Like Le Tour, I’m Leaving Düsseldorf

If you are reading this in the States then just like Le Tour de France I have left Düsseldorf. My time in Düsseldorf has been trying at times, but overall it has been a great stay.

A Tale Of Two Peters
Yesterday I finally got to see the Tour de France up close and personal, and grabbed a few images.

I started the morning by camping out on a corner in the Altstadt for over an hour to ensure that I would finally get some photos without the encumbrance of people in front of me. What I failed to take into account is how long it would take the Nikon 1 V1 to finally start shooting in burst mode. But thankfully for recognition’s sake some top riders, Peter Sagan, don’t normally ride up front.

Right Way, Peter
That’s Sagan in the middle with the rainbow-striped World Champion’s jersey.

When the neutralized start headed out of town I hoofed it across the Rhine, with many other people, in an attempt to find a spot to shoot the riders in full-on race mode. Because of the people in front of me as we looked down the road I had to shoot blind so most of these shots are unfortunately focused on the people across the street instead of the riders. I am blaming the photographer, not the camera. Anyway, here’s Sagan again, this time being camera shy:
Wrong Way, Peter
I kept trying to find a better spot but when the security guy barked something in German at me the third time I crossed the road I thought it best to stay put. It’s not like the riders were anywhere near yet, but why press my luck..

Uh Oh
With the Tour on its way toward Belgium I walked around trying to take more photos, this time of a carnival/amusement park being constructed when the rain started again. I managed to walk back over the Rhine in a light, but steady rain and then waited under the bridge for the rain to subside. When the rain stopped I headed to yet another brewery for a few Alt Biers and to watch the tour progress on TV.

The food prices at the brewery seemed steep to me, so I walked through Altstadt looking for food. I ate a huge schnitzel with yet another beer for my lunch/dinner, and finally had two more beers at an Irish pub (I was only going to have one, but then the skies opened again so I stayed for another), before I returned to the hotel and passed out for a few hours.

I’m On A Data Diet
I have been worried about running out of Euros, I should have been worried about running out of AT&T international data. Before I left the States I forked over $60 for a mere 300MB of data. Yesterday I received a message from AT&T alerting me that I have used 80% of that; my trip is only 33% complete. Looks as if I need to start finding more hotspots and using the downloaded maps instead of interactive ones.

Playing With Processing
One of the benefits of having photos uploaded to the cloud, which I have limited to doing until I have WiFi, is that I can use a multitude of iOS apps to post-process them. I have two favorite editing apps at the moment — Snapseed (which will someday be abandoned by Google as they did with Nik Software’s editing suite for Mac/PC), and Photoshop Fix.

Sometimes I admit that I get carried away with the post-processing, and sometimes it’s the only way to “save” an image that I think is too soft. Like this one:
Düsseldorf, With A Painterly Feel
I wasn’t overly enthused by the out-of-camera image, but I played around with it and feel that it now has a kinda painterly feel about it. I’m okay with this.

OMFG
Whatever I spent on this Bluetooth keyboard has paid off in spades! You may recall that I’ve whined in the past about trying to copy the Flickr URL when mobile blogging. Well, as I write this I realized that I can highlight the URL using CMD-A and then copy it using CMD-C just like I would on a Mac. No longer will I have to constantly poke at the URL in the pop up, hoping to select it all instead of a portion, and then tap it just right in order to bring up the Copy/Paste menu instead of deselecting it. This has made blogging so much easier for me!

Now if I can figure out a better way to get keyboard shortcuts via Text Expander then I will be all set…

Hope your weekend was a good one.

Cheers,
Paulie [düsseldorf->heidelberg/de]

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14 Responses to Like Le Tour, I’m Leaving Düsseldorf

  1. Steve says:

    It looked like the crowds were huuge so getting any kind of shot was a success. When I started the TT at AToC, I don’t think I realized I was starting Sagan as he wasn’t wearing his rainbow stripes, as he isn’t the TT world champion.

    I managed 25 yesterday and only one person passed me within 3 feet. Some little old lady on her was to church and had no oncoming traffic. Idiot.

    In the orifice but expect to be let out early. Doubtful anyone is here.

    -FP

  2. Barb says:

    Nothing too exciting going on for us – haven’t even watched any of the Tour.

    Saturday we went to Canada Day hash, but it rained like hell in the middle of the trail, and the sidewalk chalk they used to mark much of the trail went completely away. We went back to the beer stop (at Piggy’s Dad’s house) and got a ride to the end. Everyone else had to make phone calls to find the end.
    Then made an appearance at a 50th surprise party for a couple hours, then to Franco’s for an impromptu 70th birthday gathering. It was supposed to be a firepit party, but the rain made it a carport party.

    Sunday was watch a couple movies day & then go to a friend’s house for dinner.

    Allan is off today, but I’m working………

  3. Steve says:

    How is he liking the new position Barb?

    • Barb says:

      He’s making the best of it, he hasn’t quite mastered the work really slow so they don’t give you more work concept yet. But – he’s learning new stuff, so it isn’t that bad. It will help his resume in the long run.
      And – now that we have thought of going to the Y at Moore’s Mill after work, the crappy traffic will not be a factor every day. And – the motorcycle can go in the HOV lane, so he will be driving it as much as possible.

  4. Paulie [eatl/ga] says:

    Hello from Heidelberg where it is 15:20 local. I am finally eating “lunch” as the train’s food car was closed. Boring day this far, and will hold what few stories I have until tomorrow’s blog. 🙂

    • Paulie [eatl/ga] says:

      And given the large plate of food delivered to me, it will suffice as dinner as well.

    • Barb says:

      when are you heading to Vienna? When does the hash start?

      • Barb says:

        Davey & Choo Choo’s luggage hasn’t made it to Vienna yet, they got there yesterday. They are enjoying wearing the same clothes…….. hahahahaha

      • Paulie [eatl/ga] says:

        Hash officially starts Friday. I plan to roll into Vienna then by train. I will be spending two nights here in Heidelberg, and then off to Munich(?). I want to go to a smaller town, but the train flexibility from Munich to Vienna is probably a good thing for me to have.

  5. Steve says:

    Just pulled the trigger to go fox hunting in Ireland Next January! I think it will be a bit of a distillery tour for me.

    • Paulie [eatl/ga] says:

      Ireland in January? You are a hardy soul.

      Depending on my circumstances next year I may finally make it Ireland, but during much warmer weather,,,

    • Barb says:

      Debbie going to try to use that buddy pass? it might actually work in January.

  6. Steve says:

    No, we got tickets on United/Air Lingus for $650 each. Pretty cheap. Even Delta was at $700.

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