HT From Germany, joined May 2005, 6473 posts, RR: 27 Posted (6 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 2684 times:
In the aftermath of the ZRH-Meeting on 29-JUL a number of people sat together in the IBIS-hotel and were discussing options for a next meeting.
Seeing the need for some time to do the planning, the idea was to hold a meeting in a location with rather mild climate sometime late-fall. In addition, suggestion was to hold the meeting in a place that offers some more distraction than just the airport ...
Barcelona (BCN) was agreed upon to be the first choice:
Spotting is said to be good around the airport with a good mix of a/c & carriers.
The city itself is very insteresting.
Flights to BCN are available virtually from all over Europe on LCCs and Legacy Carriers.
The airport is well connected to the city center (railway, bus, taxi).
Hotels near the airport tend to be cheaper than "downtown".
Mid-November should offer still some mild weather.
The idea of dates is as follows. Date: Saturday, 11-NOV-2006 for spotting at the airport
optional: Sunday, 12-NOV-2006: Join a narrated City Sightseeing Tour starting at Plaza Catalunya.
Some quick checks revealed the following:
A flight on LX from Germany to BCN currently sells at 123 EUR (Friday to Monday).
4*-hotel Tryp Barcelona Aeropuerto charges 78 EUR per night (single occ. including breakfast) and offers a free Shuttle-bus. Other options ?
Requests:
Is there interest in such a meeting ?
Is the date okay ? Or would there be substancial interest in postponing the meeting by one week ?
Can anybody Local share some insights about spotting at BCN ? Providing a website ?
Would anybody Local be willing to help in organizing the meeting incl. taking over the lead of the grpup when it comes to walking from A to B ?
-HT
Carpe diem ! Life is too short to waste your time ! Keep in mind, that today is the first day of the rest of your life !
LO231 From Belgium, joined Sep 2004, 2299 posts, RR: 25 Reply 1, posted (6 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 2654 times:
We talked about it in Zurich. Count me in, gotta check Vueling and Virgin Express though for the timings.
Regards,
LO231
PS. Airport being so close to the city, shouldn't we saty in a hotel in town? Just an idea, also it might be easier to get to a restaurant or something. Unless a good shutle to the airport till like 11pm..
Got both LO 788 frames already, next SN BRU-VCE-BRU
PlymSpotter From Spain, joined Jun 2004, 11134 posts, RR: 63 Reply 5, posted (6 years 9 months 4 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 2585 times:
Quoting JRadier (Reply 4): For me it makes or breaks with the costs, as I am thinking about getting my PPL next year.
Ah, likewise - I'm hoping to start properly next year
Just to confirm, those dates are fine for me, and if they weren't then they would be made to be fine somehow
I know the city quite well and have been there several times, and several friends live there. I would suggest that we try and see some of the following in the city:
Sagrada Familia (Church by Gaudi, about 8 Euros entry)
Nou Camp
Waterfront
Park Guell
...all other suggestions just say.
Generally all the attractions are quite during November but the temperature is still pleasant, along the waterfront and in the city centre there are many good restaurants; reasonable prices for very good food - when I was there in May with a group of friends it cost us 20-30 Euros each for dinner, depending just how much we ate and drank! I'd suggest a hotel in the city though, can get some great deals and it would be less expensive to get back at night than the airport, which is about a 20-30 Euro cab ride. Getting around the city is really easy on the metro system or busses, again very reasonable in cost - I think its something like 5-6 Euros for a 10 journey ticket.
Best thing about Barcelona is, that if your budget doesn't stretch that far you can fly Ryanair into Gerona or Salou
PSA727 From United States of America, joined Feb 2006, 972 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 2577 times:
I think I can make this meet. I love Barcelona and I haven't been
there since last June. Airfares drop considerably from the U.S. in
November, so getting a reasonable ticket shouldn't be a problem.
I do agree with some others about staying in the city as opposed to
an airport hotel. The train between BCN and Sants Station doesn't
run that often...I think it's only 2X or 3X per hour and then it ends
around 12am. So if we're out at night in the city, there might be a
problem getting back at a reasonable price.
Beaucaire From Syria, joined Sep 2003, 5252 posts, RR: 26 Reply 7, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 2576 times:
Count me in - it's a nice drive from Arles to Barcelona and I have always loved Barcelona ...
Used to live in Castelldefels for 6 months - BCN is a nice airport (when they are not on strike..)
Sunshine79 From UK - England, joined Jan 2006, 1758 posts, RR: 34 Reply 12, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 2546 times:
I might participate on this meet. I might fly with IB on their MD80 from ALC, but might wait until Vueling release the prices for then. Will let you know nearer the time.
And:
Thanks for the replies sofar.
A hotel downtown is also okay with me. To be safe, I´ll try to block a room at my favourite Tryp Apolo later today for the weekend in question.
We will have to see if there is match going on on that day; IIRC the museum and the stadium itself are closed on match days, but will try to find out later.
The Sagrada Familia really should be a must for first-time visitors to Barcelona.
Quoting PlymSpotter (Reply 5): I know the city quite well and have been there several times, and several friends live there.
And suddenly we have a guide available ...
-HT
Carpe diem ! Life is too short to waste your time ! Keep in mind, that today is the first day of the rest of your life !
JJJ From Spain, joined May 2006, 1621 posts, RR: 2 Reply 15, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 2516 times:
I'm a 2:30 h. drive away from BCN. There's no way at this point to know if I will be available for the dates, but would love to go there and meet you.
I go to BCN at least half a dozen times a year (I have family there) and use BCN airport from time to time (to fly KL and OK) so I know the city pretty well.
BCN can get a bit rainy & windy in November but nowhere near Brit levels, so it should be pretty ok.
EHHO From Bulgaria, joined Dec 2005, 815 posts, RR: 8 Reply 19, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 2489 times:
Count me in the maybe-section... I'll be able to clear whether or not I'm coming by September 1st. I've got a friend on an Erasmus exchange there, so I'm going to Barcelona for sure this fall, but the downside is that I might be having to go to Moscow around that time too. I'll sort it out this month.
But I'm defenitely thinking of joining you on November 11th.
Max at EHHO
"Get your facts first. Then you may distort them as much as you please" -- Mark Twain
I would like to put down in the maybe section as i am currently looking for another job and don't if i would be able to get the time if i get a new job.
regards
tomatltn
Boxing Day Test Match in Melbourne i be there and will you
Don't know if all these spotting points are (will be) accessible. As you know, a lot of construction work is currently going on at BCN due to the construction of the new terminal (which will be even bigger than Madrid's new T4). This huge new building is due to open in 2008.
If we finally attend this meet we could guide you through Barcelona, I've been working in Barcelona for some time and also visited this city many many times.
Carpe diem ! Life is too short to waste your time ! Keep in mind, that today is the first day of the rest of your life !
25 Yirina77: Hi there, I would be interested too in BCN meeting.
26 FutureFO: So far I will say add me in. I have yet to get the days in to management, but the way my luck is running I should be able to get the time off. Lets ke
27 Thatplaneguy: Add me to the "maybe" list for now. I will confirm asap, and does anyone have any info on spotting at BCN? Can a ramp tour be arranged? How about goin
28 DeltaWings: I could possibly come. I will see how much the flights cost.
29 IberiaA319: Barcelona-Zaragoza will be on that weekend, it's still unknown if they are playing on Saturday or on Sunday. Espanyol will be playing in San Sebastia
30 DeltaWings: Hmm.. and a flight from ZRH to BCN roundtrip on LX currently sells at 816 €. How can that be??
32 HT: On http://www.swiss.com I find fares as follows: Most flight segments between ZRH and BCN (v/v) on 10-NOV thru 13-NOV are being sold at 69,50 CHF in
33 Zruda: I'll join Yirina in the maybe list, depends on money but probably everything will be OK
34 HT: Oh, I slipped my attention ...: Welcome on A.net ! Updated list: Attendees: LO231 PlymSpotter HT Beaucaire Maybe: EHHO IberiaA319 IBERIA747 TomatLTN
35 LO231: The rule in this case is min. 2 days, so if you look Sat-Sun it gives you over 800 EUR, try Friday-Sunday. Regardsn LO231
36 HT: As a location somewhere downtown (in contrast to "at the airport") was preferred, I did some search for hotels. Personally, I´ve stayed at two locati
37 HT: I get other results for Saturday to Sunday on swiss.com ... It still is shown as 248.50 CHF return (picture in German, but I think it is explains on
40 PlymSpotter: I stayed there when I visited for a short break last December, I booked really late, just a few days before leaving and it was the cheapest. Room was
42 LO231: I booked Auto Hogar hotel, good price, 117 EUR for 2 nights with buffet breakfast.. Updated list: Attendees: LO231 PlymSpotter HT Beaucaire Maybe: EH
43 HT: I booked my flights on LX at 123.82 EUR (and hope they will get me to BCN ...) Updated list: Attendees: LO231 PlymSpotter HT Beaucaire Maybe: EHHO Ibe
44 LO231: Good luck! I just add another name, Tony, who was at the CPH meet will join me in BCN: Updated list: Attendees: LO231 + Tony PlymSpotter HT Beaucaire
45 PSA727: It looks like getting the time off from work won't be a problem. Airlines usually have fare sales to Europe for Fall travel at the end of August and e
46 IberiaA319: The museum at the stadium can be visited every day (even if there's a football match on the same day). Saturdays from 10 am until 6.30 pm Sundays fro
47 HT: I've seen it before and I think it is a good way to spend one (1) early evening ... Muchas gracias for the info ! -HT
48 Yirina77: I´ll probably come on next flights: 10th November Prague-Barcelona OK 688 arrival to BCN 13:00 or OK 696 arrival to BCN 22:55 13th November Barcelona
49 Beaucaire: I'll be driving friday afternoon from Arles to Barcelona and should be there in the evening.Haven't booked any hotel so far,but let you know. We can t
50 Yirina77: Great, I think Zruda´ll come on the same flight as me, so we´ll try to get on sooner flight which is arriving afternoon and have more time... So, m
51 JJJ: You shouldn't have any problem on getting on the 1st flight of the day, as there are nearly always a couple of empty rows and November is not exactly
53 HT: Provided that LX gets me to BCN on time on that Friday, I'll arrive at 1400h. After that it is either meeting some more arrivals at the airport or I
54 Yirina77: Ok, I´ll try ask some my friends who have been there before, maybe they can give us some recommendation, where to go or what to do...
55 HT: Placa Catalunya should be the place to go to first, then take a stroll down the Ramblas towards Rambla de Mar and Barceloneta. We should be able to f
56 Yirina77: Ok, does somebody knows, if there is some iranian (persian) restaurant in Barcelona? I´d love to have a dinner there. There is none in Czech, so I ha
57 HT: Since the big clean-up for the 1992 Olympics there is a beach stretching from Barceloneta to the Olympic harbour. This is basically where the "Rambla
58 HT: results sofar: http://www.bcn.es/turisme/english/turisme/rutes/gastron_int_fr.htm lists under category "Asian": "Mesopotamia, in Carrer de Verdi, on
59 Yirina77: Perfect info, thank youuuu You´re great organizer
60 HT: For those who are interested in a guided tour of Barcelona, there is a hop-on hop-off Tourist bus running on two routes. http://www.tmb.net/en_US/turi
61 JJJ: Forget the rambla and take at least a couple of side-streets to the right (south), prices will drop and rations will be bigger. Most of the rambla is
62 IberiaA319: birra that's Italian....! In Catalan it's: cervesa or canya (draught beer) In Spanish almost the same: cerveza or caña ....are not sold after 10 pm
63 HT: Massive Thanks for the info ! What about the Basque region ? IIRC, this was a later deadline a few years ago ? Was it moved to 10pm due to the proble
64 Yirina77: Thats exactly what Im looking for, thanks a lot
65 JJJ: Botellon. And yes, you're right, but people just go and take the stuff earlier
66 RootsAir: Depending on the cost of the ticket(not more than 200 SFr I will attend this meet) Hope to see all you there!
67 RootsAir: As a Real Madrid fan...NO WAY I will ever put a foot inside that museum !
68 IberiaA319: You are welcome! Just ask if you have more questions! Mmmm, I guess not
69 JJJ: It's 'garagardo' in euskera Anyway, a lot of people around here say 'hacerse unas birras' while around MAD would say 'tomarse unas cañas' so HT may
70 Yirina77: Don´t say twice, Im abnormally curious...
71 IBERIA747: Hi everyone!!. Wow I am replying to this thread really late!. I am definitely interested in attending this meet. I have missed two important meets th
72 Yirina77: So isn´t the right time to refresh attendee list now? Who´ll do it? Any volunteer?
73 Beaucaire: Thanks for the indication- Persian food (Pilav..) is great and I gladly join any parties dining in that place...
74 RootsAir: I have just seen excellent prices with Air Nostrum. Its only 50 francs more expensive than EasyJet but their excellent service makes the extra pay wo
75 Alphafloor: Un meeting en Barcelona ? Sounds good Added to the 'Maybe' list Updated list: Attendees: LO231 + Tony PlymSpotter HT Beaucaire Maybe: EHHO IberiaA319
77 RootsAir: I shall be making up a website for this meeting just as I did for the ZRH meet then its totally normal to support Barça... Sería un placer conocerte
81 Yirina77: so my flights will be: 10th November PRG-BCN OK 688 arrival: 13:00 13rd November BCN-PRG OK 689 departure 13:50
82 HT: I updated the list and added section "Dinner at Persian restaurant" Attendees: LO231 + Tony PlymSpotter HT Beaucaire Maybe: EHHO IberiaA319 IBERIA747
83 Yirina77: Im adding Zruda to "Dinner at Persian restaurant" she is interested too, we talked about this event yesterday...
84 EZYAirbus: count me in provided i get time off from work! ill be arriving from LTN on EZY Glenn
86 EZYAirbus: Ill be interested in dinner too at the restaurant Updated list ... Attendees: LO231 + Tony PlymSpotter HT Beaucaire Maybe: EHHO IberiaA319 IBERIA747 T
87 LO231: Tony is out of brackets, definite for the restaurant..: Attendees: LO231 + Tony PlymSpotter HT Beaucaire Maybe: EHHO IberiaA319 IBERIA747 TomatLTN Th
88 RootsAir: Just a question. Whilst I love Persian food, don't you think it would be great to make this meet more authentic and go for some tapas...just a sugges
89 HT: The persian food was added upon request of Yirina77, as apparently there is no persian restaurant in Prague. Tapas etc. could/should be the choice fo
90 RootsAir: no probs Depending on my budget I guess you can add me on the maybe list. Just hope its not too expensive !
91 Yirina77: There is web pages of this restaurant. Menu with prices and pictures included...you can see.... http://www.rinconpersa.com/index.php?iId=3 oooooh, I
92 Aerobalance: Add myself + 1 as a 'maybe, thanks!
93 RootsAir: It doesn't look that expensive.... I guess I could come...take care
94 HT: The restaurant is within walking distance (15-20 minutes) to the two hotels Tryp Apolo and Auto Hogar situated next to "Mercat de Sant Antoni" in Barr
95 RootsAir: In Latin america its very common to say BIRRA.
96 IberiaA319: Hi Braulio!! Well, as JJJ already mentioned, here in Spain it's a colloquial word which is used informally for beer (in Spanish and in Catalan), it's
97 Kazzie: Only £41 RTN to REU with FR.... Ii dunno I may go for it
98 LO231: And another 50 to get to the place you want to be, what a deal. C'mon Kaz, there must be reasonable option to get to actual BCN? Regards, LO231
99 Kazzie: Well i could go see Family in REU so shouldnt be to bad... I dunno though, I doubt it to be honest
100 RootsAir: Oh like that ok Didn't know you say Birra as well in Spain.But I did know about caña.. Espero verte en el BCN Meet Hasta pronto Braulio
101 Rpaillard: Hi all, You can now count on me! Inbound: November, 11 EAS/BCN, IB8851, 7:30, arrival at 8:50 Outbounf: November, 12 BCM/EAS, IB8856, 19:55, arrival a
102 JJJ: And flying the excellent Air Nostrum service
103 HT: Amadeus.net --> DH3 "DENIM AIR FOR AIR NOSTRUM" - Is this of relevance ? I amended some a/c types ... Updated list ... Attendees: LO231 + Tony PlymSp
104 ThePRGuy: If its a saturday as said, I will be there. I'll bring my friend Robert most probably. Alex Edit - we are booked on BA flights in and out. Arriving in
105 Rpaillard: Glad to learn that! It will be my first time with IB/Air Nostrum/DENIM AIR It will aslo be my first time at EAS ... And my first time in BCN. So a lo
106 JJJ: IB flight numbers 8*** are all air nostrum operated. Denim Air is a Dutch company which was some time ago acquired by Air Nostrum. All Dash-8 in Air
107 Rpaillard: Hi JJJ, Thanks for your input! Raphael
108 HT: Updated list ... Attendees: LO231 + Tony PlymSpotter HT Beaucaire RPaillaird ThePRGuy + Robert Maybe: EHHO IberiaA319 IBERIA747 TomatLTN Thatplaneguy
110 RootsAir: OK FOLKS...I HAVE JUST BOOKED MY FLIGHT SO I CONFIRM MY PRESENCE Updated list ... Attendees: LO231 + Tony PlymSpotter HT Beaucaire RPaillaird ThePRGuy
111 ThePRGuy: UPDATE as i have changed my outbound flight back to LHR Updated list ... Attendees: LO231 + Tony PlymSpotter HT Beaucaire RPaillaird ThePRGuy + Robert
112 Yirina77: I moved myself to ATTENDEES, I just issued my ticket... Updated list ... Attendees: LO231 + Tony PlymSpotter HT Beaucaire RPaillaird ThePRGuy + Robert
113 HT: please use the continuation thread BCN Meet November- Part 2 (by RootsAir Aug 16 2006 in Non Aviation)[Edited 2006-08-16 20:14:59]
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