June 2003 Archives
2003-06-23
Left with Denise and Alessandra from the ESOC Sailing Club for Bodensee Thursday at 1500 where we arrived some 4 hours later. Stayed in a nice Bed and Breakfast in Iznang, where also the sailing school is located. Since no boat was available Friday, we instead hired bicycles and cycled to Stein am Rhein in Switzerland - 20 km both ways. Saturday and Sunday we sailed, first in an quite small 6 meter, and Sunday in a 7 meter. Unfortunately the wind was very weak Sunday, but we got our techniques brushed up and enjoyed the warm water (26 DEG) and the sun. I was home Monday morning at 0100.
Including accomodation, rent of boat, bikes, restaurants, petrol - a total of 301 EUR per person. Nice.
2003-06-16
So... Le Mans was quite nice. We won - or that is: British Bentley won, but the pilot and captain, Tom Kristensen, is Danish. He comes from the same small village in Denmark where I grew up.
Thursday, Jes, Bo, and Jan drove from Copenhagen to Darmstadt and met me at the Agency, where we had lunch together. Then, leaving here at 13:15 we drove towards Le Mans, where we arrived around 21. The positive things: It was interesting to be part of such a big sports event. The weather was nice (almost all the time) and I got a nice sun tan. The time spent was spent with nice, friendly people with whom I had a good time. The negative things: it was not well organized - there were empty bottles and paper and broken glass everywhere. Everywhere! People did not use the drums put up for garbage. What a mess. They should have made entire Le Mans car-free zone, except for the racing track itself - it was 4 days of traffic chaos. There was no shower on the camping site where we stayed.
We left Le Mans Sunday at 20:45, and I was back in Darmstadt at 4:30 this (Monday) morning.
2003-06-12
Up to 33 DEG C today - heading towards Le Mans to see Le Grand Prix. Be back sometime Monday next week.
2003-06-02
ESA launched Mars Express from Baïkonur in Kazakhstan at 19:45 CEST, onboard a Soyuz-Fregat launcher. I watched the launch live from Central Station in Carree in Darmstadt (only V.I.P guests were invited to the launch event/party at ESOC).
2003-06-01
Returned from Elba trip today at noon. Yesterday I left Cavo with the shuttle bus to Rio Marina at 1630 (free of cost), and cought the ferry 1655 towards Piombino (5,74 EUR). From Piombino 1740 with train towards Campiglio Marittima for the cost of 5,70 EUR. Had to pay 5 EUR in penalty because I did not stamp the ticket in the ticket machine at the platform before entering the train... Hmm... Had coffee, beer and a snack in Campiglio Marittima before catching the 1905 train towards Pisa (same ticket). I arrived in Pisa around 21 (if I remember correctly) and got the last available room in Hotel Milano (two stars) just in front of the Central Station (on the left hand side) for a mere 38 EUR (one night). Nice room but without shower and toilet (2 meters down the hallway). After refreshing myself I walked around Pisa for half an hour before I sat down in the restaurant in the Jolly Hotel at Piazza della Stazione 2, and had a nice risotto with veal, wine, tiramisu, and coffee for 39,85 EUR. The restaurant is small, intimate, and the waiters attentive and polite. Recommended. This morning I woke up at 0640, checked out, took a taxi to the airport (8,01 EUR), checked in, and left for Hahn at 0830. Arrived 1030 - took the shuttle bus towards Frankfurt International Airport (12 EUR) where I arrived 1130. Stepped right into the Darmstadter Airliner Express bus (6,50 EUR) and was home at 1200.
I took 125 MB worth of pictures and AVI's at the trip - I'll publish them as soon as I find a place to do it.