Matador Network's Blog, page 752

Time capsule from the north pole

Way back in 2018, the crew and passengers of the Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker ship 50 Years of Victory placed a time capsule in the north pole’s ice floe. Little did they know that it would take only two years for it to be found.

Conor McClory and Sophie Curran, surfers from the village of Gweedore, in county Donegal in northwest Ireland, found the capsule on the shore at Bloody Foreland while they were checking sea conditions.

McClory told the Donegal Daily, “When I saw it, first I thought it was a steel pipe of a ship, then I lifted it and saw there was engraving on it. I thought it was a bomb then. When I saw the date on it I thought it could be somebody’s ashes, so I didn’t open it.”

Photo: Conor McClory

McClory then phoned a friend whom he knew had a Russian-speaking friend to solve the mystery of the container that featured Russian engraving. The acquaintance explained that it was a time capsule, so McCLory opened it.

Photo: Conor McClory

Photo: Conor McClory

The capsule contained letters in Russian and English, poems, photographs, beer mats, a menu, and wine corks. One of the letters from August 2018 said, “Everything around is covered by ice. We think that by the time this letter will be found there is no more ice in Arctic unfortunately.”

Photo: Conor McClory

McClory even tracked down one of the letter’s authors, an Instagram blogger known as Sveta. The crew believed the capsule would be found in 30-50 years, and Sveta was shocked by its early discovery.

It is believed that the capsule floated about 2,300 miles from where it was placed.

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North Korea bans smoking in public

It’s not often that North Korea does something that could be considered praiseworthy, but this new rule might win the country some fans among nonsmokers — and enemies among chain smokers. The Supreme People’s Assembly of North Korea has just introduced a new law banning smoking in some public places, to provide its people with “hygienic living environments.”

According to the law, smoking is banned in specific venues like political and ideological education centers, theaters, and medical and public health facilities.

The impetus to introduce such a law was likely the high rate of smoking in North Korea. About 43.9 percent of the country’s male population were smokers as of 2013, according to the World Health Organization. The North Korean leader himself, Kim Jong Un, is known as a chain smoker and often seen with a cigarette in hand when he’s captured on camera or video.

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American Airlines new policy

A new American Airlines policy restricts which flights people who use powered wheelchairs can take in the United States. In June, the airline banned powered wheelchairs that weigh more than 400 pounds on certain domestic flights, and banned those more than 300 pounds on others.

The policy was pushed through in June 2020, but, due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, its introduction was quietly received until it was brought to light by John Morris of Wheelchair Travel. In a post, Morris wrote about being denied boarding in mid October for a flight from Gainesville, FL, to Dallas, Texas. Morris is a frequent flyer who has flown dozens of similar flights, but this was his first since March due to the pandemic.

During check-in, Morris was asked the weight of his power wheelchair, which he told the ground staff was 450 pounds. It was then explained to him his chair was too heavy to be permitted on the Canadair CRJ-700 aircraft. A frequent flyer and an Executive Platinum member of the American Airlines loyalty program, Morris has flown the route 21 times with the airline, and has taken more than 50 flights on that specific model of airplane.

“While it is true that certain types of aircraft may carry only a limited number of mobility devices, the individual weight of a wheelchair should not be a discriminating factor,” Roberto Castiglioni, the publisher of Reduced Mobility Rights, tells Matador Network. “Its dimensions could be [a limiting factor] if they are greater than the cargo hold door, but it sounds bizarre that cargo floor limits could be. Perhaps lack of suitable equipment at ground handling level is the true reason behind AA’s new controversial policy.”

Morris writes that the policy effectively bans power wheelchairs made by Permobil, Quantum, and Quickie from 130 airports in the contiguous US. To visually illustrate the magnitude of this problem, he made a map of the airports that many power wheelchair users will no longer be able to fly to on American Airlines.

Photo: John Morris/Wheelchair Travel

When Morris asked for an explanation, he was told the policy was enacted because American Airlines had damaged too many wheelchairs when loading them onto the plane.

“This is what discrimination looks like,” Morris wrote about the experience. “Remember this story the next time American Airlines claims that it is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. It is a lie.”

American Airlines gave Morris a formal apology and a ticket refund, according to a statement given to Simple Flying. The statement also stated that American Airlines “has begun a review of how we can both ensure high safety standards and protect the integrity of heavy mobility devices consistently across our operation.”

Morris noted that removing his wheelchair’s battery can decrease the weight by about 50 pounds, though there’s risk of damage from airline baggage handlers who aren’t familiar with every make and model of powered wheelchairs. Airlines mishandled an average of 29 wheelchairs every day between January and September of 2019, according to USA Today. American Airlines mishandled more than double the number of wheelchairs than the industry average.

“I think time has come for wheelchair manufacturers to work closely with the aviation sector to define a common standard that works for aviation and safeguards the right to travel by air of persons with reduced mobility,” Castiglioni says.

And that is a fair point. It seems both wheelchair manufacturers and the aviation industry have a ways to go to ensure that all passengers are treated equally and can access all services.

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Sistine Chapel virtual tour

Traveling to the Vatican to see the Sistine Chapel isn’t feasible for most Americans right now, but luckily there’s a way to see Michaelangelo’s famous artwork without even leaving the country. Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition is opening tomorrow at America’s Ballroom in America’s Center in St. Louis. The exhibition displays recreated large segments, almost to scale, of the original stunning work.

Photo: Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition/Facebook

A representative for the exhibition told Lonely Planet, “This exhibit is unique because it magnifies one of the world’s greatest artistic achievements for everyone to see. The exhibition features 34 displayed reproductions, including the internationally recognized The Creation of Adam and The Last Judgement. You can truly become overwhelmed by the details of the art as each ceiling fresco has been reproduced in its near original size using state-of-the-art technology. More importantly, due to COVID-19 and travel restrictions, this exhibition allows visitors to be safely transported to the Vatican all while never leaving St. Louis.”

Photo: Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel Exhibition

The exhibition was created with photographs taken after the original ceiling’s restoration in the 1980s and ‘90s, and even includes a display showing the differences in The Last Judgement scene pre- and post-update. An audio guide will also be available in English and Spanish.

You can visit the exhibit Thursday through Sunday starting November 6 and until January 10, 2021. Timed ticketing is in place to ensure social distancing, and masks are mandatory while inside.

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How to travel to Canada during COVID

Travelers from the United States who are used to taking quick jaunts abroad to their closest neighbors are facing severe difficulties this year. The country’s borders with both Mexico and Canada have been closed to most people since March 18, 2020, and every month the restrictions are extended with no end in sight.

While it’s currently possible for US travelers to vacation in Mexico, traveling north of the border to Canada to ski in British Columbia or to check out the amazing fauna of Newfoundland and Labrador is much more complicated. Here’s the low-down for Americans wanting to travel to Canada for leisure during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Can US citizens enter Canada?

US citizens can enter Canada if:

They have dual US-Canada citizenship and own a valid passport or are in possession of a special authorization
They are a permanent resident of Canada
They are registered under Canada’s Indian Act
They are an immediate or extended family member of a Canadian citizen and are staying for 15 days or more

While no testing is required before departure or on arrival in Canada, US citizens who fit the criteria and wish to travel to Canada will need to undergo a strict and mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival on Canadian soil.

Is there a way for US travelers to visit Canada?

When the land border between Canada and the US closed in March, some frustrated American travelers thought they could exploit “the Alaska loophole.” By saying they were transiting through Canada from the lower 48 to reach Alaska by road, they were able to enjoy an unauthorized vacation.

The practice puts people’s health at risk, involves lying to border agents, and is illegal. US travelers who abuse this excuse face serious consequences under the Quarantine Act (fines of up to $574,000 and/or imprisonment of up to six months).

While US citizens are allowed to transit Canada between the continental US and Alaska, they are supposed to use the most direct route to their destination, stop only for essentials such as gas and food, and are not authorized to visit national parks or other tourist attractions. At the border crossing, they are given tags featuring their entering and exiting dates, which they must keep on their mirrors during the drive.

Canadians keep their eyes peeled for US license plates and have had no qualms about denouncing potential law-breakers to the authorities. In June, the Canadian Mounted Police fined several US visitors $1,200 for hiking in Banff while they were supposed to be making their way to the Last Frontier state. In September, an American family that pretended to drive to Alaska but was actually having a good time in Vancouver was kicked out of British Columbia and given a $1,500 fine.

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Man cooking chicken in Yellowstone

An Idaho man has been banned from Yellowstone National Park for trying to cook two chickens in a hot spring in an off-limits thermal area.

On August 7, a ranger was alerted that a group of people, including a child, were making their way to Shoshone Geyser Basin with cooking pots. When the ranger reached the group of 10, they found two chickens in burlap sacks sitting in a hot spring and several cooking pots.

According to Newsweek, the suspect, an Idaho man, was ordered to pay $1,200 for walking in a thermal area and for violating closures and use limits, for which he pleaded guilty. On September 10, the Mammoth Hot Springs court also ordered him to serve two years unsupervised probation and banned him from national park during that time.

Thermal features in Yellowstone can be extremely dangerous and unpredictable. It is forbidden to place anything in the scalding waters and stray off the official boardwalk or trails.

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How to visit Bob Ross’ studio

We could all use a calming presence in our lives right now, and nothing is more calming than watching Bob Ross give painting lessons. Bob Ross was an artist and host of The Joy of Painting, an instructional TV program that aired from 1983 to 1994. Watching Ross paint his landscapes has become a favorite pastime of modern-day YouTube viewers looking to relax. Now, fans can also visit the studio in Indiana where the famous show was filmed.

The historic L.L. Ball home, part of the Minnetrista museum campus in Muncie, IN, was home to the show from 1983 to 1988, and since October 31 of this year, it has been open to visitors for a series of interactive experiences. Visit Indiana is refurbishing the studio, gathering objects from Ross’ life and career, and bringing The Joy of Painting to life once again.

According to the studio’s website, “The Bob Ross Experience will allow fans to explore the life, philosophy, and art of the iconic American painter inside the historic home where ‘The Joy of Painting’ was filmed. The immersive exhibit features original paintings and artifacts, inspiring visitors with Bob’s message of fearless creativity.”

The exhibit is welcoming visitors Wednesdays through Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Sundays from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Admission costs $15 per person for non-Indiana residents and $8 for locals.

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Huge iceberg may collide island

A giant iceberg that is roughly 80 times the size of Manhattan looks like it might collide with a South Atlantic island in possibly as little time as three to four weeks.

The A68a iceberg broke off from Antarctica’s Larsen C Ice Shelf in July 2017, and now threatens to collide with the British Overseas Territory of South Georgia. And given the size of the iceberg, it could remain stuck on the island’s shore for years.

The 1,815-square-mile iceberg is larger than South Georgia itself, and is on course to hit the island’s shores and seriously disrupt the area’s ecosystem. Professor Geraint Tarling, senior biological oceanographer at the British Antarctic Survey, told CNN that the iceberg collision could be extremely detrimental to the island’s wildlife population, especially seals and penguins as they would not be able to access their usual feeding grounds.

The iceberg is currently less than 300 miles away from South Georgia Island and is moving 0.62 miles per hour.

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Viking cruises covid tests on board

Ever since cruises became hotbeds of COVID-19 transmission back in March, travelers have been understandably wary of cruising. Viking Cruises is trying to remedy this by unveiling the first-ever COVID-19 testing lab aboard a cruise ship. The lab will be capable of performing COVID-19 saliva tests every day for each crew member and passenger aboard the Viking Star ship in an effort to quickly identify any cases on board and prevent their spread.

Matt Grimes, the vice president of maritime operations for Viking, said in a statement, “We have been working on this for a number of months, and today is important as it moves us one step closer to operating cruises again, without compromising the safety of our guests and crew.”

The Viking Star is scheduled to depart from Fort Lauderdale on December 24 for a 136-day cruise around the world, stopping in 27 different countries. Viking plans to conduct regular tests during the journey to give passengers safety and peace of mind.

The full capabilities of the PCR lab will be demonstrated in mid-November when the ship docks in Oslo, Norway.

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Where US citizens travel Oceania

Oceania is comprised of wish-list, dreamy destinations such as Australia, the Cook Islands, Tonga, Fiji, and New Zealand. Unfortunately, now is not the time to check them off your must-see list as most of the borders of Oceania are closed to all external visitors and most nations only permit inward travel for residents returning home. Currently, only French Polynesia, which includes the beautiful islands of Tahiti and Bora Bora, is welcoming US tourists. Here’s what you need to know about visiting the islands.

French Polynesia

Photo: Martin Valigursky/Shutterstock

French Polynesia encompasses over 1,243 miles in the South Pacific and is home to more than 100 islands and atolls, including the idyllic islands of Tahiti, Bora Bora, and Moorea.

Tahiti is the most densely populated and is considered the heart of the territory. Its many white-sand beaches, mountains, waterfalls, and high-end overwater resorts makes this a destination often weighed against the likes of Fiji as a once-in-a-lifetime vacation spot. As the borders of Fiji — and many other islands in Oceania — are currently closed to US tourists, French Polynesia is an attractive option for those looking for an island paradise vacation outside of the Caribbean.

Currently, flights to the region are not very frequent and are limited to Faa’a Airport in Papeete on Tahiti. All travelers are required to undertake a COVID-19 test (and test negative), three days prior to departure. Evidence of the test needs to be issued to check-in staff at the airport and only RT-PCR molecular tests are accepted. If you are staying for longer than four days, you will again need to be tested and the details regarding when and where will be organised on arrival in Papeete. Masks wearing for passengers over the age of 11 is required on flights in and out of the region.

French Polynesia isn’t currently under a curfew and you can travel between the islands. You also do not need to quarantine on arrival. You do, however, need to be organised. Prior to leaving you will need to register where you plan to stay and what you plan to do on the French Polynesian registration website. This needs to be completed three days before you leave and you must print this off and have it as proof for the ground staff at check-in.

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