Icelandic volcano disrupts flights again

by Sean McLachlan on

Irish airline operators had a bad case of déjà-vu this morning when a cloud of ash from the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull swept over the Emerald Isle and grounded all flights. The Outer Hebrides islands of Scotland were also affected. Flights in the rest of the UK operated normally.

The Irish Aviation Authority canceled all flights in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland starting at 7am local time and allowed them to resume at 1pm local time. The few small airports affected in the Hebrides also plan to reopen sometime in the afternoon.

The ash cloud only reached about 20,000 feet so flights crossing Irish airspace at cruising altitude were not affected. The cloud was thin and sparse compared with the massive one that grounded flights for six days last month. It thinned out to safe levels by the afternoon, prompting aviation officials to reopen service.

Daily Pampering: Hollywood-inspired spa treatments at Claridge’s in London

by Melanie Nayer on

The Spa at Claridge’s in London is debuting a new spa treatment menu inspired some of Hollywood’s finest. The new treatments, created for both men and women, take their queue from some of our most notable icons, like Clark Gable and Grace Kelly.

In one of the three treatment rooms at The Spa at Claridge’s, choose one of the many new offerings including the “The Grace Kelly” treatment – a 1-hour cellular facial, a manicure, pedicure and a light lunch; or the “Clark Gable”, which comes complete with a 1-hour deep-tissue massage, 1-hour cellular facial catered toward the men. Additional treatments include:

“The Fred Astaire” – a personal training session, facial, back massage
“The Vivien Leigh” – a back massage, facial, manicure with “Miss Scarlett” polish, an eyebrow clean-up and Darjeeling tea.

Claridge’s, the iconic Art Deco landmark in Mayfair, has been a destination of choice for discerning travelers and Hollywood’s elite. The hotel features luxurious rooms and suites, the legendary Claridge’s Bar and Fumoir Bar, and is located in the heart of Mayfair, steps away from London’s best boutiques and restaurants.

Want more? Get your daily dose of pampering right here.

Making your own message in a bottle

by Sean McLachlan on

You’ve probably already heard the story of Olivier Vandewalle, a Belgian who in 1977 at the age of 14 threw a message in a bottle into the sea while sailing off the south coast of England. Lorraine Yates found it 33 years later on a beach at Swanage, England. Figuring the address Olivier included was out of date, she tracked him down on Facebook.

While 33 years is an impressive time, it’s nowhere near the Guinness World Record for a bottle being at sea. The record holder was cast adrift in 1914 and recovered 92 years later in 2006.

A message in a bottle is a romantic way to call out to the world (just ask Sting) and a fun way to kill some time on the beach, but if you want your message to last, it’s best to follow some simple rules. Olivier used a wine bottle with a cork and his father insisted he seal it with “candle grease”, by which he probably means melted wax. This is important because a cork will decay much more quickly in salt water if it isn’t protected by a wax seal. One writer suggests using a bottle with a screw cap but it’s doubtful it would stay waterproof for long as it expands and contracts with temperature changes. A cork will absorb a tiny amount of moisture and expand in the neck of the bottle to make a snug fit, which is why they’re used in the first place.

Opinions differ on how to put the message inside. When I chucked my own bottle into the sea off the coast of South Carolina back in the early 80s, I wrote the message on the outside of the rolled-up paper. I included my address (now long out of date) and a request to write me and throw the bottle back into the sea. I hoped to get a whole series of responses. That hasn’t happened and I don’t think I’ll last long enough to break the world record. On further reflection I’m thinking that if my bottle is still floating out there, the sun shining through the glass has probably made my message fade away, so it’s best to put the message on the inside of the roll of paper. Sealing the message in a plastic bag is also a good idea.

One writer suggests using a clear bottle because the message be more noticeable. Wine bottles are best because they float well and have that classic look. Gadling blogger Jamie Rhein used a wine bottle for her message and got a response.

If you want to keep your message in a bottle, here are some tips on making it look old and weathered, just like it had been in the sea for years. Or if you want a bigger craft project, make a boat out of plastic bottles.

National Geographic Traveler’s Tours of a Lifetime 2010

by Kraig Becker on

With the economy starting to show signs of life, people are starting to plan to travel again soon. In fact, the outlook for 2010 is much more promising for travel companies and tour operators around the globe than it has been for some time. With that in mind, National Geographic Traveler magazine has released its 5th annual Tours of a Lifetime list, offering up suggestions for every kind of traveler looking to escape to a new destination this year.

The list, as usual, contains 50 “tours of a lifetime”, with a focus this year on “innovation and cross-cultural tours”. Those tours span the globe from the wilds of Africa to the remote regions of Asia, to the well worn paths of Europe, and beyond. We’re even invited to rediscover North America, with a host of adventures located relatively close to home. Whether you’re an adventurous traveler or prefer something a bit more relaxed, there is sure to be something on the list for you.

Traveler also has great suggestions for families planning a trip this year as well, offering tips for finding the right outfitter, planning your itinerary, and getting the kids involved in the process as well. Similarly, they also offer up their picks for the best deals in travel for the year ahead, with companies offering a variety of discounts and other special savings.

The latest issue of Traveler hit newsstands last week, and is available now to help plan your travels for 2010. I’m sure it’ll serve as a great resource, both now, and for future journeys, as this issue always has a knack for expanding that “life list” in new, and unusual ways.

Photo of the Day (5.2.2010)

by Jeremy Kressmann on

Imagine getting lost and stumbling upon the scene above. An endless field of brilliant yellow flowers, capped off with little fluffy clouds and a brilliant blue sky. It looks straight out of a movie, doesn’t it? Except this time it’s real. Flickr user (flicts) happened upon this wonderful scene while driving around in Portugal. Getting lost isn’t always a bad thing – you might just end up having an unexpectedly great travel experience.

Did you get lost and take any awesome photos during your own travels? When not add them to our Gadling group on Flickr? We might just pick one of yours as our Photo of the Day.