European travel recommendations

[garbon]

Yeah

With most art, it really does make a huge difference seeing them in real life.

Yeah, I think it is really hard to grasp the monumentality of some works from a slideshow/reel.

As for the Mona Lisa... I think it's more about the mystique and mythology of the painting rather than something super amazing about the painting itself.

Perhaps, though I think what also added to my "so what?" vibe was all the precautions they had around it (no one can get close - has its own system for lining up to view) when just outside its hall are famous works of immense scale. Presentation was over-hyped for what it is - though understandable given it is one of the first works even a art neophyte knows.

[The Brain]

Yeah

With most art, it really does make a huge difference seeing them in real life.

Yeah, I think it is really hard to grasp the monumentality of some works from a slideshow/reel.

As for the Mona Lisa... I think it's more about the mystique and mythology of the painting rather than something super amazing about the painting itself.

Perhaps, though I think what also added to my "so what?" vibe was all the precautions they had around it (no one can get close - has its own system for lining up to view) when just outside its hall are famous works of immense scale. Presentation was over-hyped for what it is - though understandable given it is one of the first works even a art neophyte knows.

Yeah they shouldn't let threat levels dictate their precautions. 

[garbon]

People be crazy.

[Richard Hakluyt]

Some pieces just have vast fame. The Rosetta Stone is a bit like that, can never see the damned thing because of the crowd of Japanese tourists that surround it 

[garbon]

The Code of Hammurabi was great. No one around.

[Richard Hakluyt]

That's rather surprising, or maybe it hasn't reached into the popular culture the way the Rosetta stone has.

Sounds like you are having a good business trip btw. Four free days in Paris, that is really awesome for a business trip 

[Malthus]

The Code of Hammurabi was great. No one around.

My favourite British Museum exhibit was the panel of the Siege of Lachish. I was interested in it because I visited Lachish (now a huge tel) when I was volunteering at a dig in Israel.

It's great for military history nerds - this panel has everything: some of the earliest siege warfare depictions in the world. Includes the (very nasty) fate of the losers - flaying alive, impaling, etc.

http://www.odysseyadventures.ca/articles/lachish_slides/lachish_text.htm

[The Brain]

Siege of Languish? And the very nasty fate of those losers?

[garbon]

I hope I can make my flight to Frankfurt. One of the few not cancelled flights currently. Was listed as delayed a few minutes ago but now back to on time. *fingers crossed*

[Maladict]

I hope I can make my flight to Frankfurt. One of the few not cancelled flights currently. Was listed as delayed a few minutes ago but now back to on time. *fingers crossed*

Next time take the train instead. 

[garbon]

Perhaps but better is next time, I should avoid traveling to Europe in winter.

Monitor in terminal shows on time but online shows 15 minute delay. We shall see.

[Duque de Bragança]

I hope I can make my flight to Frankfurt. One of the few not cancelled flights currently. Was listed as delayed a few minutes ago but now back to on time. *fingers crossed*

Next time take the train instead. 

Taking a plane for a 600 km trip when there is a high-speed rail link, at least in France 
The train would probably be late a bit though since the crappy ICE 3 seems to have been rushed by Siemens and very prone to bad weather trouble.

[garbon]

Hey I took a train from Marseille to Paris.

[garbon]

Woot plane is here - one small step down.

[garbon]

They told us in terminal they are waiting on authorization to fly. Online says till 4 now. It looks quite possible I could miss the interviews I was to watch in Frankfurt...