I had not seen my friend Paul and his girlfriend Linda since 2005 - he had worked also at Rockwell Scientific and had left around the same time as I (summer 2005). At one time we had driven around Thousand Oaks in my Eldosaurus (the 1974 Caddy Eldorado Convertible), and they had fond memories of this. Now they were coming to the UK, and they planned a stop in Leeds, during their trip from London to Glasgow. After Ken had been here in autumn 2005, nobody else from my US friends had made it to Leeds, so Paul and Linda were the first ones since then.
My schedule allowed to take Wednesday off, and I planned to drive them around a bit. Unfortunately in my Smart car there can be only one passenger, and I hesitated to take the Citroen, because I might get some problems - there had been recently a flicker of the lights and the RPM meter. Not sure what this meant, but I did not want to take a risk with my guests, and so I decided to rent a car for a day. Got an Astra, with automatic transmission, from Enterprise.
First I thought we could visit the Peak District and see Chatsworth House. But the drive took longer than expected, and after a short break at Chesterfield we decided to cancel this plan and move on straight away to another friend whom Paul wanted to visit. This meant driving into Lincolnshire, where I had never been before.
We made it back in time to Leeds Station for their evening train to Glasgow - it was great to spend some time with them and to catch up after more than 4 years!
Showing posts with label US. Show all posts
Showing posts with label US. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Beware: ESTA for Travel to US
Since a few months, travellers to the US need to get an online pre-approval from the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) before the airline can accept them on board. This approval is given here by ESTA = Electronic System for Travel Authorization.
Is not really a problem - is for free (at the moment at least) and usually gives an immediate approval/authorization number, which one needs to bring then to the airport when checking in.
When I was ready to do this, I noticed that there are many ESTA sites on Google, and they all look very official. First I landed at www.esta.us and was surprised to find there a fee mentioned ($49.95). Also the site www.esta-online.co.uk charges a fee (£20.00), and so does www.estauk.com ($45). As I have found out from other bloggers, these sites are scam! They may work and actually give you a valid authorization, but they are ripping you off - you need not to pay any fee for this service! (Therefore, I did not put a link under those sites here in this blog entry).
So in case you plan to travel to the US and need the ESTA authorization, only go through this site:
https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/esta.html
Is not really a problem - is for free (at the moment at least) and usually gives an immediate approval/authorization number, which one needs to bring then to the airport when checking in.
When I was ready to do this, I noticed that there are many ESTA sites on Google, and they all look very official. First I landed at www.esta.us and was surprised to find there a fee mentioned ($49.95). Also the site www.esta-online.co.uk charges a fee (£20.00), and so does www.estauk.com ($45). As I have found out from other bloggers, these sites are scam! They may work and actually give you a valid authorization, but they are ripping you off - you need not to pay any fee for this service! (Therefore, I did not put a link under those sites here in this blog entry).
So in case you plan to travel to the US and need the ESTA authorization, only go through this site:
https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/esta.html
Monday, July 21, 2008
ESOF 2008 - 4th day
Today the weather is cloudy, the sky is covered by a white layer, no more blue, and the air is quite humid. It is still very warm.
The focus of the ESOF conference today is significantly on government policies regarding research funding. In many talks, there appears the notion that the US is far ahead, and that Europe needs to catch up. "Threatening" are the increased efforts in the Asian area, specifically by China. The consequence of this is that measures are being recommended, for increasing Europe's research activities and moving forward to a "Knowledge Economy", as outlined in the so-called "Lisbon Agenda". A lot of buzzwords here, many people talking and thinking, while the rest of the world is just doing, and is moving ahead. I personally believe that all this planning and policy making has a lot of inherent overhead built-in and reduces the effectiveness of any measure. As I have seen it in the US: there is less policy, less bureaucracy, must more immediate action, and a willingness to take more risks. That is why they are more successful, at least considered in a simplified viewpoint.
The focus of the ESOF conference today is significantly on government policies regarding research funding. In many talks, there appears the notion that the US is far ahead, and that Europe needs to catch up. "Threatening" are the increased efforts in the Asian area, specifically by China. The consequence of this is that measures are being recommended, for increasing Europe's research activities and moving forward to a "Knowledge Economy", as outlined in the so-called "Lisbon Agenda". A lot of buzzwords here, many people talking and thinking, while the rest of the world is just doing, and is moving ahead. I personally believe that all this planning and policy making has a lot of inherent overhead built-in and reduces the effectiveness of any measure. As I have seen it in the US: there is less policy, less bureaucracy, must more immediate action, and a willingness to take more risks. That is why they are more successful, at least considered in a simplified viewpoint.
Sunday, September 04, 2005
Moving to a new country
This does not happen every day that one is moving to a different country, to different continent. Still, nowadays, this seems not to be anything extrodinary any more. Imagining, how it must have been 200 years ago ..., breaking any connections with the past, a real adventure. No communications to back home, one probably would not see the relatives anymore who stayed back.
100 years ago, such a moving was already not so final, with steam ships around, telegraph connecting the continents, allowing a connection back to home.
And nowadays, with internet and globalization, all the adventure in moving has gone. It almost feels like a routine thing. The same shops are now anywhere in the world; Costco (US, UK), Ikea (US, UK), Staples (US, UK), Borders (US, UK), ... are everywhere. Through the internet, news and information about any place can be obtained anywhere (at least on this side of the "digital divide").
Electric power is different (110V in US, 240V in UK), but most electronic devices nowadays come with multiple input voltages, allowing an automatic use at whatever power is available. The only thing that needs to be bought is the right cable to plug into the sockets. Due to international standardization, this is no proplem (3-prong power cables are standard everywhere, they come with various plugs for each country).
So moving does not seem to be anything special, no break in customs or habits seems to be necessary. But still, there are numerous little things that one needs to consider when moving abroad. One of the most important is how to transfer money so that initial expenses can be covered. I decide to take travellers checks, for an initial deposit into a bank account in the foreign bank. So one of the very first steps after my arrival inthe UK would be to open a bank account. Then to get a cell phone, to be reachable. With a good plan for international calls. Then of course buy a car, to get around. All these expenses may quickly drain the initial deposit.
Fortunately in my own situation, I do have a bank account in Germany, with a small leftover from more than a decade ago. And within the European Union, it is no problem to electronically transfer money from one bank account to another, free of charge, even to another country. Yes, banking in Europe seems to be so much more advanced than banking in the US, where still these awkward paper checks are routinely used, and where it costs a fortune to transfer money from one account to another through a "wire transfer", even within the US. There is only this version of a "direct transfer" with ACH which is for free in the US, but rarely anyone knows about it or uses it. However, in Europe, transfering funds from any bank account to any other one is so easy, without any cost, and next day the money is on the account. Are the US banks deliberately refusing to allow such easy transfer of money? This always has puzzled me.
Anyway, these were the thoughts which I considered, as I began a new life in a new country, on a new continent. I was well prepared, and the transition was expected to go very smoothly.
100 years ago, such a moving was already not so final, with steam ships around, telegraph connecting the continents, allowing a connection back to home.
And nowadays, with internet and globalization, all the adventure in moving has gone. It almost feels like a routine thing. The same shops are now anywhere in the world; Costco (US, UK), Ikea (US, UK), Staples (US, UK), Borders (US, UK), ... are everywhere. Through the internet, news and information about any place can be obtained anywhere (at least on this side of the "digital divide").
Electric power is different (110V in US, 240V in UK), but most electronic devices nowadays come with multiple input voltages, allowing an automatic use at whatever power is available. The only thing that needs to be bought is the right cable to plug into the sockets. Due to international standardization, this is no proplem (3-prong power cables are standard everywhere, they come with various plugs for each country).
So moving does not seem to be anything special, no break in customs or habits seems to be necessary. But still, there are numerous little things that one needs to consider when moving abroad. One of the most important is how to transfer money so that initial expenses can be covered. I decide to take travellers checks, for an initial deposit into a bank account in the foreign bank. So one of the very first steps after my arrival inthe UK would be to open a bank account. Then to get a cell phone, to be reachable. With a good plan for international calls. Then of course buy a car, to get around. All these expenses may quickly drain the initial deposit.
Fortunately in my own situation, I do have a bank account in Germany, with a small leftover from more than a decade ago. And within the European Union, it is no problem to electronically transfer money from one bank account to another, free of charge, even to another country. Yes, banking in Europe seems to be so much more advanced than banking in the US, where still these awkward paper checks are routinely used, and where it costs a fortune to transfer money from one account to another through a "wire transfer", even within the US. There is only this version of a "direct transfer" with ACH which is for free in the US, but rarely anyone knows about it or uses it. However, in Europe, transfering funds from any bank account to any other one is so easy, without any cost, and next day the money is on the account. Are the US banks deliberately refusing to allow such easy transfer of money? This always has puzzled me.
Anyway, these were the thoughts which I considered, as I began a new life in a new country, on a new continent. I was well prepared, and the transition was expected to go very smoothly.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
The Travel - Chronologically
Monday, August 29, 2005.
Getting up at 3:50 am. Have a coffee, try to squeeze the last remaining things squeeze into the suitcases. I put them one by one in the rental car.
At 4:35 am I leave the house, leave Thousand Oaks, heading on the 101 freeway towards LA. It is still dark, the road is empty, as to be expected. Slowly, the sky gets brighter.
Fill up the rental car with gasoline, then return it.
Now I am on my own - 4 big heavy suitcases + two carry-on bags. One by one I lift them otno the shuttle bus to the terminals.
Then, when checking in, a problem: two of the suitcases weigh each 95 pounds, one is 75 pounds. The permitted limit is 70 pounds. Any overweight causes the excess luggage (only two pieces are for free, the rest wold cost a fee - I already had checked that a few days ago on the phone with the airline) to be charged at tripple rate. This would make my luggage almost more expensive than my flight ticket: $375 per bag! The airline attendent offers me a cartboard box, so I could have a 5th luggage piece, but each of them would then weigh less than 70 pounds. I agree, move to the side of the ticket counters, and start unpacking my cramped suitcases. Now I have 3 additional luggage pieces, but each costs then "only" $125. Well, moving to another continent is not cheap.
When standing in line of the personal X-ray scan, I meet two of my colleagues from work. What a surprise - they are on a business trip to the US East coast. A bit chatting, I grab something to drink, then we board the plane. Despite my "Frequent Flyer" Gold status, I did not get a First Class upgrade. Oh well...
Three hours stop-over in Detroit. I did not see my colleagues at the airport, as I had to make a phone call right after landing - greetings to you, guys! -, and I walk around through the airport shops. As I did not buy the lunch package that was available on the plane, I decide that for the last time for a long time, I would eat Mexican, a Fajita-Burrito. Of course, this here is not Southern California Mexican, but Detroit-style Mexican...
A one hour delay of the boarding - maintenance problem with the oxygen in the main cabin. I buy a noise-cancelling headset, a book about Great Britain, and a currency converter. Might need that to track the expenses.
Nice entertainment system on the plane! The movies can be stopped and continued individually for each passenger. I watch "The interpreter", "Monsters, Inc.", and "The Kingdom of Heaven", as we fly through the night. Do not feel sleepy at all - I had slept on the 4h flight to Detroit.
The night is short, and day breaks soon. Then a medical emergency - one passenger gets sick. We make an unscheduled stop in Shannon, Ireland, around 7:00 am local time. The passenger gets carried off the plane where he received medical emergency attention. After one hour stop, with refueling, we take off again. A brief look at Ireland during this stop, from the small windows of the plane. Deeply green landscape, natural fences out of bushes and trees parcel the land into segments. Several layers of thick clouds ly over the island, as we climb up again.
One hour later the plane arrives in Amsterdam. Since I have plenty of time, the delay does not matter. I enjoy one of those excellent Holland herring rolls and stroll around in the airport shops. No purchases - I have now to begin saving money.
The flight to Leeds is delayed too: we are already on the bus that should bring us to the plane on the tarmac, but then we are called back into the terminal. A stewardess had called in sick, and the airline could not quickly find a replacement. With 1/2 hour delay we take off.
Finally the jet lag catches up with me, and I doze off a couple of times during the short flight to Leeds. Sunny weather at the arrival at Leeds airport - a friendly welcome for me at this new place. Catherine and Graham are here to pick me up and show me to my new place to stay - a very nice welcoming gesture. I pick up my rental car, and Graham drives ahead to show me the directions. They help me with my luggage, carrying it up the stairs to my new residence. Later we have dinner together at a nice restaurant, and after that we have a beer at a local pub nearby in Headingley: with a hand-pumped "Tetley Bitter".
My first day here in the UK is over, and after I unpacked all my suitcases - surprisingly none of them was missing when I picked them up at the baggage claim - I have a good night sleep.
Getting up at 3:50 am. Have a coffee, try to squeeze the last remaining things squeeze into the suitcases. I put them one by one in the rental car.
At 4:35 am I leave the house, leave Thousand Oaks, heading on the 101 freeway towards LA. It is still dark, the road is empty, as to be expected. Slowly, the sky gets brighter.
Fill up the rental car with gasoline, then return it.
Now I am on my own - 4 big heavy suitcases + two carry-on bags. One by one I lift them otno the shuttle bus to the terminals.
Then, when checking in, a problem: two of the suitcases weigh each 95 pounds, one is 75 pounds. The permitted limit is 70 pounds. Any overweight causes the excess luggage (only two pieces are for free, the rest wold cost a fee - I already had checked that a few days ago on the phone with the airline) to be charged at tripple rate. This would make my luggage almost more expensive than my flight ticket: $375 per bag! The airline attendent offers me a cartboard box, so I could have a 5th luggage piece, but each of them would then weigh less than 70 pounds. I agree, move to the side of the ticket counters, and start unpacking my cramped suitcases. Now I have 3 additional luggage pieces, but each costs then "only" $125. Well, moving to another continent is not cheap.
When standing in line of the personal X-ray scan, I meet two of my colleagues from work. What a surprise - they are on a business trip to the US East coast. A bit chatting, I grab something to drink, then we board the plane. Despite my "Frequent Flyer" Gold status, I did not get a First Class upgrade. Oh well...
Three hours stop-over in Detroit. I did not see my colleagues at the airport, as I had to make a phone call right after landing - greetings to you, guys! -, and I walk around through the airport shops. As I did not buy the lunch package that was available on the plane, I decide that for the last time for a long time, I would eat Mexican, a Fajita-Burrito. Of course, this here is not Southern California Mexican, but Detroit-style Mexican...
A one hour delay of the boarding - maintenance problem with the oxygen in the main cabin. I buy a noise-cancelling headset, a book about Great Britain, and a currency converter. Might need that to track the expenses.
Nice entertainment system on the plane! The movies can be stopped and continued individually for each passenger. I watch "The interpreter", "Monsters, Inc.", and "The Kingdom of Heaven", as we fly through the night. Do not feel sleepy at all - I had slept on the 4h flight to Detroit.
The night is short, and day breaks soon. Then a medical emergency - one passenger gets sick. We make an unscheduled stop in Shannon, Ireland, around 7:00 am local time. The passenger gets carried off the plane where he received medical emergency attention. After one hour stop, with refueling, we take off again. A brief look at Ireland during this stop, from the small windows of the plane. Deeply green landscape, natural fences out of bushes and trees parcel the land into segments. Several layers of thick clouds ly over the island, as we climb up again.
One hour later the plane arrives in Amsterdam. Since I have plenty of time, the delay does not matter. I enjoy one of those excellent Holland herring rolls and stroll around in the airport shops. No purchases - I have now to begin saving money.
The flight to Leeds is delayed too: we are already on the bus that should bring us to the plane on the tarmac, but then we are called back into the terminal. A stewardess had called in sick, and the airline could not quickly find a replacement. With 1/2 hour delay we take off.
Finally the jet lag catches up with me, and I doze off a couple of times during the short flight to Leeds. Sunny weather at the arrival at Leeds airport - a friendly welcome for me at this new place. Catherine and Graham are here to pick me up and show me to my new place to stay - a very nice welcoming gesture. I pick up my rental car, and Graham drives ahead to show me the directions. They help me with my luggage, carrying it up the stairs to my new residence. Later we have dinner together at a nice restaurant, and after that we have a beer at a local pub nearby in Headingley: with a hand-pumped "Tetley Bitter".
My first day here in the UK is over, and after I unpacked all my suitcases - surprisingly none of them was missing when I picked them up at the baggage claim - I have a good night sleep.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)