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“Overbearing idiots” fined for surfing through Venice’s Grand Canal

<p dir="ltr">Two “overbearing idiots” who were caught surfing through Venice's Grand Canal have been identified and had their boards confiscated.</p> <p dir="ltr">A furious Mayor Luigi Brugnaro shared footage of the pair calling for them to be found and punished for “making a mockery of the city”. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Here are two overbearing idiots who make a mockery of the City,” his translated tweet read.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I ask everyone to help us identify them to punish them even if our weapons are really blunt... we urgently need more powers for the Mayors in terms of public safety!</p> <p dir="ltr">“To those who spot them, I offer a dinner!”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="it">Ecco due imbecilli prepotenti che si fanno beffa della Città… chiedo a tutti di aiutarci a individuarli per punirli anche se le nostre armi sono davvero spuntate… servono urgentemente più poteri ai Sindaci in tema di sicurezza pubblica!<br />A chi li individua offro una cena! <a href="https://t.co/DV2ONO3hUs">pic.twitter.com/DV2ONO3hUs</a></p> <p>— Luigi Brugnaro (@LuigiBrugnaro) <a href="https://twitter.com/LuigiBrugnaro/status/1559808148843765760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">In a later post, the Mayor Brugnaro announced that the pair were caught and fined. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Speaking of the two “heroes” of this morning, we have identified them!” he updated his followers.</p> <p dir="ltr">He did not disclose how much their fine was but thanked everyone for their cooperation on catching the two. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Twitter</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Huge cruise ship squeezes through Greek canal with just centimetres to spare

<p><span>A 24,344-tonnes, 22.5-metre-wide cruise liner has made history to become the largest ship ever to travel through the narrow Corinth Canal.</span></p> <p><span>On Wednesday, 929 passengers on board held their breath as the Braemar cruise liner squeezed through the canal, which was 24 metres wide at its narrowest point.</span></p> <p><span>The ship was so close to the rocky walls of the canal that passengers could reach out their hands and almost touch the surface, UK-based Fred. Olsen Cruises said.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B3Y6vKyn3y6/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B3Y6vKyn3y6/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Transiting the #CorinthCanal this morning on #Braemar... fabulous views! #🚢 #fredolsen #cruise</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/andyeastwooduk/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Andy Eastwood</a> (@andyeastwooduk) on Oct 9, 2019 at 12:37am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span>The 6.4-kilometre-long canal is a waterway that separates the Peloponnese from the Greek mainland, connecting the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea.</span><span></span></p> <p><span>The trip was part of the 25-night Corinth Canal &amp; Greek Islands cruise, which took off from Southampton, UK.</span></p> <p><span>“This is such an exciting sailing and tremendous milestone in Fred Olsen’s 171-year history, and we are thrilled to have been able to share it with our guests,” said Clare Ward, director of product and customer service.</span></p>

Cruising

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World's greatest canals you can take a ship through

<p>These canals are impressive in real life as they appear in photos.</p> <p><strong>1. Panama Canal, Republic of Panama</strong></p> <p>The granddaddy of them all, the Panama Canal is the most famous man made waterway in the world. Construction began in 1881 but was not completed until 1914. The canal underwent a major expansion in 2016 and can now accommodate some of the largest ships in the world. It joins the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through a series of locks that are an engineering marvel. There’s nothing else like it on earth.</p> <p><strong>2. Suez Canal, Egypt</strong></p> <p>Less famous than its Central American cousin, the Suez is no less impressive. Dating back to the 1860s, the canal links the Mediterranean and Red seas, stretching for around 160 kilometres through the desert. There are no locks here, as the two bodies of water are at roughly the same level, and ships pass through slowly for a transit time of around 11-16 hours.</p> <p><strong>3. Gota Canal, Sweden</strong></p> <p>Dating back to the early 19<sup>th</sup> century, the Gota Canal winds its way between two lakes in the west of Sweden. Though it runs for less than 200 kilometres, in that time it covers 66 locks and can take up to six days. The canal can only be accessed by very small ships and many have been operating on the route for decades. Because the pace is so slow, passengers can hop off and cycle alongside the canal for a while before reboarding the ship.</p> <p><strong>4. Kiel Canal, Germany</strong></p> <p>The Kiel Canal is the world’s busiest artificial waterway, though you’ve probably never heard of it. It links the North Sea with the Baltic Sea and cuts around 400 kilometres off the journey around the Jutland Peninsula. It’s slow and sedate, essentially passing through small farms and the backyards of villages along the route. The cruise gives a glimpse into the daily life of this part of the world.</p> <p><strong>5. Cana du Midi, France</strong></p> <p>This iconic French canal was built in 1680, meaning it was carrying passengers some 100 years before the First Fleet arrived in Australia. It runs for just under 250 kilometres through the south of France past medieval villages, ancient chateaux and rolling vineyards. It’s open to small barges carrying just a handful of people, meaning you can create your own slow-moving itinerary.</p> <p>Have you visited any of these canals? Let us know in the comments below. </p>

Cruising

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Man uses toy tug boat to cruise down river

<p>Everyone has their preferred method of getting from point A to point B, and as we can see from this story some forms of transportation are more eccentric than others.</p> <p>Mick Carroll was strolling through the UK town of Market Drayton when he spotted a local man on the river, making perhaps the most unusual commute of all time.</p> <p><img width="500" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/26392/cruise-tugboat-in-text-one_500x375.jpg" alt="Cruise -Tugboat -In -Text -One" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>The man cruised in a kayak like vessel that was towed by a remote-control tugboat.</p> <p>Carroll couldn’t resist the opportunity to take a couple of photographs, and posted them to Facebook with the caption, “Dont ya just love eccentric’s. Seen this fella as we were passin thru Market Drayton gettin pulled along by a remote control tug. Brilliant.”</p> <p>The man himself sounds like he had a sense of humour, and reportedly shouted out to Carrol as he cruised past, “Just when you thought you’d seen everything!”</p> <p><img width="480" height="360" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/26393/cruise-tugboat-in-text-two.jpg" alt="Cruise -Tugboat -In -Text -Two" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>How funny! Now we have seen everything. Do you have a friend or family member who’s also as lovingly eccentric? Let us know in the comments. </p> <p><em>Image credit: Facebook / Mick Cee </em></p> <p><em>Have you arranged your travel insurance yet? Tailor your cover to your needs and save money by not paying for things you don’t need. <a href="https://elevate.agatravelinsurance.com.au/oversixty?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=content&amp;utm_content=link1&amp;utm_campaign=travel-insurance"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>To arrange a quote, click here.</strong></span></a> For more information about Over60 Travel Insurance, call 1800 622 966.</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/08/us-basketball-team-charters-luxury-cruise-ship-for-rio/">US basketball team charters luxury cruise ship for Rio</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/08/cruise-passenger-spends-night-in-forest/">79-year-old cruise passenger spends night in Alaskan forest after being left behind</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/08/8-reasons-to-bring-duct-tape-on-your-next-cruise/">8 reasons to bring duct tape on your next cruise</a></em></strong></span></p>

Cruising

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Timelapse footage of a cruise on the Panama Canal

<p>In this timelapse we watch the Queen Victoria cruise ship navigate the Panama Canal, an 80km manmade waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.</p> <p>Taken from the balcony of a cabin, this video shows the full eight hour trip condensed into a timelapse video spanning a few short minutes for your convenience.  </p> <p>Watch as the ship pass through the locks and lakes as it makes the transition from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific. The stark difference in the shade of the water is part of what makes the Panama Canal passage such an iconic journey in the world of cruising.  </p> <p>Have you ever cruised through this part of the world? Do you have a holiday on the cards?</p> <p>Let us know in the comments.</p> <p><em>Video credit: YouTube / Tips For Travellers</em></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/07/queen-mary-2-cruise-ship-gets-pet-friendly-makeover/"><em><strong>Queen Mary 2 cruise ship gets pet-friendly makeover</strong></em></a></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/06/best-cruise-lines-in-the-world-revealed/"><em><strong>The world’s best cruise lines revealed</strong></em></a></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/04/cunard-queen-mary-marilyn-monroe-showcase/"><em><strong>Cunard to showcase world’s largest Marilyn Monroe collection</strong></em></a></span></p>

Cruising

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Cruising Sweden’s most scenic canal

<p>Take a cruise on the most charming canal in Scandinavia. Running 190 kilometres from the east to west coast of southern Sweden, the Gota Canal is a meandering strip of water surrounded by pretty woods and charming fishing villages. The canal was opened in 1832 and, even today, the pace of life on the water remains much the same as it was then. This is the place to really switch off, forget about the internet or telephones, and immerse yourself in the world that’s drifting slowly past your window.</p> <p>The world’s oldest registered passenger ship, M/S Juno, regularly plies the waters of the Gota Canal. Built in 1874, the ship is tiny, custom built for the canal’s seven-metre width and carrying just 44 passengers. She brings to mind a train more than a ship, with guests sleeping in cosy, compact cabins and spending their days reading in the library, playing cards or sitting on the deck with a drink in hand. There are five similar ships making the journey, each offering a sedate, intimate and one-of-a-kind voyage.</p> <p>It took almost 60,000 workers more than 20 years to construct the canal, blasting their way through rock to create one of the great wonders of Swedish engineering. It was originally an important trade route but in the 1980s was refitted for leisure boats. There are 58 locks along the canal’s length, slowing the ships down to almost walking pace. Passengers can even disembark as the ship is crossing through them to walk or cycle along the canalside path or take a dip in a crystal clear lake.</p> <p>During the three-day journey from Stockholm to Gothenburg (or vice versa) passengers can head out each day for excursions, visiting a medieval convent or the impressive Karlsborg Fortress that dates back to the Napoleonic Wars. There are plenty of museums along the way, dedicated to everything from vintage toys to cars, cameras and the history of the canal itself. Or you can just wander the pretty cobblestone streets of small towns like Motala, Hajstorp and Vadstena.</p> <p>Cruising the Gota Canal is one of Europe’s most unique journeys. It’s on the travel bucket list of most Swedes who see the canal as one of their country’s great icons. The small size of the ship means passengers and crew quickly become friends, making this voyage the opposite of the anonymity of a vast megaliner. The beauty of the scenery and the company of your fellow passengers make this cruise something very special.</p> <p>Have you ever taken a cruise in Europe? If so, how did you find the experience? Do you think you’d like to go again?</p> <p>Share your thoughts in the comments.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/06/how-i-discovered-the-10-rules-of-cruising/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">How I discovered the 10 rules of cruising</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/06/just-how-much-does-each-day-on-a-cruise-cost/"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Just how much does each day on a cruise cost</strong></span></em></a></p> <p><strong><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/06/things-not-to-pack-on-a-cruise/" target="_blank"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">5 things NOT to pack on a cruise</span></em></a></strong></p>

Cruising

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