h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

And from an Irishwoman, that's extra lucky

Well, I haven't told anyone around here yet, but my father's very ill (he's 86) so all travel plans are on ice at the moment. Which will minimise my chances of getting there (on a cheap flight) even more when things get sorted out. Sorry. I'm a bit disorientated at the moment. Ready to hop on a plane to Stansted any time, and not being able to think any further than that ATM. Really, it's only a weekend and I really should grab it ,I know.

Perhaps I'll have another peek for flights...

I'm agonizing. Can I afford to take any time off of studying? Would I be the least-popular Hootooer in Seville? What does tapas taste like? Will I get a bloody passport on time or will they interrogate me worse than NatWest?

So many questions, ever diminishing time... I was only ever an interested, and I may well just need to drop off the list completely.

But who IS going?

—Jordan

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Yes, you'll just have to do a little less hootooing afterwards to make it up.

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Far from it! It would be wonderful to have you here (Noggin is saying the same thing over my shoulder).

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What does food taste like? There are so many different types of tapas that it's impossible to answer this question - so you'll just have to come and find out for yourself.

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Actually, you'd better get this done NOW - Noggin says it takes about a month.

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Here's the list so far, though we haven't heard from a couple of people on the 'possible' list for awhile.

Confirmed:
Teutcher & Mr T
Ben & Z
MoG
Lucky & Dai
blickybadger

Possible:
Alfster
zoomer
Ferrettbadger
Matholwch & wife
Kerr & Bruce
Bagpuss
Titiana


So, don't forget to get that passport application in this week and then you can start checking out flights . . .


az

Sorry to hear about your father, TC. I know it's hard to make plans under the circumstances, but it still might be possible to get a good last minute deal. As you say, it's only a weekend.

Just checked Ryanair (from Stansted) and they still have flights for about 60 pounds return. Arriving in Seville 8.30 Friday evening and leaving 9pm Sunday evening. If you'd prefer getting back earlier, there is also an 11am Sunday flight that's even cheaper and would change the airfare to about 45 pounds.


az

zoomer!


Buenos días, Lucky. Estoy muy bien, gracias. ¿Y tu?

az

Stop shilly-shallying Jordan and get yourself signed up

Noggin

Si si, venga!

I'm off to practise today's lesson in the shower.

Qué tal el trabajo? Aburrido, pero el sueldo es bueno.

No me habla de trabajo.

Please leave me on the possibles, az!

Getting back to Stansted at 9pm on the Sunday would not leave me enough time to catch a flight back to Germany and get home from the airport. While I can scrounge a few days before the meet, I must get back to be at work on the Monday morning.

ATM I would have to pay 250 Euros for a flight to and from Frankfurt-Hahn. Could do it, I suppose.

Me alegro mucho que sigues en la lista de 'possibles' TC!

If you can come on Thursday evening, some people will be here already and so, if you have to leave Sunday morning, you will have had at least an extra day here.

In fact, that Sunday evening flight gets you back to Stansted at 11pm - it leaves Seville at 9pm.


az

MoG and I have just been chatting about the group dinners together. And MoG asked about if tapa bars took credit cards - and the answer to that is the majority don't. So - just so everybody knows - when we are out having dinner together in a group we will just be given a 'group bill' that will need to paid for in cash.

Basically that means, if there are ten or twelve of us (or however many) then the bill will just be divided ten/twelve/etc ways. There is no such thing as 'separate checks'. And the bill will have to be paid in cash and with about a ten percent tip added on (a bit more if the service was exceptional).

So . . . no such thing as 'he had an extra beer' or 'she ordered dessert' . . . that is basically *not* a Spanish way of sharing the bill. Instead we just divide it up ten or twelve or however many ways and then leave a nice tip if the service was good.

MoG and I thought this might be info best shared before everybody gets here. To avoid any possible 'uncomfortableness' at the moment the dinner check arrives . . .


az

Makes sense to me. I prefer to split bills that way anyway.

Euros, isn't it?

B

Yes, of course euros!

Um . . . Spain.

Europe . . . euros . . .


az

btw, last night found out one local place we thought to have either the Friday or Saturday night dinner at has a bit of new 'veggie' stuff on offer - with optional fried egg. But really, the garlic spinach with bechamel and fried egg on top was actually quite yummy.


az

on the billing equation. We're all sensible people so that's a sensible way to go about dealing with things.

Garlic spinach with bechamel - just another reason for me to be jealous of those who *can* be there.

yes

Like Sweden - Europe - Kroner, or Denmark - Europe - Other Kroner, or Britain - Europe - Sterling, then?

I've taken the whole week 20-24 March off work, so I can come on the day the flight's cheapest. Still, I would like *some* time at home during that week, too. The prices have started to rise, so I'll jump in and book, I think. Going from a "struck off all lists" to a "definite" in one fell swoop - wayhay!

The flights are very very early. The return flight leaves from Jerez on the Sunday morning at 10.10. But the positive news is that I arrive at 9.35 on the Friday morning (that was the cheapest day. I will have to travel to the airport on the Thursday evening to catch that one!) which ives me the whole fo the Friday to acclimatise. I'm not sure why I'm hesitating about this... probably something to do with my father being ill.

So - what sort of weather can we expect at that time of year in Seville, Az? *holds up holdall, woolly jumper in one hand, strappy sandals in the other*

TC's coming too!

Good question about apparel btw - hadn't got round to thinking about that yet.