Category: travel

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14 Fun, Free Things to Do in New York City

I love New York City. But it can be pricey, depending on what kind of traveler you are. Some folks want to dish out fistfuls of cash, go to Broadway shows, and eat at the nicest restaurants.

Other people, like me, prefer to experience NYC in the cheapest way possible. Sure, I’ll go out for a decent meal, but I also just like to wander around, people watch, and take in the sights and sounds in different neighborhoods.

Here are 14 things you can do for absolutely free in New York City if you happen to find yourself in that great city.

1. Explore the New York Public Library.

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Me hubiese quedado aquí todo el día

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2. Check out the galleries in Chelsea.

3. Of course, spend some time in Central Park.

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Traffic jam at the boat pond #CentralPark #nyc

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4. Take a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.

5. Tour the Brooklyn Brewery for free.

6. Check out the different farmer’s markets in the city.

7. Take a walk on the High Line.

8. Watch the street performers (and tip them!).

9. Check out museums when they have free hours.

10. Go to the beach.

11. Visit Brooklyn Bridge Park.

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The Concrete Jungle ?. #newyork

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12. Join in on a free yoga class.

13. Find a free comedy show.

14. Cruise on the Staten Island ferry.

Got any other helpful (cheap) tips for traveling to the Big Apple?

Share them in the comments, please!

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15 Funny Tweets About Flying on Planes

Traveling by plane is obviously incredible, and we shouldn’t complain about it at all, but you know we’re going to anyway!

When you’re flying through the air inside a metal tin at 35,000 feet with 150 strangers, there’s a pretty good chance that someone is going to get on your nerves. And sometimes, you just have funny experiences on those flights.

Enjoy these funny tweets about flying, and I’ll see you at the back of the plane in the basic economy section.

1. She was very surprised.

2. Gee, thanks a lot.

3. Sounds pretty fishy to me.

4. Thank you, sir!

5. I don’t think that’s why they’re looking at you…

6. But I want it…

7. Creep alert!

8. At least he (kind of) laughed about it.

9. Needed the calculator for that one.

10. She had to do it.

11. Very specific tastes.

12. Snakes on a plane.

13. Should be a quiet flight.

14. Like a stink bomb.

15. Let’s watch it together!

Do you have any good/hilarious/ridiculous plane stories?

Share them in the comments so we can all have a laugh together!

The post 15 Funny Tweets About Flying on Planes appeared first on UberFacts.

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Yellowstone National Park Is Going to Have Its First Woman Chief Ranger

Bravo!

For the first time in its 147 year history, Yellowstone National Park will see its first female chief ranger.

Photo Credit: Flickr

Sarah Davis, a National Park Service veteran for 20 years, will be the park’s 18th chief ranger, and the first woman to officially hold the top job (the park has had other women serve in an interim chief ranger capacity).

Superintendent Cam Sholly said, in a statement, “Sarah is an outstanding leader with a track record of high performance, strategic thinking, and collaboration.”

Davis’ responsibilities as chief of resource and visitor protection, includes overseeing 275 employees in the areas of law enforcement, search and rescue, emergency services, fires, special permits, trails. If visitors to the park experiences any problems, Davis and her rangers will be there to help.

Photo Credit: National Park Service

Before the Yellowstone assignment, Davis has been sharpening her chief ranger skills since 2012 overseeing Natchez Trace Parkway, which is a 444 mile long recreational road covering three states. In 2016, she was awarded the Southeast Region Excellence Award.

David has also acted as superintendent of the Vicksburg and Guilford Courthouse National Military Parks, held various chief ranger positions over Harpers Ferry National Historic Park, as well as a range of duties at Manassas National Battlefield Park, Independence National Historic Park, Assateague Island National Seashore, and Blue Ridge Parkway.

“It is an honor and privilege to be selected for this position,” said Davis. “I’m excited to join the Yellowstone team, and work together to protect our first national park and its visitors, and ensure the health, safety, and wellness of our employees.”

Photo Credit: National Park Service

Davis is a native of Lexington, North Carolina, and she graduated from Denison University in Granville, Ohio, with a Bachelor of Arts in History. She later graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Academy in 2013.

Her history-making role starts with her relocation to Yellowstone, where she will take charge of one of the most beautiful national parks in the United States.

The post Yellowstone National Park Is Going to Have Its First Woman Chief Ranger appeared first on UberFacts.

Posted on

Yellowstone National Park Is Going to Have Its First Woman Chief Ranger

Bravo!

For the first time in its 147 year history, Yellowstone National Park will see its first female chief ranger.

Photo Credit: Flickr

Sarah Davis, a National Park Service veteran for 20 years, will be the park’s 18th chief ranger, and the first woman to officially hold the top job (the park has had other women serve in an interim chief ranger capacity).

Superintendent Cam Sholly said, in a statement, “Sarah is an outstanding leader with a track record of high performance, strategic thinking, and collaboration.”

Davis’ responsibilities as chief of resource and visitor protection, includes overseeing 275 employees in the areas of law enforcement, search and rescue, emergency services, fires, special permits, trails. If visitors to the park experiences any problems, Davis and her rangers will be there to help.

Photo Credit: National Park Service

Before the Yellowstone assignment, Davis has been sharpening her chief ranger skills since 2012 overseeing Natchez Trace Parkway, which is a 444 mile long recreational road covering three states. In 2016, she was awarded the Southeast Region Excellence Award.

David has also acted as superintendent of the Vicksburg and Guilford Courthouse National Military Parks, held various chief ranger positions over Harpers Ferry National Historic Park, as well as a range of duties at Manassas National Battlefield Park, Independence National Historic Park, Assateague Island National Seashore, and Blue Ridge Parkway.

“It is an honor and privilege to be selected for this position,” said Davis. “I’m excited to join the Yellowstone team, and work together to protect our first national park and its visitors, and ensure the health, safety, and wellness of our employees.”

Photo Credit: National Park Service

Davis is a native of Lexington, North Carolina, and she graduated from Denison University in Granville, Ohio, with a Bachelor of Arts in History. She later graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Academy in 2013.

Her history-making role starts with her relocation to Yellowstone, where she will take charge of one of the most beautiful national parks in the United States.

The post Yellowstone National Park Is Going to Have Its First Woman Chief Ranger appeared first on UberFacts.

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A Flight Attendant Shared Why You Should Never Order Coffee or Tea on an Airplane

You may be tempted to get a nice, steaming cup of coffee or tea in your hands on your next flight.

Don’t.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Airplanes are very public spaces. Between people removing their shoes and clothes mid-flight to the ever present coughing and hacking, planes are pretty much petri dishes.

But even with all those germs floating around, there are other unsanitary concerns you may not have considered.

Flight attendant Jamila Hardwick spoke with Inside Edition about what you should know before you order any tea or coffee.

Photo Credit: YouTube

The water used for hot beverages is not from a bottle. It comes through water pipes on the plane which, apparently, are rarely cleaned. In fact, airlines are only required to flush and sanitize the lines four times a year.

And heaven forbid anyone clean anything more than required.

Flight attendants spend most of their time on these big birds, so they should know what’s good to order onboard. Watch the clip:

So, coffee’s out.

If you’re thinking about getting a cold soft drink instead, stay away from Diet Coke. Though it’s not any more germy than usual, Hardwick shared that the popular cola fizzes the most of all soft drinks and is a pain for attendants to pour. By the time it settles enough to pass over to you, they could’ve served several others and gone on to other duties.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia

Flight attendants are hard working people so a little consideration goes a long way with them.

Perhaps the least known tidbit Hardwick shared is that flight attendants aren’t on the clock until the plane doors are closed. So if you request an attendant hoist your bag into the storage compartment above your seat for you, they will probably decline. If they get injured, they aren’t covered by their employers’—the airlines’—insurance. Any medical treatment they need would be out of pocket.

The most useful tip? Bring your own pillows and blankets. The airlines do launder blankets and pillow cases but not between flights. And the pillows themselves are likely never washed.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

What about the seat trays?

Yes, absolutely disgusting.

Hardwick recommends bringing antibacterial wipes and doing a thorough swipe of your tray before using it. She says cleaning crews don’t have time to wipe down every tray when turning an aircraft, so it may be worthwhile to take a few seconds to clean it yourself.

Flying is a great convenience of the modern world, but it’s also germy. Take note of this valuable information for your next journey, and maybe you won’t get so sick the next time you fly!

The post A Flight Attendant Shared Why You Should Never Order Coffee or Tea on an Airplane appeared first on UberFacts.

Posted on

A Flight Attendant Shared Why You Should Never Order Coffee or Tea on an Airplane

You may be tempted to get a nice, steaming cup of coffee or tea in your hands on your next flight.

Don’t.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Airplanes are very public spaces. Between people removing their shoes and clothes mid-flight to the ever present coughing and hacking, planes are pretty much petri dishes.

But even with all those germs floating around, there are other unsanitary concerns you may not have considered.

Flight attendant Jamila Hardwick spoke with Inside Edition about what you should know before you order any tea or coffee.

Photo Credit: YouTube

The water used for hot beverages is not from a bottle. It comes through water pipes on the plane which, apparently, are rarely cleaned. In fact, airlines are only required to flush and sanitize the lines four times a year.

And heaven forbid anyone clean anything more than required.

Flight attendants spend most of their time on these big birds, so they should know what’s good to order onboard. Watch the clip:

So, coffee’s out.

If you’re thinking about getting a cold soft drink instead, stay away from Diet Coke. Though it’s not any more germy than usual, Hardwick shared that the popular cola fizzes the most of all soft drinks and is a pain for attendants to pour. By the time it settles enough to pass over to you, they could’ve served several others and gone on to other duties.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia

Flight attendants are hard working people so a little consideration goes a long way with them.

Perhaps the least known tidbit Hardwick shared is that flight attendants aren’t on the clock until the plane doors are closed. So if you request an attendant hoist your bag into the storage compartment above your seat for you, they will probably decline. If they get injured, they aren’t covered by their employers’—the airlines’—insurance. Any medical treatment they need would be out of pocket.

The most useful tip? Bring your own pillows and blankets. The airlines do launder blankets and pillow cases but not between flights. And the pillows themselves are likely never washed.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

What about the seat trays?

Yes, absolutely disgusting.

Hardwick recommends bringing antibacterial wipes and doing a thorough swipe of your tray before using it. She says cleaning crews don’t have time to wipe down every tray when turning an aircraft, so it may be worthwhile to take a few seconds to clean it yourself.

Flying is a great convenience of the modern world, but it’s also germy. Take note of this valuable information for your next journey, and maybe you won’t get so sick the next time you fly!

The post A Flight Attendant Shared Why You Should Never Order Coffee or Tea on an Airplane appeared first on UberFacts.

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Check out the Gorgeous Subways of the Former Soviet Union

I visited Russia for ten days in 2003, and it was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Standing in Red Square, walking around Saint Petersburg, it was truly incredible.

One thing I noticed was how elaborate and beautiful some of the subway stations were in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. The Soviets built incredible subway and train stations (some of them very far below ground). During the peak years in the Soviet Union, only 30 out of 1,000 citizens owned cars, so it was imperative to have a top-notch subway public transit system.

Even the more modern stations are pretty breathtaking. It’s a matter of priorities.

Here are some of the best.

1. Chernaya Rechka (Black River), Saint Petersburg.

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Как вы воспринимаете себя? Когда вы – это действительно вы, а не общественно удобный вариант вашей личности? Когда вы рассказываете о себе, вы хотите показаться лучше? Немного потока сознания на эту тему. ? Я часто рассуждаю о том, какой я на самом деле. Принимаю ли это я решение, или навязанный стереотип быть "сильным", "становится лучше" и "преодолевать себя" заставляет делать меня то, что по настоящему мне не нужно? Например, взбираться на гору, учиться водить машину, стричься, делать физические упражнения, есть здоровую еду, не пить алкоголь. Это я или не я? Может, моё внутреннее я на самом деле хочет сесть за компьютер и погрузиться в RPG на неделю. Может настоящий я – там? ? Нам всё время отовсюду твердят о самосовершенствовании. Поэтому "не развиваться" как-то стыдно. В то же время, общество не любит тех, кто "прыгает" слишком высоко. И поэтому часто приходится показывать себя несколько хуже, чем ты есть. Например, в СССР долгое время принято было быть скромным. И после распада это обернулось тем, что скромность наоборот стала пороком. Общественные установки меняются чрезвычайно быстро. Курить в школе считалось крутым, сейчас "курение убивает". Трудоголизм также постепенно сдаёт свои позиции, работать без отдыха уже считается неправильным. Отдых также имеет какие-то требования для вашего круга общения. Например, много где тех, кто ходит в пешие походы считают "экстремалами" или "бомжами". В среде походников же обычные отпуска иначе как "тюленьими" и не называют. ? Желание построить крутой образ себя, необычного и успешного, сильного и волевого, развивающегося и успешного, часто загоняет истинные мотивы и импульсы внутрь. Я люблю находиться на природе, люблю испытания, но не меньше я люблю залипать дома и заказывать еду, чтобы смотреть фильмы. Фильмы вообще для меня дают нисколько не меньше, чем путешествия за пределы квартиры. Мне нравится анализировать их, погружаться в миры, и иногда представлять свои. Навряд ли человека, который просто смотрит кино, можно назвать успешным и развивающимся. Многие вообще видят в фильмах жвачку для мозга. Но мне плевать. Я люблю фильмы. Я настоящий раскрываюсь как зритель и переживаю этот опыт один или с кем-то.

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2. Look at the detail.

3. Narvskaya Station, Saint Petersburg.

4. Avtovo Station, Saint Petersburg.

5. A newer station in Moscow.

6. Elektrozavodskaya Station, Moscow.

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The most incredible subway in the world ? ? ?

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7. Taganskaya Station, Moscow.

8. Avtovo Station, Saint Petersburg.

9. Cold and lonely walkway.

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Вчера Петербургский метрополитен ? работал без перерыва. Так он выглядит в 2 ночи. По моему очень здорово. #метро #эстетика #урбанизм #петербургскийметрополитен #sybway #russiansubway #spb #saintpetersburg #санктпетербург #ночь #следущая_станция_автово #переход_на_3_линию #конечнаястанция_девяткино #маяковская #площадь_мужества #площадь_александра_невского #новочеркасская #площадь_восстания

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10. A grand station in Moscow.

11. A station in Yekaterinburg.

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??? My nearest underground station В период моей жизни в Англии мне пару раз доводилось общаться с моими international friends касательно темы российского метрополитена, в частности московского. Те, кому удавалось посетить столицу РФ (из полусотни наберется едва 3 студента), отмечали архитектуру станций (не всю подземку в целом) как одну из лучших. Кстати наша британская подруга Андреа тоже под впечатлением. Действительно, большинство станций московского метро выглядят как картинные галереи. Если будете в Москве, обязательно прогуляйтесь по самым, по-моему мнению, прекрасным галереям московской подземки: – Комсомольска (кольцевая); – Киевская (кольцевая и Арбатско-Покровская линия); – Новослободская; – Таганская; – Парк Культуры (кольцевая) и другие. Кстати станции Лондонского метро не особо впечатляющие, хотя некоторые – в стиле Hi-Tech. Именно такой стиль мне нравится больше. Станций Екатеринбургского метрополитена не много, но каждая из них стилизована под конкретную тематику. Например Чкаловская – в честь советского летчика Валерия Чкалова (в честь него названы район города и одна из улиц). А Ботаническая (на фото выше) в стиле пчелиных сот. Кстати она мне нравится больше всех. #метро #underground #ботаническая #русскоеметро #yekaterinburg #history #fact #russiansubway #russiantube #россия #therussianfederation

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12. Nizhny Novgorod. Futuristic.

13. Art in Saint Petersburg.

14. Mayakovskaya Station, Moscow.

15. They are beautiful, indeed.

Have you been to Russia and visited some of the train stations?

Share your favorite with us in the comments!

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An Airline Now Features a Booking System That Shows Where All Babies Are Seated on Its Flights

I don’t get super frustrated and freak out when a baby by me is crying hysterically on a plane. That’s why you always bring earplugs AND headphones when you travel, so you don’t really have to hear anything at all except the music you’re listening to. (Pro tip: this means you also don’t have to talk to anyone, which is always nice).

But let’s get to the point of the story. Some people really do get upset about screaming, fussy kids on their flights. So leave it to the innovative Japanese to come up with this idea.

Japan Airlines unveiled a booking system that allows customers to see exactly where babies are seated on flights. Genius!

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Spot the difference on this particular seating chart. @japanairlines_jal and Korean Air are now showing where infants are sitting so you can choose your seat accordingly ?. . . Whats your take on this, is this a helpful perk, parent shamer? Or do you think they’re going to charge more for seats in the long run.. “bidding for seats, far away from babies” . . —- #fatmentravelling #bigandtallfashion #plussizemenswear #instago #instavacation #menofsize #passportready #travelblogger #fatgirlstraveling #travelblog #babyonboard #babyonflight #travelhustler #travelisthenewclub #flyfluffyandfabolous #bearsofinstagram #cubsofinstagram #pointsandmiles #travelholic #bigguys #fatgirlstraveling #bodyposivity #plussizetravel #fatgirlstraveltoo #instatravel @british_airways @lufthansa @virginatlantic @easyjet @ryanair @thomascookairlinesuk #travelnoire #effyourbeautystandards #baby #iamsizesexy #travelgoals2018 @bbc_travel @theellenshow @travelnoire @holidaypirates @travel_con @blacktraveljourney @travelandleisure @travelchannel

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Once you’ve booked a flight on Japan Airlines and it’s time to check in, you’ll see a seating chart of the plane with baby icons showing where little ones are seated on that particular flight. The airline’s website says: “Passengers traveling with children between eight days and two years old who select their seats on the JAL website will have a child icon displayed on their seats on the seat selection screen. This lets other passengers know a child may be sitting there.”

That means you need to select your seats as early as possible to avoid sitting next to screaming, puking children, if that kind of thing bothers you.

One other thing to keep in mind: sometimes the baby icon might not appear on seating charts. Examples include if a block of seats is booked for a tour or with award tickets, if tickets were selected in places other than the Japan Airlines website, or if for some reason the aircraft was changed at the last minute.

Still, that’s progress, right?

I have a feeling this feature will become very popular and other airlines will start doing this and they’ll make it even more streamlined. Hooray for innovation!

And remember: don’t forget your earplugs and headphones.

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The Loch Ness Monster Might Just Be a Giant Eel

Nessie fans, pay attention.

The first sighting of the rumored monster swimming in Loch Ness dates back to the 6th century; since then, scientists and regular people alike have been searching for answers.

Sturgeons, trees, elephant trunks, dinosaurs and just about everything else you can think of has been blamed at one point or another, but one New Zealand scientist is claiming he’s come up with the most plausible answer – an oversized eel.

Neil Gemmell of the University of Otago made the assertion after a recent environmental DNA project analyzed the genetic material of everything living in the loch. Gemmell and his team collected 250 water samples from various spots in the lake – no small feat given that the lake is 23 miles long and 788 feet deep – and came up with 500 million gene sequences.

They then compared the sequenced DNA with global databases of known organism, and found nothing to suggest there’s anything new or unknown in the lake. Their findings also ruled out some previous guesses, like Greenland sharks, catfish, and sturgeon.

What they did find, however, were unusually high amounts of eel DNA.

“The remaining theory that we cannot refute based on the environmental DNA data obtained is that what people are seeing is a very large eel,” the project’s website reads. “Eels are very plentiful in Loch Ness, with eel DNA found at pretty much every location sampled – there are a lot of them.”

We also know that the British Isles are home to some pretty large eels. Conger eels can grow up to 10 feet or longer in length, and in 2001, two 7-foot eels were discovered on the loch’s shores. Gemmell and others maintain that an eel near the surface could be easily mistaken for the back of a larger, bulkier “monster.”

The evidence, while compelling, doesn’t prove anything conclusively, which means believers are still likely to traipse out to the lake in search of the elusive and enduring mystery of Nessie.

That said, the eel theory is pretty interesting…

Just not as exciting as a mythical monster emerging from the depths and stunning tourists year after year.

Sometimes the mystery is better than the truth.

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This Is Why Airplane Engines Are Never Painted on the Front Edges

Look closely at the engines on the planes at the gates next time you’re at the airport. All of them will have an unpainted band near the front edge. As sleek as this kind of paint job may look, the reasons behind the styling goes beyond just looking trendy.

Photo Credit: Needpix

YouTuber Mentour Pilot, who runs a channel about everything to do with being an airline pilot, created a video explaining why the front edge of the engine is never painted when the rest of the aircraft is.

It’s something I’d never have thought about in a million years, but someone clearly did.

The first explanation is because of the heat the engines generate. Ice can form quickly on engines and wings when flying through clouds, creating a real safety hazard. Planes use the heat already coming from their engines to keep dangerous ice from accumulating.

Small holes in the unpainted ring of the engine, as well as on the wings, help the ice melt. If this part of the engine is left naked, then the metal heats best for minimized ice formation. Paint would only protect the ice from heat by creating an intermediate layer.

Not safe.

Another reason is that eventually the paint on the intake would begin to degrade, and chips of paint could get sucked into the engine. As this happened, the uneven coats of paint would affect how air flows into the engine, creating mini vortices and disrupting overall efficiency.

Photo Credit: YouTube

He also touches on why most planes are painted white or predominantly white. This one’s a little easier to guess: white paint reflects heat. If a plane is painted white, the air-conditioning system doesn’t have to work as hard to keep the interior cooled – thus better engine efficiency.

Painting an aircraft white is also faster and cheaper, and airlines can place and replace branding as needed without repainting.

If this is interesting, deifnitely check out more of Mentour Pilot’s channel – aside from his cool airplane knowledge, he wears his uniform, has a great accent and an adorable apricot poodle-ish dog, and generally makes you feel good about who is at the controls of these high flying tubes.

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