Nat'l Last Plane's Internet Vacation

[edison]

Hmm, nothing as severe as what you're describing, I think - but then again, taking the Greyhound wasn't quite like that for me either, so you know, who knows.

Eurolines busses would probably come closest, all things considered - they're definitely a lower class thing, but I wouldn't have noticed a particularly high percentage of obviously drug-addicted passengers or former prisoners, it's just that they're not used much by Western Europeans, pretty much.

Yeah, except students indeed. Once I waited an hour in a Eurolines bus at the Strasbourg stop before leaving. At some point two policemen got in the bus, handcuffed the guy who'd been sitting next to me and took him away. I suspect he was guilty of no crime, probably an illegal immigrant, though.

[Wally]

Denver to Billings is quite an... experience.

Seattle to Milwaukee via Billings is a treat of the rarest kind. Milwaukee to Seattle via Denver is even better!

When it comes to eccentrics on the greyhound, I feel I was short changed somewhat as no one really stands out.

And, personally my answer to Richard's original question, would have been, Easyjet. But, I suppose, Alex's, answer was more accurate.

[alex]

Easyjet, really? I have trouble keeping all of these discount airliners apart, but my impression was that they all had a significant amount of business travellers who just pretty much fly across Europe every other day while reading their morning paper.

Incidentally, when I booked my trip to Vienna for July, I was very very close to taking a discount airliner (mostly because I would have been in Amsterdam anyway and could have flown straight out of there), but in every step of the booking process, a couple of Euros were added for some "service" or other. When they wanted to make me pay for a seat, I decided "fuck this, I'ma take the night train again".

[Doctor Bob]

When it comes to eccentrics on the greyhound, I feel I was short changed somewhat as no one really stands out.

What is it they say about poker?  That in every game there's a patsy, and if you don't know who the pasty is, it's probably you?

Edit:

[Wally]

Easyjet, really? I have trouble keeping all of these discount airliners apart, but my impression was that they all had a significant amount of business travellers who just pretty much fly across Europe every other day while reading their morning paper.

Incidentally, when I booked my trip to Vienna for July, I was very very close to taking a discount airliner (mostly because I would have been in Amsterdam anyway and could have flown straight out of there), but in every step of the booking process, a couple of Euros were added for some "service" or other. When they wanted to make me pay for a seat, I decided "fuck this, I'ma take the night train again".

Well, I was kinda kidding about easyjet, but both catching the greyhound along the east coast, and catching an easyjet plane do bring you into contact with an ungodly amount of screaming families. And, in my experience at least are usually filled to within an inch of overspilling. 

[Wally]

When it comes to eccentrics on the greyhound, I feel I was short changed somewhat as no one really stands out.

What is it they say about poker?  That in every game there's a patsy, and if you don't know who the pasty is, it's probably you?

Edit:

I did consider making this exact joke myself, but I thought "why would I want to deny Dr Bob the pleasure?".

[Doctor Bob]

"why would I want to deny Dr Bob the pleasure?".

Why break the habit of a lifetime?

[Doctor Bob]

Insider advice is much appreciated - we're trying to find a good gig to take in while in town.

I keep meaning to post a few tips in the evening, when I have more time to play with, but it hasn't happened until now.  I suppose I'll edit this post to add stuff as I think of it.

Re gigs- the best bet is to have a look at http://www.thumped.com/, which is an Irish music board.  It lists gigs, has a forum, etc.  One show that caught my eye was the record release gig by Boxes, on Saturday 31st.  I might head along.  I know that's the day you land an you might be tired, but I thought I should mention it.  A noisy 2-piece, guitar/bass and drums.

This is the Thumped gig page: http://thumped.com/events.html

One question- are you staying in Dublin the whole time?  Might be worth trying a day trip or two.  The regional buses are fine (no comparison with Greyhound!)- you'd get to Kilkenny in 2 hours, for example.

The only problem with travel is the lack of integration on Dublin public transport.  We have light rail, commuter rail, bus etc., but each is run by a different semi-state company and they don't often see eye to eye.  If you want tips on how to get around, just ask.  It's my dayjob to know, partly.  Just please don't blame us!  (Little plug for work: http://www.dto.ie)  In fact, the work site has a journey planner which doubles as a good map source, including aerial photos, but Google Earth and MS Virtual Earth (but not, sadly, Google Maps, to any useful extent) would give similar info.

Do you want to see the Dáil (Irish Parliament) sitting and get a tour of the chamber?  Sort of a busman's holiday?  My housemate is a parliamentary assistant to a TD (= MP in UK terminology) and can probably arrange something usually only available for natives.

I'll be back with more.

[Bernard]

Hi, anybody in San Francisco want to get a cup of coffee next weekend?