Comments for Travel Babel http://travel-babel.com Award-winning travel blog. Colorado-based Claire Walter shares travel news and first-hand destination information from around the corner, around the country and around the world. Wed, 22 Feb 2012 01:04:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on PreCheck to Ease Airport Security Lines by sibylle http://travel-babel.com/2012/02/16/precheck-to-ease-airport-security-lines/#comment-24148 sibylle Wed, 22 Feb 2012 01:04:36 +0000 http://travel-babel.com/?p=4145#comment-24148 I've recently flown in and out of Germany, Spain, England, Australia, and earlier out of Moscow, Tashkent, and Samarkand (in 1987, before the iron curtain came down), Delhi, and Nepal. The US had the most unpleasant security procedures of any of these countries. What a waste of $8 billion. I’ve recently flown in and out of Germany, Spain, England, Australia, and earlier out of Moscow, Tashkent, and Samarkand (in 1987, before the iron curtain came down), Delhi, and Nepal.
The US had the most unpleasant security procedures of any of these countries. What a waste of $8 billion.

]]> Comment on Hotel Booking Sites are Not the Final Answer for Deals by Parga http://travel-babel.com/2010/08/13/hotel-booking-sites-are-not-the-final-answer-for-deals/#comment-23883 Parga Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:10:42 +0000 http://travel-babel.com/?p=780#comment-23883 definitely agree with this. don't forget that booking directories are putting higher prices definitely agree with this. don’t forget that booking directories are putting higher prices

]]> Comment on Hotel Booking Sites are Not the Final Answer for Deals by Angie @ Lichnos Beach Hotel & Suites http://travel-babel.com/2010/08/13/hotel-booking-sites-are-not-the-final-answer-for-deals/#comment-23882 Angie @ Lichnos Beach Hotel & Suites Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:07:53 +0000 http://travel-babel.com/?p=780#comment-23882 Do not trust booking engines. Firstly, they cannot update information as quickly as hotels, secondly, if you have a problem, then it is really a problem: booking engines will redirect you to the hotel's administration but hotel is not able to solve it. Direct bookings from the hotel is the most trustworthy from all, why people still are hesitating... Do not trust booking engines. Firstly, they cannot update information as quickly as hotels, secondly, if you have a problem, then it is really a problem: booking engines will redirect you to the hotel’s administration but hotel is not able to solve it. Direct bookings from the hotel is the most trustworthy from all, why people still are hesitating…

]]> Comment on Rebirth of Snowcat Skiing at Irwin Lodge — Hopefully by Claire Walter http://travel-babel.com/2009/07/28/rebirth-of-snowcat-skiing-at-irwin-lodge-hopefully/#comment-23777 Claire Walter Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:28:25 +0000 http://travel-babel.com/?p=562#comment-23777 I too hate to see the old Irwin Lodge decaying and vulnerable to vandalism, roof collapse or fire. However, the reality is that even if anew owner/lessee could get permission from various agencies (at least the Forest Service and Gunnison County, I'm sure), it would cost a fortune to stabilize it, restore it and bring iot up to current code regarding sewerage and fire requirements. No one with such deep pockets would reopen it as a casual, rustic, barebones establishment. Instead of something on the order of the Tenth Mountain Division or Alfred Braun Huts, it would probably have to be luxurious on the order of the newer heli-skiing lodges in the Canadian Rockies. Another (maybe dim) possibility, if the Irwin Lodge sits on private property and access issues across public land could be resolved, might be for some very wealthy individual to turn the inholding into a private backcountry retreat. I am not sure how the Town of Crested Butte would be involved in any of this, except as an interested observer. I too hate to see the old Irwin Lodge decaying and vulnerable to vandalism, roof collapse or fire. However, the reality is that even if anew owner/lessee could get permission from various agencies (at least the Forest Service and Gunnison County, I’m sure), it would cost a fortune to stabilize it, restore it and bring iot up to current code regarding sewerage and fire requirements. No one with such deep pockets would reopen it as a casual, rustic, barebones establishment. Instead of something on the order of the Tenth Mountain Division or Alfred Braun Huts, it would probably have to be luxurious on the order of the newer heli-skiing lodges in the Canadian Rockies. Another (maybe dim) possibility, if the Irwin Lodge sits on private property and access issues across public land could be resolved, might be for some very wealthy individual to turn the inholding into a private backcountry retreat. I am not sure how the Town of Crested Butte would be involved in any of this, except as an interested observer.

]]> Comment on Rebirth of Snowcat Skiing at Irwin Lodge — Hopefully by Mark http://travel-babel.com/2009/07/28/rebirth-of-snowcat-skiing-at-irwin-lodge-hopefully/#comment-23624 Mark Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:58:26 +0000 http://travel-babel.com/?p=562#comment-23624 Claire Walter, I just reread my last post. I apologize to anyone if I sounded bitter. I just hate to see something like that go to waste. I know the state of Colorado makes anyone who tries to improve something makes it as time consuming and expensive as they can. You would think the town of Crested Butte would give some breaks but they want their money first before helping anyone else. DANG, Here I go again. Sorry. I may contact you at your email address if you don't mind.... Also the time of your posts make you look like a night owl like me. Good night or good morning...Which ever comes first. Claire Walter, I just reread my last post. I apologize to anyone if I sounded bitter. I just hate to see something like that go to waste. I know the state of Colorado makes anyone who tries to improve something makes it as time consuming and expensive as they can. You would think the town of Crested Butte would give some breaks but they want their money first before helping anyone else. DANG, Here I go again. Sorry.

I may contact you at your email address if you don’t mind…. Also the time of your posts make you look like a night owl like me.

Good night or good morning…Which ever comes first.

]]> Comment on Christo’s $50 Million Arkansas River Plan by Claire Walter http://travel-babel.com/2012/02/02/christos-50-millionthe-arkansas-river-plan/#comment-23253 Claire Walter Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:37:59 +0000 http://travel-babel.com/?p=4065#comment-23253 Christo's expensive and ambitious plan certainly has sparked an outpouring of opinionated comments to my post. Thanks to all for commenting. The Denver Post has been covering it in the last several days too (since ROAR instigated the lawstuit, in fact). Here are links to the Post's three most recent pieces: "Foes of Christo's Plans To Drape Over River Make Last Stand" - http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_19882782 "Park Service Retiree Insists It's Curtains for Draping Over River" - http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_19882302 And today's opinion piece, "Christo Goes 'Over' the Top with Arkansas River Project" - http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_19895852 Christo’s expensive and ambitious plan certainly has sparked an outpouring of opinionated comments to my post. Thanks to all for commenting. The Denver Post has been covering it in the last several days too (since ROAR instigated the lawstuit, in fact). Here are links to the Post’s three most recent pieces:
“Foes of Christo’s Plans To Drape Over River Make Last Stand” – http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_19882782
“Park Service Retiree Insists It’s Curtains for Draping Over River” –
http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_19882302
And today’s opinion piece, “Christo Goes ‘Over’ the Top with Arkansas River Project” – http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_19895852

]]> Comment on Christo’s $50 Million Arkansas River Plan by Priscilla http://travel-babel.com/2012/02/02/christos-50-millionthe-arkansas-river-plan/#comment-23252 Priscilla Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:02:24 +0000 http://travel-babel.com/?p=4065#comment-23252 My respects to Christo's innovation, but I too have to call attention to the ego and hubris involved. This project falls on the side of hubris because it is trying to bring benefit (economic benefit, aesthetic benefit, wow factor, whatever) to humans alone. It will take away light from the water and the fish, limit access to the water for birds and animals, and create other impacts on rocks and riparian corridor in general. An art project with heart instead of hubris would be seeking to benefit the rest of nature, not only humans--giving something back to the fish in the river, the rocks that stabilize its banks, the birds and animals who live there--instead of only taking from them. My respects to Christo’s innovation, but I too have to call attention to the ego and hubris involved. This project falls on the side of hubris because it is trying to bring benefit (economic benefit, aesthetic benefit, wow factor, whatever) to humans alone. It will take away light from the water and the fish, limit access to the water for birds and animals, and create other impacts on rocks and riparian corridor in general. An art project with heart instead of hubris would be seeking to benefit the rest of nature, not only humans–giving something back to the fish in the river, the rocks that stabilize its banks, the birds and animals who live there–instead of only taking from them.

]]> Comment on Christo’s $50 Million Arkansas River Plan by Kathy Kaiser http://travel-babel.com/2012/02/02/christos-50-millionthe-arkansas-river-plan/#comment-23230 Kathy Kaiser Sun, 05 Feb 2012 01:42:20 +0000 http://travel-babel.com/?p=4065#comment-23230 Two weeks is a long time to leave something up that will no doubt affect wildlife. I, too, wish he could produce art that has less impact on nature. Two weeks is a long time to leave something up that will no doubt affect wildlife. I, too, wish he could produce art that has less impact on nature.

]]> Comment on Palestine: Reflections by Katy Koontz http://travel-babel.com/2010/07/07/palestine-reflections/#comment-23206 Katy Koontz Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:32:24 +0000 http://travel-babel.com/?p=760#comment-23206 Claire, what an interesting series--I'm so glad I read it. Having just come back from the Society of American Travel Writers' Freelance Council meeting in Israel, I find the Israeli-Palistinian issue a fascinating topic. I'm grateful for the experiences I had during my almost-three weeks, even if they didn't afford me a comprehensive look at the situation. I very much appreciate the chance to see the West Bank through your eyes here. Many thanks! Claire, what an interesting series–I’m so glad I read it. Having just come back from the Society of American Travel Writers’ Freelance Council meeting in Israel, I find the Israeli-Palistinian issue a fascinating topic. I’m grateful for the experiences I had during my almost-three weeks, even if they didn’t afford me a comprehensive look at the situation. I very much appreciate the chance to see the West Bank through your eyes here. Many thanks!

]]> Comment on Christo’s $50 Million Arkansas River Plan by Carol Turner http://travel-babel.com/2012/02/02/christos-50-millionthe-arkansas-river-plan/#comment-23180 Carol Turner Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:38:59 +0000 http://travel-babel.com/?p=4065#comment-23180 Like many, I've got mixed feelings about this. I remember the hanging curtains when I was a kid. Everybody just thought he was a nut. His monumental battle against the Colorado wind is pretty funny. Tilting at windmills anyone? I think this river idea is pretty hare-brained as well but I can't help being fascinated by it. I like someone's idea above of making him clean up his previous mess (that's been sitting there for 40 years!!!) before he can make another one ... and take steps to ensure he cleans up this one. I thought the running fence in Sonoma was quite lovely but this one doesn't look very attractive in the drawing. Like many, I’ve got mixed feelings about this. I remember the hanging curtains when I was a kid. Everybody just thought he was a nut. His monumental battle against the Colorado wind is pretty funny. Tilting at windmills anyone? I think this river idea is pretty hare-brained as well but I can’t help being fascinated by it. I like someone’s idea above of making him clean up his previous mess (that’s been sitting there for 40 years!!!) before he can make another one … and take steps to ensure he cleans up this one. I thought the running fence in Sonoma was quite lovely but this one doesn’t look very attractive in the drawing.

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