Yeti Resort Being Built In Siberia

by Sean McLachlan on

The Seregesh ski resort in Siberia has a new marketing plan. The Siberian Times reports that it’s building a Yeti park.

Belief in the Yeti is common in Siberia, where it’s called the “Big Man.” Hunters often report seeing them and regional governor Aman Tuleyev has offered one million rubles ($33,000) to anyone who can bag one. No takers yet, which makes one wonder about the reliability (and aim) of those hunters.

Park developer Igor Idimeshev claims to have seen the Yeti several times. He believes the creatures are aliens who can walk on water and glow in the dark. Idimeshev says the park will have a museum about the Yeti, along with conference space so cryptozoologists can meet and discuss sightings.

Park organizers seem to be cashing in on last October’s report of Yeti hair being subjected to DNA analysis. Apparently the hair, found in a Siberian cave, wasn’t human yet closely related to us. The report was vague and was met with skepticism even from some Yeti investigators.

But who knows? Siberia is a big place …

Have you ever seen the Yeti or another monster? Tell us about your experience in the comments section!

[Image courtesy Philippe Semeria]

Take Your Valentine To Sea With Special Cruise Line Offers

by Chris Owen on

Valentine’s Day is a popular time for cruise travel with many passengers booking a year or more in advance to get the best stateroom location and price. Still, some last minute travel bargains are available for an easy winter getaway that brings warm Caribbean weather and checks “fabulous gift for loved one” off the shopping list.

Royal Caribbean‘s Allure of the Seas sails seven-day Caribbean itineraries year-round from Port Everglades in Florida. With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, Royal Caribbean is offering a special sailing that will let first-time Oasis-class cruisers experience the world’s largest cruise ship and celebrate Valentine’s Day too.

Sailing on February 14, 2013, Allure of the Seas is doing an extremely rare three-night sailing to Nassau in the Bahamas. With a full day at sea and a long 8-5 stay in Nassau, this one might be worth a look. Prices start at $549 per person + tax ($1143.42 total per couple) for an unassigned inside cabin.

Feel like making a real splash with your Valentine? Royal Suites are also available for $10,143.12 total per couple. Looking for something a bit less expensive? Check in with CruiseCompete.com to make quick work of it.

Gathering all cruise specials that sail over Valentine’s Day, Internet cruise broker CruiseCompete shows prices starting at $549 per person for a seven-night sailing on Carnival Dream that sails on February 7. For just $648 per person, a couple can score a ride on one of Princess Cruises Love Boats, Caribbean Princess for seven days on February 9.

Already married and looking for something special to do on Valentine’s Day?

Try a Renewal Of Vows Ceremony offered by most cruise lines. Check out this video showing the Princess Cruises version:




[Photo Credit- Royal Caribbean International]

Impressive Normandy Festivals To See This Year

by Chris Owen on

The Normandy region of France is host to a number of festivals and events, some of which attract travelers from around the world. For many Americans, Normandy brings to mind D-Day landings, World War II and the Normandy beaches, but there is a whole lot more to know about.

The Armada– June 6-16, 2013
Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2013, “L’Armada de la liberté” – “The Sails of Freedom” brings millions of visitors to the Port of Rouen for concerts, gigantic fireworks and plenty of other entertainment.

But the stars of the show are more than 50 of the largest sailing ships in the world. Also featured are modern warships, all of which have sailed up the 120 kilometers of the River Seine through the beautiful landscapes of Normandy.

Cirque Theater
One of the last surviving permanent circus rings in France, the theater in d’Elbeuf is the only one to have a 13-meter-wide ring, exactly like the ring under a big top in a traveling circus, plus a proscenium stage.

Normandy Impressionist Festival– April 27 through September 23, 2013
All over Normandy, called “the birthplace of Impressionism,” preparations for the second Festival Normandie Impressionniste are under way.

With water as its central theme, the festival brings to the fore an eclectic program across the arts with exhibitions, concerts, films, modern art, literature and picnics like Manet’s “The Luncheon on the Grass.”


To find out more about Impressionism in Normandy, watch this short video:


[Photo Credit- Rouen and Seine Valley District Tourist Office/JFLange]

Burning Goat Cheese Closes Tunnel In Norway

by Sean McLachlan on


A truck full of burning goat cheese has shut down a tunnel near Tysfjord in northern Norway for several weeks, the BBC reports.

The fire happened last week and the tunnel remains closed thanks to the smoke from a 27-ton load of Brunost, a type of cheese rich in fat and caramelized sugar. Flickr user zabdiel, who provided this photo, compares Brunost to fudge.

It took firefighters five days to douse the flames and noxious smoke, and gases from the cheese will keep the tunnel closed for a few more weeks.

For more on Brunost, check out this article by the Nordic Nibbler.

Science homework: I can’t find any Brunost here in Spain (the Spanish being very nationalistic about their cheese and wine) but I’m sure at least one Gadling reader has access to some. Take a little bit on the end of a fork, light it on fire, and report in on the results. Enquiring minds want to know. Please do this outside and away from children.

American Airlines’ New Look Just One Part Of Master Plan

by Chris Owen on
American Airlines is still sorting out options for how it will operate, if a merger makes sense and other restructuring-related issues in a tentative financial future. But when it comes to what they do in the air, the course has been charted and is well underway.

American’s current fleet numbers almost 900 aircraft. As part of a 2011 order for an additional 550 new aircraft, 60 will go into service this year, positioning American Airlines to be one of the most modern fleets in the air.

“Since placing our landmark aircraft order in July of 2011, we’ve been building anticipation toward a moment in time when the outside of our aircraft reflects the progress we’ve made to modernize our airline on the inside,” said Tom Horton, American’s Chairman and CEO in a press release.

American Airlines unveiled a new logo and exterior for its planes recently, including the already delivered Flagship Boeing 777-300ER aircraft set to fly on Jan. 31.

“You’ve been hearing a lot about how the modern travel experience is going to feel, ” says American Airlines President and CEO Tom Horton in this new video, “and today we’re going to show you how it’s going to look.”




What else is new for American Airlines?

Expanded International Service to more destinations worldwide, including more international and domestic routes from Dallas/Fort Worth, more European and domestic service from Chicago O’Hare, new service to Europe from New York, and new service from Miami to Latin America and the Caribbean.

An Airport Technology Update for flight attendants, pilots and maintenance workers brings real-time tablet devices to increase efficiency. Next year, passengers too will see the result of increased technology that promises to make the travel experience more enjoyable.

On-board Enhancements in premium class cabins on international routes with new china, menu choices, and restaurant-style, personalized service. Increased availability of Samsung Galaxy tablets for entertainment use in the premium cabins is coming too.

[Photo Credit- American Airlines]