Do Americans have it better? - Page 10

Sweetpea · 07-29-2009, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieGal

Oh, well, that's a drag. And now that you mention it, I remember seeing shows about all of the new bridges and such between the countries, and the terrific highway system to match.

In answer to the OP: Yes.

Well, I can go by boat to Germany... (but only by bike!)

DixieGal · 07-29-2009, 09:48 AM

Explain, Please?

Sweetpea · 07-29-2009, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieGal

Explain, Please?

Well, I live about 10km away from Germany. But... There's an estuary (I believe the word would be) between us. But, there is a boat connection between the town I live close by and Germany (that boat continues on to one of Germany's larger islands in the North Sea). But it's only for pedestrians and bikers.

So, I can go by boat, but only if I go by bike

Kostas · 07-29-2009, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montsnmags

It is something that has always amazed/impressed me - that in a few hours you could drive to another country. It takes me that long to drive to one of my brothers, and he's just on the other side of the closest state border (and I'm close to that border, relatively speaking).

I've crossed 5 countries in one day, some 12 hours drive.
From Northern Greece (Thessaloniki) to Austria you cross Former Yougoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia and finally Austria (Villach).
The truth is that some 20 years ago all the in between countries formed a single country...

Jellby · 07-29-2009, 10:52 AM

I can be in another country, on foot, in around 90 minutes, 20 minutes with the car (and I live in the historical center of the city, from where I work it's 5 minutes). And not only that, crossing the border means it's one hour earlier!

Actually, it's quite normal for people around here to go to Portugal to have lunch or dinner.

The truth is crossing the border and crossing the whole of Portugal to reach the beach is much much shorter than crossing my country to go to Barcelona, or even just go to Madrid, which is in the middle of the country, more or less.

DixieGal · 07-29-2009, 11:05 AM

You guys live in amazing places!

So Jellby, are you anywhere near Santiago de Compostela? That's on my "someday" list of places I want to go, but it never seems to be near any place we have been. We have a researcher here on campus who has made St. James' Starry Road his life's work. I try to go to his public lectures as often as possible.

=X= · 07-29-2009, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jellby

I can be in another country, on foot, in around 90 minutes, 20 minutes with the car (and I live in the historical center of the city, from where I work it's 5 minutes). And not only that, crossing the border means it's one hour earlier!

Actually, it's quite normal for people around here to go to Portugal to have lunch or dinner.

The truth is crossing the border and crossing the whole of Portugal to reach the beach is much much shorter than crossing my country to go to Barcelona, or even just go to Madrid, which is in the middle of the country, more or less.

I've heard Portugal was beautiful, it's a place I would like to go visit.

=X=

griffonwing · 07-29-2009, 11:53 AM

I've always wanted to live in Wales. I love the Welsh language. I have a cd by Dafydd Iwan as well as Ceredwen. Beautiful language. I actually started learning it, but it's a tough language. I plan on starting up my practice again soon.

Ea · 07-29-2009, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montsnmags

Just curious...what does "less than a day" work out to in driving hours and road kilometres?

Was just a vague ballbark number. It's more or less what Sweetpea said - but perhaps it'd be a bit more fair to go north-west to south-east, instead of north-south. It covers more of the country. From Skagen to Gedser there's 550 km ~6+ hours. And then we haven't counted in the island of Bornholm (south-east of Sweden) - and if we say it's the Kingdom of Denmark, instead of just the country, and include Greenland and the Faeroes, then the distances will be a bit different

100 km equal one hour here, too, but I'd stil say that a distance is so and so km. I was in USA when I was 18 at a summer exchange program, and it was there I learned to give distance in time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieGal

Oh, well, that's a drag. And now that you mention it, I remember seeing shows about all of the new bridges and such between the countries, and the terrific highway system to match.

Yes, it was recently decided to build a bridge to Germany from one of the south eastern islands - but it will take at least ten years until it is completed. Now that it's decided, I guess the next task is to find the money

The railways in Europe is also a hot topic right now. Very tentatively discussed, but there's suggestions of building high-speed railways between the major European cities - for one reason to cut down on air traffic and thus CO2 emissions.

Ea · 07-29-2009, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montsnmags

...
It is something that has always amazed/impressed me - that in a few hours you could drive to another country. It takes me that long to drive to one of my brothers, and he's just on the other side of the closest state border (and I'm close to that border, relatively speaking).

It is something that has always amazed/impressed me - how you can drive for hours and hours in the same landscape, such vast space and open vistas. And the forests, and the mountains. Such an impressive landscape

Isn't it interesting how we are fascinated by that which is exotic to us?

Sweetpea · 07-29-2009, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieGal

You guys live in amazing places!

So Jellby, are you anywhere near Santiago de Compostela? That's on my "someday" list of places I want to go, but it never seems to be near any place we have been. We have a researcher here on campus who has made St. James' Starry Road his life's work. I try to go to his public lectures as often as possible.

Oh, I'd love to go there! I've already been in Granada and loved the Alhambra. Now that my in-laws live close to there, I might go back...

Quote:

Originally Posted by griffonwing

I've always wanted to live in Wales. I love the Welsh language. I have a cd by Dafydd Iwan as well as Ceredwen. Beautiful language. I actually started learning it, but it's a tough language. I plan on starting up my practice again soon.

Awesome language! I play an online game, and half of my characters have a Welsh "name" (aka, took a word, and translated it into Welsh). People always think I just hit the keyboard for some random strokes

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ea

Was just a vague ballbark number. It's more or less what Sweetpea said - but perhaps it'd be a bit more fair to go north-west to south-east, instead of north-south. It covers more of the country. From Skagen to Gedser there's 550 km ~6+ hours. And then we haven't counted in the island of Bornholm (south-east of Sweden) - and if we say it's the Kingdom of Denmark, instead of just the country, and include Greenland and the Faeroes, then the distances will be a bit different

I took a straight line, from Skagen to Hojer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ea

100 km equal one hour here, too, but I'd stil say that a distance is so and so km. I was in USA when I was 18 at a summer exchange program, and it was there I learned to give distance in time.

I lived in New Mexico for a year... You'll learn to appreciate distances there

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ea

The railways in Europe is also a hot topic right now. Very tentatively discussed, but there's suggestions of building high-speed railways between the major European cities - for one reason to cut down on air traffic and thus CO2 emissions.

Please! Rather today than tomorrow!

HarryT · 07-29-2009, 01:08 PM

I love trains - I'll always go somewhere by train if I can. A couple of months ago I went from London to Basel in Switzerland by train. Left London at 10am and arrived in Basel at 4pm. A very civilized way to travel.

Sweetpea · 07-29-2009, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I love trains - I'll always go somewhere by train if I can. A couple of months ago I went from London to Basel in Switzerland by train. Left London at 10am and arrived in Basel at 4pm. A very civilized way to travel.

Agreed. When we go skiing (in Switzerland, love that country!), we'll go by train. But we generally take the night train. Leave just after dinner, arrive just at breakfast time

Now, that I call civilized!

Jellby · 07-29-2009, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieGal

So Jellby, are you anywhere near Santiago de Compostela?

Not close at all! Last time I went there I actually had to drive across Portugal all the way

I live in the border, East from Lisbon, South-West from Madrid.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I love trains - I'll always go somewhere by train if I can. A couple of months ago I went from London to Basel in Switzerland by train. Left London at 10am and arrived in Basel at 4pm. A very civilized way to travel.

Until you reach Spain, then the trains start to suck, I tell you.

kazbates · 07-29-2009, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Actually, you won't... Those highways are made to avoid those places

The same thing happened here in the US. We had route 66 that stretch from Chicago across the southwest to LA passing by little towns that depended upon the travellers for their livelyhood. The powers that be decided to build our Interstate system and the small towns became ghost towns. So sad.

07-29-2009, 10:52 AM	#140
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 7,570 Karma: 20150435 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon, Kobo Aura	I can be in another country, on foot, in around 90 minutes, 20 minutes with the car (and I live in the historical center of the city, from where I work it's 5 minutes). And not only that, crossing the border means it's one hour earlier! Actually, it's quite normal for people around here to go to Portugal to have lunch or dinner. The truth is crossing the border and crossing the whole of Portugal to reach the beach is much much shorter than crossing my country to go to Barcelona, or even just go to Madrid, which is in the middle of the country, more or less. Last edited by Jellby; 07-29-2009 at 10:55 AM.

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07-29-2009, 09:48 AM	#137
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	Explain, Please?

07-29-2009, 11:05 AM	#141
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	You guys live in amazing places! So Jellby, are you anywhere near Santiago de Compostela? That's on my "someday" list of places I want to go, but it never seems to be near any place we have been. We have a researcher here on campus who has made St. James' Starry Road his life's work. I try to go to his public lectures as often as possible.

07-29-2009, 11:53 AM	#143
griffonwing Suave Swabby, Savvy? Posts: 1,602 Karma: 520350 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Harrison, ARrrr, USA - southern Ozark mountains Device: Slate Blue PEZ (Astak Pocket Pro), CVSCX-9300 Quad-band watch phone	I've always wanted to live in Wales. I love the Welsh language. I have a cd by Dafydd Iwan as well as Ceredwen. Beautiful language. I actually started learning it, but it's a tough language. I plan on starting up my practice again soon.

07-29-2009, 01:08 PM	#147
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I love trains - I'll always go somewhere by train if I can. A couple of months ago I went from London to Basel in Switzerland by train. Left London at 10am and arrived in Basel at 4pm. A very civilized way to travel.

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