We made it back safely last night. Whew. An amazing trip all around. I have lots of pictures, but it will take me a little while to get them together. I did a lot of thinking about what technology would be necessary to cut down the post processing time. I'd like to be able to merge the image capture and image processing into a single operation. Point, click, publish all in one step. Of course, that won't happen, but I think we'll get a lot closer this year. I know someone (Kodak?) has a digital still camera out (or about to be out) with a built in modem so you can just connect your camera to a phone jack and then email the pictures to someone. Neat, although this system mandates you connect to their central server and send everything through their system, so I can't see that design working well. But the idea is nice. Personally, I'm more interested in a full powered, relatively small notebook computer with global wireless internet access (yeah, right.) Then I want all my peripherals (cameras) to wirelessly connect (bluetooth?) to my notebook. This way I can walk around with my notebook in my backpack and take pictures. I could script fireworks to do a batch resize (can you script photoshop? Not that it matters, I could do something with imageMagik) and the pictures would already be on my server without much intervention. Video is a little more complicated, as editing needs more of the human touch than resizing photos, but still, just having all the batch capturing done automatically would be great. I'd get back to the hotel at night, and all my video would already be on my notebook's hard drive. A couple glasses of wine later I could have it crudely edited and on the way to my server. I guess eventually my notebook could be my server, but that global wireless connection isn't coming this year (or next) so that will have to wait. Still, eventually I expect to have the digitalmediatree on a computer the size of a pack of cigarettes that I just carry around in my pocket. I don't know how long for that. Seven years?
Anyway, Amsterdam is a great city. Beautiful old city. Reminded me of parts of Cambridge Mass, but I guess the similarities probably run the other way. More like the West Village than Midtown, except with canals running everywhere. Lots of people on bicycles, and they have the right of way over pedestrians which was a little hard to keep in mind. I had thought that the city might be overrun with kids (listen to me) or deadheads or whatever, but this was not the case. Maybe it is worse in the summer, but even the coincidental happening of a rather large counter cultural event made little impression out in the streets. But thanks to that event we were able to see Patti Smith at the Melkweg Club. I had never seen her before and I am converted. She rules. I almost cried during one song.
The food winner was a fish restaurant called Lucias (I'll check that spelling, and you'll see the pictures.) We went twice. Mussels and frites are my new favorite meal. I don't know if Bellgo (Lafayette St., NYC) will do it for me, but you can bet I'll be stopping in there soon for a little cross pond comparison.
In Iceland our accomodations were a little more "poshed up" (as the phrase goes.) The Hotel Borg is definitely the place to stay in Reykjavic. After sharing the little (and very cool) houseboat in Amsterdam, having three rooms was quite a luxury. The main thing to do in Iceland is drink. And on the weekends it is the only thing to do. I thought it was some kind of festival we were there for, and indeed, it was quite festive, with the crowds going strong out in the streets past 6:00 am (or so the Wheel reports.) Evidently I was mistaken though, and this is what they do every weekend. Mostly they drink hard liquor (which I try to stay away from, not couting those vodka berry drinks at the Melkweg) but a few places have started to introduce the vine. A nice wine bar just around the corner from the hotel, and a great restaurant called Sommalier where I had a small bite of reindeer and another of smoked lamb carpaccio. Sometimes you just have to cut loose.
I didn't think that late November was the right time to head almost to the arctic circle, but it turned out to be great. The light, as I mentioned before, is really spectacular. We took two long drives in our rented four wheel drive vehicle (a must.) Lots of pictures from these ventures, so I won't describe execpt to say that it was spectacular. The second drive up the coast especially. I definitely have some suggestions for routes, so feel free to email me for more info if you are planning to head to the icy north.
One week in tight quarters with four people and possibly a bit too much partying can be trying. I think it has probably been the end of more than one friendship. I'm glad to report (at least from my perspective) that we came through with barely a scratch. To Mike and Alex and MB: thanks for everything. You guys are the best. What a short great trip it's been.
But this year's show with Prime Minister Geir Haarde was cut short 45 minutes into the program when a torch-wielding crowd stormed Reykjavik's Hotel Borg in an attempt to get to the studio.
"There he is! Get him!"
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Anyway, Amsterdam is a great city. Beautiful old city. Reminded me of parts of Cambridge Mass, but I guess the similarities probably run the other way. More like the West Village than Midtown, except with canals running everywhere. Lots of people on bicycles, and they have the right of way over pedestrians which was a little hard to keep in mind. I had thought that the city might be overrun with kids (listen to me) or deadheads or whatever, but this was not the case. Maybe it is worse in the summer, but even the coincidental happening of a rather large counter cultural event made little impression out in the streets. But thanks to that event we were able to see Patti Smith at the Melkweg Club. I had never seen her before and I am converted. She rules. I almost cried during one song.
The food winner was a fish restaurant called Lucias (I'll check that spelling, and you'll see the pictures.) We went twice. Mussels and frites are my new favorite meal. I don't know if Bellgo (Lafayette St., NYC) will do it for me, but you can bet I'll be stopping in there soon for a little cross pond comparison.
In Iceland our accomodations were a little more "poshed up" (as the phrase goes.) The Hotel Borg is definitely the place to stay in Reykjavic. After sharing the little (and very cool) houseboat in Amsterdam, having three rooms was quite a luxury. The main thing to do in Iceland is drink. And on the weekends it is the only thing to do. I thought it was some kind of festival we were there for, and indeed, it was quite festive, with the crowds going strong out in the streets past 6:00 am (or so the Wheel reports.) Evidently I was mistaken though, and this is what they do every weekend. Mostly they drink hard liquor (which I try to stay away from, not couting those vodka berry drinks at the Melkweg) but a few places have started to introduce the vine. A nice wine bar just around the corner from the hotel, and a great restaurant called Sommalier where I had a small bite of reindeer and another of smoked lamb carpaccio. Sometimes you just have to cut loose.
I didn't think that late November was the right time to head almost to the arctic circle, but it turned out to be great. The light, as I mentioned before, is really spectacular. We took two long drives in our rented four wheel drive vehicle (a must.) Lots of pictures from these ventures, so I won't describe execpt to say that it was spectacular. The second drive up the coast especially. I definitely have some suggestions for routes, so feel free to email me for more info if you are planning to head to the icy north.
One week in tight quarters with four people and possibly a bit too much partying can be trying. I think it has probably been the end of more than one friendship. I'm glad to report (at least from my perspective) that we came through with barely a scratch. To Mike and Alex and MB: thanks for everything. You guys are the best. What a short great trip it's been.
- jim 11-26-2000 1:19 pm
- jim 1-01-2009 10:47 pm
"There he is! Get him!"
- tom moody 1-02-2009 5:34 am