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tv   The Travel Show  BBC News  April 30, 2023 1:30pm-2:00pm BST

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this is bbc news. the headlines. sudan's army launches a major attack on khartoum — as it attempts to retake areas held by the rival rsf militia. tanks and heavy artillery have been deployed to the capital. residents are warned to stay indoors. the capital is home to some seven million people. nurses in half of england's hospitals are set to strike later this evening. nhs chiefs warn that care is at risk. but unions call on the government to return to pay talks. the walkout by royal college of nursing members won't end until late on monday. tens of thousands of people attend an open air mass in a central budapest square on pope francis�* third and final day in hungary. the pope called on hungarians to be "open" towards migrants coming from outside europe.
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the british public will be invited to swear allegiance to king charles during his coronation on saturday. the mainly christian service will also see religious leaders from otherfaiths play a part for the first time.the coronation will also incorporate other languages spoken in britain including welsh and gaelic. now on bbc news: the travel show. this week on the travel show. the holiday videos you didn't know you were making. i feel angry about it. i don't like being watched all the time. i think it's good for the security. through departures with a guide dog. this is the moment of truth. olga's first aeroplane experience. plus, life as a laird. why it's been boom time for scottish castles. my great—grandfather built this house for entertaining.
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around the world, technology has become integrated into our lives and no more so than in travel. we've got smart check—ins for flights, facial recognition, passport control, and even translation apps to help you read menus. a lot of this is designed to make our lives easier, but this technology also creates something even more valuable — data. the holy grail for tourist chiefs is knowing exactly what visitors think about their attractions — something a bit more sophisticated than a simple 0&a sample survey. well, this city thinks it's cracked
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that because earlier this year, malaga introduced a new kind of technology which gives them a clearer idea of what people are doing and feeling. malaga, in spain, is one of the top tourist sites in europe, with wonderful beaches, fantastic food, and over a0 museums. it attracts travellers from across the continent. sunday morning, and these narrow streets are absolutely crammed with tourists from all around the world. malaga is definitely a hot destination. malaga had a strong resurgence after the pandemic, with large numbers of people heading to its beaches. to ensure that they stayed safe and didn't become overcrowded, the city introduced some technology to count how many people were around, by using a network of cameras across the city. we were very good at analysing prior to pandemic what's happening in the city, but we wanted to move forward to emotions.
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we wanted to know, is it possible to know the emotions of the people, once in the city? is it possible to know their feelings? to do this, they introduced the new image recognition technology, which can capture people's faces, analyse the results in realtime, and, they claim, work out how people are feeling. they can then address why some experiences aren't as good as others. the company behind the technology is goli neuromarketing. we have an intelligent, artificial brain that transform at real time the image of a camera to data. inside, they set up a demonstration of how the technology works. you're now going to give me some ideas, images, and i'm going to react. sagrada familia. that reminds me of barcelona, which is a lovely city.
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look at that. happiness rocks straight up, but that's because i'm smiling, maybe. but very high on the happiness scale for sagrada familia. 0k. a cup of coffee! yeah, yeah. that actually beats the sagrada familia! they laugh so, i'd rather have a cup of coffee right now, then see the sagrada familia — it causes me more happiness. i'm sure that's not true. their toolkit currently identifies the age of visitors and can tell which country people's phones come from, which allows them then to build up a picture of which nationalities are visiting the city. of course, i totally get why tourist chiefs want to know more about how visitors feel about their destination. and, as a tourist, of course i want a better experience. the question is, how far should that go? how would you feel if you knew that there were cameras watching you right now to see how happy you are as a tourist? i think i would feel exactly
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the same i am feeling now. ok, because there are two cameras there doing that very thing. 0k. you don't think that's an invasion of your privacy? no, no. i think it's good for the security. i feel angry about it. i don't like being watched all the time. , it's not comfortable. what are they doing with that data? what are they doing with that information? although people's opinions on being observed are split, what is clear is that they're unaware of the technology being used. and this does raise some privacy issues, which i put to the head of tourism. there are safety and security cameras everywhere in the world. safety and security, i understand. i don't want to be mugged or attacked. that's fine, so i accept that. but giving you information, which i don't know where that information goes, without me knowing, some people might say, i'm not sure about that". this is something that is happening for a long time in the retail malls, for example — in some luxury brands we all know, they have in the mirrors, they have inside these emotional
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sensors already for a long time. i think it's something that in the future, many more cities will have because it's super valuable information. both the city and the technology companies say that all the data is anonymous, and no images are recorded, in order to protect individual identities. malaga is wholeheartedly embracing this technology, which they say will boost their appeal as a tourist destination. and so far, the software highlights two spots that people seem to love in malaga the most. top score in terms of happiness goes to the viewpoint overlooking the city, where smiles are just off the chart. but it's the park opposite the roman amphitheatre at dusk, where people's faces apparently say they just don't want to leave. and if you're planning a trip
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to malaga in the near future, here are some of the things we think you ought to know. in a city with so much rich history, the moorish alcazaba palace fortress is worth a look. it was first built in the 11th century, and its passageways and gardens show off a mix of roman, arab and renaissance styles. there's not much information on offer, so if you're a history lover, it might be worth paying extra for the tour. there are roughly iakm of beach in the city, well served by public transport, and with good facilities. many have their own distinct character. malagueta and san andres, for example, are pretty lively. but our tip is el palo, said to be more popular with locals than tourists, which has fine sand, shallow waters and plenty of shade. and, while you're on the beach, how about sardines for lunch? espetos, or sardine skewers,
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are incredibly popular with locals. they're usually dirt cheap and super fresh, thanks to the city's port and daily fish market. a little tip — those who know claim the sardines are best eaten in the months that don't have an r in the name. right, well, there's still lots more to come up on the show, including. on �*oliday with olga — how a guide dog gets on board. where are you travelling to today, madam? we're travelling to edinburgh. and, the low key pleasures of life in a scottish castle. gong clangs dinner is served! right, we're dipping into our archives next. airports can be confusing places at the best of times, but how would you navigate your way
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onto a plane without your sense of sight? well, in the uk in 2021, guide dogs for the blind celebrated its 90th anniversary. so we thought it an excellent time to ask blind traveller lucy edwards exactly how it's done. before the age of 17, i had usable vision. i would go out and about without a guide dog, without a cane, feeling quite free. where are you travelling to today, madam? we're travelling to edinburgh. i didn't really have many concerns about where i was going, or. i didn't feel anxious at all. and what brought about my anxiety was feeling disabled by the world. i had a huge knock in confidence. i didn't want to leave the house, let alone leave the country. and i think that's why only now, seven years down the line, i am tackling plane journeys
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because i feel ok enough to want to go to other places. it's honestly so mentally draining. after going to a new place as a blind person, when you've never been there before, and i think that's why, when i'm in an airport situation, i have to just say, "oh, could you please help me? " you're in what looks like - a shopping centre at the moment. so you've got lots of people around. it feels really busy, yeah. it's really important to not feel overwhelmed in airport situations. with a guide dog, you have to rely on your partnership together to get around, and you have to admit to yourself as a blind person, "yeah, i'm not going to know everywhere that i am today. " initially, when you're doing something like that, it's daunting. can we squeeze through, guys? yeah, sure. thank you. yeah, that was just too busy for her to get you through. i and then you can i carry on from there. i could feel that she didn't know where she was going. _
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yeah. ..through the harness. that got very congested. that's when i get most anxious — when it's that crowded. i think from my point of view as well, because we're learning and i'm with you, i think that takes quite a lot of the stress, to try and navigate those areas that we have just navigated. yeah, yeah. but it's. , she's rolling around on her back with her legs in the air! _ i think the main challenge will bej getting up the steps and the loud noises of the aircraft. because i'm doing it with michaela for the first time, you know, hopefully that will make both of us less anxious. here's olga's aeroplane bag, ready for the flight. everything's in here. collapsible dog bowl, blanket, a bone to make herfeel chilled out. and quite an important thing — her restraining harness. she can't actually use her guide dog official harness on the plane to restrain her because this bit of her seat belt needs to click into the aeroplane belts so she's safe. this is the moment of truth. olga's first aeroplane experience. a bit nervous.
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we've got to get her restraining harness on so she's secure and fastened to the plane. we don't know how it's going to be, her walking up the steps, but it should be good. exciting stuff. i'm so relieved that she's ok, and she's just been chewing the bone the whole flight. that's why i was able to have a bit of breakfast because i thought, she's fine. sigh of relief. we're all good. guide dog ok, human ok. now, when i think of going on holiday as a non—sighted person, i think that i would love to explore the culture, the wine, the cheese, the food, the different languages,
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the smells, the touch. just a whole sensory experience, really. today has been a real eye opener, if you'll pardon the pun. i have really enjoyed myself. i think the assistance was amazing, and now i know that olga isn't going to be anxious on a plane and she loves it, and she can chew her bone, i am going to go on a lot more planejourneys, and ijust feel so much more happy to embark on a journey, and i feel liberated. thank you, bye! see you, bye! all right? you've got a little step down there. ok, got you. and then you're just come coming off that grid. - good! finally this week, with the coronation coming up in the uk very soon, we thought this a perfect occasion to talk castles. did you know that since covid, estate agents have seen a boom
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in people interested in buying an ancient scottish pile? well, we sent william lee adams to investigate. william: there are more than 2,000 castles still standing in scotland. from ancient ruins to modern—day fixer—uppers. according to the estate agents savills, it's the most searched for term on their website. since the start of the pandemic, interest has soared in country living as people flee cities and try to escape the crowds. that search for space and fresh air is a reality here in scotland, where you can have your very own castle if you've got the money for it. this is baltersan castle, a i6th—century tower home, 50 miles southwest of glasgow. it's safe to say it's in need of some serious restoration.
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james bought it in 1992 with great hopes to restore it back to its former glory. but finding the right investor has been hard. now, this. ..the stairwell — very wide for the period. it all speaks of good design and speaks of wealth. you would ascend these stairs. you wouldn't climb — you would ascend. james, what was your vision when you purchased the castle? oh, i could see it. that's the. ..that�*s the problem. it's a burden if you have vision. because i could see the walls, the painted decoration, the tapestries. it's the old story of a boyhood dream. some people want train sets. i wanted a castle at the age of five. so, this brings us into the kitchen area, the wine cellar, the storage for meat, and this wonderful arch here is a very common feature. and that fire that would have been in there for the cooking was kept on all the time because stone
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is like a storage heater. there's a i6th—century mill. there's an 18th—century croft house down here. there's the i6th—century tower and a isth—century abbey. they should be linked as a linear tourist destination. i can tell this place brings you a lot ofjoy. you light up when you talk about it. but on some level, do you ever regret having purchased it? never. no, absolutely never. it's magic. it's the sense of place that just an ordinary ruined building doesn't have. there's a spirit in this place. i don't care if i don't restore it, but it should be restored by somebody — the next custodian, not owner. on face value, owning a castle could cost less than a studio apartment in london. cameron's been in the business of selling grand country homes for the past 15 years. well, if you take the example of the one behind me here,
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there's obviously a lot of work to do. this is a property on the buildings at risk register. it's category a listed, so there will be restrictions in what you can and can't do. materials that you've got to use. so there are limitations and considerations that also have significant cost implications. do people have any misconceptions when they start their search for a castle? yes, yeah. the first thing to highlight is they don't all come with a title. many people assume that you become lord of the manor, but it's sometimes not the case. but what happens if your family already has the castle? how do you keep it from becoming a financial drain? nice to meet you. so lovely to meet you. welcome! nice to meet you. this is quite the welcome! hello! all: hello! ali's family has lived on these grounds since the 1500s. ..though his great—grandfather built this place at the turn of the 20th century,
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moving the family out of the now ruined castle. the couple met in vietnam and lived in the us before moving back to ali's ancestral home eight years ago. what was the state of the place when you first saw it? it was winter when i first arrived and saw the place for the very first time. the blinds were drawn. there were so many dust sheets on tables and furniture. everything was really dark. had a bit of a morgue feel to it. laughs so, this room is particularly personal to me because it is very . much based on my idea of victoriana meets east asian. the estate had mostly welcomed hunting parties. anne wanted to move away from that tradition and focus on other types of gatherings, like weddings, though it needed a major revamp. we have done about 48 bedrooms, 15 kitchens.
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i am not a designer. i don't know anything about interior design and i had to learn very quickly and i made a lot of mistakes. i think that itself is overwhelming, but it is also like running a business and recruiting, and raising really young children. i mean, there were moments in our lives between ali and i where we were on the brink of divorce, i know for sure. and that's my great—grandmother there. that's my great—grandfather up there. he was the guy that built this place. a lot of people dream of owning a castle and they don't think through the reality. do you have any advice for potential buyers? if you are thinking about doing anything like this and your first motivation is profitability. ..it is not going to work. i love my husband and this is me, you know, helping to fulfil his dream.
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and ali, it was so. it was significantly easier for him to be motivated to do this project because it is his ancestral home. they get a lot of guests from abroad, including from the us, and they all want that castle experience. cheering and laughing it's fair to say everything is over the top, but the american in me loves it. # just keep it to ourselves. oh, there we go. 0k. muffled speech ok, this isn't awkward at all! great view of the castle here on my back. i think it's game overfor me. dinner soon comes around, but before we sit down, anne says she has a little surprise. what? what is this? this is for you to pick out your outfit for dinner.
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0k. this was obviously for me. the fairies in southwest scotland are workin�* tonight! i think you should. oh, my god. that is so you. gong clangs part of the experience involves an outrageous dinner party with the guests. dinner is served! what would your ancestors think about what's going on tonight? i think they liked fun nights. well, you know, my great—grandfather built this house for entertaining. but i'm curious — when anne married you and moved here and suggested these changes, how did that sit with you? actually, it was fine, and i wouldn't have done it without her. so it was good to have that breath of fresh air. owning and running a castle as a tourist attraction is not for the faint—hearted. but if you can make it work, it's not a bad life.
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bagpipes skirl. well, that, sadly, is all for this week. but, coming up next time. ..we're reliving some of our favourite trips to greece, from the time ade followed in the footsteps of hercules by taking a dip in some legendary open—air baths. goddess athena created these springs for her favourite hero. i think it's quite fitting for someone like me. ..to when christa joined the crew of a replica ancient greek galley to get a taste of life at sea 2,500 years ago. until then, you can find us on the bbc iplayer, and on social media too. we're in all the usual places, along with lots of other great travel content from around the bbc. but for now, from me, rajan datar,
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and the rest of the travel show team here in malaga, thanks for watching and goodbye. welcome along to a long—range forecast. we are going to look as far ahead as the next bank holiday weekend. but as far as the west of this one is concerned, well, some warm sunshine in the forecast but also plenty of heavy showers. we did see some showers breaking out during saturday and then on the satellite picture from earlier on saturday you
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can see more cloud gathering out in the atlantic and that is pushing its way eastwards taking some showers with that during the day on sunday. so we've got this band of showers drifting eastwards to the day. some are persistent rain developing across the northern ireland and behind that the skies of brighten were spells of sunshine but that was spark of some very heavy and probably thundery showers. parts of eastern england likely to stay dry for a good part of the day. temperatures climbing to 18 are possibly 19 degrees. now, as we had to sunday night, we will keep some showers here and there. though showers here and there. though showers tending to track eastwards with clearer skies following behind but quite likely to see some mist and fog patches developing through the first part of monday morning. not particularly cold to start the bank holiday. 6—10 first thing. so,
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into monday, a couple of different weather systems. this one developing showers early on. this cold front into northern scotland is a very weak affair but it will bring cloud and start to introduce a northerly wind and a slightly chillier feel. some outbreaks of rain across north—east england. some showers still into the afternoon across parts of eastern england but out towards the west it will be largely dry. a little bit chilly in the north. 17 for cardiff, 19 for london. now, as we head on into tuesday, high pressure is set to build its way in across the uk so that means tuesday is set to be a largely dry day. there could well be areas of low cloud, mist and fog first thing. a lot of that will clear so we should see some spells of sunshine. quite large amounts of cloud in the sky but predominately it will be dry. a little bit chilly, though, with an onshore flow on to the north sea coast. up to about 16 degrees. into wednesday it looks
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like we will see a weak warm front pushing close to the western side of scotland so that could bring rain particularly across the western isles. best of the sunshine likely to be further south and temperature is just a little bit lower for many of us than they have been of late. 13-16. as of us than they have been of late. 13—16. as we move towards the end of the week we turn our highs to the south—west because it looks like they're going to see low pressure approaching. as that happens we will see a squeeze on the wind so we will start to pick up more of an easterly wind which could make it feel rather cool for some others particularly along these north sea coasts. down towards the south—west of the uk, here, an increasing chance we will see some showery rain working its way in. as we head weekend, which is of course another bank holiday, it is pretty messy pressure pattern but
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it looks like low pressure will, to some extent, be in charge of the weather. showers are longer spells of rain at times but not all the time. these weather systems might be a little bit pessimistic. there will be drier, brighter gaps and temperatures are to be too spectacular. generally between 12 and 15 degrees. goodbye for now.
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live from london. this is bbc news heavy fighting in the khartoum — as the sudanese army tries to recapture areas held by the rival rsf militia. warnings of low staffing and reduced services as nurses in england prepare to take strike action. with a just a week to go until the coronation, british subjects will be encouraged to swear allegiance to king charles. hello. sudan's army has deployed tanks and heavy artillery for a large scale offensive in the capital, khartoum.
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there are reports of heavy fighting in the city.

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