Oats and Iron

Fabian in Cologne (Köln)

Cologne Parks (Köln, Germany) by U-Bahn

Here are some places you can visit around the city of Cologne, Germany accessible via various lines on the U-Bahn (above-ground city light rail).

Grün Gürtel - This literally translates as “Green Belt” and it is a park that runs through the city. You can find the park from many U-Bahn stations, but I suggest Universität stop by the Aachener Weiher pond. During the summer you can bring a grill or some drinks and hang out on the nearby hill with all the university students. We also played ultimate frisbee in another (nearby) area of this park.

Rudolfsplatz - This is a U-Bahn stop that was surrounded by a busy concrete plaza area. Coffee shops and restaurants right out the exit.

Shopping Area - Take the U-Bahn to Appellhofplatz stop. You can visit the Dumone Carre mall any day except Sunday. Perhaps an enjoyable area to walk around if you have a guide. (We visited a student flea market in this mall on a Sunday afternoon, but hours and availability may vary.)

Thanks to Fabian Töpel for being my city guide.

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Pension am Helenenwall in Cologne (Köln, Germany)

This is a review of the Pension am Helenenwall located in Köln, Germany.

This is a small, clean hotel owned by a 30-something friendly German man. He has lived on the property for three years.
I stayed at this hotel for two nights in May 2008 and May 2009 while attending a work conference. Total four nights.
During the low season, the price for a single room is Euro 50. The price for a double room is Euro 70.
The breakfast buffet (included in price) included bread, yogurt, apples, bananas, coffee, tea, juice, milk, meats (cold cuts), cheese, and a boiled egg. It was very good!
I have stayed in Room #8 twice now. It is a small, street-facing room on the fourth floor with two large windows, small television, bathroom, desk, etc. For the price, the room is fine… although the walk upstairs with heavy luggage is difficult. (To his credit, the owner offered to help me carry my luggage, which I declined.)
My other complaint with Room #8 was that I could not operate the window shades to provide me with absolute darkness. The sunlight always woke me around 6am.
If you are a business traveler, or if you have a companion, I highly suggest the double rooms. Double rooms #1 or #3 are courtyard-facing and I would probably stay there next time.
PLEASE NOTE — There is no iron or ironing board available here!
The reason I stay at this hotel is because I have a work conference every year at the nearby Hyatt Hotel. That hotel is Euro 179 per night, and I am a cheap date :)

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[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

I’m On Fire (Cousin Cole’s Bad Desire Remix)

May 15

What is a passport game we could play?

similar perhaps to Liar’s Poker… but with passports (instead of bills) and using current events.

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Me in Cologne (via nickgraywfu) … this photo was taken one year ago in Koln, Germany — I am here right now

May 14

Basel Notes

Basel, Switzerland is tightly surrounded by France and Germany.
Pharmacy (aka legal drugs) is the #1 industry in this city.
Basel Klein (aka Little Basel) seems like a cool, hip, young student neighborhood.
Check out Lilly`s restaurant in Basel Klein. Good Asian fusion with a Thai bent. I got the som tam and the South Indian fish curry, both were great.
THE place to be on Thursday nights in Basel (as of May 2009) is the bar/club on the 31st floor of the Ramada Plaza hotel. I can confirm this place is a good time. The name is something like Club Rouge.
I am here for less than a day, probably leaving tomorrow at 1710 for Cologne (Koln).
I really like the taste of the vibe that I got so far of this city. I could hang out in Basel much more than I could hang out in Geneva.
Hopefully the big presentations tomorrow go well and I will be back here in a few months! The presentations I will make tomorrow will be to aircraft engineers… so they will be very techy… which means hard questions. Hrm, here we go again…

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Riding Trains in Switzerland (via nickgraywfu) … leaving Geneva now and heading to Basel

May 13

Great Work Day in Geneva Switzerland

Contrary to popular belief… yes I do have a job :) one that I work pretty hard at some days. (And other days maybe it is just like any other job, being reactive and going through the motions.)

But THIS WEEK
this week here in Geneva, Switzerland
well this was the biggest test of my professional career.
It was a big trade show that I had to setup at, our first solo show at Europe`s premiere aviation event (called EBACE).
Basically if it went bad then I would be out of a job and a disgrace to my family.
Truth.

So I had to book a booth, handle the logistics and paperwork, write and send out some press releases, and then schedule a bunch of meetings so that people would actually come visit us.

And when I say a bunch of meetings I mean that I emailed and called over 200 people in Europe.

So I thought it would be good… but then things got to be pretty bad when we showed up here in Switzerland on Sunday.

Because we got a terrible booth location.
And then pidgeons left white shit all over our nice blue carpets.
And then we blew up two power supplies because our 110V equipment was killing the 220V adapters.

So there I was one hour before the show opened… this was Tuesday morning here in Geneva… and I am looking at a smoking power supply and blue carpet with white pigeon shit all over it.

But NOW here I am, at the end of Day 2 (Wednesday night), and I am PUMPED and HAPPY and so excited for the future of our business here in Europe. We really killed it, like just KILLED it so far. The first two days were better than my wildest hopes … so busy…. lots of meetings with really important, key people. For hours it would be non-stop and people were actually waiting in line to talk to me about our new products.

The difference between this year and 2008 is crazy. I know it is a down economy, but we judge our results a little differently (not based on sales but based on marketing and relationships). The sales will come in a year or so, but the important thing is that the conversations are starting and new relationships are growing.

Of course I have to give a lot of credit to my boss, aka my dad, who showed up with some nice equipment for the trade show booth and also some posters to put on the walls. I scheduled all these meetings and usually I just do the introduction and then I let him do the dog and pony show for the big guys… but on Friday I am going to Basel to do my own dog and pony show for the number 1 aviation company in Europe (perhaps in the world). But that is another story.

For now I am really happy. I pushed myself way out of my comfort zone, we took some risks, and things are looking good.

There is always room for improvement and things I will do different and better next year. And next time you see me you should ask me about how we rented a car on Monday, drove to France, and smuggled a carload of furniture from IKEA into the trade show hall :)

If you are still reading then you should follow me on Twitter @nickgray and my company account is @FlightDisplay

over and out
Me

May 10

Hello from Geneva - I’ll be here thru Thursday