Traveling to Europe Traveling to Europe is like traveling through time. Each country will take you from the triumphs of the past centuries to the discoveries of the present. Elaborate Read more...
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Travel to Swiss
Where to go when you travel to Switzerland
Switzerland is known for many things: its cold climate, mountainous terrain and its political neutrality, which is perhaps brought on by its topographical isolation and being one of the most mountainous countries in Europe. In fact, many Swiss people, especially those who live in the Swiss Alps still retain their culture, traditions and Alpine characteristics, largely unspoiled by the marks of the modern world. These people usually reside in villages near the Alps known as Laax.
Believe it or not, more than 70 percent of its land area is covered by the Swiss Alps, which is known for its jagged peaks and steep gorges. The Pennine Alps range, for example, has Switzerland’s highest peak, the Dufourspitze of Monte Rosa, which stands at 15,203 feet. This is one of the ultimate travel spots in Switzerland. Of course, mountains there are not all so gigantic in height. The Jura, for instance, are smaller and lower. This is a popular travel destination in Switzerland because of its cross-country skiing. The Jura Mountains that Swiss watchmaking first began. The Mattehorn is another high peak in the Alps that travelers in Switzerland should not miss. At 14,688 feet, it towers above the state Valais Canton.
When traveling to Switzerland, one thing that any person should remember is that it’s going to be really cold. Never forget to pack a winter coat especially when you are going in winter months or if you are going to the Alps, where it can be awfully cold. The resort of Château-d’Oex, which is nestled in a valley in the Alps is famous for its skiing, hiking and hot-air balloon activities.
Switzerland is also known for its picturesque views of lakes and streams. These bodies of water provide travelers with a nice view. The river Rhine is principal river in the country but there are other river systems that one should also look into, including Rhône, Ticino, and Inn. Lakes in the Alpine region are gorgeous and any traveler in Switzerland will instantly fall in love with its serene and glassy surface. Among those that they should visit are the Lake Geneva, Lake Lugano, Lake Maggiore, where Switzerland’s lowest point lies; Lake of Neuchâtel, and Lake of Lucerne.
Another lake that is worthy of note is Lake Geneva, whish is considered to be Central Europe’s largest lake. Travelers in Switzerland should also not miss the Staubbach Falls in Bern.
One of the ultimate travel spots in Switzerland is the Gothic Cathedral designed by Matthäus Ensinger from Ulm. It is an example of 14th to 16th century architecture. Various international agencies can also be found in the capital city, including the Universal Postal Union.
Its second largest city, Zurich is purported to be the financial center of Switzerland as well as an important commercial and manufacturing center while the city of Basel is noted for its textile and clothing industry. Lausanne, on the other hand, is a city in the western part of Switzerland. It is home to such famous celebrities as Voltaire, Gibbon, and Rousseau as well as the center for Swizerland’s iron industry. Though largely known for its watchmaking and jewelry industry, Geneva is also the world’s diplomatic center. It is where the headquarters of the United Nations (UN). The International Labor Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) is also located there too.
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It looks like the New York Post is ratcheting up the pressure on the United Nations to do something about its security.
Today’s “U.N. Puts City in Danger” reports that the city has been waiting for six months for some sort of U.N. reply to safety questions as well as engineering studies on the “spectrum of effects of various explosion events, from 500 pounds to 5,000 pounds.”
Although casting has not been announced, Playbill reports that due to scheduling conflicts, Jonathan Groff will not be letting the sun shine in this winter. Groff, who was nominated for a Tony for his “Spring Awakening” performance, played Claude in “Hair” for Shakespeare in the Park (where it was free last summer.)
Broadway tickets have gone on sale to American Express cardholders, with the remaining to go on sale to the general public as of December 6.
For a preview, the cast will take part in a live on-air performance during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday November 27, the Public Theater announced.
“Hair” will play the Al Hirschfeld Theatre at 302 W. 45th St., map.
NY1 reports that today is the first official holiday gridlock alert and the NYC Department of Transportation is urging everyone to use public transportation.
Top-shelf photo agency VII opened their own gallery in Dumbo almost a year ago, but the current work is the first time they’re showing an exhibition designed specifically for this space with their own team’s pictures.
It also unusual as it has a very ripped-from-the headlines feel as the topic is the maybe-it’s-over-maybe-it’s-not war in Georgia.
“Georgia: The August War” showcases of the work of three VII photographers sent to cover the fighting for three different purposes. Ron Haviv was on assignment for Dispatches magazine, Marcus Bleasdale shot for Human Rights Watch, and Donald Weber was working for Newsweek.
In case there’s any doubt which Georgia, one of the portraits is of a giant Stalin mural still displayed in one of the schools damaged in this past summer’s attacks. The powerful images capture not just the brutality but the deep worry on everyone’s faces, even the children. Mixed among the destruction is a darkly comic moment on video as the photo team realizes the unexploded cluster bombs a few feet away will explode if any one of the chickens milling about merely steps on one.
The Georgia exhibition will be on display through January 5 when it comes down to make way for a series of exhibitions on war crimes in Bosnia and Iraq that will ultimately coincide with the New York Photo Festival from May 14 through 24.
Facing a dire economic forecast the MTA today said it plans to fill a $1.2 billion budget gap by raising fares 23 percent next year, completely killing off the W and Z subway lines, canceling dozens of entire bus lines citywide and eliminating at least 2,500 jobs.
The way to stave off the pain is for the state to allocate more money by March, officials told NY1. Otherwise the cuts and hikes will start in spring and summer.
The precise amount of any MetroCard hike has not been announced, but the MTA wants an overall increase of fare revenues of 23 percent next year to bring in $670 million, according to the MTA statement. Come 2011, it will need an extra 5 percent, according to the NY Times.
The base MetroCard is $2 per ride. The most recent fare hike, in February, left the $2 fare in tact but decreased the bonus for buying multi-use cards.
Hearings on the proposals will start in January, service cuts could start in spring and the fare hikes could start June 1, NY1 reported.
Other humdingers from the MTA’s proposed budget for 2009: ]]>
- Paratransit fares will increase to twice the regular transit base fare, as allowable by law and consistent with other bus agencies, and express bus fares will increase from $5.00 to $7.50.
- The plan also increases Long Island Bus fares by 20% over and above the general proposed fare increase in the absence of additional support from Nassau County.
- Route modifications ? shorten G, operate N via Manhattan Bridge late nights, eliminate W and extend Q to Astoria, operate M to Broad rush hours, eliminate Z, add J local service.
- Increased headways and loading guidelines during non-rush hours ? headways increase from 8 to 10 minutes on ADEFGJMNQR on Saturdays and the ADEFGNQR on Sundays; headways increase from 20 to 30 minutes from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m.
- At Bridges and Tunnels: Reduce facility security and truck weight enforcement personnel.
Among those hating on the plan is Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz who said there are plenty of alternatives to waiting on money form Albany, cutting service or fare hikes. “These include bringing back a commuter tax, which could bring in a minimum of $500 million annually; instituting a special state lottery, possibly a jackpot game drawn on Mondays, with proceeds dedicated to transportation throughout the State; increasing the surcharge fee for car registration within New York City and imposing a surcharge on car registrations within all counties inside the MTA district (including those upstate and on Long Island), with revenues dedicated to mass transit; and imposing a modest tax, in addition to the existing state gasoline tax in the metropolitan region, with revenues going to mass transit,” he said in a statement issued by his office this afternoon.
In October, the NYC Economic Development Corporation awarded a 10-year contract to FirstFlight, Inc.to take over management of the heliport from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Shortly before the changeover on November 1, US Helicopter learned that FirstFlight did not have the proper TSA certification required for flights to land at JFK and Newark airports, US Helicopter’s VP of Marketing Donal McSullivan told NewYorkology in an interview this morning.
“We have been advised it’s a matter of days” before they get certification, he said. “It’s very costly to us.”
In the meantime, US Helicopter has been calling all its scheduled passengers and re-directing them to its East 34th Street heliport, which also serves JFK and Newark. The company provides weekday, 8-minute shuttles to the two airports, allowing passengers to pass through TSA-approved security at the heliport and bypass regular airport security. Flights are about $159 one-way, but there are $45 and $99 deals through December.
NewYorkology has not yet received returned calls from FirstFlight or the EDC, but US Helicopter’s quarterly report filed with the SEC on Wednesday spells out the Downtown Heliport situation in detail:]]>
On or about November 1, 2008, the City of New York transferred management of the Downtown Manhattan Heliport (the “DMH”) from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (the “Port Authority”) to FirstFlight, Inc. (“FirstFlight”). Immediately prior to transferring management of the DMH, the Company was advised that FirstFlight did not maintain the approvals required to provide Federal airline security screening at the DMH. As a consequence, we have been unable to provide either scheduled or charter flight services from the DMH since November 1, 2008 due to the lack of TSA-approved security screening services and will not be able to do so until FirstFlight obtains all required TSA approvals. We have been advised that FirstFlight and the TSA are working diligently to ensure that FirstFlight has all required approvals as quickly as possible; however, there can be no assurances that FirstFlight will obtain such approvals on a timely basis or at all. Accordingly, our financial condition and our ability to implement our business plan may suffer in the event that we are unable to conduct our flight operations from the DMH for an extended period of time.
In addition, we are negotiating in good faith with FirstFlight for a new operating agreement with such entity. FirstFlight has agreed to abide by the same terms observed by the Port Authority through November 30, 2008. While our management believes that a mutually acceptable agreement will be entered into prior to such date, there can be no assurances that we will be able to enter into an agreement with FirstFlight on a timely basis or at all.
The 10-Q filing also notes that US Helicopter had an accumulated deficit of $38.5 million as of September 30 and the financial status “raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.”
But the company has secured a series of bridge loans and other financing, the most recent one for $250,000 on November 7.
The quarterly report reitterates earlier plans to add service to new locations, including LaGuardia Airport and West 30th Street in Manhattan within the next 12 months. McSullivan confirmed those plans as viable, noting the company is scheduled to take delivery of another helicopter in the first quarter of next year. “We’re growing our business. We’ve been very methodical in all we’ve done,” he said.
Both US Helicopter (USHP.OB) and First Flight (FFLT.OB) are publicly traded companies.
Picture credits: US Helicopter landing at E. 34th St by Vidiot, and Downtown Heliport in October by Amy Langfield/NewYorkology.
A hotel official told NewYorkology that both venues opened for business last week.
Fox even has a report that the bar’s already hosted the celebrity-filled after-party for an early screening of Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman upcoming turns in stage to-screen flick “Doubt.”
See Zagat.com for pictures inside the renovated Oak Room and the full menu at Eater.
NewYorkology contributor Vidiot commits journalism by night, edits Cocktailians and explores NYC by day. He’s especially interested in the infrastructure, transit, architectural wonders, drinking establishments, and hidden corners of the greatest city in the world.
From vans to taxis to trains to limos, there are tons of ways to get from the airport to the city. But the fastest way to Manhattan has got to be via US Helicopter; the ride from JFK to Manhattan averages eight minutes.
And, thanks to US Helicopter’s deal with Delta, if you have the right kind of Delta ticket your flight only costs $45. It’s the same cost as a taxi, but you get to soar above the Van Wyck rather than sitting motionless atop it. (The Delta deal lasts through Dec. 31, and US Helicopter has a similar deal with Continental from Newark. Both the Delta and Continental deals give you the one-way helicopter flight for free if you’re flying in first or business classes.)
Booking the flight was a bit trickier than I’d expected, though: the Delta website priced my flight for more than I’d expected. I called up Delta reservations to find out why, and after the agent and her supervisor did a bit of digging, it turned out that only flights booked with the fare codes B, M, or H apply — which didn’t include my bare-bones nonrefundable economy fare for the rest of my trip. But, the regular US Helicopter fare of $159 has been slashed to $99 through December 31, and I thought that this was as good a chance as any to go.
After my plane landed at JFK transferring was easy — since US Helicopter operates out of a regular gate in Delta’s terminal so I didn’t have to clear security again. (I wasn’t checking luggage, but if I had, the luggage would have transferred just like any other connection.) I made my way to gate 11, checked in, and waited about ten minutes until my flight was called. They loaded my two fellow passengers, (who were British tourists,) and me into a van for the short drive over to the helipad. When we got to the helicopter, we waited inside the van for our two pilots to start the engines, and were given a short safety briefing. After that, we boarded the helicopter, which had a comfortably plush interior (goldtone seatbelt fittings!) that would fit up to eight passengers. We taxied briefly and then the ground sank away, and we were off.
The ride was very smooth, and the cabin was well-insulated; the engine noise was louder than an airplane’s, but not so loud that you couldn’t talk or be heard over it. The views, of course, were spectacular as we made our beeline to East 34th Street.
We took a dramatic curve as we approached the heliport, and we were set down gently. We had to wait for a few seconds before we could get out, as they don’t want people on the helipads when other helicopters are landing or taking off.
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Once out, we were escorted quickly out of the way, and were heading toward USH’s small terminal building when a woman in a suit burst out of the terminal, yelling at me and one of the other passengers not to take pictures. “THIS IS A SECURE AREA!” she literally screamed, taking us aback. I mildly noted that no one had told us that taking pictures wasn’t allowed, and she started berating the ramp employee who’d escorted us to the terminal, pausing only to yell at us some more before stalking off in a huff. (No one batted an eye when we’d taken pictures on the ramp at JFK, nor during the flight. I’d asked at the gate at JFK if it was okay to take pictures, and the gate agent said that it was fine as long as we didn’t use flash.) Our bags were brought to us, and I headed off in search of a crosstown bus.
In short, US Helicopters offer an interesting way to get to or from the airport, and you can’t beat the transit time. If you have the right kind of airline ticket, you can’t beat the price either. But make sure your picture-taking is confined to the flight itself.
US Helicopter does not fly weekends or holidays. It normally flies out of both the E. 34th Street and Downtown heliports, but the the downtown operation is temporarily closed for remodeling, a reservation operator told NewYorkology. However the company’s website states it’s due to “operational issues currently at Downtown Manhattan Heliport.”
Having just completed a massive renovation, including radical upgrades like the addition of new stories to the building, The Marcel has risen in more than just height; this hidden gem in Gramercy just claimed an extra star for their efforts.
This is the first major public works in New York State being named for Bobby Kennedy, who was New York’s junior senator when he was assassinated in California in 1968 while campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination.
A California musician who died days after riding the Cyclone should have known that riding the rickety 80-year-old Coney Island coaster is dangerous, the city says in new court papers. Keith Shirasawa, 53, died in August 2007, five days after he snapped his neck and fractured several bones in his neck during a downhill plunge on the wooden roller coaster.
Students spent October observing 3,000 cyclists chosen at random at 69 locations throughout the five boroughs; they found that only 43 percent of all cyclists stopped at red lights, and roughly 14 percent did not use designated bike lanes, which is not required by law.
City Winery, a new performance space and restaurant established by Michael Dorf, the founder of the Knitting Factory, will have its first concert on Dec. 31 with the singer-songwriter Joan Osborne.
City?s Latest Landmarks Are NYU?s University Village in Greenwich Village; the Guardian Life Insurance Company Annex at Union Square East; the Morris B. Sanders Studio and Apartment in Turtle Bay; the New School?s Former Baumann Bros. Store off Union Square West;Pratt Institute?s Renaissance- Revival Building in Greenwich Village, a Former FDNY Firehouse in Midtown and a WPA-Era NYC Parks Department Pool Complex in Red Hook. ]]>
'American Buffalo' may close on Broadway by Sunday
The play stars John Leguizamo, Cedric the Entertainer and Haley Joel Osment.
“If ticket sales spurt dramatically, I’ll be glad to extend the show,” Producer Ben Sprecher told Playbill.com.
Judging by the clip (above) from the show, it’s pretty clear what the cast, or at least Mamet, would have to say about the provisional closing notice.
?American Buffalo? had been scheduled to play through April 29 at the Belasco Theatre, located at 111 W. 44th St., map. Regular tickets for the five remaining shows are priced from $51.50 to $116.50. Premium tickets are priced from $226.50 to $251.50.
The show is also offering a deal that lets you buy one ticket and get another ticket for a nickel at some performances.
In addition, this year the military airspace will open up in the Midwest, Southwest and along the West Coast, as well. Other steps are in the works to ease travel for consumers, the president said.
“We have just completed new regulations that provide increased protection for consumers. These include measures that will require airlines to provide greater compensation for lost bags, as well as tougher penalties when airlines fail to notify travelers of hidden fees,” he said.
However, the New York Times noted that the president also announced plans to push through an auction of 90 landing slots at JFK, 90 slots at Newark and 113 at LaGuardia despite opposition from some airlines as well as the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the three airports.
The Brooklyn Historic Railway Association has announced December 7 as the date for its next tour of the abandoned railway tunnel under Atlantic Avenue.
Be warned that you not only need to wear sturdy shoes and bring your own flashlight, but you have to enter the tunnel through a manhole at the intersection of Court Street and Atlantic Avenue.
Tours are led by Bob Diamond, who rediscovered the long-forgotten tunnel in 1980.
The tunnel was built in 1844 and stretches half a mile down toward the East River.
Company officials told AP it paid $7.5 million for the slots belong to bankrupt ATA Airlines. If regulators approve the deal, it would give Southwest seven takeoffs and seven landings per day.
USA Today’s Today in the Sky blog notes that destinations have not been named but predicts “Chicago Midway and Florida to be among the most talked-about candidates.” Online Travel Review also sets odds for service to Baltimore and Providence.
“It is our intent, with the successful conclusion of the transaction, to make plans to initiate service from LaGuardia,” Southwest’s Chairman, President, and CEO Gary Kelly said in a statement confirming the AP story. “Even in this volatile environment, we have said we must monitor the competitive landscape and take advantage of prudent market opportunities.”
Southwest currently has no New York City service, but does fly into Long Island MacArthur Airport, a solid 40-some miles from LaGuardia and JFK.
For other NYC-themed Ts, check out the Queens collection (including the Sunnyside Arch and the World’s Fair Pavilion,) as well as the Brooklyn collection at Live Poultry, (including the Kentile Floors sign and the “R” building in Red Hook.)
