Sunday, April 24, 2011
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Houston, we got a problem
After 25 hours since I left my hotel room in Vegas, finally I reached Riga. The only problem was 3-hour flight delay in Houston, but luckily I was able to catch my next flight on time.
It was a great week, but happy to be home again
It was a great week, but happy to be home again
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
About statisticians and programmers
No, we are not boring people. We just get excited about boring things
Monday, April 4, 2011
In a city that never sleeps
I understand why it doesn’t sleep. If there are so many visitors from other countries, sleeping is just impossible becuase of lag in time zones.
I was extreemely tired, went to bed at 9pm, woke up at 4am with no signs that I could fall asleep again (it was 1pm LV time!). But I did, I just need to adopt to new time.
How I felt in love with this city:
Day started with walk in the city and looking at it from the top of Stratosphere tower. There, at the top of 330 m building I dared to try big shot ride (scariest part was not shooting up, but something like free fall 50 meters down).
Sign before the rides:
Just nice:
From the top:
View from the city:
I was extreemely tired, went to bed at 9pm, woke up at 4am with no signs that I could fall asleep again (it was 1pm LV time!). But I did, I just need to adopt to new time.
How I felt in love with this city:
Day started with walk in the city and looking at it from the top of Stratosphere tower. There, at the top of 330 m building I dared to try big shot ride (scariest part was not shooting up, but something like free fall 50 meters down).
Sign before the rides:
Just nice:
From the top:
View from the city:
Passport control, security check, passport control, customs, security check
Maybe my destination city makes them suspicious. I was questioned a lot at the first security check in Amsterdam. They were suspicious where am I going? Why? Questions continued through out the way.
First thing they do with visitors in the United States – take finger prints and pictures. So now Government knows everything about me.
When entering the United States everyone also needs to fill out customs declaration form: are you bringing in any disease agents, snails (seriously!), or other dangerous products, like for example food! I did. So they took my 2 bananas away. And (because I was honest enough to admit that I actually have some food in my baggage), they continued to carefully examine ALL my hand and checked in baggage by taking out all items and looking for more food or Latvian sausages. So I was involuntary relieved also from some tulip bulbs that was perfectly packed and sealed with tulip picture, but as nowhere was written that they are tulips, they were not allowed (because they could be food – for example – nuts!). I had another bag with tulips, only there was also description that they are tulips. So I was allowed to „import” them in the US.
Even after Amsterdam’s airport this one seems huge! I had to take an air train (don’t know why it is called so – just some kind of train/metro mix) to go to another sector where my next flight will departure. But here everywhere there are some staff members to ask for help. Everyone is so americanly-friendly. Just random people in that train chatted with me like an old friend, flight attendant joked that he was not informed that there are princesses flying today, guy who collected check in baggage offered to spend this time till my flight together, and even that customs’ officer which took away my bananas was very friendly. Though it is just culture, that is a kind of culture I like.
Picture about everything that I saw from NY (because I spent time only in airport)
First thing they do with visitors in the United States – take finger prints and pictures. So now Government knows everything about me.
When entering the United States everyone also needs to fill out customs declaration form: are you bringing in any disease agents, snails (seriously!), or other dangerous products, like for example food! I did. So they took my 2 bananas away. And (because I was honest enough to admit that I actually have some food in my baggage), they continued to carefully examine ALL my hand and checked in baggage by taking out all items and looking for more food or Latvian sausages. So I was involuntary relieved also from some tulip bulbs that was perfectly packed and sealed with tulip picture, but as nowhere was written that they are tulips, they were not allowed (because they could be food – for example – nuts!). I had another bag with tulips, only there was also description that they are tulips. So I was allowed to „import” them in the US.
Even after Amsterdam’s airport this one seems huge! I had to take an air train (don’t know why it is called so – just some kind of train/metro mix) to go to another sector where my next flight will departure. But here everywhere there are some staff members to ask for help. Everyone is so americanly-friendly. Just random people in that train chatted with me like an old friend, flight attendant joked that he was not informed that there are princesses flying today, guy who collected check in baggage offered to spend this time till my flight together, and even that customs’ officer which took away my bananas was very friendly. Though it is just culture, that is a kind of culture I like.
Picture about everything that I saw from NY (because I spent time only in airport)
Saturday, April 2, 2011
About useful/dangerous items in baggage
One of the most valuable things in my baggage is an alarm clock. Function: increase the quality of sleep because I don't have to be worry that I will miss waking alarm in my mobile.
When putting this clock back in bag I am smart enough to take its battery out. I think drear police officers wouldn't understand what eventually is ticking in my bag.
When putting this clock back in bag I am smart enough to take its battery out. I think drear police officers wouldn't understand what eventually is ticking in my bag.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Amsterdam
Today I stopped in Amsterdam before my next leg to some country a little bit further.
I didn't fell in love with this city. Maybe a little bit more sunshine could help. But it seemed so uniform, with so little things to be amazed about. Ok, maybe I missed the charm of smoking weed that this city could offer?
Still, there are some nice things I want to share.
No wonder that Van Gogh loved to draw not only sunflowers, but also blossoms:
I think giving daffodils for birthday in Netherlands could not be a wise decision. They are everywhere (where they could be - because not many green areas or parks here anyway)
Attracting customers:
And my room I have deserved (you see almost all of it because it is around 2,5*2,5 meters):
(To say truth, it is in different hotel, not the one that gives their customers what they have deserved). But I like my room - there is free wi-fi, what else do I need?
I didn't fell in love with this city. Maybe a little bit more sunshine could help. But it seemed so uniform, with so little things to be amazed about. Ok, maybe I missed the charm of smoking weed that this city could offer?
Still, there are some nice things I want to share.
No wonder that Van Gogh loved to draw not only sunflowers, but also blossoms:
I think giving daffodils for birthday in Netherlands could not be a wise decision. They are everywhere (where they could be - because not many green areas or parks here anyway)
Attracting customers:
And my room I have deserved (you see almost all of it because it is around 2,5*2,5 meters):
(To say truth, it is in different hotel, not the one that gives their customers what they have deserved). But I like my room - there is free wi-fi, what else do I need?
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