ThereArePlaces

More Air Strikes in Europe

There are so many airline strikes popping up that you need to scorecard to keep track of the action. Both British Airways and Air France are to be struck by trade unions starting March 28 and lasting through the 31st. Portuguese pilots are scheduled to be on strike from March 26 to March 31, making quite a run-up to the Easter weekend. For more information than you will likely want to know about these strikes and their potential, see this detailed article from the Telegraph.

Great Barrier Reef Cyclone Alert

A cyclone alert has been issued for the Great Barrier Reef area of Australia for the upcoming weekend, starting on Thursday of this week. Tropical Cyclone Ului is expected to pack damaging winds and islands in the area of the Reef are being evacuated. At present, weather forecasters expect the cyclone to hit the Reef Sunday morning. See this article from Channel News Asia for more information.

We recommend that you delay travel to this area until early next week when it is likely that the cyclone will have passed through eastern Australia

For Tourism Information on travel safety in Australia, click here. For information of the best places to visit in Australia click here and

Joshua Tree National Park

We have added a Guide for Joshua Tree National Park to the ThereArePlaces section on National Parks of the American Southwest.

Joshua Tree National Park is located in southeastern California, near Palm Springs and on the route to Los Angeles and San Diego for those driving to the “Golden State” from the east. Known for its unusual vegetation and massive piles of jumbled, rectangular boulders, Joshua Tree National Park is fun place to visit in the fall, winter or early spring. The temperatures in summer can be deadly and we recommend visiting in the cooler portions of the year

The photo above was taken in the Park’s Cholla Garden. These cacti are known as the “Teddy Bear Cholla” and as the “Jumping Cholla”. While they look cuddly, the spines are barbed at the end and extremely painful if they launch, which can happen if you brush against them. The Cholla Garden is very beautiful and includes a modest , self-guided nature walk that is full of facts about the cholla and desert life. Nearby, there is, also, an Ocotillo Garden for the long whip like plants that inhabit the Colorado Desert section of the Park.

Joshua Tree is at the junction of the Mojave and Colorado Deserts with the Mojave being slightly cooler and wetter than the Colorado. The Mojave section of the Park is home to the Joshua Tree, a yucca/lily variant with large blooms in spring.

In addition, Joshua Tree is known for piles of blocky rocks that have weathered from an intrusion of monzogranite. Rectangular fractures have led to these materials weathing into large blocks that then weather to smaller blocks. The rock blocks add to the charm of a visit to Joshua Tree National Park.

Joshua Tree National Park is well worth visiting if you are on your way to Southern California by car. It can be toured in less than a day, even if you want to hike one or more of its numerous trails. You can find more details here.

If you are interested in visiting the Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Bryce, Zion or other national parks in the American Southwest, you might be interested in our guide to the Best National Parks in the American Southwest.

Strikes Continue In Greece

Greece is reeling from a fresh round of strikes. Doctors are striking over government payments they feel are being delayed without reason and, as a result, many state-run hopsitals are on “emergency” staffing. At the same time workers in the power industry are striking and this has caused blackouts in part of the country. Not to be left out, government workers joined the fray claiming that the government was unfairly focusing on the public sector to remedy the problems with its economic policies. Oh, gas stations will be on strike tomorrow. See the Kathimerini Times for more detail.

We know this is the time of year that many of you will be planning your vacations and Greece and the Greek Islands are always a popular choice. We think the strikes will make travel in Greece more difficult this year and you may want to limit your time on the mainland, if the financial crisis has not cooled down by the summer.

Strikes are a political reality in Greece and we suspect you can still have a great vacation in Greece this year, as long as you plan ahead. The most critical issue for travelers will be transportation. Make sure that you have back-up plans for air travel or for the use of ferries between the islands. Go with the flow - if you cannot travel and spend another day touring the attractions where you are “stuck”. If there is a strike that influences transportation, it is likely that other travelers will not be able to get to where you are and you may be able to extend your accommodations for another night with little problem. If you are driving the mainland, make sure you gas-up your car daily, as strikes will undoubtedly close petrol stations or influence the availability of fuel.

Still Need Clean Socks To Fly in U.S.

Who would have thought that my mother’s caution to “Wear clean underwear and socks, you never know when you will be in an accident…” would be a catch phrase for air travelers in 2010. Regarldless of the other innovations in science and technology, you still need to take off your shoes to pass airport security. Moreover, the new “advanced imaging technology” used for full-body scanning will undoubtedly prove your mother right about the need for clean underwear.

According to an article in the Chicago Tribune, the Department of Homeland Security has been unable to develop a technology that can see what’s in your shoes short of scanning your shoes once you have removed them.

If we were TSA employees, we would opt to work the early-morning shift, when the odds are better that travelers’ socks are clean. At the end of the day, toe-jam pollution at the security check point must be at critical levels. Are they sure they can’t find leading-edge technology that will allow some of those people keep their shoes on their stinky feet (and you know the travelers to whom we are politely referring)? It seems to us that developing such technology would be worthy of a Nobel Prize

If we did not love travel and the countries we visit so much, we would likely hide at home and hope that no calamity befell as we sheltered under the bed. Of course, even then we would still be wearing clean socks and underwear, so maybe we should just go to airport and explore someplace new.

In a serious note, we believe that travel is one of the elixers that will help make this world a better place and we will continue to do our part. We’d write more but we are off to JC Penney to restock our supply of socks and shorts!

By the way, see our article on Shoe and Foot Care During Travel for some great tips on taking care of your tootsies during travel.

Its Snowing…On The Mediterranean Coast of Spain and France

It continues to be a rough winter in Europe and it appears that “Old Man Winter” wants to extend his reach. Today, there was snow in Barcelona. In addition, there was snow in southern France , including Nimes (the link is to a video on the BBC that shows snow and palm trees, something you do not see every day).

Well, spring is on its way and it will be another glorious summer along the Mediterranean Coast of Europe. In fact, with all of the precipitation, it should be a colorful spring as well.

TSA Expanding Use of Explosive Trace Detection

Today, the TSA announced an expansion of its use of Explosive Trace Detection (ETD). The text of their press release follows.

WASHINGTON - The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced today that it is expanding the random use of Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) technology at airports nationwide as an additional layer of security.

“Explosive Trace Detection technology is a critical tool in our ability to stay ahead of evolving threats to aviation security,” said TSA Acting Administrator Gale Rossides. “Expanding the use of this technology at checkpoints and at departure gates greatly enhances security to keep the traveling public safe.”

Since the Christmas Day failed attack TSA has increased its random use of ETD technology within security checkpoints to screen passengers’ hands and carry-on luggage. In addition, TSA piloted the use of ETD technology in both the checkpoint queue and boarding areas for two weeks at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Orlando International Airport, and Pitt-Greenville and Coastal Carolina Regional Airports in North Carolina.

Passengers can now expect to see the increased random use of ETD technology in areas where TSA currently conducts screening such as the security checkpoint, as well as in the checkpoint queue, and boarding areas. Officers may swab a piece of luggage or passengers’ hands, then use ETD technology to test for explosives. The swab is placed inside the ETD unit which analyzes the content for the presence of potential explosive residue. To ensure the health of travelers, screening swabs are disposed of after each use. Since it will be used on a random basis, passengers should not expect to see the same thing at every airport or each time they travel.

To date, the Department has awarded $15 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding for 400 fixed ETD units. Additionally, President Obama’s fiscal year 2011 budget prioritizes key investments in aviation security, including $39 million to purchase approximately 800 portable ETD machines.

Proposed New Passport Fees

The State Department has proposed new passport fees. You can read the entire text of the announcement here.

The paragraphs below highlight the price increases being considered.

“The proposed rule for the new passport fees was published in the Federal Register on February 9, 2010 (Public Notice 6887, Federal Register, February 9, 2010, Volume 75, No. 26, beginning at page 6321). Publication of the proposed rule in the Federal Register will be followed by a public comment period of at least 30 days. The public will be notified of the date the new fees will go into effect.

View the proposed rule and submit your comment

The proposed schedule of fees for passport application services is as follows:

Total Cost: $135 for a first-time U.S. Passport Book for adults (age 16 and over)
Total Cost: $110 for U.S. Passport Book renewal (age 16 and over only)
Total Cost: $105 for a U.S. Passport Book for minors (under age 16)
Total Cost: $55 for a first-time U.S. Passport Card for adults (age 16 and over)
Total Cost: $30 for a U.S. Passport Card for adults (age 16 and over) who currently hold a fully valid U.S. Passport
Total Cost: $40 for a U.S. Passport Card for minors (under age 16)
Total Cost: $82 for additional visa pages
The fee for expedited service will remain $60.

The proposed passport “Schedule of Fees” is based on a Cost of Service Study conducted in June 2009. It’s the most detailed study the Department of State has ever conducted of its for-fee services, and represents a cost correction from the last update of the Schedule of Fees four years ago. ”

For a more informative statement on these fees, see this article from CNN.

We are not sure that CNN is correct in their analysis, as they indicate that the current fee for a first time applicant’s Passport Book is $100. However, the current fee for a U.S. Passport Book is $95 plus a $25 execution fee for a total cost of $120. The statement from the State Department on the proposed fees indicates a “Total cost” for a Passport Book under the proposed fee structure would be $135, so the increase could be $15 (over the present total cost), if the definition for “Total Cost”, as used by the State Department, includes the execution fee. We will clafify this for you when more detail is available.

There are other aspects of the proposed price increases that are draconian. As you might suspect, some of our team are among the small group who from time to time need to have pages added to their passports, since we travel a lot. In the past, we could have these pages added for free. Under the new rules is will cost $82 for this service. Wouldn’t it be easier to provide the option of a larger number of pages when the passport is issued? Oh, well, we are sure that is an argument we will not win.

Amsterdam Is Calling You

Amsterdam is one of the fun places to visit in Europe. While many focus on Amsterdam for its food, fun and active nightlife, it has several fantastic attractions and others that are relatively unique in Europe.

The Van Gogh Museum is an incredible treasure, displaying a vast array of some of Van Gogh’s most impressive works. Across town, but not far away, the Anne Frank Huis contains poignant displays chronicling the tragic, secret life of Anne Frank during her “captivity” during World War II in Amsterdam.

If you are looking for something lighter, there is the “new” Heineken Experience, one of the most popular attractions in Venice of the North.

We have expanded, reformatted and reorganized the ThereArePlaces Guide to Amsterdam to help you explore this wonderful city. Amsterdam is one of the most popular destinations with visitors at theThereArePlaces website.

We’ve added a new section on Amsterdam Touring Tips that covers what you will need to know to visit Amsterdam. Most travelers plan to stay a couple of days, but often extend their visit. One of the most common comments of those departing is “I had to leave; it was just too much fun!” Maybe you should see for yourself?

The Troubles…again?

The Republic of Ireland’s Justice Minister indicated that the threat of attacks by dissident Republicans in Northern Ireland is now as high as at any time during the thirty years of the “The Troubles”. See this story for more details.

For those of you unfamililar with the situation, there are many factions in Northern Ireland that are not in favor of reconciliation between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Religion and political persuasion are cited as the major differences causing “The Troubles”.

The attacks by various dissident groups increased dramatically in 2009, although the actions have been confined to Northern Ireland. Those of you planning travel in the Republic of Ireland should experience no difficulty with “The Troubles. However, if you are going to travel in the north of the Republic and want cross into Northern Ireland to explore Belfast, the Giants’s Causeway or the Bushmill’s distillery, you should exercise caution in the portion of your travels inside of the borders of Northern Ireland. Check local news, avoid towns where there has been recent activity and avoid any area planning a parade.