MangoCon 2017
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@scottalanmiller said in MangoCon 2017:
@Dashrender said in MangoCon 2017:
I have no idea how prevalent high speed trains are on the east coast? If they are there, then I would probably seriously look at train travel instead of air. That's simply not an option from central USA. Heck I don't think there is one from LA to SF.
You can't realistically beat the train by much from JFK to Rochester. Taking a car has a long rental time, flying has a long logistical time. It's too close for trains to not work. Even the slow 112mph normal trains in NY are fast enough to make other things not look that good. Is it the fastest? No, if you try hard you can beat it with other methods - but only by sacrificing your time in transit and only to beat it by a small amount.
You're right, I was making the statement from my own experience. and the train from Germany to italy, or the train from Omaha to Chicago or Omaha to Denver. these are all only for travel for those with extra time.
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@Dashrender said in MangoCon 2017:
This is where I say if you have time to give away to travel, fine, great, take the train, but if you don't and a faster option exists, take it.
Also important, you are using a tourist situation and applying it to a work one. But even then, I think you miss some important points.
But for work (in IT especially) the train is nearly all time to read and work if you want. Flights and driving, not so much. It's time to charge devices, catch up on tasks, etc. It can be super productive time. I love working on Amtrak. So if your "time" is time to be productive, trains have a huge advantage that you are overlooking.
If for travel, you say you'd lose time exploring Rome, true. But you would gain time seeing huge portions of the world that connect the two. One of the reasons that we value trains specifically when traveling is that it helps us to mentally connect the places that we have been and to understand the transitions between them. I've been continuously from the north of England to the bottom tip of Sicily and to central Morocco in Africa, for example. And from Lisbon to Vienna. And only a tiny gap of 200 miles or so before thousands of more miles that I've continuously connected. I see Europe, from your example, as a continuous whole, because of trains and ferries, and not cities to teleport into and out of without a clear connection between the places.
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@scottalanmiller said in MangoCon 2017:
Well, except going to the airport is $100 and takes almost an hour in Rome.
$100? huh, it's doubled since 2013. It was $50 for my wife and I to get a cab to the airport.
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@Dashrender said in MangoCon 2017:
@scottalanmiller said in MangoCon 2017:
Well, except going to the airport is $100 and takes almost an hour in Rome.
$100? huh, it's doubled since 2013. It was $50 for my wife and I to get a cab to the airport.
Wasn't quite $100 but it was close. AIrport to the Colosseum area.
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But you tip cabs, you don't tip trains
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@scottalanmiller said in MangoCon 2017:
@Dashrender said in MangoCon 2017:
And the 36 hour train ride while on vacation for me definitely would have included sleeping, but would have keep me from an extra day of exploring Rome.
Having done that in that part of the world several times, we opt for the "slower" train or ferry nearly every time. The ease of being dropped off right downtown, getting all of your food and accommodations included and handled is a big deal too. Instead of wasting time in Rome looking for that quick food and get to the hotel, get checked in, get the lay of the land after dealing with flying... you get time to relax, collect yourself, sleep, eat, be all rested and prepared for exploring upon arrival. We do it regularly and while you are right, it's not always the right way to go, it's far, far better than people think it will be.
Well you started this by stating something I already mentioned - the number of times making the trip. I might also opt for the train after that many trips, the desire to get where you're going becomes less important. And assuming you have internet access, you can still work during that time, so if your office allows it, you don't loose a day of vacation during travel, because you are working.
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@Dashrender said in MangoCon 2017:
@scottalanmiller said in MangoCon 2017:
@Dashrender said in MangoCon 2017:
And the 36 hour train ride while on vacation for me definitely would have included sleeping, but would have keep me from an extra day of exploring Rome.
Having done that in that part of the world several times, we opt for the "slower" train or ferry nearly every time. The ease of being dropped off right downtown, getting all of your food and accommodations included and handled is a big deal too. Instead of wasting time in Rome looking for that quick food and get to the hotel, get checked in, get the lay of the land after dealing with flying... you get time to relax, collect yourself, sleep, eat, be all rested and prepared for exploring upon arrival. We do it regularly and while you are right, it's not always the right way to go, it's far, far better than people think it will be.
Well you started this by stating something I already mentioned - the number of times making the trip. I might also opt for the train after that many trips, the desire to get where you're going becomes less important. And assuming you have internet access, you can still work during that time, so if your office allows it, you don't loose a day of vacation during travel, because you are working.
Even the first time. What makes the destination more important than the journey?
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@scottalanmiller said in MangoCon 2017:
@Dashrender said in MangoCon 2017:
@scottalanmiller said in MangoCon 2017:
@Dashrender said in MangoCon 2017:
And the 36 hour train ride while on vacation for me definitely would have included sleeping, but would have keep me from an extra day of exploring Rome.
Having done that in that part of the world several times, we opt for the "slower" train or ferry nearly every time. The ease of being dropped off right downtown, getting all of your food and accommodations included and handled is a big deal too. Instead of wasting time in Rome looking for that quick food and get to the hotel, get checked in, get the lay of the land after dealing with flying... you get time to relax, collect yourself, sleep, eat, be all rested and prepared for exploring upon arrival. We do it regularly and while you are right, it's not always the right way to go, it's far, far better than people think it will be.
Well you started this by stating something I already mentioned - the number of times making the trip. I might also opt for the train after that many trips, the desire to get where you're going becomes less important. And assuming you have internet access, you can still work during that time, so if your office allows it, you don't loose a day of vacation during travel, because you are working.
Even the first time. What makes the destination more important than the journey?
I guess I don't value the scenery of the travel equally to the destination.
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@Dashrender said in MangoCon 2017:
@scottalanmiller said in MangoCon 2017:
@Dashrender said in MangoCon 2017:
@scottalanmiller said in MangoCon 2017:
@Dashrender said in MangoCon 2017:
And the 36 hour train ride while on vacation for me definitely would have included sleeping, but would have keep me from an extra day of exploring Rome.
Having done that in that part of the world several times, we opt for the "slower" train or ferry nearly every time. The ease of being dropped off right downtown, getting all of your food and accommodations included and handled is a big deal too. Instead of wasting time in Rome looking for that quick food and get to the hotel, get checked in, get the lay of the land after dealing with flying... you get time to relax, collect yourself, sleep, eat, be all rested and prepared for exploring upon arrival. We do it regularly and while you are right, it's not always the right way to go, it's far, far better than people think it will be.
Well you started this by stating something I already mentioned - the number of times making the trip. I might also opt for the train after that many trips, the desire to get where you're going becomes less important. And assuming you have internet access, you can still work during that time, so if your office allows it, you don't loose a day of vacation during travel, because you are working.
Even the first time. What makes the destination more important than the journey?
I guess I don't value the scenery of the travel equally to the destination.
In many cases, the destination is just concentrated scenery.
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@scottalanmiller said in MangoCon 2017:
@Dashrender said in MangoCon 2017:
@scottalanmiller said in MangoCon 2017:
@Dashrender said in MangoCon 2017:
@scottalanmiller said in MangoCon 2017:
@Dashrender said in MangoCon 2017:
And the 36 hour train ride while on vacation for me definitely would have included sleeping, but would have keep me from an extra day of exploring Rome.
Having done that in that part of the world several times, we opt for the "slower" train or ferry nearly every time. The ease of being dropped off right downtown, getting all of your food and accommodations included and handled is a big deal too. Instead of wasting time in Rome looking for that quick food and get to the hotel, get checked in, get the lay of the land after dealing with flying... you get time to relax, collect yourself, sleep, eat, be all rested and prepared for exploring upon arrival. We do it regularly and while you are right, it's not always the right way to go, it's far, far better than people think it will be.
Well you started this by stating something I already mentioned - the number of times making the trip. I might also opt for the train after that many trips, the desire to get where you're going becomes less important. And assuming you have internet access, you can still work during that time, so if your office allows it, you don't loose a day of vacation during travel, because you are working.
Even the first time. What makes the destination more important than the journey?
I guess I don't value the scenery of the travel equally to the destination.
In many cases, the destination is just concentrated scenery.
I was actually thinking that while writing my response. Going to Rome for example, seeing the Colosseum, it's just scenery that you're not traveling past (generally) :)... lol
Perhaps it would be better to say I appreciate the cityscapes more.
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It's true that when in a "place" you get to experience the culture of that place. On a train, you mostly can't. Although trains are an important part of many cultures, so in some ways, might be the opposite. Riding the commuter line in rural England, for example, great look into "real life" in a way that is hard to do as a tourist.
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@scottalanmiller said in MangoCon 2017:
@Dashrender said in MangoCon 2017:
Trains are for those with nothing else to do...
Actually, quite the opposite. On the train you have Internet, power and plenty of space. You can be very productive on trains and they let you rest or sleep, which is a big deal, especially if you've just been flying a long way and might have jet lag or no chance to sleep. Driving completely takes your attention and requires that you be able to control your sleep schedule before and after.
I'm not sure if i need to open a new topic for this! As i might come back seeking more advice to fine tune the trip, as its my first time to the US.
We are still thinking about the train/drive. One thing is it would be our first longest flight trip ever (between 17 to 23 hours, depends on the flight i choose).
I plan to start from here on July 22nd so we get some time before MangoCon and leave back to the UAE on 5th Aug. So we are thinking of few options:Reach JFK on 22nd or 23rd depending on the flight and either stay in NY on 23rd and 24th and leave for ROC by 25th. Not sure if we get to see some good views on the train or the drive. I still need to research on the routes. If we rest well, a drive is an option and we can stop over some places and rest if needed.
Another option we are thinking of. to reach JFK and same day travel to ROC and since we had this long trip i would prefer the train mostly here.
My wife is thrilled to do the drive instead!
If we go directly to ROC, spend some time to go around nearby places then attend Mcon2017 and then back to NY, spend remaining days there and back to Dubai.
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Now that Trump keep coming up with new ideas on to block people from outside (i know that it is for now applicable to certain Muslim countries) i really hope it doesnt affect our trip. I will most probably book the flight tickets very soon. And need @Minion-Queen help on the ticket for Mcon and an invitation for us to get apply for the visa
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@Ambarishrh said in MangoCon 2017:
Now that Trump keep coming up with new ideas on to block people from outside (i know that it is for now applicable to certain Muslim countries) i really hope it doesnt affect our trip. I will most probably book the flight tickets very soon. And need @Minion-Queen help on the ticket for Mcon and an invitation for us to get apply for the visa
Yeah, that's a bit scary. Even we are a bit scared about that as citizens that have to return for the convention. It's months away so could be way better, way worse or the same.
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@Ambarishrh said in MangoCon 2017:
@scottalanmiller said in MangoCon 2017:
@Dashrender said in MangoCon 2017:
Trains are for those with nothing else to do...
Actually, quite the opposite. On the train you have Internet, power and plenty of space. You can be very productive on trains and they let you rest or sleep, which is a big deal, especially if you've just been flying a long way and might have jet lag or no chance to sleep. Driving completely takes your attention and requires that you be able to control your sleep schedule before and after.
I'm not sure if i need to open a new topic for this! As i might come back seeking more advice to fine tune the trip, as its my first time to the US.
We are still thinking about the train/drive. One thing is it would be our first longest flight trip ever (between 17 to 23 hours, depends on the flight i choose).
I plan to start from here on July 22nd so we get some time before MangoCon and leave back to the UAE on 5th Aug. So we are thinking of few options:Reach JFK on 22nd or 23rd depending on the flight and either stay in NY on 23rd and 24th and leave for ROC by 25th. Not sure if we get to see some good views on the train or the drive. I still need to research on the routes. If we rest well, a drive is an option and we can stop over some places and rest if needed.
Another option we are thinking of. to reach JFK and same day travel to ROC and since we had this long trip i would prefer the train mostly here.
My wife is thrilled to do the drive instead!
If we go directly to ROC, spend some time to go around nearby places then attend Mcon2017 and then back to NY, spend remaining days there and back to Dubai.
Anyways, I will proceed with the plan. I really want to meet you guys and attend this!
Please let me know your suggestions on the plan above please.
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The train route and the drive route are the same. If you drove at train speed, you'd see the train beside you about half of the trip popping in and out of the woods. There is one really obvious river valley based route through the state that runs north from NYC to Albany and then west from Albany to Buffalo and both modes take the same path. It is this path that was originally all waterways and built not just New York, but the American expansion west.
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The drive will technically have some better views, but if you are driving they are hard to see. It's not the best journey either way. Some amazing Hudson views if you do it right, but that's about it. If you drive, you can stop along the Mohawk Valley for some of the best pizza on earth, and yes I'm comparing the Mohawk Valley to Italy itself here. It's that good.
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I set the start point as Penn Station (Found that from tripadvisor; Take the AirTrain monorail from your terminal at JFK to Jamaica. At Jamaica take the Long Island Rail Road to Penn Station. You can get an Amtrak train there.)
I found 3 options on amtrak site (Although i didn't quite understand if the routes are different from the map given on the site https://www.amtrak.com/travelplanningmap)
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Via New York, NY- Penn Station Empire Service-Rochester NY
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Via New York, NY- Penn Station Maple Leaf-Rochester NY
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Via New York, NY-Penn Station Lake Shore Limited-Rochester NY
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@Ambarishrh said in MangoCon 2017:
I set the start point as Penn Station (Found that from tripadvisor; Take the AirTrain monorail from your terminal at JFK to Jamaica. At Jamaica take the Long Island Rail Road to Penn Station. You can get an Amtrak train there.)
I found 3 options on amtrak site (Although i didn't quite understand if the routes are different from the map given on the site https://www.amtrak.com/travelplanningmap)
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Via New York, NY- Penn Station Empire Service-Rochester NY
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Via New York, NY- Penn Station Maple Leaf-Rochester NY
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Via New York, NY-Penn Station Lake Shore Limited-Rochester NY
All three lines go from and to the same place on the same tracks. So whatever one has the time and price that works for you. They don't really make any real difference. The differences are much further down the lines.
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Got it! For a tourist, what would be the best (views) drive or train? For us in India depending on the place you visit some places are awesome by road as it takes a different route and some by train. Hope this is the case there too
