1/17/2004: pichers
I posted some photos from my recent trip.
1/12/2004: home sweet home
I am never travelling again.
Well, at least until my next business trip at the end of this month. But I can easily say that the Italy trip was one of the most annoyance-intensive trips I've taken in a very long time. Don't get me wrong: I'm happy (and lucky) to say that no one was hurt, I was never in any danger, I will (knock on wood) probably get my luggage back tonight, so there's no loss of possessions -- it's just that there was never a moment after London where I could sit back and feel remotely relaxed or in control of the situation. The actual presentation for work that we were scheduled to do went just fine -- I have no complaints about that part, and I think that we all represented Bluefin well, so that's good -- but there was simply too much going wrong to have any kind of a good time. We managed to do a little sightseeing (saw Portovenere, the Cinque Terra, and also Florence), but the stress outweighed the sightseeing.
For example, yesterday was probably the worst travel day I've ever had:
The flight we were supposed to take from Pisa to London got diverted to Genoa due to weather, so after we drove from Lerici to Pisa at 5 AM, we then had to pack onto a charter bus at the airport which took us back, past Lerici to Genoa, whence we flew to London, 3 hours late. Leo and I barely made our connecting flight to Charlotte, NC. Although Leo and I set records for our mad dash through Gatwick, my luggage was not quite as speedy, so it got to spend an extra day in London. Of course, I only found this out upon arriving in the states and waiting around the baggage carousel until everyone else had left. The best of the day was yet to come, though: a Boston taxi driver whose belligerence was matched only by his total ignorance of Cambridge geography. Although I told him I was going to Museum Street in Cambridge, he took me to the Science Museum, and then got really angry when I told him he should take some money off the meter for driving me the wrong way.
Anyways, I eventually got here alive, and went to work this morning, but only took a half day. After all that travel, I need a vacation.
1/08/2004: on location!
Yo-ho. I am typing from the Hotel Europa in Lerici, Italy, where I'm staying for a business trip for Bluefin. Observe that I am on an Italian keyboard: òçèéà°£ etc.
Yesterday and the day before, I travelled for 24+ hours straight. Bluefin decided to fly us from Boston, to Charlotte NC, to London's Gatwick airport (where we were stopped over for 9 HOURS), to Pisa, and then drive an hour to Lerici.
Kids!
You can see how pointless and inefficient Matt's travel plan was! First, get a length of string or yarn and a globe. Then, BANG YOUR HEAD ON A WALL for an hour or so. (You'll need a parent's supervision when you cut the string.)
Since we had such a long stopover in London, we decided to go into the city and do some sightseeing. Had a great time seeing the British Museum, drinking & eating pub food, and just walking around. I will post photos soon.
The trip here was not without its speed bumps though. First, Einar, the project manager, got sick and couldn't fly. His luggage, which got canceled, had our power outlet converter, and some important sales documents. Also, we had rented a car. Now, cars in Italy are all manual. Einar can drive stick, but Leo and I can't, really. I've driven with my brother giving me lessons in his Civic hybrid, and a little highway driving with my friend Jenn, but that's it. So I'm obviously a natural candidate for driving winding roads at night in the foothills of the friggin' Alps. It was gawd-awfully traumatic, especially considering I had been awake for basically 36 hours. I will demand a raise upon return.
But now the tough part is theoretically over (vigorously knocking on wood as I type this), and Leo and I get to do a bit of sightseeing tomorrow and Saturday.
The other recent news is my holiday travelling -- I went to NYC for X-mas, and participated in the Jewish family ritual for Christmas there -- ordering takeout Chinese food. Also saw Jenn on the way back, which was nice.
For New Years, Micaela and I went to my grandparent's place in Sharon CT, where we met up with Andy and Annasara. There was much eating, drinking, and playing Cranium, and we even made it outside for a nature walk or two. It was a really relaxing and wonderful time.
Ok, that's enough typing for me on this funky keyboard. I'll post more when I get home.