Praying bus driver kicks passengers off bus

by Iva Skoch on

This must have been an entertaining scene.

A London bus driver told his passengers to get off his bus because he has to pray. He rolled out his prayer mat in the aisle and knelt on the floor facing Mecca, The Sun reports. Passengers watched in amazement as he held out his palms towards the sky, bowed his head and began to chant. Some passengers took out their phones and starting taking pictures and video.

After a few minutes the driver calmly got up, opened the doors and asked everyone back on board. But passengers saw a backpack lying on the floor of the red single-decker and feared he might be a fanatic. So they all refused.
The driver apparently looked “English” but it turned out he was a Muslim convert. Is there such a thing as “looking English” anymore?

Greek Island of Lesbos sues over term ‘Lesbian’

by Iva Skoch on

Is this a PR strategy to get more tourists to visit Lesbos Island or do they really care?

Three islanders from Lesbos – Greek island and home of the ancient poet Sappho, who praised love between women – have taken a gay rights group to court for using the word lesbian in its name, Newsweek reports. One of the plaintiffs said that the name of the association, Homosexual and Lesbian Community of Greece, “insults the identity” of the people of Lesbos, who are also known as Lesbians.

The three plaintiffs are seeking to have the group barred from using “lesbian” in its name.

Lesbos should just use the term lesbian to advertise the island: “Lesbos: where Lesbians love men.” Tell me that wouldn’t work.

Rats love Paris and its boulangeries

by Iva Skoch on

There are four times as many rats as humans in Paris – perhaps eight million in total, according to this BBC article. Watch out New York!

Just in time for the tourist season, Paris is launching a two-month-long, city-wide information advertising campaign in the city, followed by inspections, aiming to reduce the numbers of rats on the streets. Apparently, tourists don’t like to walk past boulangeries at the end of the day and see rats or mice running around inside the shop. Go figure.

The main problem is that Parisians don’t realize that they are actually obliged to fight rats. That is what the campaign is supposed to change. Those who refuse to carry out the recommendations – on cleaning up their area, correctly disposing of rubbish or closing up access holes, for example – face a fines of between 90 and 750 euros ($1200).

My favorite part? Paris’ municipal rat-catching team is nicknamed “Le S.M.A.S.H.”

From the New Europe: How do you like the new library design?

by Iva Skoch on

Perhaps never before has the Czech Republic been so divided over a piece of architecture. The winning proposal for a new National Library in Prague, which is supposed to be built in Letna, in the Prague 7 district, not far from the Castle, is a source of major controversy in the country.

The purple-and-yellow building proposal (see photo) has been designed by Jan Kaplicky, an architect of the London architecture firm Future Systems. Yes, it is an extremely bold design, for a city known for its Gothic and Baroque architecture.

People call it all kinds of things…octopus, jellyfish, blob, phlegm are among the nicer ones. I personally like it. But I like cities that mix and match their architecture, like New York.

What about you? How do you like it?

Adventure vacations inspired by Indiana Jones

by Iva Skoch on

In the world of travel, it is impossible to keep up with the Joneses. No matter where you go and what you experience there, “they” have always been someplace more remote, did something more adventurous, and saw something far better than you.

Now, try to keep up with the Indiana Joneses!

On Friday, Expedia launched 10 Indiana Jones adventure vacations. Travelers can take a custom tour to 10 locations that either appeared in–or were inspired by–the Indy movies.

How do some of these sound to you?

  • Horseback riding in Petra, Jordan (like in “The Last Crusade”)
  • Elephant safari in India (like in “Temple of Doom”)
  • Visiting Incan ruins in Peru (like in the new movie, “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”)

I can tell you right now, they all sound great to me, even though I am not a huge packaged-vacation fan.

According to CCN Money, Expedia is also holding a Summer of Adventure Sweepstakes, offering an opportunity for site visitors to win travel prizes and daily giveaways. The contest will award one grand prize of two Indiana Joneses travel experiences for two; weekly prizes will include a family movie adventure to Southern California complete with Disneyland Resort Park Hopper tickets, a VIP visit to Universal Studios Hollywood, movie tickets to see Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and more.