Globe Trotting Factoids

The Taj Mahal

My Globe Trotting cousin was in town last week. We had dinner together and discussed many things. Among them, the opinion that the London Olympics win was a West End bid for East End construction. Apparently, the West End of London will be untouched in preparation for the Games. In the meantime, several areas in the East End are sinking into the ground as workers tunnel underground.

GT always has fascinating stories and advice. Here are the things that I most remember from our dinner conversation:

- Budapest is actually split into separate sections: Buda and Pest
- Traveling on Ryan Air is a free-for-all. It makes Southwest look dignified and slow. There is no group-by-group boarding. You all just go for it from one front door and one rear door.
- Stay in Paris or Calais for the London Olympics and commute in. It will be easier than finding a place in London
- Don't go to the Taj Mahal on Fridays. It's closed. The mosque is open for prayer only on Friday.
- If you go to Israel, ask them to stamp your entry and exit on a separate piece of paper. Then staple it into your passport. That way, you can tear it out later. No Muslim country in the Middle East will let you into their country if they see you've been in Israel. !!!!!