Category: Travel

When it comes to mountainside activities, Colorado has always been spoiled for choice. But in addition to skiing, biking, and hiking the various peaks that dot the state, one iconic way to experience these mountains actually requires little by way of physical exertion: riding the The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway in Manitou Springs.First installed in 1891 by Simmons Beautyrest mattress inventor Zalmon Simmons, who found the experience of getting up the mountain on mule-back entirely uncivilized, this historic attraction that climbs to 14,115 feet (the highest railway in the country) was shuttered in 2017 following an infrastructure evaluation. At first, it wasn’t clear whether its current owners would bring it back to life or permanently close the train. But with its unique legacy—the highest cog railway in the world, and views that inspired the song “America The Beautiful”—the decision to invest in its renovation and modernization was a no-brainer. So in May 2021, after $100 million and three years, The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway is back, and it’s truly better than ever.A hundred million dollars can get you a lot of things—including jokes from the conductor that he’s now the oldest part of the train—because every inch of the experience, including the depot and the upcoming visitor center in the summit, was rebuilt, upgraded, or changed. The main depot retains its original 19th-century mining town aesthetic with a fresh coat of bright blue paint, but a second train platform, an overhead walkway, and remodeled bathrooms and gift shop are now part of the depot, too.

Source: The Pikes Peak Cog Railway Has Officially Reopened | Condé Nast Traveler

Editor’s Note: Those who choose to travel are strongly encouraged to check local government restrictions, rules, and safety measures related to COVID-19 and take personal comfort levels and health conditions into consideration before departure.In recent years, more seniors have been considering retirement abroad, and quite a few have actually made the move. In fact, the Social Security Administration lists more than 700,000 Americans receiving their monthly payments in various foreign countries. Retirees cite a number of reasons for spending their leisure years overseas.Cost of living is a factor for many, but not all. A few popular retirement destinations in Europe have living expenses comparable to the U.S., but weather, ambience, culture, and environment are other influential components. With recent access to DNA testing and increased interest in learning about family roots, some retirees are intrigued by experiencing the culture of their ancestors. Others may have enjoyed vacations in Europe and want to spend more time there. And while many retirees head for tropical islands, budget-friendly countries, and nearby destinations, Europe has been attracting its fair share in recent decades.Each country has different rules on visas and residency qualifications, but in general, most require evidence of a minimum income level and private health coverage. Many have restrictions on retirees having jobs or owning property, while others have provisions for both. Americans living abroad must still file a federal tax return, and some countries have treaties that prevent double taxation on retirees’ income. Keep in mind medicare does not pay for health care abroad, and some European countries allow legal residents to participate in national health programs. With so many considerations, it’s advisable to obtain professional advice on taxes as well as research health care, visa and residency requirements, rental costs, infrastructure, and language. The U.S. State Department is an excellent resource for anyone considering retirement abroad. To help, we’ve looked into some of the more popular European retirement destinations, but keep in mind that laws, politics, and financial requirements can change, so lots of research, planning, and extended visits will help with selecting a retirement home.

Source: 9 of the Best Places to Retire in Europe | Travel + Leisure

Created in 1926, Route 66 was once the primary way drivers headed West, and a network of local economies sprouted up along its path. But after the Interstate Highway System replaced many portions of the “Mother Road,” most of its associated attractions faded away. Intrepid travelers, however, can still seek out the remnants of this artery through America and even find a few new gems along the way.Along with the towering Muffler Men and the sprawling, changing landscapes that speed past your car windows, the restaurants and bars along Route 66 offer an enchanting glimpse into American history and culture. From an Illinois watering hole once frequented by Al Capone to an Albuquerque restaurant specializing in pre-Columbian cuisine to a steakhouse born of Tulsa’s once-booming Lebanese community, these spots showcase the delicious diversity of America’s most iconic road.As you travel, please follow each state’s and business’s COVID-19 guidelines.

Source: Eat Across Route 66: Road Trips – Gastro Obscura

Nothing gives a pilot greater job satisfaction than a good crosswind landing. Dropping out the bottom of the cloud on a windy day and seeing the runway out of the side window really gets the heart rate going and the adrenaline pumping.That said, a good crosswind landing takes more than just judgment and luck. It takes extreme concentration, skill and teamwork to complete one of the most demanding maneuvers in aviation. This is your guide to how we deal with crosswinds.Why we land with a crosswindAircraft fly not because of the engines but because of lift generated by air flowing over the wings. They provide the forward thrust to get the air flowing over the wings in the first place. For a basic example, if we need air to be passing over the wing at 100 mph to fly, we need to be moving forward at 100 mph to generate that lift.However, if there is a 50 mph headwind, we already have 50 mph of the required 100 mph air over the wings needed to fly. As a result, we only need to be moving forwards at 50mph. Taken to an extreme, if the wind was 100 mph, we wouldn’t need to move forwards at all — we’d just be able to take off on the spot.Related: How pilots prepare to land during severe stormsConversely, if the 50 mph wind is coming from behind us, a tailwind, we start with minus 50 mph of air over the wings. As a result, we will need to travel forwards at 150 mph in order to achieve the required lift to get airborne. Not an ideal situation and exactly the reason why we prefer to take off and land into the wind.

Source: ‘One of the most demanding maneuvres in aviation’ — How pilots manage crosswind landings

Many foreigners who visit Japan are confused, intrigued and sometimes baffled by Japanese culture and some of the aspects of life that are unique to Japan. Whether it be the amount of anime, manga and cosplay displayed in Akihabara, the unique and traditional Japanese cuisine and themed restaurants or all of the bowing that takes place amongst Japanese people, Japan has an atmosphere unlike any other country.So it is no surprise that even Japan’s bathrooms are one of a kind sites that sometimes amaze and perplex visitors. We asked some foreigners living in or visiting Japan what confused, impressed and astonished them about Japanese bathrooms.

Source: 16 ways Japanese bathrooms freak out foreigners

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Last Monday, Chicago-based software firm Basecamp issued a statement that said it was making a number of changes, including a ban on political discussions on its company Basecamp account.”Today’s social and political waters are especially choppy. Sensitivities are at 11, and every discussion remotely related to politics, advocacy, or society at large quickly spins away from pleasant,” the company said. “You shouldn’t have to wonder if staying out of it means you’re complicit, or wading into it means you’re a target.”The changes were touted as a “new etiquette regarding societal politics” by company co-founder and CTO David Heinemeier Hansson. They did not prevent employees from having such conversations in a personal capacity.But the internal reception to the more inclusive guidelines was not overly welcome, with reports coming in that a third of the company’s employee base had walked out, accepting severance packages.Heinemeier Hansson had offered the buyout packages as a “no questions asked” option for those not willing to accept the changes.”We offered everyone at Basecamp an option of a severance package worth up to six months salary for those who’ve been with the company over three years, and three months salary for those at the company less than that,” he explained. “No hard feelings, no questions asked. For those who cannot see a future at Basecamp under this new direction, we’ll help them in every which way we can to land somewhere else.”

Source: Reports say one-third of Basecamp employees exit in the wake of new company etiquette | ZDNet

Two summers ago, Brenda Sayers knelt atop what was left of British Columbia’s likely ninth widest Douglas fir tree. Sayers, a member of the Hupačasath First Nation, has long fought to protect old growth in her territory on the west coast of Vancouver Island.ANNOUNCEMENTS, EVENTS & MORE FROM TYEE AND SELECT PARTNERSJoin Us To Launch JB MacKinnon’s New Book: ‘The Day The World Stops Shopping’ Expect provocative conversation about the future of consumerism, and our planet, at this live event.Finding The Mother Tree: A Conversation With Suzanne Simard This May 19 webinar will celebrate an important new book and the wisdom of the forest. Register now.“The old growth holds a lot of our history,” she said. “That tree must have been 800 years old.”It had been felled in the Nahmint Valley by companies given the go-ahead by BC Timber Sales, the province’s own logging agency, and the largest tenure holder in the province.On Wednesday, B.C.’s forestry watchdog found that BC Timber Sales erred when it allowed that tree and the forests surrounding it to be clearcut.

Source: ‘A Garage Sale for the Last Old Growth’ | The Tyee

World Sailing: Digging out of a holePublished on May 16th, 2021World Sailing was not financially well positioned before the COVID-19 pandemic as ambitious management decisions failed to deliver. While there are now new hands on the wheel, the postponed Olympics meant a delay in funding that Olympic sports receive following the games.With a new CEO and Board of Directors, there is optimism that solvency is achievable but there are no quick fixes in the forecast. Here are some updates:• World Sailing chief executive David Graham has admitted the embattled Federation would have gone into liquidation without financial assistance provided by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) following the coronavirus-enforced postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Sailing’s worldwide governing body is thought to have received a loan of around $3.1 million as part of the IOC’s support package, designed to offset the financial impact of the decision to delay Tokyo 2020 by a year on Federations and other sports bodies. Without that, Graham said, “we would have gone into liquidation.” – Full report• World Sailing has delayed the approval of its financial statements pending a confirmation it has requested from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that this year’s Tokyo Olympics will go ahead. World Sailing council officials has requested a confirmation from the IOC regarding Tokyo so as to include the expected revenues from the Games in their accounts. However, the IOC has yet to respond. – Full report• World Sailing’s hopes of negotiating an early exit from an expensive lease on its London offices have taken a knock because of COVID-19. Financial forecasts for this year and next, available on the financially-stretched governing body’s website, include the following update: “The forecast for 2022 now includes the cost of full rent and business rates, which is $271,000 over budget. It was previously assumed that the London office would be sublet by end of 2021. However, due to the lockdown, the demand for office space has contracted significantly and tenants are demanding significant incentives to sublease properties.” – Full report

Source: World Sailing: Digging out of a hole >> Scuttlebutt Sailing News

Smart interactive cities including Asia, Canada, Europe and United States.

• Smart Interactive European Real Estate City Guide searches using the power of the internet, continuously updated and never out of date.
• All editions use the power of the internet with 8 search engines and over 10,900 links.
• Use your browser to search for a city in your language with 10 different languages available. Point and click that’s it and with a 5G network, it is very fast!
• You can now avoid spelling mistakes and language difficulties making your search accurate and simple enough for everybody to use.
• One thumb required, simply pick and click the icon and your search is done. Read everything you want to know and it is never out of date.
• Don’t want to read, watch it all as it searches YouTube too!
• Available on Amazon