Well, the Euro Meet dates are fast approaching, and I still haven't found cheap plane tickets for that timeframe -- must be peak season or something. But, since my main carrier (Air Canada) is about to go bust, I figure maybe it's time to chew up some Aeroplan points instead of using a pure cash ticket.

So.. has anyone flown Luftansa First Class before? Any good? Air Canada does not have a First Class, just lousy service in a crowded business class cabin area.

Since I've never been to Europe before, I'm thinking of visiting more than just the immediate area of the meet. But I'll be there by myself, and my French is very rusty -- I have a hard enough time with what passes for English around here.

So.. here's the question: anyone want to meet up for a day or two along the way and do something (anything!) fun and interesting?

I'm bringing some of my photo gear (digital, of course), and my climbing harness and shoes, and a sleeping bag. And whatever else will fit into my backpack (probably dreaming here.. watch me show up with five suitcases!).

I'm hoping to perhaps meet up with a few of y'all along the way, and plan my air travel accordingly -- something I need to do Real Soon Now if I want tickets.

Cheers

Here's my flight details. I am getting in a day early before noon, so I am free to do something.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FLIGHT SUMMARY

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Round Trip

Traveler: Robert Riccardelli



Flight: from Newark, NJ (EWR-Newark International Airport) to Amsterdam, Netherlands (AMS-Schiphol)

Depart:  2-Jul-03 at 10:15 PM

Arrive:  3-Jul-03 at 11:10 AM



Depart: Newark (EWR),  2-Jul-03 at 10:15 PM Terminal C

Arrive: Amsterdam (AMS),  3-Jul-03 at 11:10 AM

Flight: Continental   70

Aircraft:  Boeing 777 

Meal Service: Dinner

Duration: 6hr 55mn

Distance: 3639 mi (5856 km)

Economy/Coach Class



Flight: from Amsterdam, Netherlands (AMS-Schiphol) to Newark, NJ (EWR-Newark International Airport)

Depart:  7-Jul-03 at  1:50 PM

Arrive:  7-Jul-03 at  3:45 PM



Depart: Amsterdam (AMS),  7-Jul-03 at  1:50 PM

Arrive: Newark (EWR),  7-Jul-03 at  3:45 PM Terminal C

Flight: Continental   71

Aircraft:  Boeing 777 

Meal Service: Lunch

Duration: 7hr 55mn

Distance: 3639 mi (5856 km)

Economy/Coach Class

Yes, good time spend down your frequent flyer mile balance (I talked with a guy in Sydney last week who lost like 300K miles when Ansett went TU...)

Flew Lufthansa biz years ago and service/food were both good. Last year I scoped out an LH flight from Vancouver to Frankfurt, but wound up going another way. LH has seat maps on their web site. They have their own version of the flat first-class seat/bed that looked decent. IIRC, first class on their 747 is on the upper deck. Not as good IMO as in the nose as it is harder to get a seat away from traffic/galleys/toilets.

Lots of carriers are downsizing equipment on routes due to pitiful load factors. Friends just got back from London and BA was using a 767-ER they said in place of the 747 previously used on that route. I'd just keep that in mind, but there's first class on LH A340s, too, I think.

It is getting harder and harder to book award travel, so I would do it as soon as you can. Good luck getting a seat on any weekends, better luck on mid-week seats.

With your excursion desires, I'd try for an open-jaws booking, fly into Frankfurt, say then return from Amsterdam or Paris or London, depending on what you can get, seat-wise. Those first-class beds are awesome on the Atlantic eastbound as far as getting some real sleep goes, but I don't usually sleep on the westbound, so care less about it then. If you are in Amersfoort, you'll just be a skip from Amsterdam, so how could you miss that? If you are determined to rock climb, I think most of that is far away from Amsterdam. Since I think everybody should visit Paris (for good or ill!), here's what I'd do:

- take Thalys from Amsterdam to Paris
- see Paris for a few days
- take train/TGV to Valence and pick up rental car
- drive up Les Grand Goulets and over the Vercors
- rock climb (I met lots of Brits rock climbing around Die)
- return car at Nice Airport
- take LH connector flight to FRA and back home

And, "Real Soon Now" is right. And keep checking. You can maybe book a provisional reservation and then improve the itinerary before being forced to issue the ticket. Lots of folks cancelling, unfortunately, so you may find better routes/seats open up as you check back.

Hell, if I am unemployed in July, I just might have to extend my trip to that wedding!

For an ice field adrenaline junkie, what is considered fun and interesting?

If you happen through Paris, let me know. I am aware of a few places where the requisite beverages can be found and would be most pleased to meet and greet while hoisting one or six.

As to your French, just brush up here and you'll be fine.

>As to your French, just brush up here[link] and you'll be fine.

Heh heh.. no need for that, I learned what little I remember at the mercy of les Quebecois. Say no more.

But a day (and perhaps a place for a sleeping bag?) with a local in Paris could be fun as a stopover en route to some place less flat.

Cheers

Ahh, a plan comes together. Yah, SWMBO tells me no one is checking into l'hotel Barber around that time, so you're welcome to crash. PM with dates as your plan gels further.

And I'm a local in residence only. My job moves me a fair bit. I've been here since late last year from Houston. Anyone who says French is the language of love, haven't heard me murdering it on a daily basis.

Okay, cool, thanks!

More when I know more..

bravo les gars !!!!!

Airfare deals.

If you pass through England, Mark, call me for some climbing (and/or beer). If you email me, I'll let you have my phone number to make it easier.

Hi Mark,

i offered you to stay with me last year and i only can second this for this year.
I live in Germany, 20 minutes to Switzerland. Black Forest two steps away...
A co-worker of mine is a climber and he sure will show you some nice places.
If you are interested, PM me...

Don't worry about languages. English will do nearly everywhere in Europe...

cheers,

Thomas

Hi Mark, I live at the bottom end of the Ruhr valley in the middle of industrial Germany, under 2 hours drive/train ride from Amersfoort. There's no natural rock climbing here that I know of, but they have set up an artificial climbing area in a closed down steel works here. It is actually quite cool. There is a short blurb about it here if you follow the leisure link. Oh, and there is just a little bit more here to see and do than just the climbing

If you're interested in coming over for a look you're more than welcome. I don't have a terribly big appartment, but I'm sure we could figure out something accomodation wise - I do have a sofa for example.

Oh yeah, you should get on reasonably well with English around here too. I did until I got a hang of the lingo.

Cheers
Derek

Hello Mark,

If you wanna pass or visit Switzerland, then let me know! A friend of mine is a klimbing tour guide here in the Swiss Alps. http://www.mischuwirth.ch

Feel free to contact me, if there is an interest.

bye

Excellent! I'll keep all of that in mind when I try booking airfare next week!

Cheers

Might be worth it just to meet somebody with a moniker that begins with "crazy.."

It's up to you! You are welcome, just let me know!

bye

Oh yeah, I forgot to say that if the prices for flights to Amsterdam are scary, or they are all full up, check out flights to Dusseldorf here in Germany. I can pick you up there and take you over to Amersfoort. Like I said it is a reasonably short drive.

Cheers
Derek

Also check Zurich, Stuttgart and Frankfurt. I could catch you there, as mentioned in my last email...

Toby (and others?),

If I were to fly from Canada to London/Heathrow for a few days, could I perhaps share a ride (possibly one-way) with one of you from that general area to the meet in Amersfoort?

I've been tardy and am only now trying to book flights and stuff.

Thanks!

I'm sure there will be a ride going with one of the empeg types if that would help, either from Cambridge or Harwich (either of which is a 40 min train ride from London). You'd be welcome to visit empeg towers, especially if you're in the mood for a green curry.

Rob

MMm.. sounds good, Rob. And the curry also (but does it have to be green?)

I just did a trial flight booking, and got all of the days/flights I wanted. I'm going to fly United-First to LHR via IAD (Dulles) about a week ahead of the meet, and show up in Cambridge at some point Thursday or Friday for a visit.

Hopefully Hugo or someone can squeeze me into their boot for the trip over to Amersfoorte for the meet. After that, I'm trying to hook up with Speedy67 for a few days near the German/Swiss/French border, and then fly from Zurich to Paris (via FRA) for the weekend. Return flight on United-First from CDG home again via IAD on Tues or Weds.

Thanks to everyone here for your help this far!

Suggestions??

Hopefully Hugo or someone can squeeze me into their boot for the trip over to Amersfoort.

Oh, I think they could give you more comfortable accommodations than that. I mean, at worst, they could put you in the trunk.

I suspect I'm going in the NSX, which will be full of myself & Claire... and the trunk isn't very hospitable; if the Noble's ready by then, that's even worse as it doesn't *have* a trunk (front or rear)... or even a glovebox.

Someone else with a more sensible car may have room, though...

Hugo

Okay, all booked and ready to go!

Here's the plan:

Ottawa, Canada

27-June-2003
AC336 (5a) YOW -> IAD 2:35pm-4:04pm
UA918 (2a) IAD -> LHR 5:50pm-5:55am 28-June-2003

London & Cambridge, U.K.

04-July-2003
Ride with Empeg crew from Cambridge to Amersfoort

Amersfoort, The Netherlands

06/07-July-2003
Ride with Thomas Gabel from Amersfoort to Schliengen, Germany.

German, French, Swiss Alps

11-July-2003
LH3705(6a) ZRH -> FRA 2:55pm-4:05pm
LH4076(7a) FRA -> CDG 5:20pm-6:30pm

Paris, France

15-July-2003
UA915 (2j) CDG -> IAD 1:00pm-3:25pm
AC337 (5a) IAD -> YOW 4:55pm-6:21pm

Ottawa, Canada

Cheers

I'll be taking the Supra and currently have a spare front seat, and in theory a couple of rears should any midgets wish to travel (but Hugo already has a ride!). There should be at least another couple of cars going from Cambridge, so no problem.

Rob

Good!

I'll be in touch closer to the dates.

Thanks Rob!

in theory a couple of rears should any midgets wish to travel (but Hugo already has a ride!).

Good thing I wasn't drinking tea just then.

Good thing I wasn't drinking tea just then

Cor blimey, I'm gettin' bloody confused 'ere....

An American drinking tea, surely that's not right? And to top it all the empeg people whose cars have "trunks" fitted?!

I don't think we've established whether it's hot tea or iced tea, though.

Also, how does one take one's car from the UK to the Continent? Ferry? Car tunnel I don't know about?

Don't quote me on this, but I think you can drive your car onto a train car designed for that purpose through the Chunnel.

Ah, so pretty much halfway between my two options.

>>in theory a couple of rears should any midgets wish to travel (but Hugo already has a ride!).

>Good thing I wasn't drinking tea just then.

Those would have to be pretty small rears to fit backseat in a Supra!

Maybe some amputees..

Options;
Channel Tunnel, drive your car onto the train. Probably expensive.
Dover - Calais ferry. ~4 hour crossing IIRC, Leaves you with a bit of a drive to Holland.
Dover - Ostende ferry. ~4 hour crossing, leaves you just over the border from Holland.
Not sure if it still runs, Harwich - Hook of Holland ferry. ~11 hours

Depending on location, also:
Hull - Rotterdam & Zeebrugge
Newcastle - Amsterdam
Overnight, must book a cabin

Also, how does one take one's car from the UK to the Continent? Ferry? Car tunnel I don't know about?

Assuming that you mean a UK hire car, I seem to remember reading that the hire companies, discourage it and charge a lot extra. It may be cheaper to fly/go as a foot passenger and get another hire car in Holland(for one thing the steering wheel's on the correct side).

Not sure if it still runs, Harwich - Hook of Holland ferry. ~11 hours

Or you can take the HSS from Harwich to the Hook, which takes 3-4 hours. See here.

Assuming that you mean a UK hire car

No. I was just curious. It looks like I won't be able to make it again, due to lack of funds.

Channel Tunnel (Chunnel) drive straight on (usually), takes 40 minutes to France, drive straight off. Fast, but expensive (+25%)
Dover Calais - 75 mins crossing, 3.5 hours on motorways direct to Amersfoort. We normally do this and can make it London - Amersfoort in 7 hours.
Dover Oostend - 3.5 hours crossing, about 2.5 hours to Amersfoort. The boats are not as nice, and the distance/time is about the same.
Harwich Hoek van Holland - about 3.5 hours on the HSS (superb! We went on the bridge last time, like a massive speed boat, all controlled by video consoles and two joysticks. Has two Boeing 747 engines to power the water jet thrusters. Brill!!!!) with about 1 hour to Amersfoort, all motorway.

We usually choose Dover Calais boat if we want to go to SE/SW England, and Harwich Hoek if we want to go to the Midlands/East. Plus we have shares in P & O which makes it a lot cheaper via Calais

a couple of rears should any midgets wish to travel (but Hugo already has a ride!).

Question how tall is Hugo? You people seem to devote an awfully large number of posts to picking on his vertical challenge. He doesn't look that small in pictures.

>He doesn't look that small in pictures.

But girdth ain't the be all and end all!

It's been posted before, but this is Hugo standing behind a stack of empegs:

It's been posted before, but this is Hugo standing behind a stack of empegs:

...on a box.



pca

So you have to pass Berne (Swiss capital city) too.... Let me know! The train form Berne - Zurich takes about an hour.

bye

I'm 5'7" (taller than Tom Cruise). I'm still the smallest guy in the office - but only just... Toby's pretty close...

Hugo

Will you be at Amersfoort this year?

Thomas & I may try to find you in Bern regardless at some point!

Cheers

I am really not sure, if I go to Amersfoort!
The distance between Tom's Schliengen and Berne is about 1.5 hours. But as you was writing, regardless of the meeting you are welcome.

bye

Hey Tony!

Are you coming to Amersfoort? Good use for any frequent flier points you might have piled up.

Cheers

Hey Tony! Are you coming to Amersfoort?

Considering it. Considered it last year and didn't, maybe it'll happen this year. Should get on the ball and get organized if I'm going to do it...

In reply to:

---

We normally do this and can make it London - Amersfoort in 7 hours

---

Wow, it can take that long to do London to Manchester sometimes!

It's an easy journey as well - an hour of driving from Cambridge to Harwich, then four hours of sitting around playing blackjack on the HSS, then another hour or so from Hook of Holland to Amersfoort.

Rob

yeah, c'mon!! Get your A into G and get over here! :-)

I'm still the smallest guy in the office

Taller than Lucie, though.

Peter

It's clear from that photo that Hugo has pulled rank on Lucie by :

- making her stand behind him
- making her slouch

All so that he can appear to be taller than her

Not to mention getting her to stand there in sock feet.
That must be worth at least a few centimetres!

???

They look like running shoes to me.

Naw, the black stuff is probably just dirt from kicking all those other folks outside for the photo.

It's been posted before, but this is Hugo standing behind a stack of empegs:

...on a box.

Which would work, if you couldn't see that he's kneeling in the picture.

I'm 5'7" (taller than Tom Cruise).

And taller than my boyfriend (not by much). And as tall (taller than some) as most of the guys I'm here in Phoenix with.


Please, that's not even short. Slightly below average, but not exactly short. If you were 5'2", I'd understand this.

Please, that's not even short.

You're ruining our good time!!!

You're ruining our good time!!!

So should I go through the photo galleries and mock everyone else's physical shortcomings?

That wouldn't be very nice, would it?

But you just said it wasn't a shortcoming.

I don't think anyone would consider this any more than a good-natured ribbing. If any of us got the impression that he was offended by any of this, I'm sure we'd stop. (Fortunately, though, my picture is nowhere to be found.)

So should I go through the photo galleries and mock everyone else's physical shortcomings?
That wouldn't be very nice, would it?

Nah, I gotta agree with Bitt here. There are definitely no Napoleon complexes on this BBS, and I think that with all of the praise we heap upon Hugo and the rest of the empeg team, it's vital that we "cut them down" every now and again. So far, the only thing we've found to rip Hugo about is his height. Sometimes, you just gotta make chicken salad.

So far, the only thing we've found to rip Hugo about is his height.

Is this sort of like when I do tons of work on a new program and the only response I get is "That font is difficult to read at some resolutions." I keep telling myself I should be glad they aren't ripping some real functionality.

Yeah, pretty much the same thing.

Fortunately, though, my picture is nowhere to be found

You mean you're not a fat buddah with a huge left hand - I'm devastated!