Jules Verne’s character Phileas Fogg traveled by steamer, train, elephant and horse around the world to demonstrate it was possible to do so. It took eighty days. Today, I completed my 80th navigation of the globe. This is a touch over two million miles (3.2 million kilometres), a feat which has taken me just over half a century of flying. This is what it looks like: I have flown to 62 of the 80 countries, I have visited. The rest I have reached by bus, train, car and in one case foot. Importantly, my travels…
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Almost everything on the Thomas Cook collapse–including Passenger & Staff Rights
Thomas Cook who lived from 1808 to 1892 began his career by running a successful one-day railway excursion for 500 temperance campaigners at a shilling a head from Leicester to Loughborough, a 19km (11 mile journey) on 5 July, 1841. He invented new payment systems for hotels and travel bookings, sold travel goods, organised excursions and ran a small alcohol free hotel in Fleet Street, London before he retired in 1878. There is a statue dedicated to him, outside Leicester Railway Station in the UK which was unveiled on 14 January 1994. His son took…
This year’s Heart Warming Heathrow Bears Ad makes eyes water- so does the airport
This heartwarming video may cause some sniffles! Based on the Heathrow Bear ad from last year (see video at end of post), this tells the story of how Doris and Edward Bear met in Christmas 1967 at London’s Heathrow airport when Doris returns Edward’s hat. It then follows their Heathrow reunions from then until now. Very sweet: Having been a LHR airport user since 1968 when I first flew out on a BOAC Viscount VC10, many elements seem familiar! Filmed in Heathrow Terminal One which opened in 1968, the year after the bears met in this ad! Poetic license is a…
Britain’s Ancient Roman Roads in Wonderful Transit Style Map
I love a good map and I especially find transit maps to be very absorbing. I am not sure what the official term for this “condition” is. Any thoughts? I was fascinated to find that Cartographer Sasha Trubetsko (pictured left) has created a map of the old Roman roads that crisscrossed Britain. The map is in the form of a transit style map! I love it. The Romans built a massive network of roads across Britain (except in Scotland which they could never quite conquer!). The roads allowed them to transport troops, goods and people across their…
What to do to prepare for a potential disaster while travelling
After the terrorist events across the world this past week, I think it is prudent to be prepared for a situation where you experience a natural or human emergency. (This is coming from someone who has lived in two war zones and travelled through multiple other war areas and disasters!) Check travel warnings for natural disaster warnings, violence, political unrest and wars before you travel. It amazes me that I talk to tourists who arrive in a country oblivious that only weeks before there was a coup or hurricane or earthquake! Check Your Perception: despite the…
Quarter Million dollar mouse stops aeroplane
The poor old mouse has had a rough time through history but always seems to make it out on top. I was fascinated/bemused by the announcement that a mouse probably ended up costing British Airways 290,000 Euro last week. Flight BA285, was due to leave London Heathrow’s Terminal 5 at 10:40am on 1st March for San Franciso. Just before push back, a mouse was found on board. Because mice can gnaw through the wiring on aeroplanes, a wide-ranging check had to done before the plane could take off. There are thousands of cables on a…
London to Paris for only $42
There is something very civilised about catching the Tube to Kings Cross/St Pancras station for the Eurostar journey between the English Capital and French capital. One moment you are using pounds, speaking English and enjoying a Cornish pasty and the next you are whizzing under the water emerging 2 hours 16 minutes later in Paris, my favourite city in the world ready to start speaking French, using Euros and hunting for the best Croissants! Eurostar is offering a £58 ($US84) round trip from London St Pancras or Ebbsfleet or Ashford to Paris, Brussels & Lille in Standard…
Best 2016 April Fools Day Travel Gags
There were some great travel related gigs, tricks and prinks this year. Virgin Australia launched Kid Class. I actually think it was a mighty fine idea -without the bubbles The London Eye announced it would convert two of its capsules into luxury studio penthouses, which would rotate 48 times a day, giving people a view of the English capital along with Champagne on request and a personal pillow fluffer. The North Yorkshire Moors Railway has created the “Pawfect” Car dedicated just to dogs. Citipark UK launched left-handed ticket barriers. Google made a mess of their mic…
Second Run for 2016 in Melbourne, Australia
My second 10km run for 2016 was along the coast of the beautiful Mornington Peninsula, outside of the city of Melbourne. The Australia Day Fun Run starts at Safety Beach and hugs the coast before going through a semi forested campsite and ending at a Village Green. I knocked off three minutes from my last time to come in at 1 hour 2 minutes 15 seconds. Related Posts First Run for 2016 in Hobart, Australia
United builds 787 routes
While a lot has been going wrong for United recently, on the positive side is the steady roll out of their 787 Dreamliners and their future planned destinations which have been steadily announced. The airline now has 22 of the 55 Dreamliners they have ordered. The Dreamliner’s ten destinations from San Francisco International are now: Auckland -July 2016 (787-8 increasing to a daily 787-9 from October) Chengdu -Commenced Houston Osaka -Commenced Shanghai Sydney -March, 2016 Taipei Tel Aviv – March 2016 (787-9) Tokyo Haneda Xi’an The airline is deploying the 787 on its longest flights which means they have a massive fuel…
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