travel

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KDE Itinerary
2 months ago
- KDE Itinerary is a privacy-focused digital travel assistant for Plasma Mobile and Android.
- It stores all travel information (QR-codes, times, delays, seat reservations, coach layout, etc.) in a single app.
- Supports reservations for trains, buses, flights, hotels, restaurants, events, rental cars, and multi-traveler bookings.
- Booking data is extracted locally on the device, ensuring no data is sent to remote servers.
- Integrates with KMail, KDE Connect, Nextcloud Mail, and DavDroid for automatic ticket extraction and sync.
- Users can manually add train trips, find alternative connections, and import trips from reservation numbers.
- Indoor maps powered by OpenStreetMap show platforms, shops, restaurants, elevators, toilets, exits, and real-time status.
- Provides real-time delay updates and onboard API support for live vehicle status on supported transport.
- Features include timeline view, trip map, per-trip statistics, health certificate manager, currency converter, and journey search.
Seesaws for giants
2 months ago
- Chicago has many movable bridges that open in sequence each spring and fall.
- The author and a friend chased 27 bridges as they opened and closed in April 2011.
- Most bridges are bascule type, using counterweights to move thousands of tons with little effort.
- Many of these bridges are over a hundred years old and operate like a mechanical ballet.
- A notable exception is the Amtrak rail bridge with a lift design and slanted appearance.
- In 1992, the Michigan Avenue Bridge accidentally became a catapult, hurling equipment.
- The author went inside a bridge as it opened and visited a control tower.
- The experience is described as both humbling and awesome.
- The author's favorite bridge is the Kinzie Street railroad bridge, left permanently open since 2000.
Midnight Train to Stockholm
2 months ago
- The writer's trip from Copenhagen to Stockholm by overnight train involved a private sleeping compartment, which was the only comfortable option for an adult.
- The train station in Malmö had a depressing atmosphere, reminiscent of certain Amtrak stations in the US, with stranded-looking travelers.
- The writer boarded an old train with hard seats that did not recline and bright lights, making sleep in regular compartments impossible.
- Couchettes were crowded bunks with gender segregation, while the private room was like a jail cell with a door that locked and a light that could be turned off.
- The writer explored the train and encountered a car full of vBengsipping and vomiting punk youth, arguing couples, and a meal car where people hung out.
- In the meal car, a woman dominated a conversation about her relationships with her friend, whom she did not allow to speak much.
- The train arrived on time in Stockholm at 6 AM; the writer paid about 1100 kronor ($120) for a 20-minute cab ride to a meeting.
- The meeting ended quickly; the writer then walked around Stockholm, which felt dense and beautiful but less inviting than Copenhagen.
Public Transport – Don't Make Me Think
2 months ago
- The author traveled to multiple cities and found ticketing systems for public transport varied widely in usability.
- Basel offered a free transport card from hotels, making it effortless for tourists and nearly ideal.
- Milano used contactless credit cards with daily fare caps, simplifying payment and user experience.
- Warsaw required paper tickets from kiosks with manual validation, slightly inconvenient but generally functional.
- Tallinn required a dedicated app for QR code tickets, adding minor friction with ticket type choices.
- Riga's app required scanning a QR code on each vehicle despite having a pass, making it cumbersome.
- Melbourne needed a reloadable plastic card with non-refundable balances, leading to wasted money.
- Paris was criticized for requiring multiple apps and complex, separate tickets for different transport modes.
- Japan's Suica card worked seamlessly across cities once obtained, though topped up with cash initially.
- The author advocates for systems that minimize cognitive load, favoring contactless payments with caps or free transport.
- Comments highlighted other examples like Luxembourg's free transport and London's tap-on/tap-off system.
- Common pain points included zone-based pricing, multiple apps per city, and validation complexities.
Interrail: 6,379Km and 13 Countries over 7 weeks
2 months ago
- The author and spouse embarked on a 7-week Interrail trip covering 6,379 km and 13 countries, using a 15-travel-day pass over 2 months, after a more intense 30-day trip the previous year.
- Key experiences included issues with train delays, refund complexities, occasional access to lounges despite restrictions, varied onboard amenities (e.g., vegan options, WiFi, seating), and ferry travel with Interrail discounts.
- Practical tips highlighted: using RealTimeTrains for platform info, booking vegan meals in advance, dealing with ticket inspections, and navigating disruptions like train failures or crowded connections.
- The trip involved multiple legs across Europe (e.g., London to Brussels, Hamburg to Copenhagen, Oslo to Stockholm, Helsinki to Tallinn, Warsaw to Berlin), with reflections on the balance between planned travel and spontaneity.
- Overall, Interrail is praised for being relaxing, city-center convenient, and eco-friendly, though it can be exhausting; future plans may involve combining trains with flights or longer stays in single countries.
Minimum Connection Times at Airports Worldwide
3 months ago
- The article discusses Minimum Connection Times (MCT) for airports, offering tips and terminal maps for stress-free plane changes.
- It lists the top 10 busiest airports worldwide, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (ATL), Dubai International (DXB), and London Heathrow (LHR).
- For O'Hare International (ORD), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), and Denver International (DEN), specific MCTs are provided: 40 minutes for domestic to domestic, 90 minutes for other transfers.
- The article also includes a browse section listing countries with airports and their counts, such as Afghanistan (28) and Australia (584).

travel

KDE Itinerary

Seesaws for giants

Midnight Train to Stockholm

Public Transport – Don't Make Me Think

Interrail: 6,379Km and 13 Countries over 7 weeks

Minimum Connection Times at Airports Worldwide