I'm a bit closer too home. Made it to Frankfurt without any trouble and out to the holiday inn express just about as easily. Funny I had to go to Germany to stay at a holiday Inn express but now that I am a priority club member maybe I can get the state rate in NC.
While I was at dinner (outside) I started to notice all the jets overhead and how different it was just a couple of days ago when you saw none in the European skies. Funny thing is that this is the second time this has happened to me. On 911 I was also out of the country attending the International HEEP meeting in St. Johns, Canada.
It is really eerie when you rely on airplanes to handle long distance travel and they aren't available. It is also very eerie when you look into the sky and don't see any planes for a few days. I think we seriously need to look at a more diverse and integrated transportation systems that allow one part to fail without total disrupting the others. Now what that system looks like I'm not sure but I think we need to start figuring it out especially in the US.
Thought I would post that thought before I forgot it. That's it for now.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Last Morning in Austria
The weekend is here and my journey home begins. Got up a little before 7 showered went out got some cash from the ATM and got a coffee and sausage McMuffin at Mcdonalds. Gotta say I really like the Austrian sausage McMuffin.
Plan on checking out of the hotel around11:00 am and take bus #27 to the airport. Then it is an Austrian Airlines commuter flight (os265) to Frankfort. My flight home is scheduled to leave tomorrow (Sunday) at 11:20 can't wait. Was going to hang out at the airport tonight but Jeanie found a Holiday Inn express a little ways from around so I made a reservation and will get a good nights sleep before getting up early and getting to the airport (don't want to miss my flight). So it looks like this little adventure is about over.
Spent yesterday wondering alone around Salzburg picked up a few last minute things had one last
"bier" at the Augusltiner beer garden (love that place). I will post the pictures I took on Picasaweb shortly. Wandered back to the hotel stopping at a electronic store and few other shops just to look around.
Then back to hotel room to pack and talk Jeanie via Google voice chat which works surprising well and is "free". The video chat is nice too. Can't say enough about gmail and its tools, they have made this little adventure a lot better than it would of been otherwise. That's it for this post next one will hopefully come the comfort of home rather than a hotel room.
Plan on checking out of the hotel around11:00 am and take bus #27 to the airport. Then it is an Austrian Airlines commuter flight (os265) to Frankfort. My flight home is scheduled to leave tomorrow (Sunday) at 11:20 can't wait. Was going to hang out at the airport tonight but Jeanie found a Holiday Inn express a little ways from around so I made a reservation and will get a good nights sleep before getting up early and getting to the airport (don't want to miss my flight). So it looks like this little adventure is about over.
Spent yesterday wondering alone around Salzburg picked up a few last minute things had one last
"bier" at the Augusltiner beer garden (love that place). I will post the pictures I took on Picasaweb shortly. Wandered back to the hotel stopping at a electronic store and few other shops just to look around.
Then back to hotel room to pack and talk Jeanie via Google voice chat which works surprising well and is "free". The video chat is nice too. Can't say enough about gmail and its tools, they have made this little adventure a lot better than it would of been otherwise. That's it for this post next one will hopefully come the comfort of home rather than a hotel room.
Last full day in Salzburg
It is starting to wind down, this time tomorrow I will be off to the airport to begin my way home. I saw the Ogdens on the train to Munich this morning at 8:00 am. They were a bit apprehensive but looking forward to catching there flight home this afternoon. Wish I was on it too. Just have to wait for my Sunday morning flight.
We had a really nice day yesterday. I took the Ogdens up on the old city wall to my favorite bar/restaurant and had a few beers and a great meal (best I've had since I've been here). Even Cheryl had two beers which more beers than I've ever seen her drink (note she is white wine drinker). After a couple hours on the hill we made our way back down to the Augustinerkloster und Brau (beer garden) and had one last mug of "bier" before heading back to the hotel. Then spent the evening munching on snacks and playing cards. I'll make a last "walkabout" of Salzburg this afternoon to pick up a few final things before spending the evening packing and repacking my bags to assure a balanced and practical load.
If you ever visit Salzburg I highly recommend the hotel I have been staying at - Austria Trend Hotel Europa Salzburg it is a "4 star" hotel right next to the train and bus station. Which makes it very convenient and easy to find and use as a base of operations. And the rates are reasonable. Also the free wireless internet connection has been a life saver. If I have any complaint it is the phones, no one seems to know exactly how to dial international and toll free numbers (thanks to cells I would guess).
Well that's it for this installment now to google voice chat to see if my wife is up yet...
We had a really nice day yesterday. I took the Ogdens up on the old city wall to my favorite bar/restaurant and had a few beers and a great meal (best I've had since I've been here). Even Cheryl had two beers which more beers than I've ever seen her drink (note she is white wine drinker). After a couple hours on the hill we made our way back down to the Augustinerkloster und Brau (beer garden) and had one last mug of "bier" before heading back to the hotel. Then spent the evening munching on snacks and playing cards. I'll make a last "walkabout" of Salzburg this afternoon to pick up a few final things before spending the evening packing and repacking my bags to assure a balanced and practical load.
If you ever visit Salzburg I highly recommend the hotel I have been staying at - Austria Trend Hotel Europa Salzburg it is a "4 star" hotel right next to the train and bus station. Which makes it very convenient and easy to find and use as a base of operations. And the rates are reasonable. Also the free wireless internet connection has been a life saver. If I have any complaint it is the phones, no one seems to know exactly how to dial international and toll free numbers (thanks to cells I would guess).
Well that's it for this installment now to google voice chat to see if my wife is up yet...
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Stranded in Europe Day 3 (I think)
Beginning my 3rd day being stranded in Salzburg. Good news is the flights are flying all over Europe and while our little group is scattered all over the continent from Rome to Amsterdam things are improving. Two couples have made it back to the US on stand by flights everyone else has confirmed flights out either on Saturday or Sunday. If things continue to improve we should all be back at work Monday. Never Thought I would want to get back to work.
As for being stranded in Salzburg I have gotten to know my way around the city and it is a pretty pedestrian friendly place. It is very easy to walk around as long as you obey the walk and don't walk signals. I am totally amazed at how the cars, bikes and people all share the streets without incidents like you see in the US. Maybe it is the more laid back life style here or centuries of training. Be interesting to look into (any of you research people out there need a topic). Another thing that is a bit unusual for Americans is you don't need a prescription to get drugs here. Just walk into a Apothacary (drug store) and tell them (in my case show them) what you want and they get it for you. Prices for generic drugs seem to be very similar to what my insurance pays for generics.
As far as prices in general other than beer everything is more expensive than it is in the states. Funny thing is just looking at the prices you would think they are the same (and number wise they are) but since the Euro is worth about a $1.30 or so, every thing is about 30% higher. Not a big thing at the low end but it is at the higher end. Another interesting thing is the price listed is the price you pay. Taxes seem to be already built in. Which is nice.
Today is the last day I will have company here in Salzburg. Jon & Cheryl Ogden are off to Munich tomorrow by train to catch their flight. So we are going to do something something together this afternoon/evening. Probably the Augultine Brau (beer garden) and watch the world go by. I'll see them off tomorrow morning and might even catch a train myself to Frankfort and see if can go standby on a Saturday flight. We will see how things are going out of Frankfort Airport this afternoon. That's it for now...
As for being stranded in Salzburg I have gotten to know my way around the city and it is a pretty pedestrian friendly place. It is very easy to walk around as long as you obey the walk and don't walk signals. I am totally amazed at how the cars, bikes and people all share the streets without incidents like you see in the US. Maybe it is the more laid back life style here or centuries of training. Be interesting to look into (any of you research people out there need a topic). Another thing that is a bit unusual for Americans is you don't need a prescription to get drugs here. Just walk into a Apothacary (drug store) and tell them (in my case show them) what you want and they get it for you. Prices for generic drugs seem to be very similar to what my insurance pays for generics.
As far as prices in general other than beer everything is more expensive than it is in the states. Funny thing is just looking at the prices you would think they are the same (and number wise they are) but since the Euro is worth about a $1.30 or so, every thing is about 30% higher. Not a big thing at the low end but it is at the higher end. Another interesting thing is the price listed is the price you pay. Taxes seem to be already built in. Which is nice.
Today is the last day I will have company here in Salzburg. Jon & Cheryl Ogden are off to Munich tomorrow by train to catch their flight. So we are going to do something something together this afternoon/evening. Probably the Augultine Brau (beer garden) and watch the world go by. I'll see them off tomorrow morning and might even catch a train myself to Frankfort and see if can go standby on a Saturday flight. We will see how things are going out of Frankfort Airport this afternoon. That's it for now...
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Stranded in Europe Day 2
Since all I have is time on my hands figured I'd should post something. Came to Austria a week ago (04.14.10) to attend the HEEP Area V meeting the 15 & 16th and then spend the weekend with the group touring and taking in the sights, sounds and local beverages. Then a volcano happened in Iceland which put a real damper on things.
The meeting went well. All the American presentations were well received and in my opinion some of the best and most interesting ones I've seen in Europe or America. Even mine on Social Media generated a lot of conversation between the Europeans and our group as well. The Meeting ended Friday evening with a gathering at the local Bier Garden (will post pictures later).
Then the "fun" began since most of our group was leaving early Monday morning we still were not to concerned about the volcano but things were beginning to weigh on the group. Saturday the group took the "sound of Music tour and a trip to a salt mine outside of Berchtesgaden which was fun, but also involved a lot of bus riding.
By Sunday morning most of us got concerned as flights were being canceled right and left. A few of or group had planned to stay an extra week and tour Germany and Italy so they went on with those plans. The rest of us started a stress inducing limbo. Four of our group stayed in Salzburg to await flights out (I plan on leaving Saturday by either plane or train) to Frankfort to catch a Sunday flight that I hope will go. Others are in Vienna, Amsterdam, and Zurich trying to get connections etc. Two of our group((Ray &Pat) got out of Zurich yesterday on a standby flight (stood in lines for 6-8 hours). The rest of us hope to leave this weekend. Right now it looks like that will probably happen. As long as the airspace continues to clear and there are no other major erruptions. Keep your fingers crossed and say a prayer or two for us.
Since phone service here has sucked thank god for google chat and my upset, but loving wife who has been able to get my flights redone and credit cards taken care of. One other note is the netbook I brought has been a god send. From now on I won't be traveling without one. It has made a huge difference in access, peace of mind ease of cmmunication with home. More later so stay tuned...
The meeting went well. All the American presentations were well received and in my opinion some of the best and most interesting ones I've seen in Europe or America. Even mine on Social Media generated a lot of conversation between the Europeans and our group as well. The Meeting ended Friday evening with a gathering at the local Bier Garden (will post pictures later).
Then the "fun" began since most of our group was leaving early Monday morning we still were not to concerned about the volcano but things were beginning to weigh on the group. Saturday the group took the "sound of Music tour and a trip to a salt mine outside of Berchtesgaden which was fun, but also involved a lot of bus riding.
By Sunday morning most of us got concerned as flights were being canceled right and left. A few of or group had planned to stay an extra week and tour Germany and Italy so they went on with those plans. The rest of us started a stress inducing limbo. Four of our group stayed in Salzburg to await flights out (I plan on leaving Saturday by either plane or train) to Frankfort to catch a Sunday flight that I hope will go. Others are in Vienna, Amsterdam, and Zurich trying to get connections etc. Two of our group((Ray &Pat) got out of Zurich yesterday on a standby flight (stood in lines for 6-8 hours). The rest of us hope to leave this weekend. Right now it looks like that will probably happen. As long as the airspace continues to clear and there are no other major erruptions. Keep your fingers crossed and say a prayer or two for us.
Since phone service here has sucked thank god for google chat and my upset, but loving wife who has been able to get my flights redone and credit cards taken care of. One other note is the netbook I brought has been a god send. From now on I won't be traveling without one. It has made a huge difference in access, peace of mind ease of cmmunication with home. More later so stay tuned...
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