Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/09/21
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]One of our local low-cost carriers in Germany (TUIFly) allows 5 kilos (about 10 lbs) of cabin baggage + 1 laptop. They however never seem to check the weight of the hand baggage (a smallish camera back pack), but they do check the size in a sort of frame in front of the check-in counter. They probably think that nobody is daft enough to carry quite a bit more more than 5 kilos in a small backpack :-) I have found that most German stores DO accept Visa or Mastercard, but very, very reluctantly - most of them prefer to use direct-debit (Maestro) with or without PIN input, or straight cash. Cheers Douglas Clive Moss wrote: > Have you had any problems with carry-on weight on local airlines? Many > airlines weight limit of 15lbs or so is loosely enforced, but a killer if > one has a laptop and camera gear. I had to check a carry-on on my last trip > back from Australia, but they fortunately did not weigh my camera bag, > which > was smaller, but probably weighed more! > -- > Clive > http://clive.moss.net/blog > > > On Sat, Sep 20, 2008 at 2:44 PM, <grduprey@mchsi.com> wrote: > > >> Steve, >> >> Well the same security checks that are seen at US airports are in effect >> here, and in my experience not a big deal. The lines seem shorter here >> though. Train security is pretty much non-existant, and this is the area >> where you need to watch your bags for theft. So far we have been lucky, >> but >> I do keep an eye out for curious characters. So far we have used local >> airlines twice, TUI Fly and German Wings, and the train 3 times with good >> results. For the train we decided to go with the EuroPass which seems to >> be >> pretty painless, although it is expensive to purchase, but over all it >> runs >> a bit less for overall cost, and you ride first class, so you get seats >> with >> more comfort and also have power outlets for your computer and other >> electrical toys. One problem with the EuroPass is it may not be valid in >> the ex-Soviet block countries... Ours was not valid in Poland, so we had >> to >> pay for the train to Berlin, although not very expensive at all. >> >> Concerning electrical devices, most if not all current devices work on all >> power sources, so you need only a plug adapter, not the old converters. I >> have sleep apnea, so I use a CPAP machine, I had no adapter plug, so I >> used >> a power adapter from our trip 4 years ago, it did not have enough juice to >> run it. A quick trip to the Saturn store and they had a chord that fit >> and >> now I have a proper power connector with cable. The M8 charger comes with >> the plug needed, and I got a plug kit from my Apple dealer in the US prior >> to leaving to use with the MackBook power cube and cable. So make sure >> you >> have the proper plug. >> >> For the most part the trip has been relatively trouble free. Even the >> Taxis in Poland are reliable and cheap. I will say that between our trip >> in >> '04 and this one, things in Poland have greatly improved, we have had no >> problems finding people who speak English (Which is good as my attempts at >> learning Polish are poor at best, a very complicated language for me) and >> credit/cash cards are accepted just about everywhere, which is more than I >> can say about Germany credit card wise. Outside of the Credit/Cash card >> problem, Germany is great also. >> >> Gene >> >> -------------- Original message ---------------------- >> From: Steve Barbour <kididdoc@cox.net> >> >>> On Sep 20, 2008, at 2:39 AM, grduprey@mchsi.com wrote: >>> >>> >>>> Steve, >>>> >>>> Well I'm not sure I qualify as a big time traveler, but this trip is >>>> surely the biggest we have ever attempted. ;-) The Macbook has >>>> been a real joy to work with and fits into my camera bag very >>>> nicely, but adds weight... No surprise! As for e-mail access, it >>>> has not been bad, only a few spots so far with no access, mostly in >>>> the ex-GDR hotels this past week. OUtside of hotels, you should >>>> expect to pay for access, as not all have free internet services. >>>> In Poland the hotel had free internet WiFi in Warsaw's Old Town. >>>> Italy was also not a problem, but the hotel in Milan had a high fee >>>> for its use, where in Venice it was free. Germany on the whole is >>>> also not a problem except for this past week in the fore mentioned >>>> Ex GDR area in the Thuringen area. Photo opertunities are great as >>>> expected. And I am looking forward to Photokina next Friday and >>>> Saturday (26th & 27th). >>>> >>>> The only down side has been my wife catching a bug this past week >>>> and has not been able to get out of the house since, but she is >>>> finally getting better. She needs to get better soon as the two >>>> things she has really wanted to do are coming up soon... This week a >>>> trip down the Rhine, and in the first part of October the trip to >>>> Paris. >>>> >>>> The weather is starting to cool down, so we may just have to take a >>>> trip to Spain and visit Luis and Nathan in the second half of >>>> October to get warmed up again. ;-) >>>> >>>> Not sure if that answers your questions, but so far no real problems. >>>> >>> great to hear, how about passing travel security and concern re theft? >>> >>> Steve >>> >>>> Gene >>>> >>>> -------------- Original message ---------------------- >>>> From: Steve Barbour <kididdoc@cox.net> >>>> >>>>> On Sep 19, 2008, at 1:03 AM, grduprey@mchsi.com wrote: >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> Steve, >>>>>> >>>>>> That seems to be the opinion on the LUF also, however, I have yet to >>>>>> try it. The turn on and format functions are greatly improved >>>>>> though, I need to get me a couple of 4G SDHC cards to try out that >>>>>> part, but not sure where to go here in Germany, I'm in Eckenhagen, >>>>>> about 60 -80 Km East of Koln, (I'm not in Iowa anymore, Toto...). I >>>>>> guess I can get some at Photokina next week, and try it out. >>>>>> >>>>> with all of your travels Gene, how are you managing with the >>>>> computer / >>>>> e-mail access...give us a few tips... >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Steve >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> Gene >>>>>> >>>>>> -------------- Original message ---------------------- >>>>>> From: Steve Unsworth <lug@steveunsworth.co.uk> >>>>>> >>>>>>> It could be my imagination, but noise seems better controlled at >>>>>>> high ISOs >>>>>>> too. I need to run some better tests, at the moment I'm using a >>>>>>> MacBook. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Steve >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On 18/9/08 22:19, "Sonny Carter" <sonc.hegr@gmail.com> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Just downloaded it and tried out the auto ISO, and it works >>>>>>>> smoothly and >>>>>>>> quickly. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>> Leica Users Group. >>>>>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more >>>>>>> information >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>> Leica Users Group. >>>>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >>>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Leica Users Group. >>>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >>>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Leica Users Group. >>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >>>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Leica Users Group. >>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > >