Why Europe has beaten us on mass transit

So, I recently glorified Europe rail system, and declared it to be better than what we have in America, in my latest column for the Clayton News Daily. Take a look

London Burning ...

Well, as the entire world already knows, youth in England have been rioting for several days now. As a result, the situation is literally heating up London (now less than a year away from hosting the Olympics), where several large fires have been started by rioters.

Keep in mind that it was not that long ago (a few months ago really) that the youth of London were rioting over higher college tuition costs. This time, it's possible cuts to social programs that have these kiddies upset. I'm beginning to think, however, that the youth of England just like rioting. "The more damage that can be done, the better" is what I believe they are thinking. Then again, that's just my honest opinion. However, British officials have been quoted in media reports s saying that many of the rioters are just coming out only to see something burn. That seems to back up my thoughts on this. 

The future of Britian seems to lie in the hands of a bunch of pyromaniacs. 

This can't bode well for London as it prepares to host the world next summer. Then again, there are some pretty rough people in other parts of the world, and perhaps a head-on run-in between trouble-making youths and "I can beat you into the ground with my fistskies"tourists is just what the kiddos need. Nothing breaks a rebellious streak in someone quite like a good old fashioned ass beating.

Regardless, I'm looking forward to see what unfolds next summer, when I'm in London for the Olympics.

A tourist tax?

I don't think I'll ever go to Tybee Island, near Savannah, again.

Officials on Tybee Island are now raising parking fees on their island, specifically at the beach (although they are planning to add parking meters in front of restaurants and shops as well). Residents get a special parking pass to avoid the fees, so it's basically designed to make tourists on the island pay to come to the island.

Essentially, it's a tourist tax.

In a recent AP article on the parking fees, Tybee Island's mayor basically took an attitude of "They're going to park here anyway, even with higher parking fees." That's like saying "Let's take advantage of their love of the beach as much as possible."

That's just unconscionable, and I sincerely hope tourists now stay away in protest.

The airlines have decreed "No Tax Break for You!"

It never fails. Whenever there is a glimmer of hope that the little guy can get a break, the big boys swoop in  to prevent that opportunity from happening. As you may have heard over the weekend, the FAA taxes that we pay (as part of our air travel ticket prices) lapsed over the weekend, and most of the airlines quickly raised their fares (by the same amount as the lost taxes) so that travelers see no break at all.

Airlines bent on bleeding us dry, per the AP

ABC's Expedition Impossible sucks

Do you like CBS' The Amazing Race because of its whirlwind-trip-around-the-world format? Have you been thinking about checking out ABC's Expedition Impossible because it is another travel-based competition, ala The Amazing Race?

Don't bother.

I had high hopes for Expedition Impossible before it started, but I missed the first couple of episodes because of work. I finally caught a re-run this weekend, and I can firmly tell you it is nothing more than a poorly crafted Amazing Race rip-off.

Actually, that's too kind. It's the Amazing Race, only it's stuck in only one country, and it's minus the amazing vistas and sense of adventure. Oh, and it's chock full of contrived drama. the only problem with this drama is that the people involved in it are clearly pretending, because it is obvious that they are mailing their lousy performances in.

Travel stop of the Day

So, I'm going to try posting a picture of a different place int he world every day. Some of the pictures will have me in them, and some will not. I'm starting it off with a picture of me and one of the guards at Rideau Hall, in Ottawa, Ontario.

The best ever travel book, web site

I few months back, I came across a little red book that is a true Godsend, in a Borders bookstore. The store was having a going out of business sale, so everything was discounted. I was looking over every thing the store had to offer, and that's when I found a little piece of literary heaven, in the form of Catherine Price's "101 Place NOT to See Before You Die."

A lot of travel books spend an ungodly amount of time trying to tell you all of these places you need to go in the world, but will likely never see. Catherine's book doesn't do that. Essentially, it contains all of these essays abotu places that you could go see in the world (if you're desperate), but should really just skip.

Where else could you read about such fascinating places as an island in the Pacific that is made of trash, or a Testicle Festival, or Beijing's tap water museum.

There is a web site for the book, www.101worstplaces.com, where you can read a few sample essays.

I wrote a column about it a few months back for the Clayton News Daily

Crazy photo post

It's a French Baguette! I am totally using this for my new blog profile photo.

Getting caught up

K, sorry I haven't been blogging much. I am still trying to get into this stuff, and as you can tell, I'm not doing a very good job at it. Since my last blog post, I've gone on trips to San Francisco/Napa Valley, and to Quebec and Ottawa.

I am going to start posting links to my weekly travel column that runs in the Clayton News Daily. I'll post links to the last few months of stories now, and check back every Friday for links to new columns.

"It’s all ‘Oh France’ for Quebec" - July 22, 2011

"Doing an extended stay at the airport" - July 15, 2011

"Those darn crazy Canadians" - July 8, 2011

"A second chance for the Olympics" - June 24, 2011

"Doing the last-minute, travel-change shuffle" - June 17, 2011


"Getting away to see the relations" - June 10, 2011

"The epic, Olympic-sized tickets FAIL!" June 3, 2011

"Playing an Olympic-sized waiting game" - May 27, 2011

"The prison that became a celebrity" - May 20, 2011

"The 'fine art' of wine-tasting" - May 13, 2011

"It is not like you see on TV" - May 6, 2011


"Three cheers for royal welfare wedding" - April 29, 2011

"San Francisco adventure in Facebook updates" - April 22, 2011


"I left my clothes in San Francisco" - April 15, 2011