@timrichards@aus.social
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timrichards

@timrichards@aus.social

Travel writer living and working on Wurundjeri land in Melbourne, Australia. Rail travel expert, current books on sale include Heading South and Ultimate Train Journeys: World. See my published writing at iwriter.com.au.

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timrichards, to Portugal
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A new piece by me for Explore - in Lisbon I caught a bright yellow tram to historic neighbourhoods, as part of tour utilising both tramways and walking...

On the right track: History on wheels as 'hoods revealed https://www.exploretravel.com.au/story/8506207/unveiling-lisbons-charm-tram-ride-and-alfama-walk/

#Lisbon #Portugal #Tram #Trams #Tour

timrichards, to Israel
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This is how it has to go IMO. The world isn't going to put up with Israel's ad hoc apartheid system forever, might as well sort out an equitable solution.

Israel war: US pursuing Palestinian state solution

(maybe paywalled) https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/us-is-actively-pursuing-the-creation-of-a-palestinian-state-20240201-p5f1jz.html

timrichards, to sydney
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Circular Quay this morning. Picturesque.

timrichards, to Travel
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New at my Patreon... Getting a new passport made me reflect on the good times with the old expired document. Here are some of my most memorable border crossings of the past decade:

Memories in my old passport https://www.patreon.com/posts/memories-in-my-96503996

timrichards, to croatia
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Here's a piece by me for Traveller, from my visit to Croatia last year. In Zagreb I joined a food walking tour and learned all about štrukli, one of the nation's most popular dishes...

"I’m surrounded by štrukli admirers in the attractive surrounds of the restaurant’s courtyard, with its picturesque stone wall and shady trees. Though to tell the truth, my fellow diners are rebels of a sort – as La Štruk daringly ventures beyond classic štrukli to produce modern variants containing ingredients such as walnut, honey, apple, roasted capsicum, and even (gasp) truffle paste..."

This simple dish is one of Croatia’s national treasures https://www.theage.com.au/traveller/inspiration/one-of-croatia-s-national-treasures-is-there-for-the-eating-20240126-p5f0au.html

timrichards, to melbourne
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Writing in the State Library of Victoria today. Has been a while since I've been here. Love the ambience of Queen's Hall.

View through a window of lawn, statue and human-size chessboard.
Table with old-fashioned timber chairs.

timrichards, to flying
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Good explainer. I always keep my seatbelt buckled up when flying; never know when you might suddenly need it.

Seatbelts on: Warning over likelihood of more unexpected bumps on planes

(maybe paywalled) https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/travel-news/seatbelts-on-warning-over-likelihood-of-more-unexpected-bumps-on-planes-20240312-p5fbsb.html

timrichards, to random
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Fair call. The block and mute buttons are there, after all.

I don’t censor myself on social media, and you shouldn’t either https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/i-don-t-censor-myself-on-social-media-and-you-shouldn-t-either-20240118-p5eybs.html

timrichards, to Trains
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I've just woken after a night on the Indian Pacific, and someone seems to have taken away all the scenery.

timrichards, to Trains
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Lunch aboard the Indian Pacific as we cross the Nullarbor Plain. Camel curry, anyone? 🐪 🐪 🐪

Cc @diningcar

Bowl of camel curry with a glass of white wine.
Baked apple and cinnamon with vanilla ice cream.

timrichards, to melbourne
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Took this photo of the apartment after we stepped in yesterday, following our train trip back from Sydney.

Ah, home again. We try hard to leave the place neat when travelling so we don't step back into a mess on our return.

cc @NarrelleMHarris

timrichards, to Travel
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Hooray, my Traveller guide to Amtrak train travel is now online - enjoy:

How to travel across the US by Amtrak train https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/inspiration/this-could-be-the-glorious-future-of-travel-in-the-us-20240306-p5fabi.html

(maybe paywalled)

timrichards, to random
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Oh f*ck off, LinkedIn. So insulting.

timrichards, to melbourne
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I strongly suspect there were Scottish settlers along the northern reaches of this Melbourne railway line.

Cc @simonvarwell

timrichards, to Travel
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Just dashed off my Monthly Report for February 2024, for the eyes only of the two highest levels of patrons at my Patreon.

These ever-lovely (and intellectual, good-looking etc) First Class and Sleeper Berth patrons receive, in addition to three new travel-related posts each week, a monthly report in which I discuss the ins and outs of my month of travel writing, and they enjoy a previously unshared photo from the month which has an interesting story attached.

They also get a personalised postcard in the mail each Christmas, created from one of my travel photos and with a message from me on the back.

If you'd like to join this exclusive gang of highly intelligent (and attractive, good-natured, sophisticated etc) patrons, please visit my Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/timrichards

Hope to see you there soon!

timrichards, to random
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"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"

Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away...

timrichards, to auspol
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Hear hear!

Australians keep buying huge cars in huge numbers. If we want to cut emissions, this can’t go on - Richard Denniss https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/feb/06/australians-keep-buying-huge-cars-in-huge-numbers-if-we-want-to-cut-emissions-this-cant-go-on

timrichards, to Trains
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Yes I'm at Melbourne's Southern Cross Station, about to head off on a proper shiny streamlined long-distance train to Adelaide (and from there by train to Perth).

As always, I'll be writing posts about my trip exclusively for my patrons at Patreon... feel free to join at https://www.patreon.com/timrichards

#Train #Trains #Adelaide #Melbourne #Overland

timrichards, to random
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Please don’t spell focused with two Ss as "focussed" - it hurts my eyes. There's no need to double the S, as the stress is on the first syllable. See also, for example, riveted not "rivetted"; targeted not "targetted".

This has been another public service announcement from Grammar Pedants United. :)

timrichards, to books
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When I was in a book club, I wouldn't show up if I hadn't read that month's book. I eventually left when almost no one each month read the book. The socialising was nice but, c'mon, read the book.

Why we keep showing up to book clubs — even when we haven't read the book https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-01-18/book-clubs-still-popular-bringing-readers-together/103326462

@bookstodon

timrichards, to Travel
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Ha, I only have two of these - the small toothpaste and the padlock.

Ten small and surprisingly useful items you should always pack

(maybe paywalled) https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/reviews-and-advice/ten-small-items-you-should-never-travel-without-20240208-p5f3el.html

timrichards, to Trains
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New at my Patreon... Yesterday I headed from Melbourne to Sydney for a conference - and took the train rather than flying. Here's what it was like:

A day on the rails: Melbourne to Sydney https://www.patreon.com/posts/98810294

timrichards, to Instagram
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Christ, video started loudly playing the moment I opened Instagram, and I couldn't close the app fast enough (I'm in a public place and it was embarrassing). Are they actively trying to drive users away?

timrichards, to random
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This has to happen; removing parking requirements would make apartments cheaper. And you can definitely do without a car in inner-city Melbourne.

Victoria considers ending minimum parking rules for new housing projects

(maybe paywalled) https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/no-park-no-problem-car-space-rules-could-be-ditched-in-areas-with-good-public-transport-20240312-p5fbua.html

timrichards,
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This line is good too, probably true I imagine.

'Taylor said her research had found that trying to provide enough parking for everybody led to an oversupply of off-street parking but did not stop people parking on the streets.

'“Who parks in the street? It’s mainly people who have houses with garages full of junk,” she said.'

timrichards, to random
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Bagels!

(At Wolf & Hound cafe in Flemington, Melbourne)

timrichards,
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If you like to watch passing trains, this is your cafe.

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