Other Cities :: International

skipexcalibur · Posted: 5/11/2009, 04:46

Gaston,

Yeah, the Coach got a little intense with the three postings, my apologies. Have to keep him away from electronic equipment.

Mon ami, facilities ONLY count when you have multiple offerings within a 1.5 hour driving distance. Since Weasel and I reside where one can only THINK about good food and wine as you so eloquently point out (touche for the Mac comment and geography lesson, btw), similarly, we can only THINK about the other diversions. Not to put too fine a point on it but it is highly unlikely we are making the visit across the pond to inspect the décor or the coffee machines or the temperature of the saunas. Do they really serve food at these venues? Somehow I never noticed…

I think that perhaps I detect a little of that continental snobbishness is starting to creep back in after the Coach worked so hard on having you appreciate your bounty. Perhaps a year on assignment in very southern Canada would improve your perspective. And, to set the record straight, the fair queen of the Hof is only grumpy if one deserves the treatment and smokes small cigars...

I vividly remember your dodgy purveyor, which is why I suggest that you go try some FRESH exotic meat down under. You don’t have to make the flight all at one time anyway and it would be a fine diversion from Provence. Easily done on your August holiday! Surely you must tire of all of that fine food and wine you are forced to consume by virtue of your locale sometime.

Fred,

I seriously doubt that you will ever lure Gaston to Frankfurt, even with food. Anything over his drive limit (mentioned above) is akin to his visiting OZ. You are getting really good at this EE thing. If the Coach ever makes it back you will have to give him a tour.

Anyway, gentlemen, keep up the fine reporting, it is much appreciated.

Ciao,
Skip

G.laGaffe · Posted: 5/11/2009, 14:37

Skip,

I see your point on facilities and agree there. It's indeed a luxury choice I have. I was just yesterday examining potential lunch addresses within reasonable distance of Elsdorf and found some interesting Guide Michelin -listed options. Now if I venture there, you will have a REALLY extensive food report, I promise. Still, some facilities are important for over-the-big-water travellers I presume. If you go for a week or so and visit multiple venues, you do want some space to relax in between sessions and you'll have to eat eventually. It can't be all Macs and the Colonels criminal chicken, can it ? O, it can, I just hear Fred state ;-)

Continental snobbishness ? Moi ?? Just because I prefer the Provence over Oz ??? Once upon a time I was nearly getting an assignment in Stockholm in wintertime. I was almost in full panic mode. Dark, depressive and have you ever seen the prices for a fair bottle of wine there ? If you go out and buy yourself, you have to enter a state-controlled outlet which makes you feel (on purpose, certainement) that you are a semi-criminal drug user. And I'm not even talking about the ladies...
Then they treathened me to send to Vienna. O boy, would I have been happy... Good food, available Balkan Babes a-plenty. Unfortunately that was blown off at the last moment.

Fred,
Now THAT was Sauer talk... I trust it didn't spoil your lunch too much. Then again, I wonder what one can expect from lunch in Warsaw. One even gets better food in Frankfurt - provided one does not venture into those Sachsenhausen tourist traps. No, I did not make it into 'My Way' yet. My favorite 'Laufhaus' is the big one on Elbestrasse. Actually I haven't been in Frankfurt for 2 years or so, save using the airport for a loooong transcontinental flight (Lufthansa, crap service, crap Airbus, even more crap catering).

amicalement,

Gaston.
(aiming for Elsdorf next week if all is well, and planning to buy some wine en route)

fred · Posted: 5/11/2009, 16:41

Hello Gaston,

"If you go for a week or so and visit multiple venues, you do want some space to relax in between sessions and you'll have to eat eventually. It can't be all Macs and the Colonels criminal chicken, can it ? O, it can, I just hear Fred state ;-)"

Oh, you are soooo wrong. If Mac D needs people like me, they would be first in line for bail out money. No fast food for me!

Since you touch on some nerves, I must give you a taste of my tastes. Shall we? :)

Macau - despite violent protest from my Russian sweetheart at Darlings to order something in after our first 90 minutes session, I opted to leave the club for a 3 course meal with winter melon soup, seafood in a clay plot, and dessert (not fortune cookies as you may accuse me of). Then I returned to her within the 2 hours limit she imposed on me.

Giessen - before going to World, I would have a pasta dish at Adria, a nice Italian restaurant as I am getting tired of club food.

Frankfurt - Thai House right across from My Way is not a bad place

Warsaw - Have you tried
1. the pasta dishes or the lamb chop at Parmizzanno's at the Marriott?
2. Smoothie as part of the breakfast at the Marriott?
3. Delicious cheese cake as part of the breakfast at Sobieski?
4. Polish soup served in a bowl made of bread?
5. Ruskie - Russian style dumplings?
6. Fruti di Marie at Rusticoni Ristorante in Warsaw Centrum?
7. White Russian (a mixed drink)?
8. Garlic shrimp at Someplace Else at the Sheraton?

"Continental snobbishness ? Moi ??"

Absolutely. Don't deny it.

"Once upon a time I was nearly getting an assignment in Stockholm in wintertime. I was almost in full panic mode. Dark, depressive and have you ever seen the prices for a fair bottle of wine there ?"

Before you get on the plane, go to the duty free shop. That worked great for me when I was going to Czech and Poland - got a bottle of Mozart Gold on sale for dessert and early morning breakfast for only 10 euros (normal price = 14 euros) before I left for CZ Republic and two big bottles of Bailey for 25 euros before I left for Warsaw.

"Fred, Now THAT was Sauer talk... I trust it didn't spoil your lunch too much."

No, I wash off the sour taste with a gallon of Polish beer - Zywiec.

"No, I did not make it into 'My Way' yet. My favorite 'Laufhaus' is the big one on Elbestrasse."

My Way in the winter time is not as open / inviting compared to the summer time. You have to go through the door to get in now. I have not done interviews at that Eros Center yet. Sooner or later, you know..... :)

"Lufthansa, crap service, crap Airbus, even more crap catering"

High Five! They only take good care of the Elite customers in their FF program. As to the Gold Alliance members, they don't treat us as nice as United Airlines to Premier Exec members. Expect knee crushing experience if you are stuck in Economy when the passenger in front of you suddenly recline! I avoid Lufthansa as much as possible.

In contrast, LOT Polish Airlines have very friendly, pretty and sexy flight attendants.

Regards,
Fred

P.S. Coach, you are right. It's a very tough job to keep Grasshopper to FOCUS. Ha Ha....

fred · Posted: 7/11/2009, 02:49

Coach Skip and Gaston,

Going through the ISO in Warsaw, I came across this - http://www.odloty.tv/cd/popup_image.php/pID/19656/page/2

She's the taller and thinner version of a superb provider at FKK Palace - a combo of sweetheart and porn star experience. She's great for trio too for 30 or 60 minutes....

Regards,
Fred