A super-slick gallery in Berlin.
Blain|Southern
21k nautical miles.
90 days abroad surveying Viacom’s international business has left me with a carbon footprint that will take a ton of composting to undo. What a wonderful, whirlwind journey!
Metros of the World
It’s been quite the fall. Hotel and office locations strewn across European capital plans like poorly thrown darts. Limiting the line items in the expense report seems like a good way to validate the experience here in Europe, binging on local libations and regional delicacies, haggis excluded.
So I but a single, short trip, 10 pack, oyster, mobile ticket, whatever get me through the turnstile..
London
Underground, hot, low ceilings, slow motion and the random local clocked right in the head by closing doors. People don’t commute more than necessary so it’s best to pick your spot for the evening and stay put. Ubers are half the price of taxis so they become a viable option if time is short.
Bhutan
No metros here. Barely two laned roads. All tourism is government managed so you must be driven around by your tour guide. Harrowing hairpin turns on the roads but basically no accidents. Shockingly, mountain biking is gaining swift popularity here with the now-retired King #4 taking to the himalayan foothills with reckless abandon – and perhaps to get some peace a quiet from his four wives, all sisters.
Jaipur
Whatever gets you down the road. This place was utter chaos. Busses jammed up with people, rickshaws, bicycles, cars, camels, whatever. Hello ecocide.
Copenhagen
Bring your checkbook. Eighteen dollars for the 10 minute ride from the airport to the city center. Queue up early as there are often more Danes than train cars. Wait your turn, pay your fare or keep it local and grab a bike.
Glasgow
Service runs sparingly but gets the job done. Avoid the seats, or as locals say “touching cloth”. Find a pissed local and seek a good conversation, these drunks can be surprising articulate between the spittle.
Berlin
How they hell do you work this thing? Read the rules online before embarking and bring change! Cash is king in Berlin and it’s best to throw the paper into the machine vs getting rejected by the card reader. Online ticketing via apps is possible, some days but not terribly reliable. Fast and necessary service though – the city is huge.
Warsaw
Did not use. Walked. Cold.
Milan
Good service, smooth ride though stops can be far and few in-between. Apparently tram service is spotty, especially during rush hours.
Venice
It’s a boat. It’s amazing.
Paris
Ok, are you up for adventure? Day one brought us a real live pickpocketing (not us, but I should have grabbed the fucker – something about my wiring slowed me down), a bunch of crazies and the police covering a dead body. Slow, hot and crowded. But cheap and goes everywhere. Paris transport is a bit of a hot mess right now, as Stephan says, “it’s becoming a third world city as scooter is the only way around”
Amsterdam
A ferry from the train station the our office location. Basically Noah’s arc.
New York, New York
It’s a hell of a town, the Bronx is up and the Battery’s down. I’ve been riding these rails since I was a 12 year old shooting down south to the Village (much to my mom’s chagrin – boy my dad got read the riot act for that one!) The Subway moves the city, but you should know the times and lines to avoid (4,5,6, midtown, F on weekends). We’ll see how the old girl feels upon my return!
-D