942 to 1943."

Cue crickets chirping.

Continue reading Museum Month: JEATH War Museum, Kanchanaburi, Thailand

Museum Month: JEATH War Museum, Kanchanaburi, Thailand originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 14 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bangkokBreakingNewsbridge on river kwaiBridgeOnRiverKwaibridgestonedeath railwayDeathRailwayerawan fallsErawan National ParkErawanFallsErawanNationalParkfamous bridgesFamousBridgesfloating restaurantsFloatingRestaurantsforced laborForcedLaborgenocide memorialsGenocideMemorialshellfire passHellfirePassimperial japanese armyImperialJapaneseArmyKanchanaburimaemomegan foxMeganFoxmilitary museumsMilitaryMuseumsMuseumMonthPOWPresident2008prison musemsPrisonMusemsps3river kwaiRiverKwaithai burma railwaythai cooking classesthai riversThaiBurmaRailwayThaiCookingClassesThaiRiverswar machinewar museumsWarMachineWarMuseumsworld war twoWorldWarTwoWWIIWWII museumsWwiiMuseumsMon, 14 May 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Travel Regrets: One Lost Conversation]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/14/travel-regrets-one-lost-conversation/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/14/travel-regrets-one-lost-conversation/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/14/travel-regrets-one-lost-conversation/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

lost conversation

It's impossible to know what a lost conversation might have yielded. A lost conversation occupies a place in memory, a reservoir of sadness or relief. It's the shape of the reservoir that remains forever unknown. This uncertainty often renders the very recognition of a lost conversational opportunity difficult.

The decision to welcome a stranger into conversation while on the road isn't always easy. Nobody wants to be an easy mark. In places with pervasive tourism infrastructures, it's often the better part of wisdom to ignore touts and attempts at conversation altogether. There are, after all, many scams to avoid, many tourist traps to escape.

But often a self-imposed barrier to conversation on the part of a tourist or traveler precludes what would have been interesting, useful, personally significant, or simply an opportunity to share a laugh or two.

A year and a half ago I was in Mauritius, having a conversation with my partner on a beach. What was it about? No idea. A very tall man with dreadlocks came up to us and hovered maybe 15 feet away. Very quietly he asked us if we might be interested in buying some jewelry made out of sea urchins.

I couldn't hear him. "Sorry?" I asked. He repeated his pitch. "No thank you," I responded, somewhat curtly. We were not interested in his jewelry. He also wasn't really bothering us. Had our completely forgettable conversation not felt urgent, I would no doubt have been more polite. Hawkers are few and far between in this part of Mauritius, at least off-season, and his entreaty had been tame and gentle. But we weren't interested, and we were in the middle of a conversation in any case.

"Where are you from?" he persisted. Every time we got this question in Mauritius we had to make a decision. Either we enjoyed the unfolding game and entertained a dozen or so guesses before we revealed our nationality, or we nipped it in the bud by responding "American." This time, eager to get back to our conversation, we chose the latter option.

"I know America," he said with sudden clarity. He pointed at his chest with a single finger. "I am from Chagos." Suddenly, everything changed. He was no longer an unobtrusive if vaguely annoying hawker. "You are from Chagos?" I asked, suddenly alert. "Yes," he answered. And then he turned away abruptly. The lines of communication were closed. He was done.

Continue reading Travel Regrets: One Lost Conversation

Travel Regrets: One Lost Conversation originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 14 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>british indian ocean territoryBritishIndianOceanTerritoryChagossiansDiego GarciaDiegoGarcialost conversationLostConversationmauritiusSeychellesunited kingdomUnitedKingdomMon, 14 May 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Torture Museums Look At The Dark Side Of History]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/13/torture-museums-look-at-the-dark-side-of-history/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/13/torture-museums-look-at-the-dark-side-of-history/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/13/torture-museums-look-at-the-dark-side-of-history/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Torture Museum
Ah, the Good Old Days, when everyone lived in a perpetual Renaissance Festival quaffing ale and shouting "Huzzah!" It must have been wonderful.

Not!

People died young, the cities were filled with rats and open sewers, and God help you if you ever got arrested. You'd be taken to a torture chamber in order to "confess" while being subjected to various imaginative torture devices, like the rack shown here in a photo courtesy Jan Mehlich. It's from the torture exhibit in the Lubuska Land Museum in Zielona Góra, Poland. A victim would be tied to it and stretched until his limbs popped out of their sockets. The spikes on the cylinder would add an extra level of agony. This museum stands out among torture museums in that many of its objects were used in the local area.

Germany was a pretty rough place back in the Bad Old Days, and this has spawned several good torture museums in the country. The biggest is the Medieval Crime Museum in Rothenburg, with 2,000 square meters of displays on torture, execution and medieval law. Nuremberg has a preserved torture chamber underneath city hall.

Italy was a rough place too, and you can find out more at the Criminal Museum in Rome, the Museo della Tortura housed in the Devil's Tower in San Gimignano and the Museum of Criminal Anthropology in Turin. The latter museum is interesting because it reflects the 19th century belief that a person's physical features, especially the shape of the skull, could show criminal proclivities. Hundreds of skulls, brains and death masks from executed criminals are on display, as well as the weapons they used in their crimes and the instruments of their demise.

Gallery: Torture Museums of the World

The gibbet displayed the rotting bodies of executed criminalsThe skull cracker removed heretical thoughtsEarly waterboarding, Inquisition Museum, LimaMask for gossips, RothenburgChain worn as punishment for cheating at gambling, Rothenburg

Continue reading Torture Museums Look At The Dark Side Of History

Torture Museums Look At The Dark Side Of History originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 13 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crimecrime preventionCrimePreventioncriminalcriminal interrogationCriminalInterrogationcriminalscriminologyEuropeEurope tourismEurope travelEuropeTourismEuropeTravelgrosshistoryinstruments of tortureInstrumentsOfTorturemedievalmiddle agesMiddleAgesoddrenaissancescarystrangestrange museumsStrangeMuseumstorturetorture instrumentstorture museumtorture museumsTortureInstrumentsTortureMuseumTortureMuseumsweirdweird museumsWeirdMuseumsSun, 13 May 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[British Tourism Q&A: Travel Writer Donald Strachan]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/11/british-tourism-qanda-travel-writer-donald-strachan/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/11/british-tourism-qanda-travel-writer-donald-strachan/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/11/british-tourism-qanda-travel-writer-donald-strachan/#commentsFiled under: ,

British tourismBritish tourism is a big topic in 2012. With the Queen's Diamond Jubilee next month, the Olympics in July and August, and the Paralympics in August and September, the United Kingdom is under some serious scrutiny, in particular as a national brand and a tourist destination.

Here I ask Donald Strachan, travel journalist, guidebook writer and all around Twitter delight, some questions about the current state of tourism in the UK. (Be sure to check out my earlier Q&A on the state of tourism in Britain with Sally Shalam.)

Q: Donald Strachan, define your occupation.

A: I'm a travel journalist, an advice columnist for the Sunday Telegraph focusing on consumer travel technology, and a guidebook writer for Frommer's specializing in England, Wales, and Italy. I've also authored content for iPhone apps to Florence and Turin, and am working on some new self-published eBooks.

Q: As a travel writer, how did you come to specialize on the UK?

A: About eight years ago I decided that I didn't want to continue to fly, and I haven't been on an airplane since. That choice has narrowed the field down a little, obviously. I also think that there's so much within an hour's journey of anyone's home that they will never discover, even if they live to be 80. I think I made the right decision. I love the areas I know, and love having the time to explore them in more depth, without the lure of the next tropical island to distract me.

Q: How would you assess the state of tourism marketing in the UK - strengths, weaknesses?

A: To be honest, I pay very little attention to this. Marketing a destination is (necessarily, I guess) such a broad-brush activity, and yet what really interests people about a place is usually specific and fine-grained. I've always wanted to go to Buenos Aires, because I remember the tickertape raining down at the 1978 World Cup Final. It formed such a strong impression. How do you market to that?

The UK advertisements I have seen seem to stick to the clichés. There's nothing wrong with a cliché, in itself; so many of our travel goals, all this bucket-list stuff, it's basically a list of clichés. But as a specialist, I guess, it's my job to dig a bit deeper, to be respectful to those clichés a visitor wants to experience while gently nudging her or him toward something they haven't thought of. I rarely see anything that picks out the nuances of Britain, that really makes it obvious how different, say, Suffolk is from Somerset.

Continue reading British Tourism Q&A: Travel Writer Donald Strachan

British Tourism Q&A: Travel Writer Donald Strachan originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 11 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>British tourismBritishTourismdonald strachanDonaldStrachanenglandlondonscotlandunited kingdomUnitedKingdomWalesFri, 11 May 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Overlooked London: The HMS Belfast]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/30/overlooked-london-the-hms-belfast/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/30/overlooked-london-the-hms-belfast/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/30/overlooked-london-the-hms-belfast/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

HMS Belfast, London
The United Kingdom used to have the largest navy in the world and it still packs a major punch today. One ship from the glory days is the HMS Belfast, docked on London's South Bank near London Bridge. This World War Two light cruiser also saw service in Korea and is now open to the public under the auspices of the Imperial War Museum, one of the best war museums anywhere.

London, HMS BelfastClambering up and down the nine decks and into turrets and engine rooms is lots of fun, and the video displays and signs tell you all about the history of the ship and life on board. One interactive display, the Gun Turret Experience, puts you in the middle of a WWII battle. In the Operations Room you can control an entire fleet at sea.

If you go in the winter, visit in the afternoon and catch the early sunset over the Thames, its bridges, and both its busy banks. Watching nightfall from the prow of this historic ship is a memorable experience.

The HMS Belfast is undergoing remodeling and will be even better when it reopens on May 18.

Check out more London attractions most tourists miss in our Overlooked London series!


Top photo, courtesy Steve Parker, shows the HMS Belfast as it appears today. The bottom photo, courtesy the Imperial War Museum, shows the ship bombarding the coast of Normandy in support of the D-Day invasion.

Overlooked London: The HMS Belfast originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>historic shipsHistoricShipsHMS BelfastHmsBelfastImperial War MuseumImperialWarMuseumKorean WarKoreanWarLondonLondon attractionsLondon tourismLondon travelLondonAttractionsLondonTourismLondonTravelmuseummuseum newsMuseumNewsmuseumsOverlookedLondonship museumsShipMuseumswarshipwarshipsworld warWorld War 2World War TwoWorldWarWorldWar2WorldWarTwoWW2WWIIMon, 30 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Vintage Aircraft Come Home]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/30/vintage-aircraft-come-home/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/30/vintage-aircraft-come-home/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/30/vintage-aircraft-come-home/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

vintage aircraftVintage aircraft fascinate those who travel by air. Pilots and aviation fans, along with frequent fliers, enjoy visiting air displays and museums to get up close and personal with aircraft that are often older than they are. As time goes on, efforts are being made to bring rare aircraft from World War II back to American facilities where they can be viewed and some even flown.

Central Florida's Fantasy of Flight, home to the world's largest private collection of rare and vintage planes, also became home to a World War II C-47 Dakota, also known as the SkyTrain, over the weekend.

Fantasy of Flight creator and founder Kermit Weeks purchased the plane last year from a private owner in the U.K. and began a seven-leg journey last July to fly the plane back to the United States across the Atlantic.

"We are thrilled to finally bring home the C-47 to our permanent collection," said Weeks. "Flying her across the Atlantic was an incredible opportunity to relive the days when World War II pilots first brought them to Europe to fight for the Allies, but now, to be able to bring her home to Florida for our guests to enjoy will be even more momentous."

Continue reading Vintage Aircraft Come Home

Vintage Aircraft Come Home originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Battle of the BulgeCentral FloridaCrossing of the RhineDouglas DC-3EuropeHeritage aircraftKermit WeeksOperation Market GardenOrlando International Airportvintage aircraft collectionsVintageAircraftCollectionsWorld War IIMon, 30 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Road Test: Mixed Luck With Hotel Booking Engine Room 77]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/26/road-test-mixed-luck-with-room-77/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/26/road-test-mixed-luck-with-room-77/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/26/road-test-mixed-luck-with-room-77/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

searchUPDATED 05-01-2012

Not long ago, in Better Search, Blazing Fast, Tested, I tested hotel-finder Room 77 that claimed "blazing fast" search results. I was impressed. Going through the process of actually booking, that blazing fast speed slowed to a crawl and resulted in a less-than-ideal outcome.

Right after reviewing Room 77, I needed to book a hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for just one night later this week. The hotel I wanted was sold out as were many others during Fleet Week, a United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard tradition when active military ships recently deployed in overseas operations dock in a variety of major cities for one week.

Putting Room 77 to test, the site again performed quickly, delivering a number of good results. One of those results was the Hilton hotel I wanted which was sold out. That got my attention along with a price that was 35% lower than normal rates at that hotel.

Locking in that price, however, required leaving the Room 77 site and dealing with one of their affiliated companies, the UK's OnHotels. A first thought was "Hmm, maybe this is a consolidator site that looks for canceled space at hotels and picks it up at a bargain rate." Then there were second and third thoughts of "...or maybe its a scam" and the standard "WARNING: NON-US SITE, PROCEED WITH CAUTION."

I booked anyway and received immediate confirmation from OnHotels. On that confirmation were two reservation numbers that looked to be OnHotels internal numbers, neither one a number Hilton hotel would probably use. Not a problem here either, I made a note to check with the hotel directly if I did not get a Hilton confirmation number shortly.

Continue reading Road Test: Mixed Luck With Hotel Booking Engine Room 77

Road Test: Mixed Luck With Hotel Booking Engine Room 77 originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Hotel searchHotel search fraudHotelSearchHotelSearchFraudOnHotelsRoom 77Room77Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Roman Fort Attacked By Moles, Archaeologists Benefit]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/26/roman-fort-attacked-by-moles-archaeologists-benefit/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/26/roman-fort-attacked-by-moles-archaeologists-benefit/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/26/roman-fort-attacked-by-moles-archaeologists-benefit/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

mole, Roman fortWhen you stroll through a museum, you generally assume that all those ancient artifacts you're seeing were dug up by professional archaeologists or found by accident by some farmer plowing his field. Mostly you'd be correct, but researchers into England's Roman past are getting some unexpected help. . .from moles.

Moles at the site of Epiacum, a Roman fort dating from the first to the fourth centuries AD, have been getting busy digging holes in the soil and turning up all sorts of archaeological goodies. The site is protected by English Heritage and nobody, not even the local farmers, is allowed to dig on it. The moles have apparently never heard of English Heritage and have been tossing out Roman pottery, jewelry, and even a bit of old plumbing.

Volunteers have been sifting through the moles' backdirt, under the watchful eye of English Heritage, and the artifacts are being sent to a nearby museum.

Epiacum, known locally as Whitley Castle, lies twelve miles to the south of Hadrian's Wall and protected some nearby lead and silver mines. Click here for more information about visiting the site.

Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons.

Roman Fort Attacked By Moles, Archaeologists Benefit originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ancient historyAncientHistoryarchaeologyArchaeologyNewsarcheologyArcheologyNewsEnglandEngland tourismEngland travelEnglandTourismEnglandTravelEnglish heritageEnglishHeritagefunnyfunny newsFunnyNewshistorymolemolesoddodd newsOddNewsRomanRoman BritainRoman fortRoman fortsRoman historyRomanBritainRomanFortRomanFortsRomanHistoryRomestrangestrange newsStrangeNewsweirdweird newsWeirdNewsThu, 26 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Overlooked London: Saint Bartholomew The Great Church]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/25/overlooked-london-saint-bartholomew-the-great-church/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/25/overlooked-london-saint-bartholomew-the-great-church/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/25/overlooked-london-saint-bartholomew-the-great-church/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

LondonLondon is a city full of historic churches. Some can be a bit hard to find and get missed by the casual visitor. One of these is Saint Bartholomew the Great in West Smithfield.

Built by a courtier of King Henry I, it has been open for worship since 1143 and was the center of a large complex of church buildings before the Dissolution of Henry VIII took away most of its lands and two-thirds of the church itself.

What remains, however, is grandiose. After passing through the narrow gate shown here, you enter a church with high Gothic vaulting, a semicircular aisle going around the nave, and numerous old graves.

A brown marble tomb shows the busts of Percival and Agnes Smallpace (died 1558 and 1588), complete with frilled collars and period costume along with the inscription, "Behowlde youre selves by us sutche once were we as you and you in tyme shalbe even duste as we are now."

Food for thought.

"Overlooked London" is a new, occasional series on lesser-known but still cool sights of London. Stay tuned!


[Both photos courtesy Christine McIntosh]

London

Overlooked London: Saint Bartholomew The Great Church originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>churchchurchesEnglandEngland tourismEngland travelEnglandTourismEnglandTravelEnglish churchesEnglishChurcheslondonLondon churcheslondon tourismlondon travelLondonChurchesLondonTourismLondonTravelmedievalmedieval architecturemedieval churchesMedievalArchitectureMedievalChurchesMiddle AgesMiddleAgesoverlookedlondonUKWed, 25 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cutty Sark Reopens After Disastrous Fire]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/24/cutty-sark-reopens-after-disastrous-fire/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/24/cutty-sark-reopens-after-disastrous-fire/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/24/cutty-sark-reopens-after-disastrous-fire/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Cutty Sark
The famous tea clipper Cutty Sark will be once again open to the public this Thursday after years of restoration work to repair damage from a fire in 2007. The Queen will perform an official reopening ceremony on Wednesday.

Located in Greenwich, London, this beautiful ship has been a longtime favorite of Londoners. It went on its maiden voyage in 1870 and is the last surviving tea clipper in existence, a reminder of a time when sailing ships brought loads of tea to London from China. Steam-powered boats passing through the Suez Canal soon took over that route, though, and the Cutty Sark was transferred to the Australian wool route. It broke the speed record for that run and became one of the most famous ships on the high seas.

But as steam ships became increasingly common, the Cutty Sark became more and more outdated, being relegated to lesser runs for poorer shipping companies. The ship was saved from a sad end when it was bought by an admirer in 1922 and lovingly restored to its former glory. It opened to the public in 1957.

A fire broke out in 2007 while it was being refurbished. Its decks were burnt through but since much of the ship's fittings and contents had been moved away while work was being done, these were saved. Now after a long restoration, you can stand on the deck of this remarkable vessel again and learn about daily life aboard her with a guided tour. The BBC has an interesting slideshow of the restoration work here.


[Photo courtesy Visit Greenwich]

Cutty Sark Reopens After Disastrous Fire originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age of sailage of steamAgeOfSailAgeOfSteamCutty SarkCuttySarkEnglandEngland tourismEngland travelEnglandTourismEnglandTravelGreenwichGreenwich englandGreenwichEnglandLondonLondon tourismLondon travelLondonTourismLondonTravelmuseummuseum newsMuseumNewsmuseumsrestorationrestoration newsRestorationNewssailing shipsailing shipsSailingShipSailingShipstall shipsTallShipsUKTue, 24 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Grounding Of Costa Concordia Brings New Rules For Cruise Travel]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/24/grounding-of-costa-concordia-brings-new-rules-for-cruise-travel/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/24/grounding-of-costa-concordia-brings-new-rules-for-cruise-travel/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/24/grounding-of-costa-concordia-brings-new-rules-for-cruise-travel/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Costa ConcordiaAfter the grounding of Costa Concordia in January, the governing organizations of the cruise industry ordered an Operational Safety Review both in response to the troubling Concordia grounding and as part of the industry's continuous efforts to review and improve safety measures. Now, the review is complete and has resulted in three new policies that promise to address safety concerns.

These three new policies, which go beyond international regulatory requirements, address safety issues related to passage planning, personnel access to the bridge and lifejackets. Each of these three policies will be reported to the United Nations' International Maritime Organization (IMO) for consideration at their next session in May.

"As highlighted by these wide-ranging policies, we continue to take proactive measures to improve the safety of passengers and crew across the globe," said Christine Duffy, president and CEO of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) in a Wall Street Journal statement.

The three policies answer questions asked about specific topics concerning the Costa Concordia grounding:

Continue reading Grounding Of Costa Concordia Brings New Rules For Cruise Travel

Grounding Of Costa Concordia Brings New Rules For Cruise Travel originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking cruise newsBreakingCruiseNewsCosta ConcordiaCostaConcordiacruise newscruise safety rulesCruiseNewsCruiseSafetyRulesInternational Convention for the Safety of Life at SeaInternational Maritime OrganizationInternational Safety Management CodeLocalnew cruise safety rulesNewCruiseSafetyRulesU.S.United NationsWall Street JournalWorldTue, 24 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Five Alcohol Factories To Kick Off Spring Travel]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/24/five-alcohol-factories-to-kick-off-spring-travel/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/24/five-alcohol-factories-to-kick-off-spring-travel/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/24/five-alcohol-factories-to-kick-off-spring-travel/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Spring is in the air, which means that most of us will be swapping our mulled wine and spiked apple cider for beer gardens and rooftop bars. Behind every good brew, though, is a distillery that made your buzz possible. And many of those outlets have turned into touristic destinations for the curious traveler in search of an off-beat destination - something in contrast to the humdrum monument or public art gallery. Here are five factories to get your planning started.

Beer
The Guinness Storehouse: Ireland
Unlike many bartenders in the US, the Irish take their Guinness drinking very seriously and after a day at the Storehouse, you too can learn the "perfect pour." Tickets cost around 13 Euros and include a free pint of Guinness at the rooftop bar, which arguably has one of the best views of the city. The building's seven-story exhibit takes you though the brewing process, giving guests a better understanding of just how much effort goes into creating good tasting beer. Student discounts are available and for a more in-depth experience, schedule a specialty tour.
St James's Gate, Dublin 8

Scotch
Glenkinchie Scotch Malt Whiskey Distillery: Scotland
If you find yourself in Scotland, good luck avoiding a Scotch tour, as malt whiskey distilleries are scattered throughout the country. The Glenkinchie Distillery is close to Edinburgh, making it an easy day trip for travelers. Tickets cost 6 GBP and tours are offered daily. A complimentary taste of Glenkinchie's 12 year old single malt is given to anyone who pays the 3 GBP entrance fee. More extensive tours are available for a slightly higher price but more freebies are provided, making it a worthy investment.
Pencaitland, Tranent, East Lothian EH34 5ET

Continue reading Five Alcohol Factories To Kick Off Spring Travel

Five Alcohol Factories To Kick Off Spring Travel originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alcoholdrinkingdrinksginrumscotchvodkawhiskeywhiskyTue, 24 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Carlisle Castle Celebrates 1000th Birthday]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/24/carlisle-castle-celebrates-1000th-birthday/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/24/carlisle-castle-celebrates-1000th-birthday/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/24/carlisle-castle-celebrates-1000th-birthday/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Carlisle Castle
One of England's most besieged castles has turned the ripe old age of 1000 this year.

A new exhibition at Carlisle Castle in Carlisle, England, tells its thousand-year history. Well, approximately a thousand years, since nobody actually knows when the first castle was built here. Like with many great English castles, it got its start with a Roman fort. This fell to ruins and was replaced in the late 11th century by a Norman fort built by William II, son of the famous William the Conqueror, known to his detractors as "Billy the Bastard."

Carlisle Castle is located on the English side of the Scottish border by an important river and town. This made it of vital strategic importance. The Scots took it several times, only to have it taken back by the English again and again in a series of bloody conflicts that only ended when Bonnie Prince Charlie's Scottish uprising lost at Culloden in 1745 and the bodies of my ancestors were tumbled into a mass grave.

(It's a bit freaky to know there's a mass grave with my name on it, but I don't hold a grudge. Why should I?)

I got to visit Carlisle Castle when I hiked the Hadrian's Wall Path. What remains of the castle is very well preserved and shows a series of changes over the years, not the least of which was when Henry VIII adapted the place for use by artillery. While artillery meant the death of most castles, Carlisle hung on because of its thick walls, earthworks, and the large number of artillery emplacements it had to defend itself. After 1745, however, it lost its purpose. There was never another serious rebellion in Scotland. The castle became the headquarters of the King's Own Royal Border Regiment, which has recently moved out and been replaced by the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment.

The oldest part of the castle, the Captain's Tower, probably built around 1180, has opened for the first time in 25 years. There's also a regimental museum on the grounds and some fascinating renaissance graffiti in the Keep, including a crude drawing of a mermaid.
Carlisle itself it worth a day or two of exploration, with its windy medieval streets, museums, old pubs and the most awesome indie bookshop in England.

Gallery: Carlisle Castle

The front gateIllustration on a royal charter showing siege of Carlisle, 1315The KeepThe Outer Gate House, seen from the KeepAntiquated artillery at the castle.

Carlisle Castle Celebrates 1000th Birthday originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CarlisleCarlisle CastleCarlisleCastlecastlecastlesCumbriaCumbria tourismCumbria travelCumbriaTourismCumbriaTravelEnglandEngland tourismEngland travelEnglandTourismEnglandTravelEnglish heritageEnglish historyEnglishHeritageEnglishHistoryhistorymedievalmedieval historyMedievalHistoryMiddle AgesMiddleAgesScotlandScotland tourismScotland travelScotlandTourismScotlandTravelScottish historyScottishHistoryUKTue, 24 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST