Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Travia - Airplanes - Weight

Travia: The Airbus A380's maximum takeoff weight exceeds 1,000,000 lbs.  Any idea what the max weight is of a Boeing 747 at takeoff? 
Fact found in "Cockpit Confidential" by Patrick Smith

#travel #traveltips #travia #travelingcynthia #airplane #airplaneweight #airbusa380 #boeing #boeing747

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Travel Quote - F. Scott Fitzgerald - Tender is the Night

Travel Quote:
“I like France, where everybody thinks he’s Napoleon – 
in Rome everybody thinks he’s Christ.”
F. Scott Fitzgerald, Tender is the Night

Photos by Cynthia Dial
#travel #travelquote #travelquotes #traveltips #travelingcynthia #fscottfitzgerald #tenderisthenight

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Travia - Bulgaria - Hospitality


Travia: In Bulgaria, it is a customary gesture of hospitality to greet guests at the door with a loaf of bread. Visitors then tear off pieces and dip them in salt before eating them.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

World's Worst Airport - Manila Airport - Philippines


"We ask for your pardon and patience," Philippine president Aquino said in remarks to reporters aired live on national television.
Manila airport, already named by an online travel guide as the world's worst added steam to this name after the air-condition system broke down in Terminal one during a busy travel day for the Easter Holidays.
Manila airport Terminal 1 is used mostly for foreign international airlines.
The Manila airport's Terminal 1 was rated as the world's worst as of last year, for the second year in a row, by online travel website "The Guide to Sleeping in Airports".
Travelers criticized its "dilapidated facilities", dishonest airport workers particularly taxi drivers long waiting times and rude officials in the latest rating.
The website had yet to issue its 2014 rankings.
From ETN Global Travel Industry News
#airports #airport #worldsworstairport #travel #traveltips #travelingcynthia

Monday, April 14, 2014

Quebec City - Canada - Winter Carnival




Photos by Cynthia Dial


#canada #winter #snow #quebec #quebeccity #carnival #wintercarnival #travel #travelpix #travelpics #traveltips #travelingcynthia

Quebec City: A Little Piece of Paris in North America

Close your eyes and imagine winding cobblestone streets, a collection of world-class museums, sidewalk cafes serving crepes and croissants and French spoken everywhere. If your imagination takes you to Paris, you would be wrong.
  Photo by Cynthia Dial
Welcome to Québec City, Canada.  Showcasing an Old Town behind fortification walls and buildings spanning four centuries (17th-20th)—all from a dramatic cliff-top location overlooking the St. Lawrence River—every corner unveils a piece of the past. It’s these historical credentials that explain its unique stature as North America’s first urban ensemble named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Beginning as a fur trading post in the early 1600s the history of Québec City is saturated with well-known figures, from its founder French explorer Samuel de Champlai, to France’s Louis XIV, who transformed the modest outpost into a North American French provincial capital. Coupled with its on-again, off-again connection to the British Empire (all battlefield-determined), today’s city is a beckoning mix of British and French, with 95% of its 632,000 population speaking French.

Come and explore the “Paris” of North America. Starting in Old Québec’s Upper Town, follow me.

Fairmont Le Château Frontenac
Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, called simply The Château by locals, this is the city’s centerpiece and the nation’s icon. Sitting at its highest vantage atop Cap-aux-Diamants, the soaring copper-roofed, chateau-inspired structure was constructed in the 1890s as the crown jewel of Canada’s grand railway hotels, including the Banff Springs and The Empress. Reportedly the world’s most photographed hotel, a step inside this Fairmont landmark underscores its exclusivity: walls of inlaid tapestries, fireplaces of Vienna marble and a staircase derived from the Petit Trianon (the residence of Madame de Pompadour).
Serving as a much-loved gathering place for Québec City’s citizens, visitors should follow their lead and visit Château Frontenac for Afternoon Tea (Thursday-Saturday). Or enjoy evening cocktails in its intimate, dark wood Bar & Lounge, where among its famous martinis are the Winston Churchill, the F.D. Roosevelt and the Maurice Duplessis (named after three of the Chateau's most illustrious guests).

Dufferin Terrace
Only steps outside the hotel’s doors is this wide, wooden boardwalk which provides a stroll along the city’s most prime of properties. At its beginning is Paul Chevré’s statue of the founding father, the Champlain Monument, whose base is from the same stone as Paris’ Arc de Triomphe. Offering a 180-degree lookout the setting provides everything like tour guides sharing the city’s colorful history, street musicians playing favorite tunes, couples walking arm-in-arm and playful school children climbing its collection of cannons. My tip: Grab a coveted bench seat and enjoy all of the above. 

Governors’ Garden 
Adjacent to Château Frontenac, this quiet green space within the city’s busy bustle originally served as Governor Charles Huault de Montmagny’s private walled garden in the 1640s, which today belongs to the public.

Maison Jacquet 
Constructed in 1675 the distinctive red-and-white structure is Québec City’s oldest house. Located at 34 Rue Saint-Louis, it is the current home to Restaurant Aux Anciens Canadiens; so if your timing concurs with hunger pangs, the eatery may be a worthy stop.

Ursuline Convent 
Having opened its doors in 1639 the convent is one of Québec’s oldest institutions. It remains an establishment that continues in the educational role for which it was first founded, a girls’ school. My tip: Visit the convent museum to view the fine silk, silver and gold thread embroidery work of the Ursuline nuns.

Cathedral of Holy Trinity 
Constructed in the early 1800s as the first Anglican Cathedral to be built outside the British Isles, the church provides this traditionally French city’s most British environment. Interior treasures include the Royal Pew (though Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip sat elsewhere during their 1987 visit), a silver alms dish embellished with a relief of the Last Supper (a gift from King George III) and a rare 18th century English chamber organ (one of only seven in the world).

Hôtel du Parlement 
The Parliament Building, an imposing structure comprising four majestic wings, is one of North America’s finest examples of Second Empire architectural style. As capital of the province of Québec and seat of the National Assembly, it represents the most important historical site in Québec City. Its impressive exterior is immediately recognizable. The building’s façade is decorated with 26 bronze statues that pay tribute to the men and women who helped shape Quebéc society and the Tourny Fountain marks its entrance (it was a gift on the city’s 400th anniversary). At night dramatic lighting transforms all of the above to life. My tip: Take a guided tour of the Parliament Building; they’re offered in French, English, Spanish and Italian.

Observatoire de la Capitale 
Admire Québec City’s maze of streets, adjacent river and surrounding mountains from its highest point: the 31st floor of the Marie-Guyart Building.

Old Québec City Funicular 
Opened on November 17, 1879, the old-time railway connects the Upper Town to the sites of Old Québec's Lower Town, including the historic Petit-Champlain district, the port and the Musée de la Civilization. An alternative route, aptly called Breakneck Stairs, provides a prime opportunity for those seeking a Stairmaster-like workout.
   
Petit-Champlain district 
At the base of the funicular lies the area's initial neighborhood, which gives a back-in-the-day peek into yesteryear's Québec City—today a picture-perfect sector resembling a historic riverside village. The colony's first residences, now restored to showcase the city's architectural heritage, line the narrow cobblestone streets and are current homes to bistros, art galleries and boutiques. Its romantic European atmosphere makes it a popular year-round attraction.

Port of Québec 
As the oldest port in Canada and the second largest in the province of Québec, viewing the city from the water is a completely different one. Tip: Board a boat, such as the M/V Louis-Jolliet, for a guided river cruise tour.

Musée de la Civilization 
Celebrating its 25th anniversary this museum has built a solid reputation as one which continually showcases groundbreaking exhibitions. Its current world-class Parisian exhibition on the Belle Époque, Paris on Stage, 1889-1914, runs until February 23, 2014). Its unique details come from the exhibit’s artistic director, Jeannot Painchaud who comes from a circus background (Cirque Éloize). An entire room is devoted to the oversized Les Halles (13 feet by 20 feet) painting, while belongings of Sarah Bernhardt are also provocatively displayed. Its finale is a replication of the Eiffel Tower’s top level surrounded by a black-and-white rendering of Paris as you would have seen it during the Belle Époque years.

From its Winter Carnival to the Québec Summer Festival and everything in between—whether it’s Festibière de Québec (Beer Fest) or Festival de Magie de Québec (Magic Festival) or Festival Grand Rire (Comedy Event)—Québec City begs to be explored any time of the year. Representing 400 years of charm, Québec City has it all from ancestral to avant-garde attractions. How many of us have ever felt we’ve time traveled?  That’s the premise here. Au revoir, Québec City, pleasure meeting you.  



#quebeccity #canada #summertravel #travel #trips #traveltips #travelingcynthia

Friday, April 11, 2014

Canada Media Marketplace

A favorite time of the year is Canada Media Marketplace, especially the official greeting by Sargent Kent Pike. 
#canada #canadamediamarketplace #travel #traveltips #travelingcynthia

Contest - Sonoma County Wine

Reminder: My contest for a free Sonoma County wine carrier, recyclable bag, and a bottle of Sonoma County's Coppola wine runs through this weekend and the winner will be announced Monday. All you have to do is click here and share this picture to enter. Good luck! Cheers to all!!

#contest #wine #sonoma #sonomacounty #sonomacountywine #coppola #travel #traveltips #travelingcynthia #enter #win #easycontest #winecarrier #prize #prizes #share

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Travel Quote"

"Travel makes one modest.
You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world."
Gustave Flaubert
Photo by Cynthia Dial

#travel #travelpix #travelpics #traveltips #travelingcynthia #antarctica #penguin #penguins #travelquote #travelquotes #gustaveflaubert  #gustaveflaubertquotes 

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

TripAdvisor Traveler's Choice Award - World's Top Travel Destination - Istanbul

The results for the 2014 TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice Awards: Istanbul has been voted the world's top travel destination.

Based on users’ reviews and ratings over a 12-month period, Istanbul beat out the long-time favorites of Rome, London, Paris and New York. The sixth annual awards saw Istanbul jump from 11th place to first within the past year.


 In announcing the award, TripAdvisor said: “Europe and Asia meet in Istanbul, where breathtaking ancient architecture coexists with modern restaurants and nightlife. The city's mosques, bazaars and hammams (Turkish baths) could keep you happily occupied for your entire trip. Start with the awe-inspiring Sultan Ahmet Camii (Blue Mosque), visible from many points of the city. Stroll the Galata Bridge and stop by the Miniaturk Park to see its tiny artifacts. The Grand Bazaar has thousands of shops to browse, while the Egyptian Bazaar is a fragrant trove of spices and fruits.

Photos by Cynthia Dial

 #istanbul #turkey #tripadvisor #worldstoptraveldestination #traveltips #travel
#travelingcynthia

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

San Francisco - California - Rainy Day - Cable Car

What do you do on a rainy day in San Francisco, California? Ride the cable car.

#sanfrancisco #california #cablecar #travel #traveltips #travelingcynthia #rainyday


San Francisco - California - Sunny Day - Street Art

What do you do on a sunny day in San Francisco, California? Enjoy street art.

#sanfrancisco #california #streetart #art #urbanart #travel #traveltips #travelingcynthia 





Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Spa L'Auberge - Del Mar - California

Perfect day at Spa L'Auberge: Del Mar Cobb salad creation by new-to-the-scene Chef Fortune for lunch, 25-minute express 'treats' - seaweed scrub & luxuriating hand and foot treatment and lounging in the sun in the spa's relaxation room. One word description: spaaaah! #delmar #california #spa #spalauberge #lauberge #cheffortune #spatreatment #spatreatments


Spring Training - San Diego Padres - Glendale, AZ

Spring Training: where else can you have a Chicago dog with a Kona beer while watching the San Diego Padres play the LA Dodgers in the Chicago White Sox stadium located in Glendale, AZ?

#travel #travelpix #traveltips #travelingcynthia #glendalearizona #springtraining #sandiegopadres #arizona #phoenix



Arizona Biltmore - Frank Lloyd Wright - Phoenix

Arizona Biltmore's signature Frank Lloyd Wright stained glass at the entrance of the premier hotel in Phoenix. #travel #travelpix #traveltips #travelingcynthia #franklloydwright #arizonabiltmore #phoenix