Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2011 August 9

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August 9

Swimming with sharks

Could someone put this into perspective for me? Diana Nyad was attempting to swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage. The article later states that she didn't want "that asterisk at the end of my name at the end of this. I want this to be 'that was the first swim ever done without a shark cage, from Cuba to Florida,' just point blank". She was still using "specially equipped kayaks transmitting an electronic signal that is annoying to sharks", so what's the difference? Our article doesn't seem to mention any difference in the way the records are recorded. Dismas|^(talk) 09:38, 9 August 2011 (UTC)

There's always a chance a shark might be hard of hearing. That would certainly put her asterisk. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 12:18, 9 August 2011 (UTC)

Bugs, sometimes you are so annoying, but that is very good!! the best this year!! Richard Avery (talk) 12:53, 9 August 2011 (UTC)

May well be that the "electronic signal that is annoying to sharks" is as (in)effective as Electronic pest control devices. But anyway, in terms of the question, for most of us there's probably little difference, but to the people that participate in these - well what can we say - silly record attempts there's all sorts of claims and counterclaims, 'my record is more real than yours' attempts at one-upmanship. For example, it appears Nyad has form on this front: the top of her article says "Over two days in 1979, Nyad swam from Bimini to Florida, setting a distance record for non-stop swimming without a wetsuit that still stands today"; OK, so presumably someone else (in fact who knows how many others) has, or even had, swum further with a wetsuit, but she can continue to claim this record because of that point about not using a wetsuit. --jjron (talk) 15:45, 9 August 2011 (UTC)

Personally I'm having trouble picturing someone doing distance swimming in a cage. How does that work? Beeblebrox (talk) 16:17, 9 August 2011 (UTC)

Like this. (Image #5 in this gallery shows the cage out of water, as well.) A large wire-mesh cage (open on top, closed on the bottom) is towed behind a boat; the swimmer swims in the protected pool of water within. TenOfAllTrades(talk) 16:27, 9 August 2011 (UTC)

If the boat is already going there, why decide to swim it? I mean there are good health reasons I suppose, but doesn't this person have anything better to do then waste $$$ on hiring a boat only to swim behind the boat instead of riding it? Googlemeister (talk) 16:37, 9 August 2011 (UTC)

Please read wikt:competition. Come back if you have any questions about what that says. --Jayron32 16:55, 9 August 2011 (UTC)

It's a bit like asking, "Why climb Mt. Everest, when you can fly an airplane over it?" ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 20:34, 9 August 2011 (UTC)

I guess some people need something to brag about. Googlemeister (talk) 20:59, 9 August 2011 (UTC)

Or just to accomplish; and also to explore and extend the boundaries of human endurance. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 21:31, 9 August 2011 (UTC)

It's a pity she didn't make it. It would have been a glimpse of hope for millions of Cubans. 193.153.125.105 (talk) 21:01, 9 August 2011 (UTC)

Millions of Cubans have a support boat that can broadcast annoying shark sounds? Communism must be working better in Cuba then the elitist capitalist media has been reporting. Googlemeister (talk) 13:47, 10 August 2011 (UTC)

Millions of Cubans hope to be record-breaking American distance swimmers? Seriously, the Reference Desk isn't the place for political soapboxing. TenOfAllTrades(talk) 15:55, 10 August 2011 (UTC)

But it is a place for holiday travel advice, apparently. --LarryMac | Talk 16:12, 10 August 2011 (UTC)

dog food allergies

Do Yorkshire terriers have common food allergies? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.216.126.28 (talk) 11:50, 9 August 2011 (UTC)

If you Google yorkshire terriers food allergy you will get enough hits to keep you busy. The general answer from looking at about 10 sites is that they are no more likely to get a food allergy than any other dog breed, and that is not common. But check for yourself. Richard Avery (talk) 13:03, 9 August 2011 (UTC)

Things to do in Nice?

It's time for another one of my famous "Things to do" questions. This time I'm going to Nice. Now this is different, because I have actually been there before. However, that was five years ago, in the middle of winter, with my family, and we mostly stayed with my mother's friends in Colomars. Now I'm going there by myself, in early autumn. I will be staying with my uncle, who lives in Vence, but will be spending the most of my time in Nice. So what is there to do in Nice in early September? How good are the connections between Vence and Nice? JIP | Talk 20:16, 9 August 2011 (UTC)

Early September should be perfect for swimming in the Mediterranean. Marco polo (talk) 20:20, 9 August 2011 (UTC)

Tourist Information and Vacation Guide for Nice, France. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 21:05, 9 August 2011 (UTC)

Whatever you do, don't be mean to your nephew... the universe will implode. Schyler (exquirere bonum ipsum) 22:16, 9 August 2011 (UTC)

It's nicer, much nicer, in Nice --ColinFine (talk) 00:01, 10 August 2011 (UTC)

... but it's finer in Caroline. Mitch Ames (talk) 12:29, 10 August 2011 (UTC)

Off the top of my head, isn't Vence on a train route to Nice, if so, there should be a decent travel connection. I last went to Nice at half term in October 1991, and the water there was still fine for swimming and snorkeling. The beaches are mainly owned by the hotels, so beware of that - they will throw you off if you you're not a resident at the hotel that owns that part of the beach. The Old Town will be well worth a visit, as will the castle. You should take a walk along the Promenade des Anglaise, and take tea at the Hotel Negresco.--TammyMoet (talk) 12:42, 10 August 2011 (UTC)

A short and easy train trip would be to Monaco. Also in easy reach is the gorgeous hilltop town of Mougins. Our article does it no justice at all, but Google images does a much better job of it. There's also Grasse, "the world's capital of perfume" which has a Fragonard museum, although we seem to have no article about the latter. Mougins and Grasse are both on public transport connections with Nice, but if memory serves, they're bus lines, rather than train. The prefecture of Alpes-Maritimes is stuffed with beautiful "villages perchés" - just get away from the beach and enjoy them. --Dweller (talk) 13:21, 10 August 2011 (UTC)

I was in Nice recently and while the water is fine, the beaches are not very good (mostly rocks several cm across). For some nice beaches I advise you to head down to Antibes for a day trip, €1 per person on the public bus, or yes, as suggested above to Monaco, also by bus for the same price (no sand but the pebbles are small and round and the water is clean). Intelligentsium 15:27, 11 August 2011 (UTC)

How much would a train trip to Monaco cost? JIP | Talk 20:37, 13 August 2011 (UTC)

Where to spend a week at Christmas?

I am thinking of spending a week over Christmas, somewhere on the European mainland. I am not really interested in Christmas (nothing really to do with me being Buddhist, I just would like a break from the drinking and parties and commerciality of Christmas). Does anyone have any recommendations? I was thinking Eastern Europe, and because of my interest in military history and WW2 specifically, maybe Poland or Czechoslovakia, or maybe even Romania. I'd like to start planning it now, so I can get a bit of the language I'd need, as well as, well, just know what I'll be doing for Christmas. I'm willing to budget £500, including plane ticket from Manchester, UK. --KägeTorä - (影虎) (TALK) 22:31, 9 August 2011 (UTC)

My wife has been to Prague, and (at least 15 years ago) it was a nice, clean, historic city that was very reasonably priced compared to other comparable cities in Europe. --Jayron32 22:36, 9 August 2011 (UTC)

Prague is nice but very touristy all year round. I would go with Vienna. Yes I'm biased but it really is a beautiful city, especially at Christmas. --Viennese Waltz 22:44, 9 August 2011 (UTC)

I think KageTora wants to avoid Christmas, not go there where it's nicer. Regarding Czechoslovakia, you are almost 20 years too late to visit it. Does it has to be Europe? There are also cheap flights to Morocco... 193.153.125.105 (talk) 22:52, 9 August 2011 (UTC)

Bucharest, Romania seems very interesting regarding the history of World War II in that it switched sides from axis to allies and was thus bombed by both belligerents. See Bombing of Bucharest in World War II. Schyler (exquirere bonum ipsum) 23:09, 9 August 2011 (UTC)

There are plenty of "off the beaten track" places in Central Europe to explore. Instead of hanging out in Prague for a week, rent a car and visit some of the places in the periphery, like Tabor, Plzen, Kutna Hora, Terezin and Cesky Krumlov if it's not too packed. Just be sure to bring a warm jacket and make sure the stuff you want to see is open. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 23:10, 9 August 2011 (UTC)

Since in the Christian areas everything will be closed on Christmas and probably for some days before or after, Istanbul might be a good choice. Looie496 (talk) 23:19, 9 August 2011 (UTC)

Thanks for the large number of suggestions so far. (Sorry, I said Czechoslovakia, and I meant the Czech Republic and Slovakia - just an oversight) Romania does interest me, as do the aforementioned Czech Republic and Slovakia. What battlefields might I be able to visit in Romania? Of course, off the beaten track, as Mwalcoff said above, would be marvellous. --KägeTorä - (影虎) (TALK) 01:21, 10 August 2011 (UTC)

For £500 I'm thinking you would be forced to go off the beaten path, as the prices in the tourist areas would be too steep for that budget. Unfortunately, if you leave the tourist areas then English won't be of much use, so you really will need the know some of the native language. StuRat (talk) 02:21, 10 August 2011 (UTC)

Well, i am a patriotic Polak so I have to vote for that. I really don't think it can be beaten if you are into European and WW2 History. Warsaw has the fantastic Polish Army Museum, Warsaw Railway Museum, Warsaw Uprising Museum, Katyń Museum, Warsaw and more. Then for the 2nd part it's hard to go past Krakow, which has Kraków Old Town the amazing Wawel, nearby Wieliczka Salt Mine and of course Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum.. Vespine (talk) 04:36, 10 August 2011 (UTC)

Come to Scotland where Christmas is not celebrated, but Dec. 31st, Hogmany is.85.211.138.203 (talk) 06:04, 10 August 2011 (UTC)

I believe that in a number of countries Christmas is not celebrated on the 25th December, but on other dates. If you check Christmas worldwide (caution: a much abused article) you could work out a country you'd like to visit and schedule your trip so you miss Christmas Day in both the country you live and the one you visit. Of course, if you really want to avoid Christmas and don't mind going a tiny bit further afield than "the European mainland", you can go to Turkey (arguably just on the mainland!) or Israel, where Christians are in the minority and the elevator music, TV scheduling, times of attraction opening and general buzz of the streets will have far less Christmassyness. --Dweller (talk) 11:46, 10 August 2011 (UTC)

OK, I think my desire to avoid Christmas has been misunderstood. I really meant Christmas in the city, as I do celebrate Christmas socially - I just don't want to be inundated with adverts on TV telling me I need to buy something for someone. So, I would like to go off the beaten track, and visit some smaller places in either Poland or Romania (<- I am narrowing it down now). Turkey is just full of Brits, and Israel just doesn't get me. Thanks for the suggestions though. Krakow has been an all-time 'favourite' in my list of places to visit, so I might give that a try. As for language, I do speak a little Polish (but would end up probably speaking Russian), so that may not be a problem.--KägeTorä - (影虎) (TALK) 13:13, 10 August 2011 (UTC)

I would also endorse Poland, and particularly Kraków, which I found magical. I was in Poland some years ago and found the Polish people friendly and enjoyable and their cities and towns fascinating and underrated. Beside Kraków, I really enjoyed Wroclaw. Poland of course has the sites of many Nazi death camps, if those interest you, as well as many, many battlefields. Gdańsk also has a fascinating history, though I think pretty much anywhere in Poland has an interesting history. Marco polo (talk) 13:33, 10 August 2011 (UTC)

You'll probably find that Christmas is a lot more low key in most places in continental Europe. I was visiting Spain over Christmas a couple of years ago, and apart from a few nativity scenes in front of churches, you would hardly know it was on; there were none of the irritating over-sell of the holiday you get in North America (and probably in the UK). Christmas day is a holiday in most places, so a lot of attractions are closed, but it's also a nice day to go for a walk in a large city, as it will be completely uncrowded. --Xuxl (talk) 15:17, 10 August 2011 (UTC)

I would third Kraków. I went on an extensive tour of Europe a couple of years ago and Kraków was one of the best places and one of the places I would like to visit again. Astronaut (talk) 22:13, 10 August 2011 (UTC)

Nice one! Kraków it is, then. I expect I'll be back here nearer the time, asking about the best ways to book some of the cheaper hotels outside of the city. Cheers! --KägeTorä - (影虎) (TALK) 08:46, 11 August 2011 (UTC)

Depends on your budget, I stayed in 2 different hotels in the Kazimirez area of the city and was charged around 250 Zł a night. I just showed up, so I'm sure you could get better deals if you book in advance, though you might equally be charged a higher rate over christmas. Astronaut (talk) 20:32, 11 August 2011 (UTC)

I am all for Krakow. But what about Albania? Interesting warlike history, Muslim population not interested in Christmas, small economy, so little to fear from commercialization. μηδείς (talk) 18:10, 11 August 2011 (UTC)