Vauxhall Bus Station
Originally uploaded by shad_41

I understand the need for security but sometimes the line between safety and silly is pretty fine. A tourist had their photos deleted for taking a picture that I was able to find hundreds of on the web.

Police delete London tourists’ photos ‘to prevent terrorism’

Austrian tourist who photographed bus and Tube stations says ‘nasty incident’ has put him off returning to London.

Like most visitors to London, Klaus Matzka and his teenage son Loris took several photographs of some of the city’s sights, including the famous red double-decker buses. More unusually perhaps, they also took pictures of the Vauxhall bus station, which Matzka regards as “modern sculpture”.

But the tourists have said they had to return home to Vienna without their holiday pictures after two policemen forced them to delete the photographs from their cameras in the name of preventing terrorism.

Oops, missed it by that much…

Four Corners misses mark by 2.5 miles

Tourists who want to put a hand or foot in each of four states at the Four Corners area are apparently off the mark — by about 2.5 miles.

According to readings by the National Geodetic Survey, the Four Corners marker showing the intersection of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah is about 2.5 miles west of where it should be.

The first I heard of the new change fees that some airlines are charging was when a co-worker was trying to change flights on Hawaiian Air and got hit with a couple hundred dollars of change fees. Airlines seem to be making these changes quietly.

United Airlines secretly raises ticket change fees

In this instance, United raised their fee from 100$ up to 150$ to make any changes to your ticket. And they didn’t even tell anybody when they did it last Friday night. News is just slowly seeping out now.

Often times, airlines will make these changes to affect the bottom tier of passengers, exempting many of the first class and elite customers. But not in this case. This is a unilateral 50$ increase in fees across the board, so even if you’re super a super special elite passenger you still get screwed. Cool huh?

Another additional fee that United announced is OK with me. Some people are too big to fit in airline seats. That is not the fault of the airline (OK, United does have less legroom than anyone else) and they should not have to foot the bill for an extra seat for a larger passenger. Also the person seating next to them bought an entire seat and should get that. (This on the week that scientists say being overweight contributes to global warming - Scientists: Obesity Causes Global Warming).

Very obese fliers on United may have to buy 2nd seat

United Airlines is requiring extremely obese passengers who can’t fit in their seats to pay for a second seat when there is no other way to accommodate their girth.
United said Wednesday that it will charge obese, coach-class passengers for a second coach seat or for upgrading to a larger seat in business or first class, if necessary. The policy applies to United and United Express flights. United published its new policy on its website under “Passengers requiring extra space.”

“We had 700 complaints about this last year,” said Robin Urbanski, a United (UAUA) spokeswoman. “Now our employees have a formal policy they can refer to.”

Whether it was a suicide or someone just going crazy we may not know but please make sure your seat belt stays fastened until the pilot has parked the aircraft.

Man leaps out of plane to his death over Arctic

A man aboard a small passenger plane fought to push open the aircraft’s door at 23,000 feet over northern Canada and leaped to his death, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing with the door ajar, police said Thursday.

Other articles that caught my eye:

• Travel [Almost] Free
• Gunman holds crew on passenger jet in Jamaica
• Note: Your Fellow Airplane Passenger Is Not a Urinal
• Cruise passenger falls overboard in Bahamas
• Hijacked train released in India

London - pool of light
Originally uploaded by Today is a good day

It is difficult to pinpoint when my appreciation for all things British kicked in but it took hold in my youth and persists to this day. So, it was inevitable that I would go to the other side of the pond once I had the opportunity. I have had the pleasure of visiting Great Britain, more specifically the city of London, twice in the last ten years. The size, diversity and ease of traveling this city makes it a logical starting point for anyone who wishes to explore Europe.

It was the ease of travel that allowed me to go about this journey on my own. Using the internet and some basic guide books I as able to book a flight and make accommodations with relative ease. There is no way to avoid the inflated costs you’ll be met with when in the big city. It’s not cheap. But, once you accept that the benefits outweigh the negative aspects then you can appreciate the experience.

I’ve found that there are so many options for where you can stay. The first time I went I found a basic Comfort Inn in Earls Court(an area filled with hotels for tourists). My second trip there I found renting an apartment for a week was a great option. They can easily be found online and are sometimes even cheaper than staying in a hotel for a week. Coming home to a couch, bed, kitchen and even a balcony is a great way to end a grueling day of traversing the town.

Getting a feeling of the layout of the main sights around town is just as important as figuring what sites to see. Using a map before you head out for the day, mark the location of the sites you plan to visit. You can then decide what would be the best and quickest route to take by foot or by Underground/Subway to help you squeeze in all your top attractions. The Underground will be a necessary tool to use. It’s cheap, easy and fun to use. Busier stations will have customer service-type agents milling around. They can help answer any questions. Other lost-looking tourist like myself were another great way to answer questions, meet people and learn of the best places to visit.

UK - London - Bloomsbury: British Museum
Originally uploaded by wallyg

The sites to visit are obviously too many to list but the amount of books and info you can find online and in stores will help narrow down the field. My interest was in museums and parks. Examples of these are found around every corner. Just wear a comfortable pair of shoes as you will need them to keep going. My favorite spots in London were the British Museum, Covent Garden Market, The London Eye (Ferris Wheel) and the Planetarium. Also easily accessible and about twenty minutes by Underground is Kew Gardens. For a nominal fee you can spend a couple hours walking through gardens and century-old greenhouses that are massive in scale. I could have spent all day here. The only downside was that it is in the flight path of planes going to nearby Heathrow Airport. But I did look up and see the Concord in the week prior to is final flight.

While my best days were my trips to Kew Gardens my most disappointing time was a day trip to Brighton Beach. Reachable by train and about an hour or so away, rainy weather made this side trip gloomy. Also, as this was midweek, my feet were growing sore from constant walking and I was simply not in the mood to check the town out. The beach is located along the English Channel and has plenty of fun attractions like a small amusement park at the end of a long pier. But, this trip was short-lived and I hitched a ride on the train back home after only 3 hours.

Chatting up locals can be an easy thing to do. My traditional way involved asking questions while waiting for trains while in the Underground. I once was sitting next to a woman who was carrying some colorful clothes, feathers and sequined masks. She told me she was a “platform dancer” and that she was on her way home from work. We talked the whole ride we were together. It was an interesting ride and conversation.

Don’t be afraid to get lost on the winding streets. Signs at various street corners will lead you back to the main sites and attractions. It was at a time like this that I saw a bunch of school age kids playing cricket….it doesn’t get more British than that.

Lastly, although the city is safe, keep your valuables close to you and always be aware of your surroundings. As mentioned earlier, expect to spend money on food and for admission to sites. Your map is your friend. The streets are winding and change names…often after only a few blocks. The 1 pound($1) coins are heavier than they need to be and the paper money is way-cooler looking than ours. Finally, don’t be ashamed to pop into a McDonalds or Pizza Hut for a taste of home. Sometimes, it’s fascinating to see all the subtle differences in the menus…who wouldn’t want to try a McDonalds “Lamb-burger”?

According to guide book publisher Dorling Kindersley, Bristol is one of the top 10 cities to visit in 2009. Having lived in Bristol for the last 15 years, I already knew that it was not only a fantastic place to live, but a great place to explore for a couple of days if you’re touring the UK. So let me do some introductions.

Bristol’s a fine old city with a proud maritime heritage and a some dark connections with the slave trade. She can be just as chocolate box pretty as her near neighbour, Bath, but scratch below the surface and you’ll find a dynamic and slightly subversive street culture. She’s a university town and has always welcomed visitors from far and wide. Her harbour-side’s been given a face-lift and her city centre’s buzzing but climb one of her many hills and you’ll glimpse the green fields and countryside on her doorstep.

In Clifton, enjoy the fine Georgian architecture and designer boutiques in the village, stroll up to the observatory for a view of the Avon gorge or introduce yourself to the penguins at Bristol Zoo gardens. The Clifton suspension bridge is Bristol’s most famous landmark and was build by Isambard Kingdom Brunel to span the Avon Gorge. It was opened in 1864 and up to 12,000 cars still cross it every day. The green spaces near the bridge are a good place to view the hundreds of balloons that drift over the city during the Bristol International Balloon fiesta - it’s Europe’s largest hot air balloon festival.

Take a ferry round the harbourside where the harbour festival takes place every August, cool off in the fountains in Millenium square and treat the family to some hands on science at at-Bristol. At the other end of the harbour you’ll find the SS Great Britain, built in 1843, as the world’s first ocean-going, propeller driven iron ship. After seeing service as a luxury liner, she was abandoned in the Falklands Islands then brought back to Bristol in the 70s where she was restored to her former glory.

If museums are your thing there are a couple of free ones that will show you a glimpse of Bristol’s historic past. The Georgian House was built in the 1790s for a wealthy Bristol Merchant and has been preserved to show how a family of that period would have lived. Red Lodge was built in the 1580s and takes you back in time with it’s Tudor pannelled rooms and knot garden.

You won’t be going hungry in Bristol, with many bars, pubs and restaurants all over the city. For a view of the harbour try Bordeaux Quay with bistro and deli downstairs and fine dining upstairs, or the Olive shed for mediterranean style food & tapas. On Park St Goldbrick House has stylish eating and cocktails and Rocatillos is a small family diner with the best breakfast and milk shakes in Bristol. In the centre for a break from sightseeing pop into St Nicholas Market with many different vendors of hot food from Indian, Moroccan, Jamaican or traditional English pies and bangers to eat in or take away. In Clifton village I like to take a break from the retail therapy at Bar Chocolat for a restoring hot chocolate.

I hope I’ve whetted your appetite to visit my home city of Bristol - she’s waiting for you to come and discover her for yourself.

See more photos of Bristol from Heather on her travels on Flickr

Check out the Visit Bristol website to help you plan your visit to Bristol.

Heather Cowper lives with her family in Bristol, England. Heather blogs about the interesting things she sees on her travels around Europe, the World and on her doorstep in Bristol at Heather on her travels

This is an entry for January’s Your Favorite City - Blog Contest. Heather has been a guest on Travel to Valencia, Spain - Episode 137 of the Amateur Traveler.

This story starts with a misunderstanding and perhaps prejudice, but it is the last paragraph that I find inexcusable.

9 Muslim passengers kicked off flight after remark

Nine Muslim passengers were kicked off a flight from Washington, D.C., to Florida after other passengers reported hearing a suspicious remark about airplane security. “My brother and his wife were discussing some aspect of airport security,” Irfan said. “The only thing my brother said was, ‘Wow, the jets are right next to my window.’”

Irfan told the newspaper he thought he and the others were profiled because of their appearance. The men had beards and the women wore headscarves, traditional Muslim attire.

Federal officials ordered the rest of the passengers from the plane and re-screened them before allowing the flight to depart.
The family was upset that AirTran didn’t allow the Muslim passengers to book another flight. They eventually made it to their destination on a US Airways flight.

“The FBI agents actually cleared our names,” Inayet Sahin, one of the family members kicked off the flight, told CNN. “They went on our behalf and spoke to the airlines and said, ‘There is no suspicious activity here. They are clear. Please let them get on a flight so they can go on their vacation,’ and they still refused.”

More stupid law suit stories for the airlines. One thing we learn is that you can’t sue the airlines for packing anything you may find embarrassing.

Outrageous airline lawsuits

A German man sued British Airways after being kicked off a flight when a fellow passenger complained about the way he smelled. He lost the suit when “it turned out that BA’s conditions of carriage allow it to (expel) extra-stinky passengers.”

In another case of a bad seatmate, a flier sued Delta Air Lines after spending a flight next to an obese man who he claimed infringed on his space. The plaintiff claimed that he was given less than the full seat guaranteed by his ticket. The case was settled out of court.

Another passenger sued Delta for “post traumatic stress disorder.” After her bag was “found to be emitting a buzzing sound,” a female passenger was called to the tarmac for further inspection. The source of the suspicious sound turned out to be a vibrator, which left airline workers “laughing hysterically.” She lost the case.

‘Drunk’ pilot arrested at Heathrow moments before he was due to fly to India

A pilot said to be smelling of alcohol was arrested in the cockpit of his plane by armed police just minutes before take-off at Heathrow. The plane, which had 300 passengers on board, was about to begin a nine-hour flight to Mumbai when airport staff told security they feared Michael Harr had drunk too much to fly.

OK, I am not really afraid of Monkey attacks. Flying monkeys are an entirely different matter.

How to Prevent a Monkey Attack

Among the many worries a traveler may be forced to contemplate—catastrophic bus fires, itchy money belts, hemorrhagic fevers—one menace is typically overlooked: monkeys. From troops of temple macaques, to city slicker baboons, to curious vervets, a trip to almost any destination between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn will put you in the domain of our simian cousins. For the most part, monkeys in the wild aren’t a problem. But acclimate them to a stream of snacking tourists, and the beasties can become aggressive if not downright dangerous. An encounter gone awry can lead to stitches, a potentially fatal case of herpes-B, or a cameo on YouTube and mortal embarrassment

Better start packing your bags as space tourism is one step closer this week. Is a spacesuit considered smart casual?

US gives green light for first commercial spaceport

The US Federal Aviation Administration has given the green light for the world’s first commercial spaceport, New Mexico authorities said Thursday. The FAA granted Spaceport America a license for vertical and horizontal space launches following an environmental impact study, according to the New Mexico Space Authority (NMSA).

Indonesia’s new law is causing confusion for tourist and a loss of revenue for the country.

Are bikinis allowed? Indonesia’s anti-porn law repels tourists

The association of tour guides at the Baturraden holiday resort in Banyumas, Central Java, has blamed the much-decried anti-pornography law for a slew of recent cancellations by Dutch tourists planning to visit the area.

One of the most popular activities here, Tekad went on, was to bathe in the natural hot springs and enjoy a sulfur wrap and massage, during which the men normally wore only shorts and the women bikinis.
“It seems they followed the news on the porn law in Indonesia and got the idea they could be jailed for bathing like that, just because of the law,” he said.

Other Interesting News Stories:

1. World’s Hottest Billionaire Playgrounds
2. Continental flight veers off Denver runway, injures dozens
3. Nine essential strategies for 2009
4. De-icing solution sends air crew members to hospital
5. Should I book a vacation now — or wait?
6. The Ultimate Guide to Free Travel
7. 6 Secrets for Getting a Travel Company to See Things Your Way
8. A month-by-month guide to the travel year ahead

This story sounded like one right out of the movies.

Pilot blinded by stroke is guided safely to ground

LONDON (AP) — A British pilot who was suddenly blinded by a stroke during a solo flight was talked safely down by a military pilot, the Royal Air Force said Friday.

You’ve just hijacked a bus, what are you going to do next?

Bus driver taken hostage at gunpoint; forced to drive to Downtown Disney

A man took a tour bus driver hostage briefly and forced her to drive to the Downtown Disney entertainment and shopping complex, authorities said Saturday.

What has a light side, a dark side and holds the universe together. Hint: it’s not the force.

FBI: Airline passenger restrained with duct tape

An airline crew used duct tape to keep a passenger in her seat because they say she became unruly, fighting flight attendants and grabbing other passengers, forcing the flight to land in North Carolina.

I appreciated that they managed not to say that air travel was falling. I like to not use those phrases together.

Air travel declines at alarming pace

The global aviation industry is facing its largest drop in passengers since the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said.

The Montreal-based airline group said global international traffic results for September show passenger traffic declined 2.9 percent while cargo traffic dropped 7.7 percent compared to the same month in 2007.