We had transited the Southern Ocean and were in calmer waters as our ship approached Antarctica. It was a magnificent creature that stayed near our ship for hours that cold and bright day recalling thoughts of The Ancient Mariner and other encounters.
And a good south wind sprung up behind;
The Albatross did follow,
And every day, for food or play,
Came to the mariner’s hollo!
Albatrosses are large seabirds belonging to the family Diomedeidae, known for their remarkable wingspans of up to 11 feet and incredible gliding abilities. They are mostly found in the Southern Ocean and North Pacific.
Sailors have always thought that an Albatros was a sign of luck at sea but what sort of luck is open to debate. This large, mysterious, solitary traveler far out on the open sea is often the only sign of life to be seen for days.
Once, a long time ago, my Navy ship got caught in a bad storm in the South Atlantic and it tossed us around for almost two days. When the weather cleared and we got out on deck it turned out we had picked up several dozen birds that had taken refuge from the storm. Many were pretty large, including a lot of gulls, many birds we couldn’t identify and sheltered under the helo deck was a huge Albatros. It took hours to get it out on open deck and once free it just turned itself into the wind, spread its wings and lifted off. After that it stayed near our ship for a number of days…
Mammoth Hot Springs is a significant geothermal area in Yellowstone National Park, known for its travertine terraces formed by hot spring water depositing calcium carbonate over millennia.
This area serves as a great starting point for a variety of hiking trails in Yellowstone, allowing visitors to explore the stunning wilderness and enjoy the outdoors. Click HERE to visit The National Park Services page for Mammoth Hot Springs.
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Visiting Kruger: The Ultimate Safari Experience For The Trip Of A Lifetime Rated as one of the world’s greatest wildlife experiences and reported to be the number one African safari destination, Kruger National Park is not to be overlooked when considering your travel plans. Larger than many countries and containing mostly undeveloped land, Kruger is…
The Iconic Windmills Of Mykonos. Traditionally, these windmills are heavy, three-story buildings made of stone, are circular in shape, reflecting the simple yet functional design typical of the Cycladic islands. They were primarily built by Venetians in the 16th century and continued to be constructed into the early 20th century for milling wheat. Mykonos is…
What country claims this baked treat as its own? This is a traditional European pastry made from sweet yeast dough. This unique treat is crafted by wrapping strips of the dough around a conical baking tube, which is then grilled usual over coals till it achieves a golden brown color and crispy exterior. Answer •…
From Rome to Rio to Rochester, we all get our directions to where we want to go using our cell phones. Driving, walking and using public transportation those maps are a modern day miracle. But what if we could actually preplan a tour before visiting a city? We can, and it’s easier than you would think…
Please Note:This is focused on using an Android phone and Google Maps. Apple has a similar system for navigating based on current location, but I’m not sure about the details of creating custom maps*.
Take a little time before your next trip and create your own city walking tour.
It’s actually rather easy to plan a walking tour (biking and public transportation as well) using Google maps. Pick a destination and make a list of the places you want to visit (Google can help with that too) and get started creating your itinerary using Google maps.
Google My MapsOrGoogle Maps
Google Maps is your choice because it is primarily designed for real-time navigation and providing directions. Google My Maps is aimed at creating and sharing customized maps tailored to individual and business needs. The real problem is that GoogleMy Maps cannot be used for real-time navigation on your phone. It’s intended to allow users to add individual points, draw shapes, and create layers, enabling better personalization. Often it’s used on business web pages to show a location or specific itineraries. It also has specific limitations, such as having a maximum of 10 layers and 50,000 total points for lines and shapes, which may restrict extensive customizations.
Creating Custom Walking Tours Using Google Maps
Above is a quick walking tour I created for major historic sites in Rome. It was emailed to my phone and later opened using Google Maps by clicking the emailed link. In Rome it opened showing my current location and added directions to the first site.
Almost everyone is using cellphone maps to navigate these days. From directions to the nearest gas station or to the location of a specific address. From Amsterdam to Paris to Taiwan cell phones are an indispensable travel companion. But with just a little planning you can also set your phone up to become your own individual tour guide while visiting a new city.
A Quick Course In Setting Up Your Own Walking Tour Using Google Maps
Before starting you need to have a registered account with Google.
Using a tablet or computer, open Google in your browser and navigate to Google Maps. A direct link would be <maps.google.com> on your computer or tablet. Using a smart phone open the Google Map App (you can download for free).
When you open Google Maps, you’ll be greeted with a map of your current location and your account icon in the upper right corner. If you’re using a smartphone, make sure your GPS is turned on for accurate directions and for computers you’ll need show my location enabled in the browser.
On Google Maps search for your destinations of interest by typing the destination name or address into the search bar and press enter.
Once you’ve found your destination, you’ll see it highlighted on the map. You can zoom in and out to get a better view of the area. At the creation stage it doesn’t matter what your current location is. You’re creating a map for future use.
Next choose the ‘Directions’ button which is usually displayed as an arrow icon. After clicking the ‘Directions’ button, you’ll see different transportation options, including driving, public transit*, and walking.
For this demonstration select the ‘Walking’ icon which looks like a person walking. Google Maps will select the best walking route based on sidewalks and paths for walk-friendly routes.
Thisis a quick example in our hometown going from our house to the Railroad Museum
Next customize your directions by clicking on ‘Add destination’ and enter an item. It can be as simple as the name of a local landmark, a restaurant of interest or an actual address. Your first “Destination” will become your starting point.
Now you can add any number of multiple stops along your walking route, by clicking on ‘Add destination’ again and again. As you proceed, a list will appear on the left side of the map. You can rearrange the list at any time, delete items and add new ones. This feature is excellent for planning a day of sightseeing or hiking way before you get there.
As you complete these steps, Google Maps will display your customized walking route, along with the estimated time it will take to complete the walk between landmarks.
You will need to save your map and there are a number of options, but the most direct is to copy the link from the pull-down menu at the left side and paste it on a text app for future use. If you haven’t created the map on your cell phone the other option is to email it to your phone. Clicking the map name in the email opens your custom Google Map in your cellphone.
This is an emailed map of simple directions in our hometowm
Once you’re at your travel destination you can open the emailed map and activate your current location to begin your walking tour.
Include Public Transportation In Your Directions
Picking a tour that’s too long to walk? Google has you covered. Often overlooked when navigating using Google Maps is the public transportation option. Selecting this option in directions removes the hassle of trying to figure out what bus to take and what bus stop to use. Google Maps will direct you to the proper stop, indicate what bus number to take and actually when to get off.
Tips For Navigating With Your Cellphone
Looking at your phone the iconic blue beam points the way you’re facing like a flashlight beam. The size of the beam also tells you how accurate your phone’s direction is at any given time. The narrower the beam, the more accurate the direction. The wider the beam, the more likely it is that your your phone’s compass is somewhat uncalibrated, which means that its sensors aren’t working as they should. This can happen because your phone needs charging, you’re walking near metal or something is interferring with the phones signals.. Any time this happens simply move your phone in a figure 8 motion a few times. This should result in a more accurate direction.
Battery life can also be a concern, especially if you’re out all day. Two things stress the battery. First is constantly consuming data through Google Maps and the second is updating GPS locations. If the battery is a concern you can either switch to app off regularly. The map will simply update when back on. The other option is to download the map and keep data off. GPS will still reference the downloaded map unless you get out of the maps area.
Walking Tours, There’s An App For That.
GPSmyCity is currently the most popular and it literally has thousands of city walking tours to pick from. It hase a wide assortment of options from major attractions, to pub crawls to art and museum tours. It gets good reviews and is straight forward in navigation to the city’s attractions. While it dies have detractors the two biggest negatives are it isn’t free and it consumes a lot of data. Many tours are really large files. The app does come with a 3 day free trial.
GPSmyCity App – This app offers thousands of self-guided walking tours along with offline maps for over 1,500 cities globally, turning your device into a personal tour guide. source
izi.TRAVEL – Another top-rated app that enhances walking tours with rich multimedia content and personalization options, ideal for tourists and history buffs looking for a tailored experience.
Other self-guided cellphone based tours to consider include:
PocketSights
STQRY Guide
TripScout
Rick Steve’s Audio Europe
GeoTourist
*Our daughter-in-law is an avid Apple user and we were really impressed with how she navigated Valencia, Spain during a recent trip. Her iPhone gave her constant updates on getting to a bus stop, what bus number to take, where to exit along with walking directions. I ‘m asking her to review this article and provide notes specific to iPhones. More soon…
This basilica located in Bethlehem, in the West Bank, Palestine celebrates the location of the birthplace of Jesus of Nazareth, according to Christian tradition. The basilica was originally commissioned by the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great at the request of his mother Helena in the 4th century. The current church dates back to the 6th century, having been rebuilt by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I.
Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, played a crucial role in the legalization and advancement of Christianity in the Roman Empire during the 4th century. Her influence helped pave the way for Christianity to become the state religion. She made a pilgrimage in the form of a large expedition) to the Holy Land, where she is traditionally credited with discovering a number of Christian relics, including the True Cross and the location of the tomb of Jesus. Her efforts enhanced the Christian church’s status and influence throughout the Roman Empire.
Today she is venerated as a saint and is acknowledged as the patron saint of several groups, including Christian converts along with archaeologists, who honor her contributions to the faith and its history.
This Christmas In Bethlehem
Christmas 2024 again finds virtually no celebration in Bethlehem. Bethlehem’s Manger Square in front of the Church of the Nativity is largely deserted and the nearby shops are closed.
As recently as 2019, Holy Week would attract over 3,000,000 people, mostly Christians, to the town of Bethlehem for Christmas. The birthplace of Christ Jesus is only six miles from Jerusalem and in 1950 the towns population was 80% Christian. Today, other than clerics at the holy sites, there are literally no Christians left in Bethlehem. Last year and this year entry by visitors is suspended because of the war.
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We’re asking for your opinion… I think Clint Eastwood said it best; “If you’re looking for a guarantee in life, buy a toaster.” We have, over the years, visited over one hundred countries and on a few occasions we’ve found ourselves in some touchy situations, but we have always been cautious in selecting when and…
Download Today For Free! Over the past few weeks we’ve been working at updating our popular CRUISE CONTROL a guide to cruising, but we’ve run out of time as we are soon leaving on an extended trip. We also realized that while our cruise ship listings are a bit out of date*, generally the guide…
This Intentional Traveler features thousands of pages of information on destinations, great maps, amazing images, detailed travel help and just a few stories for the fun of it. Chance are we’ve got what you’ve been looking for, so take a moment and explore this incredible world with The Intentional Travelers. CLICK FOR GREAT TRAVEL IDEAS!…
Shetland Islands, Scotland is a popular port of call for a number of Northern European cruise itineraries and for a small place there’s much to see. After our first visit one of our favorite television series became Shetland,, a British police drama. Since Lerwick is such a small town every show included scenes we recognized which added a new dimension to the experience.
Lerwick was founded as an unofficial marketplace to service 17th century Dutch herring fleets. It took a long time to grow due to its illegal status and alleged immorality. Today, Lerwick is Shetland’s only burgh and serves as a hub for the islands’ population of around 22,000 people. Shetland is part of Scotland but the town’s name is actually Old Norse. A local dialect still survives called Norn, which was the common language in Shetland until the late 19th century. The name “Lerwick” in Old Norse means bay of clay. The Shetlands is noted as a major roosting location for puffins but also has a number of interesting archeological sights dating back over a thousand years.
More And More That Caution “Buyer Beware” Should Be Considered When Planning Travel
If you don’t know Groupon they’re an online company that was originally intended to help local businesses promote their company using discount coupons. Working mostly with restaurants, Groupon promoted the discount with prepaid vouchers online and through emails to subscribers. There have been issues but most problems involved a few dollars, but times have changed and they’ve even expanded internationally.
Groupon, The Good, The Bad And ?
Just recently we wasted several days and several hundred dollars trying to use a Groupon deal to visit Busch Gardens Tampa. We still operate an online business and wholesale products to some local shops and we needed to get away for a few days before the holiday rush started. It was planned as a three day road trip to Tampa with the centerpiece being a day in Busch Gardens. We had Groupon admission tickets (both printed and digital) that included the park’s meal package that clearly stated on both that the ticket expired in early December. We made reservations at a hotel near the park for two nights and in the first morning went over to Busch Gardens to spend the day. At the entrance we were told that the tickets had expired on October 27th.
The Busch Gardens people insisted that it didn’t matter what the ticket indicated, the bar code showed it clearly had expired and they had no responsibility for the error. We needed to contact Groupon. It took two hours to start an online chat with Groupon while sitting outside the entrance. There is no phone number that works so we downloaded the app. On the chat we explained that we had come from out of the area and had spent $300+ on a hotel and were now at the entrance to the park. The Groupon agent indicated that they would need to contact Busch Gardens to resolve the issue but unfortunately Groupon could not issue a new corrected ticket. At one point they did offer to provide us with a $10 credit on our account for “the inconvenience”. After another hour plus we were informed that it could take seven days to resolve the matter with Busch Gardens and they would look into a refund but couldn’t guarantee what would happen (after all their policy is no refunds).
Busch Gardens Tampa
The final irony of all this is that Busch Gardens was currently running a special that would make the tickets only $3.00 more than what we paid Groupon. We could not get a refund on the additional night at the hotel and with no other options we just went home…
P.S. Busch Garden’s claim that we purchased though a third party so they were not responsible for the problem is legally incorrect. As far as the law is concerned that is not the case. They had entered into a contractural arrangement that allowed Groupon to represent them and offer those tickets and they had obviously benefitted financially the sale and legally both parties are responsible (odd how nobody accepts responsibility any more?). Again the only Busch Gardens contact we had was the gate attendents and they kept insisting that there was nobody else we could speak with. The cost of seeking redress however is probably to difficult to pursue. Exploring options regarding Groupon we discovered that some years ago Groupon lost a class-action case. It seems that after that they changed their official policy. Today by buying from Groupon the small print states that you accept that you cannot sue them. You can contact an arbitration company – but after several hours on the indicated website I couldn’t even find the submission form.
While traveling there has always been a hiccup or two – language problems, a cancelled flight, a too short connection, a missing reservation etcetera. It just is one of those things you need to deal with. Something has changed recently and it seems we are running into serious issues on a regular basis. There was a last minute cancelled trans-Atlantic flight that cascaded into problems that took days to straighten out with nobody on the travel business side seeming to care or was even interested in helping with a solution*. On that same trip a reservation for late arrival in Amsterdam at a hotel couldn’t be honored because they overbooked. Transfers that don’t show, wrong directions as to where to go, train service that changed without notice. Often today these are not small inconveniences but serious travel disasters and in more and more cases – you’re on your own!
The Groupon Final Outcome
It took a bit longer than seven days, a whole three weeks. Groupn agreed to refund the purchase price but wev never got the $10..
The Intentional Travelers 