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First, back in the barn, and don't expect to leave it, or at least not for very long, until Salzburg during July. The house painters are gone; now the onus is on me to get some carpet (hardwood floors? I have 'em as is. I know they are 'in' but my place now sounds like an echo chamber) and drapes.
It appears that a New York Times reporter emulated the Paris-Istanbul route of the Orient Express using regularly scheduled trains - premium HSR where available. However, reportedly the experience viewed as a whole was best described as 'The Orient Local':
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Very interesting reading including a bustitution at the end!
Merely whets the appetite for our own European trip coming up in June. Airline tickets are purchased, passports are in hand, and the railpasses arrived last month...... doing it with a couple of flexpasses and then outright purchasing the rail tickets in places not covered by the passes. We did not, assure you, forget about Austria!
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Well, now that I have inadvertently 'let it out of the bag' that I'm going to Salzburg this July, a valid passport is in hand, air travel KORD-EDDM-KORD is all purchased and paid for, as are three concert tickets. However, the tickets have yet to make the scene (addendum: 5-1: they arrived Today). Rail riding will likely only be Munich-Salzburg.
Unrelated, but after the Atlanta trip, referenced at other posts, I have the dubious honor of announcing 'I'm batting 1.000' regarding my credit cards - all three have now been hacked this year!!! Funny how I was in Atlanta but at the same time, I was in New York buying $500 of stuff from a Rite-Aid pharmacy and two other 'everyday merchants' up there on my American Express. I'm in no position to point fingers, but the likely 'suspect' is a waiter in Atlanta who fancied himself an actor as he recited the 'Specials'. The only other is a SkyWest Flight Attendant, but she completed the transaction for my little 'in flight picker upper' right in front of me (Frank, thank your outfit for providing your 'partner carrier' with a card reader that for once worked).
palmland Member # 4344
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Sounds like a great trip, GBN. Hope you can take some other 'joy rides' in that beautiful country. Say hi to the Von Trapp's. Perhaps you could have a beer with notelvis at the Munich station!. As I recall we had the best beer, brats, and pretzels there.
Geoff Mayo Member # 153
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quote:Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman: Well, now that I have inadvertently 'let it out of the bag' that I'm going to Salzburg this July, my air travel KORD-EDDM-KORD is all purchased and paid for
Good heavens, wonders never cease. Next you'll be predicting the relaunch date of the Sunset East.
That thing about Swiss trains being on time? Schedule padding. Lots of it. It's hard to compare actual punctuality as they use a different accounting system than other countries.
20th Century Member # 2196
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Mr. Norman, sorry to hearing about being "hacked". It happened to me last month. Unfortunately it is getting to be more common. That was the 2nd time in 2 years. Nice to hear you will be visiting Salzburg for concerts. It is a beautiful city. Was there in 1969.....a long time ago.
notelvis Member # 3071
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Palmland,
I'm afraid that our trip and Mr. Norman's do not G-up.... we'll be in Munich for four nights in mid-June before moving on to Turin and then Switzerland.
I have had the pleasure of meeting GBN on a couple of Chicago stopovers in the past however. He once even gave me a ride to Midway Airport.
It is incredibly ironic that GBN and my family will both see Munich and Salzburg this summer. It is also ironic that we also plan to attend a concert while we are there.
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