Originally posted on Bubblews August 2014

I am an avid traveler. I could end this with that statement, but who would want to read just that? As an avid traveler, I am always dreaming, planning or talking about the next trip I have planned, or the one after that, or the one after that. As of this moment, I am traveling in September, October and November. More on that as I +travel.

Also, I am always looking for unique +apps, websites, blogs or other ways to save money or time without compromising safety and comfort. Future posts will touch on ways which I either want to try out or which I have actual experience with.

Last September I was part of a group of friends which met up in +NYC New York City. I had several opportunities to use a new "hire car" service called &Uber (www.uber.com). Before leaving home, I set up an account, connected my account to a credit card, and I was all set.

Here's how it works: You order the type of car you need. You see on the app the name of the driver, they type of car with number plate, a picture of the driver and on a map exactly where and how far away it is. In four uses, the driver was never more than FIVE minutes away. Much closer than the end of the taxi rank at the airport. You can follow the progress of the driver on the map, watching the icon of the car coming to your location.

The nice thing is, you need no cash. The app tells you how much the ride will be, and a reasonable gratuity is added on, and when you get to your destination you get out, thank the driver, and are on your way.

All my Uber experiences in both New York City and Washington DC have been with professionally dressed (suit and tie) drivers, very nice immaculate sedans or SUVs. In the case of the SUV we called for four persons, there was even enough ice cold bottled water for everyone.

According to their website for prospective drivers, Über requires a newer vehicle and maximum personal insurance. Drivers are also covered under a commercial policy for rideshare  drivers.

I will not hesitate to call Uber again. Uber is not in every city, and taxi companies have a definite problem with "rogue" car services, but they are a quality service for me. However, my cabbie friend will not ride with them again, as they are not regulated "hire" cars.

The choice is up to you.

Comment here or on Bubblews (&Tiggr) if you have ever, or would ever, used a company like Uber.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Original Bubblews post: Uber

It Took Thirty Years to Get There...

 

Dateline: London, 2003

 My first trip to the UK in 30 years. My first was in 1973. I vowed not to wait another 30 years, and I've kept that vow!

This trip I did a quick day trip to London, as I was home based in Hull, Yorkshire. My friend Suzy and I must have walked 10 miles, and we saw the outside of almost every tourist site in the City!

St. Paul's Cathedral? (It has been 11 years!)

Walking across Tower Bridge towards the Tower of London. I had visited the Tower in 1973, and it was still old. Well worth the time to take the tour.






Looking back through one of the Tower Bridge's arches.

Me. The Thames. The Bridge.








This was in October, and Harrod's famous London store. This was the first week that the very first Krispy Kreme Donut shop in the entire UK was open, and it was in the basement of Harrods', in their food court. Suzy and I bought three dozen and took them as gifts to friends... well, those which were left.

Photos from The Historic Dockyard

HMS Warrior- View from the Harbor

These photos go with my two Bubbles and the last post on this blog about the Historic Dockyards in Portsmouth, England. All these photos were taken in 2005. Any errors are mine.

Historic Dockyard- Masts of HMS Victory

The Harbour Tour is great. I was there in February and it was toasty warm inside the tour boat. All part of the admission.

Previous Mary Rose Museum/Gift/Tea Shop

The Mary Rose Museum has a new building since I was there. The hull of the ship is now on display, after years of treating the wood ship with continuous spraying of preservation liquid.

HMS Victory

    One of my best of the HMS Victory.

HMS Warrior

Mary Rose

HMS Victory  

HMS Victory

Figurehead- Lord Horatio Nelson

HMS Victory

HMS Warrior and the Spinnaker Tower

From Bubblews to Blog- The Historic Dockyards in Portsmouth England

Good morning!!
This is an expansion of a posting from Bubblews.
You should get a better view of the pictures than on the bubble post.
If you have found this post through Bubblews, please let me know in the comments. 
......

Continuing my travelogue, I found some of my pictures from my first trip to Portsmouth, England. Portsmouth is on the south coast about 70 miles west of London. It is on the Solent river, and across the river is the Isle of Wight. On the other side of that is France, and you can catch auto ferries to France and hovercrafts to the IOW. Portsmouth, or Pompey as it’s called by her friends, is the home of the Royal Navy and the Portsmouth Football Club. 

There are quite a few museums and historical places to visit in Portsmouth, but this is the first about the Historic Dockyards. There are several exhibits and attractions within the Dockyards.

The short version:

     The Mary Rose Museum

     HMS Victory

     HMS Warrior 1860

     HMS Alliance

     National Museum Royal Navy Portsmouth

     Action Stations

     Harbour Tours

The photo above is a carved figurehead of Lord Nelson (if I remember correctly) and the ship below him is his vessel the HMS Victory.

“HMS Victory is the Royal Navy's most famous warship. Best known for her role in the Battle of Trafalgar, the Victory currently has a dual role as the Flagship of the First Sea Lord and as a living museum to the Georgian Navy.

Come visit HMS Victory and experience...

• The Great Cabin, where the Battle of Trafalgar was planned.
• The spot where Nelson died.
• The once crowded decks where over 800 men lived, worked and fought.”

It is a great guided tour of the ship which is in dry dock for preservation purposes.

“ HMS Victory is currently undergoing a period of restoration and visitors have the unique opportunity to witness the process taking place on the oldest commissioned warship in the world and a proud memorial to Vice Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson, Britain's greatest Naval hero and his stunning victory at the Battle of Trafalgar.

Her topmasts and rigging have been struck, or taken down, and her planking is under investigation. This is nothing unusual as wooden ships like Victory needed constant care and attention from the day they were launched. These repairs are simply the latest in a long tradition of regular upkeep.

The last time HMS Victory was seen without her top masts was back in 1944, so this really is a once in a life time opportunity to see HMS Victory under-going such extreme maintenance. Interestingly, with her topmasts down, Victory will look much as she did after the Battle of Trafalgar when she had to be towed to Gibraltar for repairs." 

It is well worth the time and entrance fee to visit the Historic Dockyards and experience the Royal Navy of yore…

Original Content: @Tiggr ©2014

Photo Credit: &T!GGR

All content in quotation marks from the official website of the dockyard.

For more complete information, please visit their website: http://www.historicdockyard.co.uk/?gclid=CjwKEAjwkf-gBRCd-b2m2aOo0EQSJABMeQDk3iKr_SRKZHcus4wnbgbE-9-Zig0YXj8h_5sRwTxovxoCZfXw_wcB

I will post more photos of the Dockyard in it's own post.