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        Arimaa >> Events >> Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
        
(Message started by: Fritzlein on May 11th, 2015, 6:32pm)
Title: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by Fritzlein on May 11th, 2015, 6:32pm
I have settled my itinerary for the waves conference this summer.  The best time for me to play Arimaa would be the afternoon of Sunday, July 19.  I fly out of Dallas on July 18, arrive in Frankfurt in the morning of July 19, take a train to Karlsruhe, and stay at the hotel ibis Karlsruhe Hauptbahnhof.  Perhaps we could have an Arimaa gathering in the hotel lobby?  The conference starts Monday morning and runs through Friday, and I leave Saturday morning, so a weekday evening would be the only other time I have.  A weekend evening might work poorly for anyone with a typical job, so Sunday seems like the only option to me.

Of course, this might not be a good time and place for others.  I feel that meeting me is not a very exciting event, so I don't want anyone else to go to the time and expense to attend unless there would be several people in attendance.  I don't want to be the only attraction.

Deep_blue, since you are local, perhaps it would make sense for you to take the lead on figuring out whether or not a meeting would be feasible for multiple people, and if so, what some of the details should be.  Are you willing to take this role?  Thanks in advance.
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by harvestsnow on May 15th, 2015, 10:30am
I'm seriously considering booking a few hostel nights and taking a train for the occasion.

How many would come? When and where would the meetings be?
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by deep_blue on May 16th, 2015, 12:27am
19 July unfortunately is not that good for me.  :(
I am playing theater (english?) on that day. Unless you want to visit Germany's biggest open-air theater (though I guess none of you understands German language) I can only come in the evening.
Despite living near Karlsruhe I rarely am in the city so I don't know THAT much about it. But I'll inform myself, also I often saw that hotel Ibis because it's directly beside the railway. Fritzlein maybe you could come into chat somewhen?
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by odin73 on May 16th, 2015, 2:39pm
Hello Karl,

I would like to give you one hint at the beginning: Ibis in Karlsruhe isnīt that great. I warmely recommend you the Schlosshotel (very close, same place, for a bit but not much more money you will find better rooms, a much better breakfast/dinner and generally a much better atmosphere there).
=> I just found that Schlosshotel is the same price for your desired week in July.

Concerning Sunday 19th, let me check and consider a plan for including Karlsruhe into that weekend. A weekday (probably Friday) may be possible as well but for that I should know whether a gathering is takeing place definitely. Anyway, Iīam biased positively to hold a two man show if nobody else may join  8) .
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by Fritzlein on May 18th, 2015, 3:33pm
Thanks for responding, guys.  Harvestsnow, I don't know when I would be free other than Sunday from about noon at the earliest, maybe a bit later to be safe.  The conference schedule has not been published, so I don't know when I will be speaking or when the proceedings end each day; I merely assume I will be free in the weekday evenings.  Deep_blue, I am sorry the 19th doesn't work for you; I am afraid other days won't work for other people, but I am flexible.  Odin73, I'm amazed by your enthusiasm!  I will tell my colleague about your tip for the Schlosshotel, and maybe he will switch our reservation.  It is good to get the inside review.  Thanks!
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by Fritzlein on May 18th, 2015, 3:50pm
In chat deep_blue mentioned that I should bring Arimaa sets and/or books.  If you plan on attending, place your orders in this thread, so that I know how many to pack!  (I expect you can easily get the books from Amazon, so it is only the sets that are of real interest?)
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by odin73 on May 24th, 2015, 1:28am
Both Arimaa books are still available on www.amazon.de
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by harvestsnow on Jun 4th, 2015, 11:24pm
I should be at the Karlsruhe Hauptbahnhof at ~10:30 and probably leave the next day. I've also ordered a copy of Chess Reborn, so that if things get awkward I could at least ask for a dedication and hide behind someone else's shoulder.
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by Fritzlein on Jun 13th, 2015, 2:51pm
It looks like my train from Frankfurt will arrive at Karlsruhe Hauptbahnhof at 10:58 on Sunday, July 19.  However, I didn't realize that I needed identification to ride, and that my identification would be my credit card, so I can't use my wife's credit card, so I will wait to book the ticket until we get a card in my name.  Presumably the schedule won't change by then.  :)
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by Fritzlein on Jul 6th, 2015, 11:13pm
I'm now officially scheduled to arrive by 11:00 Sunday, July 19.  But it looks like there will be nobody there other than odin73.  I feel bad for him coming a long way just to see me.  Perhaps we should call off the meeting entirely?
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by deep_blue on Jul 7th, 2015, 12:04am
As I said, I can come, but only in the evening (7 pm or so). Also I thought harvestsnow meant he would come.
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by harvestsnow on Jul 7th, 2015, 3:57pm
Perhaps Fritz mistook my post for one of odin's. The error is understandable, I am an invisible rabbit after all.

Now, it might be time to ping the Wanderer about it.
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by Fritzlein on Jul 9th, 2015, 8:54am
Sorry, harvestsnow; I did attribute your post to odin.  So there should be at least three of us in the afternoon with a fourth in the evening?

I wonder how I should contact the group if my flight is delayed.  I rather expect that my cell phone will not work in Germany.  But perhaps any big delay would originate before I have left the United States, which would mean I could post about it in this thread.

And how will we find each other in the train station?  I could wear a red baseball cap; that's all I can think of for now.
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by novacat on Jul 10th, 2015, 3:50pm

on 07/09/15 at 08:54:00, Fritzlein wrote:
And how will we find each other in the train station?  I could wear a red baseball cap; that's all I can think of for now.

Clearly, you should wave your respective Arimaa banners high in the air:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bxk0nQTNBHTNOGE1Tm1OX3JoUEE/edit?pli=1

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bxk0nQTNBHTNZGMxc0Nxekg4VE0/edit?pli=1

(Courtesy of blackczajk for the AWL teams :) )
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by odin73 on Jul 13th, 2015, 3:42pm
Hello all,

Harvestsnow, thank you for the reminder.

I have to think  think about coming Sunday at all. 7pm is way too late for me since a have to return home in the evening (a long way by car, I should rather leave at 6pm).
Fritz, do you have a feeling when you may arrive without rushing in your hotel? If thereīs too little time overlay, I donīt see a good opportunity for my side to join the gang..
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by Fritzlein on Jul 15th, 2015, 10:20am
I can't predict whether or not my flight will be delayed, but if it arrives on time, then customs is what is most likely to delay me.  Could that take an hour or two?  Even if the latter, I should arrive in Karlsruhe by 13:00 on July 19.

The full conference schedule has now been published.  To my surprise, the last session ends at 14:00 on Friday, July 24.  I could therefore join an Arimaa gathering without difficulty by 15:00, even accounting for farewell conversations, etc.

Would a Friday gathering be preferable to Sunday?  It would certainly be more reliable, with no danger of a long flight delay preventing my attendance.

I have been checking the Arimaa Forum only infrequently this summer, but I will check more often now in the days leading up to my departure.
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by deep_blue on Jul 15th, 2015, 11:12am
At least for me Friday would be better since there's no theatre on Friday. Also if it's more reliable that's better of course.
I don't think customs would take that long, though I don't know since you come from US.
How much time again would you have on Friday? You go again on Saturday, right?

I also would be okay with two meetups but for the other people that come from far away that's not an option I guess.
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by Fritzlein on Jul 15th, 2015, 12:41pm
I leave Saturday morning, so I am available all evening on Friday.
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by Fritzlein on Jul 16th, 2015, 5:40pm
If there is going to be a gathering after all, I think I should get the e-mail addresses of those who plan to attend either on Sunday or on Friday.  I believe that my cell phone plan will not work in Germany, but I do expect to have wi-fi access in the airport and my hotel, so that I could read and send e-mail regarding delays and coordinating meetings.  My yahoo dot com e-mail address is yangfuli.

My train ticket is still for 10:58 arrival at Karlsruhe Hbf July 19.  I wish I knew the probability of being delayed, but in fact I have no idea.

Odin73, I don't want you or anyone to go to great trouble for a disappointing event.  I would enjoy playing some Arimaa face-to-face, and to meet some of the personalities from gameroom, but if in the end, there is no Arimaa meeting in Karlsruhe, no one should worry for my sake.  Come if you expect it will be a fun time and worth it for you.
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by deep_blue on Jul 16th, 2015, 6:50pm
I guess you will take an ICE to Karlsruhe? Those usually aren't delayed though one can never know because of strike (no plan what's the right word; google translate on that one). I guess writing a forum post is fine or you could write a gameroom message?!
And to me you can of course use the arimaa.deep.blue@gmail.com .
So if we meet on Friday you have enough time to check the lobby there to see if it's okay and in case of a "no" write me so I get some other location.
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by harvestsnow on Jul 16th, 2015, 9:23pm

on 07/16/15 at 17:40:50, Fritzlein wrote:
If there is going to be a gathering after all, I think I should get the e-mail addresses of those who plan to attend either on Sunday or on Friday.  I believe that my cell phone plan will not work in Germany, but I do expect to have wi-fi access in the airport and my hotel, so that I could read and send e-mail regarding delays and coordinating meetings.

There are free online services that allow you to send SMSs. Though I've just checked some of them and it doesn't seem to work with my number as it did in the past.

I will attend the Sunday meeting if there is one. I could also probably come Friday. Playing face to face would be a first for me. I don't have the Z-Man set, I could try to find a chess set if we need one more. There's a chance my cell phone will work, since it's so close to the border. I'm not sure yet if I'll bring a laptop.
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by Fritzlein on Jul 17th, 2015, 12:25pm
Yes, deep_blue, it is an ICE train, #103 according to my on-line reservation.  I remember from living in Germany (although it was 27 years ago) that the trains run on time, and even a three-minute delay was very rare.  It is not the train that I am primarily worried about, but the Delta flight.  It may not depart Atlanta on time, in which case the Sunday meeting will inevitably be delayed.  The only consolation is that a delay in the United States would let me post to the forum around 22:30 GMT still on July 18th, although I don't know whether that is enough advance warning to cancel or change a train ticket.

Apart from the flight per se, I may be held up retrieving my luggage, or getting through customs, or getting from the airport to the airport train station, or convincing the train station kiosk to print out my tickets, or by something else unforeseen.  These seem more likely to be short delays that put me on a different train that is later by an hour or two.

Harvestsnow, I will bring my tournament-size Arimaa set made by ocmiente.  It cost a pretty penny, so I had better use it, and what better occasion than this?  Indeed, if I don't see you in train station, perhaps I will be able to find a table on which to set up the board: that would be a surer way for you to recognize me than my red baseball cap.  :)
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by deep_blue on Jul 17th, 2015, 3:47pm

on 07/17/15 at 12:25:09, Fritzlein wrote:
 I remember from living in Germany (although it was 27 years ago) that the trains run on time, and even a three-minute delay was very rare.

Em, if you take a not-ICE train (so a slow train) the opposite is the case. It never happens that they have less than three minutes delay...
But afaik ICE's are good still.
So there will be a meetup on Sunday already? Btw, my train today went through Karlsruhe and I saw the Schlosshotel, looks okay, I think we can play there. Also it seems to be only 200 meters away from the Hauptbahnhof. But of course there are other options like KIT mensa and garden behind the castle. Odin, feel free to check out KA300 pavillon (just google it). Also there is the ZKM that might be interesting. On that day the city will be full of people because there are various things including an oldtimer parade which may be interesting if you are interested in cars.
Sorry for my bad structured post and bad explanations, I am just super tired right now. I hope I can write more things tomorrow after I slept.  ;)
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by Fritzlein on Jul 17th, 2015, 10:24pm
My colleague kept our reservation at the Hotel Ibis, even though I see that the Schlosshotel is just across the street from it.

I discovered when packing today that I can put both a chess set and my Arimaa set into the same carrying case, so I will have enough equipment for all comers.
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by harvestsnow on Jul 18th, 2015, 9:40am

on 07/17/15 at 15:47:59, deep_blue wrote:
So there will be a meetup on Sunday already?

Good question. odin73 hasn't confirmed yet. I have a feeling he's not coming.


on 07/17/15 at 22:24:37, Fritzlein wrote:
I discovered when packing today that I can put both a chess set and my Arimaa set into the same carrying case, so I will have enough equipment for all comers.
Thanks. I hope it's not too heavy. I understood from a previous post that you had regular sets, but it's really not what you said.

Playing in the Stadtgarten could be nice. It closes at 18 (http://www.karlsruhe.de/b3/freizeit/zoo/zoobesuch/oeffnungszeiten.de) and there is a small entrance fee (http://www.karlsruhe.de/b3/freizeit/zoo/zoobesuch/eintrittspreise.de).
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by Fritzlein on Jul 18th, 2015, 10:27am
Harvestsnow, I am not sure what is the latest you can decide about coming on Sunday or waiting for Friday, but I will post again in about five hours with the status of my trans-Atlantic flight.  Please decide according to your own preferences without worrying about offending me; I will be relaxed and happy whether there are two Arimaa meetings in Karlsruhe this weekend, or one, or none.  Life is good.
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by deep_blue on Jul 18th, 2015, 12:36pm
The Stadtgarden belongs to a zoo not sure we want to play there. The garden behind the castle is free and pretty big.
Or as I said in the mensa of the KIT I guess Fritzlein will go there sooner or later anyway with his meeting.
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by Fritzlein on Jul 18th, 2015, 4:17pm
I'm in Atlanta, departing on time.  --Fritz
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by deep_blue on Jul 18th, 2015, 4:28pm
Noted
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by odin73 on Jul 19th, 2015, 1:16am
Hi all,

sorry for the late reply.

Iīm sorry for Sunday but I couldnīt organize a weekend in the region. Normally I stay at my aunt in Heidelberg, but currently that isnīt possible. Since my way to Karlsruhe is quite far (5+ hours by car) I see no way to join the gathering.
Fritz, harvestsnow and deep_blue I wish you all a great day in Karlsruhe, Iīm very disappointed that I canīt be there. Enjoy the day, the matches and the great opportunity!

regards from Bavaria
Christian
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by chessandgo on Jul 19th, 2015, 3:24am
Happy birthday Fritz! You guys enjoy your week-end in Fritzsruhe.
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by deep_blue on Jul 19th, 2015, 7:10am
Odin,
how about Friday?
I don't know if harvestsnow has time there but I definitely will have too.
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by Fritzlein on Jul 22nd, 2015, 1:14pm
Odin73 (and anyone else interested in possibly joining), deep_blue and I agreed to meet in the lobby of the Hotel Ibis Hauptbahnhof at 14:30 on Friday.  It seems that DeathCure may join us at some point.  However, the hotel lobby is not a very convenient place to play Arimaa, so we will probably move to another location.  This makes it important for anyone arriving after 14:30 to communicate in this thread or by private message so that we don't miss each other later on.  Peace --Fritz
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by DeathCure on Jul 23rd, 2015, 12:46am
Hello everyone,

 Just wanted you to know that I'll be there on friday,at 14:30. I might bring with me a friend or maybe two so that we have more people. I was wondering though should i bring my chess board or are the ones you brought enought for us all?


DC.
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by odin73 on Jul 23rd, 2015, 11:02am
Hi all,

Iīm sorry, Friday afternoon (and this weekend) isnīt possible for me to join the gang.  :(
Anyway, Karl, enjoy your time in Germany,  and anybody else the gathering with one of the most fanous Arimaa luminaries  8)
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by Fritzlein on Jul 23rd, 2015, 3:51pm

on 07/23/15 at 00:46:36, DeathCure wrote:
Hello everyone,

 Just wanted you to know that I'll be there on friday,at 14:30. I might bring with me a friend or maybe two so that we have more people. I was wondering though should i bring my chess board or are the ones you brought enought for us all?


DC.

Great, I look forward to meeting you!  I have an Arimaa set and a chess set, which should suffice for our little gathering unless I am supposed to give a simultaneous exhibition against three opponents.  :)

I don't know where (after we meet in the hotel lobby) the optimal place to have our gathering would be, but harvestsnow and I fared well by walking north to the castle park and playing at a public table (with inlaid checkerboard) in the shade, so I will suggest that unless anyone has other ideas.
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by Fritzlein on Jul 23rd, 2015, 3:53pm

on 07/23/15 at 11:02:37, odin73 wrote:
Hi all,

Iīm sorry, Friday afternoon (and this weekend) isnīt possible for me to join the gang.  :(
Anyway, Karl, enjoy your time in Germany,  and anybody else the gathering with one of the most fanous Arimaa luminaries  8)

Too bad the timing didn't work out for you, odin73, but I appreciate your letting us know so that we don't worry about missing a possible connection with you.  I have enjoyed my time in Germany so far, and I expect tomorrow to be the icing on the cake!
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by DeathCure on Jul 23rd, 2015, 5:27pm
Was about to go sleep when I remembered I don't know any of you guys,so I have no idea how I'll recognise you.. is it okay if you like hold anything like a chess set or a paper or just tell me the colour of your clothes or any similar things?  :P

Thanks and have a good night  :)
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by Fritzlein on Jul 24th, 2015, 1:15am
Heh, OK, I will wear my red SMU hat again.  Also there is a picture of me at the end of this article: http://en.chessbase.com/post/computer-resistant-chess-variants
Title: Re: Karlsruhe 19 July 2015
Post by DeathCure on Jul 24th, 2015, 1:18am
Nice pic sir.  8)


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