Category: travel

… And Vacations Started!

My flight was not cancelled, it departed on time, didn’t land in Reykjavik, and arrived in Helsinki on time. The food was served, and the luggage was not delayed. The extensive questioning on the Finnish border is a new norm, so I am learning how to pronounce Mechelininkatu the way the border control can understand, because now they are actually checking the addresses!

It was hopelessly raining yesterday, but today the sun is shining, and it feels much warmer than the actual temperatures, even with the wind (do not ask, I have no idea how they are doing in here!). We had a long bike ride (short by Boris’ standards, but whatever). I mean, I think I could go a little bit longer, but not twice as long.

We got back home, he made lunch (and yes, I am on my ten days “not cooking/not washing the dishes/not cleaning”), and went on “more biking.” And I am going over the conference stuff, which is although “normal,” still takes a lot of my time!

Can You Take Me With You?

That was a funny one. I scheduled my AC check for today, because I was going to work from home anyway. The technician came when I was in the middle of my Zoom meeting with two of my colleagues, and by the time he was done with the inspection, we were wrapping up the meeting, and he heard me saying that I was leaving later that evening. He asked me where I was going, and I said – Finland, and started to explain that it will be cold (how cold? – it should be mid 70s this time of the year, but it is colder now, mid-upper 60 – well, that’s not that bad!). He asked whether I had family there, and I answered vaguely because explaining my family would lengthen this conversation way beyond the small talk. I described the white nights, the sun barely touching down, the lakes, the rocks, and the forest.

He listened with the great interest, and said: I have one last question: can you take me with you?

P.S. Having a goddaughter in Finland is a good way out of “Do you have a family there?” 😀

At YUL Airport

It was the first time in several years that I didn’t have a lounge in the airport, and it was completely unexpected! I flew with American Airlines, but somehow, flights to the US are not “international,” and I was in the domestic sector of the airport, and could not access the One World lounge 😂. I had to find another place with a hot breakfast!

Alt Hotel

I wanted to mention again how much I loved the hotel I stayed in Montreal. The room was very spacious and exceptionally well-designed, with a comfortable desk and an additional table, and just plenty of room. Also, they actually didn’t change the towels if you don’t drop them on the floor! Most hotels say they won’t, but end up changing anyway. And I loved the gym.

The only thing I didn’t like was the absence of a normal (not continental) breakfast. At the conference venue, we had fruits(yay!) and pastries, and that was it. I do not mind such breakfast occasionally, but not for the whole week. Unfortunately, although the hotel front desk could make you a cappuccino any time, day or night, or any other caffeinated drinks, the food was just yogurt, eggs, bagels, and croissants.

Exceptionally good croissants, but I wanted some real food :). The breakfast place across the street, although open at 7 AM, didn’t have the kitchen start until 9 AM, so once again – great pastries, but that’s it.

By Thursday, I was ready to walk to a place which potentially had breakfast food, about a 20-25 minute walk from the hotel, but then I remembered that the Women’s breakfast was scheduled for this morning, which I had to attend. I hoped that they would serve something else than at the conference breakfast, but alas!

I gave this hotel the 5-star review, but I was extatic to return to our office breakfasts this week!

Beautiful People

During the conference, I had a chance to catch up with some people whom I do not see very often, and I also met several new amazing people. I was really impressed with the students and recent graduates. All of them were so enthusiastic, so eager to learn new things, ready to participate in all discussions, to volunteer! Truly amazing!

These students from Kenya are so sharp! And so fun to hang out with 🙂

A picture from Women’s Breakfast

Montreal At Dusk

I didn’t see enough of Montreal, but here are some pictures taken on the way back to the hotel from one of many dinners :). I love how the city looks in the twilight.

Montreal

When I started planning my trip to Montreal, I notified my old friend from Ottawa that I would be in Canada, and she graciously suggested that she come to Montreal to see me. We used to visit each other often, but later things changed, and the last time I saw her in person was in 2016. I planned on coming a day before the start of the conference so that we could have the whole day for ourselves, but later I learned about the Postgres Extensions Day, a day before the opening, so the organizer convinced me to attend. As I mentioned yesterday, I attended for a half-day, and at about noon, my friend messaged me that she had arrived, so I left the event.

We had an amazing time catching up. Since my friend shares my thrust to culture, we could not just “walk around.” After lunch, we went to see the Notre Dame Basilica, and then Chateau Ramezay – a former governor residence, and currently a history museum.

Continue reading “Montreal” →

Pre- conference: Postgres Extensions Day

I didn’t plan to attend, but was convinced by the organizer, and didn’t regret!

First Day In Montreal

The only way to be on time with American Airlines is to take the first morning flight on Sunday! I am saying it for the second time within the past two months! Also, that was the only way to get to the airport from my house in 35 minutes!

Hotel Alt in Montreal:

The conference didn’t even start yet, and I already had so many interesting conversations, and learned about so many additional events which will happen during this week! I regret that I didn’t check all of them out earlier and didn’t sign up for some of the activities. My excuse is that the last couple of months were all bloody fights, and making sure the conference would be a great event, regardless of these fights. I hope that next year will be better, though! At least now I know what to expect and will look for the opportunities.

The Most Unusual Way To Enter The US

Everyone tells horror stories about long lines and long questioning at the border, for both visitors and US citizens, so I was ready for the worst. My flight was somehow delayed for 1 hour and 40 minutes. I am saying “somehow” because there was absolutely no reason. Boarding started on time. Since I was in Group 1, I sat down, opened a Kindle book and didn’t pay attention to anything. I heard “Boarding completed,” and this announcement was made ten minutes before scheduled departure. I am not sure what happened next, because there were no more announcements, and I was still reading a book. Then, it was “Boarding completed” again, and I looked at the screen and saw that the arrival time had been changed to an hour later than it should have been. And we didn’t gain the lost time during the flight; in fact, we were delayed for forty more minutes!

But then, when we left the aircraft, we were immediately “pre-sorted” for the citizens and visitors, but both lines were moving without stopping, and in five minutes, everyone was in the arrival hall. There were several border control officers, and one of them was outside her booth with a camera placed on a tripod. I approached, and she took my picture, and asked what I am bringing back, but it was absolutely “as usual.” Then I stepped into the booth and saw that there was no officer there. I stopped, puzzled, and another officer turned to me and told me: You can exit!

I am not sure whether my readers had a chance to register “what’s wrong with that picture,” so I am saying it explicitly: nobody looked at my passport! Yes, I get it—this passport has more electronics than my Apple Watch, and there is a passenger’s manifest on the aircraft—but still!!!