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Hi from Istria!
Here I am, out of the blue, with the newest edition of Pipeaway’s weekly travel newsletter.
Well, isn’t that ironic? First, I was two days late with the edition #134. Then I missed an entire week. And another one.
Please accept my deepest apologies for leaving you stranded without an expected Monday dose of extraordinary travel news!
The month of my birthday was June from hell. That could be an exaggerated statement, as I learned something and also had fun on Ugljan Island. I met new colleagues, and possibly even friends.
But if we put the social aspect aside, the tourism business project I came to help out turned out to be something else. It was draining time and energy, yet not promising results that would make me proud of my involvement. Is that worth sacrificing one’s projects for? If I have to deprioritize my website and this newsletter, what am I deprioritizing them for?
The benefits of a salary can only fulfill to some extent. There are many more dimensions of a job that need to grow into a worker, so they can fully identify with it, and continue giving their best.
If your enthusiasm and the vision of your employer misalign, I believe that leaving is a better option than pushing one’s head into the sand.
So I quit.
The flat in my hometown was canceled, and without a job, I was practically homeless. Yet, I didn’t want pragmatism to distort my work ethic and personal integrity. If the business idea changes, and I stop believing in it, I’m better off away than finding comfort in the founding stone of capitalism – money.
It’s scary to abandon a well-paid job and be threatened by an unemployment abyss gaping in front of you. Yet, the decision was a good one. In a matter of days, I got several offers for already established top Croatian resorts, and I decided to accept the one in Istria.
So instead of spending the summer on the quiet island across Zadar, I’ll now aim to give my best in my favorite Croatian region, near the town of Bale.
In the featured spotlight, I’m reminding you of my previous tourism sector working experience in Istria, but also…
Find this in today’s newsletter:
- Words: Poops, airstrips, and close encounters of the bird kind.
- Images: Nature’s surprises – from greatest summer yeses to hail no.
- Numbers: Land attractions and plane disruptions.
- P.S.: Savings meet suitcases.
Find your place. Have an enthusiastic week!
Ivan Kralj
Pipeaway.com
Silly Side: Why did the travel agent bring a parachute to work? In case the job ever fell through. Explore our stories and click on those where your curiosity lands!
FEATURE SPOTLIGHT
Serving Success – How to Master the Art of Waiting Tables
The world of hospitality is like no other. Discover my journey from novice to top waiter in a 5-star hotel, the challenges I faced, and the valuable lessons I learned along the way. Whether you’re considering a career in the tourism industry, or simply curious about it, the insider’s account on waiting tables could be an enlightening one. Check it out!
POO-LITICS
Euro2024 is on, but Paris is preparing for an even greater sports event. From yoga sessions in the Louvre to Air France’s grounded restaurant, the French capital is already flexing its muscles for the Olympics. But not everyone is a fan of the event’s costs. Some people engaged in a cheeky poop protest. There was even a water flow algorithm that let you calculate when you needed to release your feces in the Seine so it could reach Paris in time for President Macron’s announced celebratory swim. Officials decided not to swim in Seine after all, for political reasons.
PAS DE DEUX
Mumbai Airport, the second busiest in India, juggles 46 flights at peak hours. But the June 8 incident saw a landing and a takeoff of two aircraft on the same runway, separated by mere seconds. Who’s to blame, the arriving IndiGo, the departing AirIndia, or the air traffic control?
BAKE-OFF
The heat wave passed through Europe, but Qatar Airways in Athens provided an unexpected sauna experience inside the tin can with a malfunctioning AC. With 38 degrees Celsius in the cabin, passengers started passing out and even stripping their clothes off. In an unrelated incident, a Vietnamese passenger undressed at Manila Airport, protesting against visa overstay fee.
🌩️
An Austrian Airlines flight flew into a destructive hailstorm before landing in Vienna with smashed cockpit windows and a ripped plane nose. Despite flying blind, the pilots pulled off a miraculous landing.
🪺
GDT, the long-standing German society for nature photography, rewarded Dieter Damschen as the nature photographer of 2024. Check out his winter forest, as well as other fascinating captures of landscapes, plants, fungi, birds, mammals, and other animals.
🏖️
Beach chasers love summertime. There have been numerous lists of the most beautiful beaches in the world to make the chase easier. Why not consult another one, composed by Thrillist?
3,000 km
The length of Palmilhar Portugal, the world’s longest circular hiking route to be created within three years. Portugal is battling overtourism, and sending people walking might just reduce some pressure from the country’s famous sights. The first sections of this massive off-the-beaten path loop trail are opening up this July.
$81,950
The record-breaking amount FAA attempts to collect from a disruptive American Airlines passenger who had to be duct taped (both mouth and body). The woman tried to open the plane door mid-air and confused the flight attendant for an inflight snack, biting her in the process.
85%
The blood oxygen saturation of people who consumed alcohol in an altitude chamber, simulating the aircraft conditions (saturation below 90% is a cause for concern). The study participants also had an increased heart rate (88 beats per minute), possibly warning you that that “free glass of wine” on board might actually cost you.
Mid-Summer Fiesta With the Ultimate Hotel Sale
Expedia is hosting a mid-summer sale hotter than a jalapeño on a beach in Cancun. Travelers can expect at least 25% off thousands of hotels available on this full-service travel platform. To qualify for the sale, your trip needs to take place before October 31. And you need to book it before July 14! Start planning your discounted trip today, with the widest selection of hotels around! Help your wallet do a little cha-cha!
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