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The Beetle
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Mac's Travel Reminiscences
Mac has not been very well but is still e-mailing strong. Here is an account by Paul Haring, a US journalist writing about Mac’s exploits during WW2. The article is entitled: The ‘Greatest Generation.’ The World War II generation, called by Tom Brokaw the “Greatest Generation,” is well represented at the Soldiers and Airmen’s Home…
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The Beetle
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Our Friends Ryanair
More news re Ryanair who have been told by the UK’s Office of Fair Trading(OFT) to remove their small print in their ticket info over their attempt to avoid paying compensation for damaged and lost baggage. Ryanair was refusing any liability for damage or delay to prams, sporting equipment, such as golf clubs, wheelchairs and…
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The Beetle
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Being Careful: Zambia
The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office advise against all but essential travel to parts of the north western Copperbelt, Central and Luapula provinces, which are close to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), particularly after dark. There are continuing reports of armed cross-border raids from the DRC. You should also be aware…
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The Beetle
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Russian Driving
Mosnews, the Moscow based online daily newspaper recently reported a Goodyear poll researching why Russians are among the worse drivers in Europe. They report that being such bad drivers can be largely attributed to a penchant for getting a little overly amorous while behind the wheel. Around 25 per cent of those quizzed for the…
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The Beetle
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In Bad Taste: the Crippendales
The British gave us the Full Monty, the Americans gave us the Chippendales, and now there is a troupe of disabled male strippers, who self-mockingly call themselves The Crippendales. The group of men are the subject of a new documentary which has been selected for the New York Film Festival. The film, which carries the…
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The Beetle
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Climate Change and Flying
The Kyoto Protocol is the only global agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, though its attempts at reducing emissions and the effects of climate change are limited. The world’s biggest polluter, the United States, has rejected the protocol and it is not binding on emerging boom economies such as India and China. According to the…
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The Beetle
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Compulsory Golf Lessons in China
Golf, once frowned upon by China’s Communist Party, is now enjoyed by the country’s rich and powerful, and has grown in popularity in recent years. News comes from the China Daily newspaper that golf lessons are going to be made compulsory for some students at Xiamen University in Fujian province. The president of Xiamen University…
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The Beetle
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Bradt Travel Guides and Pub Quizzes
Bradt Travel Guides are holding a pub and travel quiz with other travel companies at various UK venues. Below are some of the destinations: Tue 7th Nov ’06 in Oxford at Smollensky’s, 17 Park End Rd, Oxford, OX1 1HU. Thu 9th Nov ’06 in Manchester at Stanfords, 39 Spring Gardens, Manchester, M2 2BG. Wed 15th…
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The Beetle
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Buying Foreign Currency in London
Neil Harris writes in to say: buying foreign currency from a high street bank or travel agency either involves a hefty commission or a poor rate of exchange. I’ve found the best rates for popular currencies are to be found in Oxford Street. On the way to the last Globetrotters meeting I got $1.85 to…
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The Beetle
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Fave Website
Spotted by Webmaster Paul, this is an excellent source of low cost air travel from the UK and includes many airlines, especially charter airlines that the Beetle has never heard of. So if you are in the UK and want to take a break, this is an excellent resource; if you are travelling to the…
The Globetrotters Club
The travel club for independent travellers.