Fun in Duesseldorf
 

Hi all, this is the fun bunch reporting from Bernie's landing pad, where fun-lovin flyertalkers have begun trying to conquer the local altbier resources. This up-to-the-minute-live-report would have been started 16 hours earlier, if - and only if - the Internet café at the Rhein river hadn't shut down the last message before it was sent last night.... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif Hear all about shopping trips, Gaucho100Ks red roses and the latest gossip about Americans meeting Australians...

(from the LH lounge @DUS - Sunday 11/12 0905 local time)

I would like to post a huge THANK YOU to the three hosts that we all had at the FT DUS Event this weekend. Kudos to Bernie, Mizu and Rudi.

This was my first FT gathering, but it doesn't take a veteran to realize all the preparatory work and planning that these three Gentlemen undertook. The superb results were there for all to see and enjoy. Bernie went the extra leg by opening his house to the bunch of FT rowdys (you are one brave dude, Bernie), Mizu risked the wrath of this supervising professor by taking time off from researching his doctoral thesis (on how to chase girls on the internet) and conjuring up a sophisticated website tool for all to use and see, and Rudi (after meeting him there's no way Im calling him Papst again... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif) was his usual self, coordinating traffic, worrying about the FTalkers that were late, annoying waiters by doing their job for them, and picking fights for other people at a local pub.... LOL http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif ....

Once again, this was a great weekend, and kudos for a great organizing job.

It was great to meet all of the FT brethren present, and I look forward to continue seeing/meeting all of you on the boards and around the world.

Muchisimas gracias,

------------------
Gaucho100K


[This message has been edited by Gaucho100K (edited 11-12-2000).]

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I am in DUS with MIZU and OZSTAMPS at an internet cafe checking the board. We have had a great time and I also wish to add my thanks to bernie, MIZU, and RUDI for the work involved in making this gathering a success. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by eMailman (edited 11-13-2000).]

Danke, danke, danke http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif You know - the guests make a great party, so thanks to everyone who was (and for the most part still is) in Duesseldorf (even in spirit). We will make sure to post the (compromising) pictures from the FT extravaganza as soon as possible. Watch out for GKs encounters with Daisy, Gaucho chasing after bavarian girls (I promise: I had nothing to do with it http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif), Ozstamps discovering "dirt-cheap German airfares" and other goodies. It's been a great weekend, we are looking forward for the Bernie-do-deux...

Reporting live @ bernie's - after cleaning up my place. Took me just some 30 minutes. So no talk of FT rowdies, please. Never before had a bunch of 40 people left my place that clean.

Well I don't wanna think of how it could have been if we've met here after the goose dinner ... with all the heavy cigar smokers http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Thanks for the compliments, Gaucho. It was a pleasure meeting you ... the first Currywurst eating macho from Argentina I ever met http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Wow ypu guys are fast. I wanted to post a direct reply to Gaucho. Well as MIZU already said, the guests are making the party, too.
Thank you emailman ... see you in about half an hour at the Nikko http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

BTW the Bernie-do-deux could be ...the three mad days in february next year. The highest ranking holidays in the Rhineland.

[This message has been edited by bernie (edited 11-12-2000).]

A wonderful weekend, and fun to meet so maný Flyertalkers in person. Mizu tells me there were about 45 of us there. Miletex and I invited along our flight crew from F and C class on the incoming UA 952 ORD-DUS flight. They seemed to have a great Goosenfest dinner last night!

Best UA flight I have ever taken, with Dom Perignon etc en route, thanks to Miletex knowing seemingly every person on the flight, in the RCC, and at the check in desk.

Better than that, a whole bunch of FT#ers were flying back with the same crew today, and we introduced them all at the Goose dinner. I suspect it will be a memorable flight back for Scott The Flier, Cesco G, Punki and Joe, and auH20 who are all on that flight!

Bernie and Mizu are meeting us at lunchtime for a German lunch suggestion. Thanks for your superb local help guys.

------------------
~ Glen ~

[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 11-14-2000).]

oops - duplicate post .. darn German keyboard!

[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 11-14-2000).]

Alt Alt Alt Alt

More later this keyboard in the
fra rcc is a pain

Danke everyone!

Thanks Bernie, Mizu and Rudi for a wonderful weekend. Great to meet so many interesting people. Still recovering from the altbier!!

thers just not enough time for me yet - itßs going on this afternoon and evening (Sunday) ...

Just for the record: We found auh2o and essxjay in woken-up condition today - even miletex made a semi-sober appearance http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif After seeing the scene last night, there were some fellow FTs who doubted the survival of the few, who didn't believe Bernie's warning - don't underestimate the power of the alt.
We are eagerly awaiting the trip report of both UA953 passengers and crew DUS-ORD today... Since auh2o had his record documented "Pax advised - double upgrades not permitted", there was little hope for him of ever experiencing the first suites again... Lots to tell, so little time. Take care, everyone and enjoy tonight's Speckpfannekuchen - Rudi and I are green with envy... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Somebody has to back these guys: As I witnessed everybody was capable of speaking and eating and ready for the next ALT. It wasn't that bad ... as Mizu does want to make you believe. (Ok there could have been some make-up)

Some are even on culture this afternoon visiting the Cologne Cathedral - to where I as a Düsseldorf native couldn't join. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Thank you, Bernie, for that endorsement. But as you said this afternoon at the Nikko, it was the first time all weekend that you had seen me drinking COFFEE!!!

Great, great, great, awesome, fantastic weekend. First time back to GE since leaving in 92 after five years in country. After two hours in DUS I was ready to come back forever. Nothing like the gemüchlesheit (not to mention a computer keyboard that I can actually spell the German words correctly, except the **** y and z are transposed and I have to keep backing up to fix it!!! :-)

Bernie, mizu and Rudi, thank you for reminding me just what German and Swiss hospitality is all about. We forget about those things sometimes in America. Bernie had us drinking, eating, drinking, hanging out, drinking, talking, drinking, waiting, drinking and drinking in the best places. Can't wait for the pfannenküken tonight!!! Remember, it's been 8 years. Watching ozstamps watch me eat the whole schweineisbein this afternoon had to be a highlight. Can't wait for Weekend at Bernie's du deux.

For all who missed and were not able to come, we divided up your welcome gifts and pasted your nametags upon the wall at the altbierhaus. Don't miss the next one!!!

Für Bernard, mein neue fruend, vielen dank. Ich kommt zurück nach Februar!!!

I have to second everybody that this was a very special funweekend in DUS. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
A special thanks to the hosts!

------------------
Viele Grüße

Oliver

That last group of us are just finishing off the Konig Pilsner over at Bernie's and preparing to head off for one last dinner on the town. So much hospitality from our new friends here -- Bernie, Rudi and Mizu -- and a fine weekend introduction to Alt and Dusseldorff itself. Will post more when I am settled on the other side of the Atlantic, as will the almost 40 of us who made it over for one or more of the days.

Closing now with thanks to all who made it, and those who arranged it.

bernie, Mizu & Rudi - Thank you very, very much for planning and hosting this wonderful event. I had a fantastic time. It was a pleasure to meet all of the FlyerTalkers in person. Well done.

Gee, I can remember a time when I was the only cigar smoking, sheep loving guy on FlyerTalk.

Do you think I started a trend? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

(from the Sheraton NY)

Bernie... no offense to your currywust making friends in DUS, (I did enjoy my German-junkfood), but the best curry/brat/other wurste are only available in the great city of Wien.... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Lets plan ahead to your next trip to North America, and we'll meet either in NYC or in MEX and I will treat you a real Argentine Macho meal (i.e. 2 lbs. steaks).

Thanks again for your hospitality,


------------------
Gaucho100K

Mizu-- a question to the Chef-techniker of the FT gathering. I will be downloading the pictures I took in DUS later this week (once I buy a USB cable for my digital camera). Where should I send you the jpegs..???

PS: you have to promise not to implement any of the digital editing pranks suggested by our friend Rudi...

To Gaucho and anyone taking pictures: If you would like your digital images to be put on the website, send them to [email protected] - I will put web-sized pictures up on the web-page and the full-size pictures will be available for download.

Just got home to London - and my head is beginning to clear - await news of today's UA return flight saga http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif and looking forward to the photos. Thanks for a great weekend !

Graeme

While it's nice to finally be home after a 10 segment week, I DO wish I had spent more time in DUS.

Bernie: Thank you so much for your hospitality and generosity. Inviting 40 "strangers" to your home was above and beyond!

Mizu: Thank you for the constant lessons and Alt-drinking enocuragement!

To the planning committee including Rudi: You've again shown why Flyertalkers are the best folks on the planet!!!!


BTW, what is that brown liquid in the gift bag? Just want to know what I'm drinkin'!!!! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

THANKS AGAIN!!!

Oh, one more thing: if you DO publish those photos of me and daisy, please do be sure to blur out the very wost parts. This is, after all, a family board http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/redface.gif.

And to Rudi: Aaaaaah, Brigette, I hardly knew ye...my "lady in Orange" http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Kokodog posts: I would also like to quote Koko from this thread back in June:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum.../000386-3.html

Seems Mr. Wald "hardly" knows a lot of ladies out there. Perhaps we should start interpreting "hardly" in the density sense of the word?

Acting Commander Capcop PremEx, who has a very looooong....memory. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif


[This message has been edited by PremEx (edited 11-12-2000).]

Reporting live from Bernie's at 2:30 am...

The last FT's (ChrissMoss7, Darlene, Essxjay) just left my place, where they connected to the net to find out how to get back home in the next few hours.

Before we had Speckpfannekuchen and then went to my favorite hangout to celebrate Darlene's birthday (which was yesterday) and to start the new day celebrating AnnaS's birthday (which is today). Thanks to some very helpful people in both the restaurant and the pub we had just one more fun night.

It was a pleasure meeting all of you in person and it was even more a pleasure that I was allowed to be your host here at my hometown.

Thank you for all your compliments. Hope you enjoyed as much as I did and hope you had -or will have a safe trip back home. I'm glad I made new friends and proud to be a part of Flyertalk.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif




[This message has been edited by bernie (edited 11-12-2000).]

Before I forget to mention: Some of you may possibly see me again earlier they could ever imagine ... being those guys within the reach of my next rtw routing http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

YYZ, NYC and westcoast cities this would be. So get your excuses ready http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

BTW ... the "liquid" in the welcome gift bag is Kräuterschnaps (herbs that is). Made at the house directly across from the Uerige

I am now safely back in Calgary. Had four seats across (full flat bed!) on an A340. Got a few hours of shuteye and got more work done in 3 hours that I usually get done in 3 days (don't know if it was the lack of phone interruptions or the fresh air, Alt and great company--but I suspect the latter).

I FEEL GREAT.

After a couple of days birdwatching on the Dutch/German border (tens of thousands of geese and lapwings--no not lapdancers http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif), good food and company how else could we feel. The weather was even good (NO RAIN!). Didn't get any chance to do shopping though (all closed at 4 PM on Saturday) and there did look to be some good things from my window shopping on the way to Bernie's. Looking forward to the pictures.

Great seeing both new and old FT friends. AFAIK, we didn't start any flame wars and no one got punched out. While there were a few bleary eyes, everyone seemed to be smiling. Thanks again Bernie and Mizu and Rudi (I just had to try a cigar again after 30 years).

I walked back from Altstadt to my hotel (?3 km--25 mins, so put on about 12-14 km walking yesterday at least). I actually made it back to the station near my hotel at about the same time as the tram. Good way to work of the Alt and Schnapps. That Alt is good high octane fuel--have to try it in the car sometime. I think it's cheaper than German gasoline when you buy in bulk http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif Still lots of people passing me when I was doing 190 on the Autobahn!

Only saw one accident though (on the Autobahn). Different story in town where a truck unloading mattresses had to move to get out of the way of our tram and when he pulled out "hooked" the front fender of a parked Citroen and ripped it off! Polizei were fast as they were on scene within a minute!

Stopped in at Cologne and the impressive cathedral on the way back to Frankfurt, also did some more birdwatching in the forest.

Went to the Senator lounge at FRA (new one above gate B41, not in the round area), but it was still somewhat crowded and smoky (I know after the cigar last night why should I care)--but has showers too. Got some snacks and went over to the RCC. Not that long a walk from B41 (AC gate) and it was not busy and not smoky. They had a free internet computer but the computer keyboard was like pressing on erasers--totally frustrating. Nice to be on the home board. Fast and comfortable. Gotta stay up so I get back on the right time zone.

how do i thank thee? mizu, bernie,rudi and emailman... and special double heartful thanks to rudi for a memorable afternoon in zurich!

that was the most wonderful weekend i had spent with almost 50 people i have never met, (not that i go often to a foreign city to gather with strangers on a last minute notice... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif) but someone (the name shall remain confidential)told me that one always feels like this for his-her very FIRST time, and it goes down hill from here... i sure hope not.... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

it is indeed my utmost pleasure to have met each and everyone of the FTers in DUS, and i would try to participate in more of the future FT fun meetings such as this....

if ever any of you happen to be in atlanta, please do email me....

bisous à tous
hugs and kisses to ALL,
belle,

at a free Compaq terminal on my way to gate 75 to catch DL 67 back to Atlanta

Well, survived another night of drinking with the dozen of us still survivng the weekend, and toasting AnnaS birthday party last night/this morning. Woke up at 10am ... this is the life!

Several of us yesterday afternoon/evening with Bernie's urging went by train to Cologne to visit the beautiful old Cathedral. We used a little known German ticketing secret (that Bernie may or may not have accidentally mentioned http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif and paid ZERO fare in each direction.) Now THAT is a fare even Priceline can't beat!

We went shopping along the Konigsallee, and fly out soon in C on DUS-ORD with Miletex and AnnaS on United. Hope Miletex knows the crew on THIS flight too! Drinking all that Dom Perignon gets to be habit forming. Then to SFO and SYD and ADL ... 30 hours of straight flying before I get back. All that flying on One Systemwide upgrade ... thank you United. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Thaks again for translating the menus last night Bernie and picking another couple of great places .... none of us would have had a clue otherwise what we about to order!!

And also a "thank you" for the well thought out and fascinating Dusseldorf goodie bags we all received. What a lovely thought from the "Alt Committee." The Asprins in there were the first things used, I am here to tell you.

------------------
~ Glen ~



[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 11-14-2000).]

Well, too early I am already back and at my desk this MO morning. Definetly a real fun weekend in DUS among all those FT friends.

The memorable flight with "our" crew on UA 953 really topped it all off. Kathy, Shirley and Roger are just a great group of FAs and took really great care of us six FTs. A really memorable flight.

A thousand thanks to Bernie, Mizu and Rudi: You really made this a unforgettable experience in Duesseldorf!

[This message has been edited by cesco.g (edited 11-13-2000).]

Thank you Bernie, Mizu and Rudi.

And to those who were wondering, I did manage to get my entire case of ALT through customs. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Thanks again for wonderful memories. Wait, what are memories? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

And the flight crew on 930 was awesome. Dom for all.

[This message has been edited by auh2o (edited 11-13-2000).]

Thanks again to all for a wonderful time in Düsseldorf (hey this keyboard has umlats!). For me first FT meeting, the food and fellowhship surpassed all expectations. I'll post more when I have the time (read back at work). Now I'm in Köln and I will openlly admit, the Alt in Düsseldorf is better than the Kölsh in Köln!

That's it for now, I'll take some notes on the remaining travels to post later.

Till next time,
Freefaller12k

Picture alert! The first set of photos is on-line at http://www.workflow-research.de/flye...uesseldorf.htm
There were a couple of digital cameras around, so if anyone wants his/her photos added, please e-mail me...

Watch end enjoy http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Mizu

wouwwww!

Alt Alt Alt (sheep) Alt Alt Alt (Gänsebraten) Alt Alt Alt

Tremendous http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif Nice color and clarity (unlike some of the participants at that point).

Thanks Mizu!

WOW MIZU .... EXCELLENT .... MORE PLEASE !!!

This makes your Düsseldorf Altbier website just perfect.

... it's a pity you don't have a pic showing our friend from Argentina eating german junkfood http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by bernie (edited 11-13-2000).]

bernie, I could have sworn I saw a picture of Gaucho scarfing a Daisy-burger sans bun? (I had one also, what the heck was that made from?) Anyway, he'll be eating hot-dogs at Yankee Stadium before we know it. Talk about "mystery-meat".

[This message has been edited by transpac (edited 11-13-2000).]