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grcreativebox

Joshua Tree National Park closes

April 1, 2020 by grcreativebox 1 Comment

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(CNN) — Joshua Tree National Park is completely closed to visitors, effective April 1.The shutdown of the California park known for its distinctive trees is an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus, according to a notice on the park’s website. Park rangers remain in place.Yosemite National Park was the first park to close in California, doing so on March 20. A week later, Lassen Volcanic National Park followed suit.The National Park Service is modifying operations on a “park-by-park basis,” using guidance from state and local public health authorities and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to a notice on the NPS website.”While most facilities and events are closed or canceled, many of our outdoor spaces remain accessible to the public,” the notice said. Arches and Canyonlands in Utah, Grand Teton in Wyoming and Yellowstone in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming are also among some of the big headliner national parks that have closed to visitors. Some national seashores, recreation areas and historical sites have also closed or reduced operations.There’s no national shutdown of all 419 national park sites, which would cover more than 85 million acres of national parks, seashores, lakeshores, battlefields and more, in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and several US territories. The National Park Service is waiving entrance fees at parks that remain open during the coronavirus pandemic in an effort to aid public social distancing. Katia Hetter and Marnie Hunter contributed to this report.

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Cruise ships still trying to dock amid coronavirus pandemic

April 1, 2020 by grcreativebox Leave a Comment

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(CNN) — More than a dozen cruise ships remain stranded at sea right now — some with and some without passengers — as ports deny entry and passengers panic about returning home.On March 13, in light of mounting fears over onboard Covid-19 outbreaks, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) made the decision to suspend operations from US ports of call for 30 days.Two weeks later, thousands of passengers and crew members remain aboard at least 15 ships across the world.Industry group CLIA encompasses 38 cruise companies, with a total of 277 ships.The organization confirmed to CNN on March 31 that 3.6% of the total fleet was still at sea completing adjusted itineraries and five ships are awaiting debarkation.”Flight restrictions and port closures have led to some challenges bringing ships in, however our members are working around the clock to address these road blocks,” a CLIA spokersperson told CNN Travel. “CLIA is asking ports and governments around the world to allow these ships to come into port so that those onboard can make their way home safely and as quickly as possible.” Major cruise lines P&O, Cunard, Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Holland America have now extended their ban on cruising until mid-May.Here are details on the cruise ships still in limbo that we know about.Cruise ships with passengers Zaandam — Holland AmericaFour passengers passed away on Holland America’s Zaandam cruise ship, which is searching for somewhere to dock.Luis Acosta/AFP/Getty ImagesStatus: Sailing to Fort Lauderdale, FloridaThe Zaandam was sailing a South American voyage that departed Buenos Aires, Argentina, on March 7 and was originally supposed to conclude in San Antonio, Chile, on March 21.Influenza-like symptoms have been reported by 76 guests and 117 crew members. Eight passengers have tested positive for Covid-19.Four guests on board Zaandam have passed away, the cruise line confirmed on Friday.”I fear other lives are at risk,” Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line, said in a statement.No one has exited the ship since it stopped in Punta Arenas, Chile, on March 14. Guests were originally told they could disembark in Chile for flights, but ultimately this was forbidden. Once flu-like symptoms cropped up on board, those with symptoms were isolated and their traveling companions quarantined. All guests were asked to remain in their staterooms.The ship stopped in Valparaiso, Chile, to refuel, and now it’s heading to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. All the ports en route are closed to cruise ships, so Holland America deployed another of its ships, Rotterdam, to offer relief. Rotterdam met Zaandam off Panama in the evening of March 26 to “provide extra supplies, staff, Covid-19 test kits and other support as needed.”Previously, the ship had no coronavirus test kits on board.Holland America transferred healthy Zaandam guests to Rotterdam.There are 797 guests and 645 crew on Rotterdam. On Zaandam, there are 446 guests and 602 crew members.The guests who moved from Zaandam to Rotterdam completed a health screening beforehand, says Holland America.Guests on both ships are remaining in their staterooms until the ship disembarks.On March 29, Holland America confirmed it was granted special approval by by the Panama Canal Authority to transit Zaandam and Rotterdam through the Panama Canal.Zaandam is considering “alternative options” if the plan to disembark in Fort Lauderdale falls through, but the original hope was that the ship would dock there on March 30. Right now it’s still at sea.”We need confirmation from a port that is willing to extend the same compassion and grace that Panama did, and allow us to come in so our guests can go straight to the airport for flights home,” said Ashford, who says the ship tried to disembark passengers earlier in the voyage. “It’s tempting to speculate about the illnesses that may have been avoided or lives saved if we’d gotten the assistance we sought weeks ago.”Arcadia — P&O Cruises UKStatus: Sailing to Southampton, EnglandCruise ship Arcadia embarked on a 100-day, round trip World Cruise back in January, in a very different cruising landscape.Now, the ship is making its way back to Southampton, in the UK. It’s due to arrive on April 12, 2020, on schedule. The ship is skipping all stops after it was turned away from Cape Town.”As South African authorities are enforcing additional entry and travel restrictions because of the Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic, all guests are remaining on board until Southampton, where Arcadia is due to arrive on Sunday 12 April as per the original itinerary,” said P&O Cruises in a statement.There are no reported cases of Covid-19 on board.Coral Princess — Princess CruisesStatus: Sailing to Fort Lauderdale, FloridaThe Coral Princess departed Santiago, Chile, on March 5. Princess Cruises announced operations were halting one week later.Princess Cruises tried to negotiate disembarkation in Brazil for guests on board the Coral Princess. Anvisa, the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency, denied the disembarkation of Coral Princess guests, including those with confirmed outbound flights.The ship is now traveling directly to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The Coral Princess’s medical center has reported “a higher-than-normal number of people presenting influenza-like symptoms,” according to a statement from the cruise line on March 31.”Many have tested positive for regular influenza, however given the concern surrounding COVID-19 (coronavirus), and out of an abundance of caution, guests have been asked to self-isolate in their staterooms and all meals will now be delivered by room service. Crew will remain in their staterooms when not working,” said the cruise line.Sara Roberts is one of 374 British passengers on board.”We are all virus free and want the British government to send a safe repatriation flight to enable us to travel safely home together,” she told CNN Travel last week, prior to the present situation. “The uncertainty is causing so much stress for some which is not healthy either for them,” Roberts adds.Princess Cruises said internet and guest stateroom telephone service is currently complimentary, to help guests stay in touch with family members.Princess Cruises had a scheduled service call at Bridgetown, Barbados, on March 31.”During the short time at the port, extra provisions will be brought on board to keep all guests comfortable during the onward journey,” said Princess Cruises in a statement. “No guests or crew will be permitted to disembark during this time.”The ship is expected to arrive into Fort Lauderdale on April 4.Pacific Princess — Princess CruisesStatus: Sailing to Los Angeles, CaliforniaThe Pacific Princess docked in Australia on Saturday March 21, with the majority of passengers who disembarked on flights March 22 or March 23.Those who couldn’t fly due to medical reasons remained on board the ship, which is now traveling towards Los Angeles.According to former passenger CJ Hayden, some of those on board were previously traveling on Holland America’s Amsterdam, which also docked in Fremantle, Australia, on March 21. Princess Cruises says there are 115 passengers on board and no known cases of Covid-19.The Pacific Princess is due to arrive in Los Angeles on April 24. It stopped briefly in Melbourne, Australia, to “refuel and replenish provisions,” according to Princess Cruises.The ship is also expected to dock in Honolulu, Hawaii, for an additional service stop.A passenger on board, who preferred to remain anonymous, told CNN that despite the circumstances, the voyage has been “another wonderful and enjoyable Princess cruise.”We are looking forward to the future when we can start sailing again with Princess,” they added.Queen Mary 2 — CunardStatus: Sailing to Southampton, EnglandThe Queen Mary 2 set off on a 113-day New York to New York voyage on January 3, 2020.”Queen Mary 2’s World Voyage was canceled and the ship is currently en route to Southampton from Australia,” says a Cunard spokesperson. Most guests disembarked in Perth and flew back home from there.”The only guests who remain on board are those who are unable to fly due to medical reasons,” said Cunard in a statement. There are 264 guests still on board.There are no known cases of Covid-19 on board.MSC Magnifica — MSC CruisesStatus: Sailing to EuropeMSC Magnifica disembarked on a world voyage on January 4, 2020.The ship’s passengers were not allowed to disembark when the ship docked in Fremantle, Australia, on March 24. The Magnifica says there are no sick passengers on board.An MSC spokesperson told CNN Travel: “MSC Magnifica, currently sailing a world cruise, is en route from Australia to Europe.”Costa Victoria — Costa CruisesStatus: Berthed in Civitavecchia, ItalyThe Costa Victoria cruise ship arrived in Civitavecchia, in Italy, on March 25. Earlier in the voyage a passenger tested positive for coronavirus and was disembarked in Greece.The disembarkation process in Italy is ongoing.Columbus — Cruise & Maritime VoyagesAn image of the passenger changeover that took place between the Colombus and the Vasco da Gama.Courtesy Cruise & Maritime VoyagesStatus: Sailing to Tilbury, EnglandLast week, two Cruise & Maritime Voyages ships, Columbus and Vasco da Gama, met at sea 12 nautical miles off the coast of Phuket, Thailand, to undertake what the cruise line called “a unique passenger transfer and repatriation operation.”This decision was made to help get passengers on both vessels home as quickly as possible.Some 239 passengers were transferred between the ships. British nationals transferred onto the Columbus, which is heading to the UK, while Australians and New Zealanders are now on board the Vasco da Gama.There are no confirmed cases of Covid-19 on either ship.The Columbus is set to arrive in Tilbury on April 13.Artania — PhoenixStatus: In Western AustraliaThe Artania cruise ship embarked on an 140-day world cruise from Hamburg, Germany, to Bremerhaven, Germany, on December 21, 2019.The ship has now docked in Western Australia.One passenger, who has since disembarked, tested positive for coronavirus earlier in the journey.A further 36 passengers tested positive for Covid-19 following a check from Australian health officials upon arrival in Fremantle.In a statement, cruise line Phoenix Reisen said these passengers were subsequently disembarked and quarantined in local hospitals. Healthy passengers stayed on board the ship until their repatriation flights, which took place on March 29.The majority of passengers are German. Those from elsewhere in Europe were also taken back to Germany.According to Phoenix Reisen, 16 passengers, plus hundreds of crew members, decided to stay on board the Artania, and travel back home that way.Costa Deliziosa Status: At seaCosta Deliziosa set sail on an 87-day round world voyage from Venice on January 5, 2020.When Costa Cruises, owned by Carnival, decided to suspend cruises, Costa Deliziosa was the only cruise that wasn’t immediately canceled.”The current world tour itinerary will be completed to allow guests to disembark and return home,” was the cruise line’s official statement.Some passengers disembarked and traveled home when the ship stopped off in Perth on March 16. The ship is due to return to Venice, Italy in April, although the destination could be changed.Cruise ships without passengers Vasco da Gama — Cruise & Maritime VoyagesWest Australian passengers disembark Vasco de Gama cruise ship and head to Rottnest Island to quarantine.Michael Wilson – Pool/ Getty ImagesStatus: Passengers in quarantine in Western Australia. Ship sailing back to Tilbury, UKThe Vasco da Gama cruise ship docked in Fremantle, Australia, on March 28.There were 798 Australians and 108 New Zealanders on board the vessel.The New Zealand guests disembarked the ship and flew home from Perth on Sunday March, 29.On Monday March 30, all Vasco da Gama passengers from Western Australia traveled to nearby Rottnest island, where they will spend 14 days in self-isoation, before they are able to travel home.”Australian citizens from other states will be asked to spend their 14-day quarantine at hotels in Perth which have been specifically set aside for this purpose,” said Cruise & Maritime Voyages, in a statement.There are no suspected cases of Covid-19 on board.Vasco da Gama has now disembarked passengers at Fremantle and is heading back to the UK with only crew members on board.Oasis of the Seas — Royal CaribbeanStatus: In Miami, FloridaPassengers departed the Oasis of the Seas in Miami two weeks ago, but crew members remain on board. On Sunday, the Miami Herald reported it had obtained a leaked recording of the ship’s captain announcing that 14 crewmembers had tested positive for Covid-19.CNN reached out to Royal Caribbean regarding the report, who said: “The health and well-being of our crew is our foremost priority. Crewmembers who exhibited symptoms were evaluated by our medical staff and remain under close supervision. In accordance with our health and safety protocols, our crew have been asked to self-isolate in cabins while we await confirmation of initial results from public health authorities.”The ship was anchored off the Bahamas but has since returned to the Miami coast.On March 31, the cruise line confirmed via a statement to CNN that one crew member from Oasis of the Seas and one from nearby Symphony of the Seas were “being medically evacuated for observation and treatment of respiratory issues.””We are grateful to local authorities for their support with the evacuations,” added the spokesperson.The ship is currently off the coast of West Palm Beach, Florida.Symphony of the Seas — Royal CaribbeanStatus: In Miami, FloridaSymphony of the Seas is the world’s biggest cruise ship, with 18 decks in total.Passengers disembarked in Miami on March 14, but crew members remain on board.The ship is currently anchored off Palm Beach, Florida — following the medical evacuation of the sick crew.Costa Diadema — Costa CruisesStatus: Berthed in Piombino, ItalyCosta Diadema berthed in Piombino on March 31, after being denied docking rights at other ports.Piombino’s mayor Francesco Ferrari said via a statement on his official Facebook page that “no gratitude” was necessary.”I did what any responsible Italian would have done,” Ferrari said.”I could not allow more than a thousand people to remain in the open sea, especially in the precarious conditions that our country and the whole world are going through.”There were 1,255 crew members on board. Three crew members with serious symptoms of Covid-19 were disembarked and taken to hospital.There were five people also displaying symptoms, and a further 13 with “mild” symptoms, according to Ferrari.Doctors are now testing all those on board and charter flights have been set up to repatriate non-Italians.Costa Magica — Costa CruisesThe Costa Magica is docked near Miami, Florida. Last week, six crew members with respiratory symptoms were evacuated from the ship, and then transported to a hospital on shore by Miami-Dade Fire, according to a tweet from Miami-Dade County Emergency Management.The vessel does not have permission to enter the Port of Miami.The ship previously docked in Guadeloupe and all passengers disembarked to get on flights.Costa Favolosa — Costa CruisesAlso docked near Miami is another Costa cruise ship, Favolosa.Seven ill crew members were evacuated from this ship along with the sick passengers who had been on board Costa Magica. Like Costa Magica, the ship previously docked in Guadeloupe, and passengers disembarked there.Azura — P&O Cruises UKAzura is sailing back to Southampton, England with no guests on board. It was due to dock March 31.Hanseatic Nature — Hapag-Lloyd CruisesThe Hanseatic Nature is traveling from Central America to Hamburg, Germany, scheduled to arrive April 15.This voyage is taking place to get the ship to its hold position.All Hapag-Lloyd Cruises guests have disembarked.According to Hapag-Lloyd Cruises press team, crew members on board this ship have challenged themselves to walk and jog the track around the ship to keep busy and exercise during the crossing.”They are hoping the entire crew of 138 do 28 laps a day, for the 27 day trip, if every crew member does the 28 laps a day it will equal the distance they are crossing, 7700 nautical miles = 8861.01 miles,” says a Hapag-Lloyd Cruises spokesperson. Europa — Hapag-Lloyd CruisesThis ship is on course to Barbados, scheduled to arrive April 3. This voyage is also taking place to get the ship to its appropriate hold position.

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Theater turns parking lot into free drive-in performance

April 1, 2020 by grcreativebox Leave a Comment

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A small theater in Texas gave its community free drive-in performances from their parking lot before stay-at-home orders went into effect.

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What will travel look like after coronavirus?

April 1, 2020 by grcreativebox 1 Comment

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(CNN) — As movement around the world grows more and more restricted, it’s hard to imagine what travel will look like when it eventually ramps back up.The staggering global scale of the coronavirus pandemic makes it especially devastating, but the travel industry has rebounded from past crises and experts believe it will bounce back again.”People haven’t changed in that they still want to go places, but they’re going to necessarily be a lot more cautious about what they do,” said Adam Blake, a professor of economics and head of research in the Department of Tourism and Hospitality at Bournemouth University in the United Kingdom.”And they’re going to need not just persuading that it is safe to travel, but they’ll need to see actual physical changes made to make travel safer.”For now, we don’t know when or how the pandemic will pass. But once the public health crisis improves, travelers will also need to see steep drops in prices to get them moving again, analysts say.Here are eight things travelers are likely to see once the industry is able to rev its engines in the direction of recovery.Cruises will be very cheap. But it might not matter for newcomersDiamond Princess was quarantined in Japan in February.Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images Travelers who are comfortable with cruising will find very low prices as cruise lines restart service, said Christopher Anderson, professor of business at Cornell University’s Hotel School in Ithaca, New York. The challenge will be in attracting new customers to cruise travel, “which will be essential to survival,” he said, after global headlines about coronavirus outbreaks on ships, travel restrictions and denied ports of call.Anderson suggested that reconfiguring some of the new ships that are still under construction with bigger staterooms and less passenger density might be a way to attract new customers. Reducing buffet food service and leaning more toward a la carte dining across rate tiers might be another way to reassure travelers who are skeptical about cruise travel, he said.Cleanliness will be addressed — a lot”Everyone, whether it’s cruise, lodging or hotels, are going to have to change how they monitor and clean the environment that consumers interact with and communicate that back to guests in order to increase their comfort level,” Anderson said.Jan Freitag, senior vice president of Lodging Insights for hospitality analysis firm STR, underlined sanitation as well, referencing “new, visible measures” needed to show how clean properties are.Whether that means hand sanitizers everywhere or regularly disinfecting hard surfaces, “there will be a clearly communicated regimen to let the customers know, ‘here’s what we’re doing to keep you safe,'” Freitag said.Hotel room rates will drop more before they come back upHotels will need to clearly communicate cleaning procedures to guests.FRANCK FIFE/AFP/AFP/Getty ImagesHotel rates in the US declined by 30% the week of March 21, according to Freitag, and “rates will definitely go down before they come back up.”Historically, in times of great uncertainty such as in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks or after the end of the recession in 2009, it has taken twice as long for room rates to rebound than it did for them to drop to their lowest point, Freitag said.He doesn’t anticipate the collapse of any segments of the US hotel industry, but there will be lodging disruption that in many cases will be invisible to guests. Hotels may change hands behind the scenes but remain operational and under the same brand.Travelers may feel safer in hotels than vacation rentalsAnderson says one “saving grace” for hotels may be traveler discomfort with alternative lodging options such as Airbnb and other vacation rental sites because those properties may struggle to communicate and standardize rigorous cleaning standards.”I’m going to want the safety and security of established cleaning protocols that I get from an established lodging provider,” Anderson said, so he anticipates a negative impact in the short term for Airbnb-type rentals.Look for lower airfares and emptier planesPeople will be more comfortable traveling by air if planes are less full, says Anderson.”If we really want to turn this around, airlines have to be flying with empty middle seats and prices dramatically lower than what we had last summer,” he said.Several carriers last week announced plans to eliminate some food and beverage service and middle seat assignments to cut costs and reduce interaction on board.Anderson sees business travel rebounding first, followed by domestic leisure travel. Trans-oceanic travel is likely to lag, he said.Business travel may spur recovery for airlinesWhile many businesses may get more comfortable with conducting meetings virtually, Anderson expects the desire for in-person dealings will help spur airlines’ recovery.”I believe people need interaction, and it is possible a prolonged pause in regular business dealings may jump start air travel as people look to get back to business and create opportunities,” he said.Air travelers will have more booking flexibility — for a while Anderson expects that airlines — which extended a series of waivers and flexible rebooking options as the outbreak advanced — will continue to be less stringent with cancellation and change fees — for a period of time.”As we get into 2021, we’ll be back to the old way I imagine,” he said.Increased sustainability is a possible windfallA silver lining for travel in this crisis? The opportunity to address issues that were top-of-mind before coronavirus arrived, said travel broadcaster Peter Greenberg in a recent video.Overtourism, sustainable travel and the environment were among travel’s most talked-about topics before the spread of coronavirus.”We can get back to this in a much more responsible and ethical way when this crisis ends,” Greenberg said.

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These countries have more than one capital city

April 1, 2020 by grcreativebox Leave a Comment

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(CNN) — The wars, revolutions and fallen empires that transformed the world map in the 20th century have a surprising beneficiary: capital cities. By 2000, that number would grow to more than 200, as new countries emerged out of the collapse of the British and French empires, the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia. Most countries chose a single city as their capital. “This is a place where politicians get together to pass laws, where the central administrative apparatus of the country are generally located,” says Gordon, a professor of urban planning at Queen’s University at Kingston, Ontario. “There are very much synergies in locating these all together.” But some countries simply decided that when it comes to capital cities, more is more. From the shores of Benin to the Kingdom of eSwatini, there are nations across the globe with two or more capital cities.Their reasons vary. When countries are formed from distinct regions, as in the case of the United States or South Africa, Gordon notes that regional competition for power can be a factor. “None of them wants their rival to get the advantage of being the seat of government,” says Gordon. “There’s very complex politics involved with this sort of thing.” The United States resolved that conflict by founding Washington, D.C., on a relatively undeveloped stretch of the Potomac River. In contrast, South Africa opted for distributing the national government between the cities of Cape Town, Pretoria and Bloemfontein. Sometimes, choosing a capital is easier said than done. The sunset in Dar es Salaam,Tanzania, is lovely to see.ShutterstockIn 1973, Tanzania declared that a new capital would be established in Dodoma, hundreds of miles inland from the colonial-era capital of Dar es Salaam. “Empires had central administrative places for each colony, which were typically on the coast, so they had good access by sea back to the imperial capital,” says Gordon. “A trend in decolonizing countries is to move the capital into the center of the country to make it more accessible to all citizens.” But the cultural pull of historic capitals can be hard to overcome. Dar es Salaam still hosts many government functions, and it wasn’t until 2019 that the Tanzanian president moved his office to the “new” capital of Dodoma. Tanzania isn’t the only country where leaders dithered over where to put the capital.”Canada took years and years to decide on Ottawa,” says Gordon. “The capital used to move every two years, because the Federation could not agree on where the capital should go.” As travelers wait out the coronavirus pandemic, armchair traveling and hopefully planning their next adventures, consider which capital of these countries to visit in future — either or perhaps both? Politics aside, Gordon sees an upside to his own country’s complicated geographical past, and to a world map whose nations maintain more than one capital city: “It’s great for Trivial Pursuit.” Benin: Porto-Novo and CotonouPorto-Novo is the official capital of Benin, where the Grand Mosque is located. ShutterstockThe energetic port city of Cotonou welcomes travelers to Benin with colorful hustle and swinging rhythms, and it comes as no surprise that the country’s biggest city is also the seat of government. The official capital, though, is an hour away in Porto-Novo. Here, the blare of big-city life gives way to tree-lined streets and historic architecture.A division of powers between the two cities has been in place since before Benin achieved full independence from France in 1960.Bolivia: La Paz and SucreWrapped in the snowy peaks of the Andes Mountains, La Paz is a show-stopper of a capital city. Cable cars drift above a tangle of downtown streets, and an independent populace fills historic squares during frequent protests. But while La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, the constitutional capital is hundreds of miles away in the city of Sucre.In the early days of colonial rule, silver from the mines surrounding Sucre turned the mountain city into an Andean powerhouse. A burgeoning tin industry helped make upstart La Paz a fierce rival for economic and political power, and it remains the seat of Bolivian government to this day.Chile: Santiago and ValparaísoThe historic quarter of Valparaiso in Chile shines at night.ShutterstockAs members of Chile’s national administrative and judicial bodies watch snow fall in the mountains around Santiago, the national legislature can enjoy a colorful Pacific Ocean sunset from the city of Valparaíso. The two spectacular cities are just 72 miles away from each other by road, but they’re a world apart. In Santiago, the official capital, high-rise buildings glimmer a cool gray-blue against a backdrop of rocky summits.In the national legislature’s seat of Valparaíso, the UNESCO-listed historic center is a tumbledown gem with a rainbow palette and bohemian flair. Côte D’Ivoire: Yamoussoukro and AbidjanHolding onto the presidency for more than three decades comes with some perks.President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who ruled Côte D’Ivoire from 1960 to 1993, took advantage of his time in office by making his boyhood home of Yamoussoukro the country’s second capital in 1983.Compared with the original capital city of Abidjan, however, Yamoussoukro remains sleepy. Abidjan is the de facto seat of government, where sleek artwork at Galerie Cécile Fakhoury meets modernist architecture and colorful markets.Czech Republic: Prague and BrnoThe President of the Czech Republic is officially based in Prague Castle.ShutterstockGothic spires and Baroque rooflines line the Vltava River in Prague, a charismatic city that’s a showpiece of Czech culture and history. Among the most impressive sites is Prague Castle, part of the city’s UNESCO-listed historic center. Founded in the 9th century, the sprawling castle remains the official office of the President of the Czech Republic. But the Supreme Court of the Czech Republic is in the country’s less-known second capital, the energetic Moravian city of Brno. Here, students fill stylish cafes, and adventurous visitors can go underground into an maze-like ossuary that holds tens of thousands of human skeletons. Kingdom of eSwatini: Mbabane and LobambaFormerly known as Swaziland, this landlocked country packs a dramatically varied landscape into less than 7,000 square miles of territory. In the mountainous west, escarpments break free of green hills that plunge to hot, dry grasslands just above sea level. Perched in the heart of the Dlangeni Hills, Mbabane is the administrative capital. If you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of the absolute monarch of eSwatini, King Mswati III, you should head to Lobamba, the royal capital. That’s where the royal family resides in the Ludzidzini Royal Residence, one of several royal residences across the country. eSwatini’s annual arts and music festival is just one stop on the African festival circuitMalaysia: Kuala Lumpur and PutrajayaPutra Mosque in Putrajaya, Malaysia, is located at the edge of a manmade lake.ShutterstockA jumble of minarets, futuristic towers and street markets, Kuala Lumpur is a maximalist immersion in Malaysian life and culture. Rooftop bars buzz through the night here, and rush hour brings traffic at a standstill.It’s the national capital, too, the seat of the legislature and the official home of Malaysia’s monarch. But even governments need a break from big-city life.In 1995, the government began constructing Putrajaya, a quieter metropolis that wraps around a massive artificial lake. What the new capital lacks in heritage it makes up for in space. With plenty of room to grow, oversized landmarks have blossomed in Putrajaya, including the bubblegum-pink Putra Mosque, which has become a sightseeing touchstone. Montenegro: Podgorica and CetinjeGrand mansions and museums testify to Cetinije’s years as a seat of power in Montenegro, and the President’s official residence is still in the city’s Empire-style Blue Palace. Now designated the Old Royal Capital, Cetinije lost prominence to the larger city of Podgorica — then called Titograd — after the Second World War.Now, laid-back Podgorica is where the official government is located. Known as Birziminum in Roman times, the city morphed into Slavic Ribnica and Socialist Titograd before becoming Podgorica in 1992 as Yugoslavia crumbled. Netherlands: Amsterdam and The HagueTraditional houses line canals in Amsterdam, the official capital of the Netherlands.ShutterstockWith historic canals, ultrahip locals and a reputation as one of Europe’s hottest party spots, Amsterdam has plenty of name recognition. But even though the Netherlands’ constitution designates the city as the country’s capital, the real work of governing takes place in The Hague.The Netherlands’ main governing bodies, including the states general, executive branch and supreme court, have been located in this dignified city for centuries. To see the city’s inner workings, join a guided tour of Het Binnenhof, a historic complex of buildings clustered around the Gothic Knight’s Hall, where the King of the Netherlands still comes for his yearly speech from the throne. South Africa: Pretoria:,Cape Town and BloemfonteinThis is the only country to have three capital cities, a unique arrangement designed to share power across regions. With a spectacular location between the shoreline and Table Mountain, Cape Town was the capital of Britain’s Cape Colony and remains the legislative capital of South Africa. By dividing the remaining branches of government between Pretoria and Bloemfontein, the emerging Republic of South Africa helped distribute power across the new country. Each one has its charms: Pretoria is known for the exuberant jacaranda blooms that appear each September, while Bloemfontein exudes laid-back hospitality.Sri Lanka: Colombo and Sri Jayawardenepura KotteBeaches line the urban waterfront of Colombo, home to Sri Lanka’s national and executive bodies of government.ShutterstockColombo sprawls maze-like along the Sri Lankan coast, reeling past bright bazaars, colonial-era landmarks and golden-sand beaches. It’s a city with gutsy magnetism, a figurehead that’s the starting point for most travelers exploring the island country.The national and executive bodies of government are in Colombo, too, but the official capital is in nearby Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, often called Kotte. There, the modern Sri Lankan Parliament Building is located on an artificial island in the middle of the manmade Diyawanna Lake. Tanzania: Dar es Salaam and DodomaSometimes moving out takes years. In 1973, the Tanzanian government announced it was moving from the coastal capital of Dar es Salaam, and identified Dodoma as the perfect central location for a new capital. Despite a suite of grand buildings and wide streets in Dodoma, however, many key government functions remain in Dar es Salaam. Maybe it’s just too hard to walk away from Dar es Salaam’s cultural diversity and Indian Ocean breezes; there’s even a gorgeous marine reserve just off the coast here.But after nearly half a century of a move-in-progress, Tanzania’s government might finally make the jump to Dodoma. In October 2019, President John Magufuli moved his office there.

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Vermont closes all hotels, vacation rental and campgrounds

April 1, 2020 by grcreativebox Leave a Comment

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(CNN) — Vermont Governor Phil Scott ordered all lodging, including hotels, Airbnb and campgrounds, to suspend operations on Monday. Scott said the new order further clarified the types of lodging that he suspended last week.The order suspending lodging applies to hotels, bed and breakfasts, as well as short-term rentals such as Airbnb and campgrounds, Scott said. That includes online advertising and booking, he said. “If you don’t need to come to Vermont, please don’t,” he said. “This is about public health and safety which is our top priority.”Scott issued a stay-at-home order on March 26. “We need everyone to limit activities outside of the home and to practice social distancing at all times to slow the spread of this highly contagious and potentially deadly virus,” Scott said at the time. His new order comes after Vermont’s lodging properties — there are 318 — were checked for compliance this weekend.Lodging establishments can only provide housing for health care, public safety and other essential workers, state-organized emergency shelter for homeless individuals; use of of quarantine facilities as arranged by the state; and limited “extenuating circumstances” for the care and safety of the state’s residents. Vermont Public Safety Commissioner Michael Schirling said state police and local enforcement checked all of those 318 lodging properties in the state over the weekend for compliance. Last week, Scott ordered all lodging in the state to be suspended. Of those properties, which did not include Airbnb properties and other short-term vacation rentals, 88 were open.The governor’s order allows “existing guests to remain through the end of their scheduled stays.” However, they can’t allow extended stays or book new reservations except for under exceptions listed above. Schirling said half of the 88 properties that were open were compliant with the governor’s order, meaning they are housing military members, visiting nurses, flight crews and other essential personnel. Schirling said the other 44 properties that appear to be non-compliant received a letter from the Vermont Department of Health and the Vermont Department of Public Safety yesterday telling them to bring their operations into compliance.The Vermont Attorney General’s Office will be following up with them today.Regular monitoring will continue, Shirling said, adding that would look like law enforcement in the parking lot and checking in with staff to ensure compliance.”Again, this relates exclusively to the health of Vermonters and the capacity of our health care system,” he said.Scott also announced a new order today that tells anyone who enters Vermont from another state to self-quarantine for 14 days.”That means heading directly to where you’re going with no stops in-between,” Scott said in a news conference.CNN’s Molly Silverman contributed to this story.

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