Travel Stuff
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A Reservation At The Preservation
Every night from about 7pm, a queue gathers on St Peter’s Street in New Orleans. There aren’t many venues in this town which attract quite so much attention, but the Preservation Hall is on the “must do” list of almost every guidebook. So it’s strange that on my three previous visits here, I’ve never got round to…
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Going Down Easy
For me, arriving in New Orleans is like arriving at home. I suppose it’s getting a bit like the package holidays some families take to the same places every year. But if you like a place that much, where’s the problem? And there’s never a problem in finding something different on Frenchman Street. At the…
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When The Saints Go Marching In
There’s an old joke that nobody ever travels by train in America. And outside the commuting zones of the big cities it’s largely true. Yet as I arrive at Memphis’ Central Station at just after 0530 on a Sunday morning, there a handful of people are already lining up to board the service South to…
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Don’t Believe Me? Just Watch.
A friend once described Memphis as “just another Southern town”. And in many respects, he was right. There aren’t scores of skyscrapers dominating the downtown area, and some of the side streets can seem dead after sunset. But then, there’s always Beale Street. In fairness, this photo doesn’t do it justice. Certainly on visuals, this ain’t…
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Towers, Trumps and Trash
It’s pretty much impossible to avoid politics in the States, and right now the fight is on among the candidates hoping to become the Republican runner for President. If you thought British election debates wre getting complicated, try watching a debate among eleven people, including the guy who built this little thing. The Trump Tower may…
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Meet Me By The Lions
You wouldn’t normally think of comparing Chicao with Nottingham but today I’ve seen two similarities in the stunning setting of The Loop. The area is the business heartland of the city, characterised by the elevated (El) trains which circle above the streets. At ground level, there’s a sharp division between the skyscrapers and the vast…
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About Last Night
Does anyone actually like airline food? I’ve seen documentaries examining the science behind mile high cuisine – but I’ve yet to find anyone actually congratulating the chef for his work. It’s a means to an end. Usually an end towards the back end of a flight. You get the picture. There are much better pictures to be…
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Boarding Pass Bingo
These days, I consider Heathrow as something of ritual rather than an adventure. I’ve learned most of the secrets – never pay for your travel within the perimeter road, always opt for a village pub rather than the hotel restaurant. It’s less about saving money and more about indulging in secret information that isn’t really…
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The Million Pound Jewel
“That thing costs Plymouth a million pounds a year and it’s a complete waste of money!” Barbara is eighty one and angry. I was surprised at her reaction. We’d been waiting at a bus stop on the coast path, overlooking Plymouth Sound – not far from where she’d learned to swim. But she was adamant…
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Help Your Selfie
For generations, people from all over the wold have flocked to Charles Bridge in Prague, often for a romantic moment with their partner, or perhaps a portrait by one of the local artists. And even in the largest crowds, you can take a quiet moment to reflect on the history and beauty of this great…
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