Hi, this is the latest news report from the Warpstock Europe organisation team.
While some things that we are preparing behind the scene are working very, very well (and we can't wait to get it started!), today we also have some bad news:
DINNER AT YOUTH HOSTEL:
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Morons! After having talked with them on several occasions since February 2006, the youth hostel TODAY (November 8th) has made us aware that warm lunch and warm dinner would always mean two identical meals a day. Funny people.
So prepare for a warm lunch and a "German family home dinner": Breads, cold-cut meats, cheese, and perhaps a warm side-dish or salads (if we're lucky).
(Read full story for our decision "warm lunch, cold dinner" on the website)
I'm already preparing a list of alternate places that one can go to for dinner.
If you have reserved DINNER:
Luckily, we didn't collect money for the meals but only reservations! This way, if you prefer to NOT have dinner at the YH (although you have already reserved for it), simply tell so at the Warpstock Europe registration desk...
SCHEDULE:
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No changes today. :-)
SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS:
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I have added the list of Sponsors and Supporters of this years Warpstock Europe on their very own subpage. Kindly notice who has contributed to our event and keep that in mind for next time when you want to buy or donate something. ;-)
TRAVELLER INFO:
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ARGH! Constructions EVERYWHERE! Half of the parking lot of the YH was conquered by the City of Cologne's construction department to stack material for the flood protection improvement measures. This means: Less parkings.
If you're in trouble, either turn around back in direction of the Zoo (the parkings are not free) or continue towards the bridge and take the first next exit right for a street called "Kuhweg"... according to the YH staff, chances are that you will find parking spots there.
But be careful: That bridge lanes are one-way. If you need to cross the river, you'll have to do a large left turn to get back onto the bridge and then you'll have to keep going up to Zoo to get back on the riverbank driveway to the Youth Hostel!
Constructions (continued) - CENTRAL STATION CHAOS!
Also, the public transport at Cologne has decided to improve the stations around the Central Station. Good idea - wrong time: For doing so, the north/south-connection below Central Station is cut from now until summer 2007! This leads to severe detours and temporary creation of new lines. While the Youth Hostel has prepared information sheets to take away that explain what to do, travellers arriving at Central Station (also from the airport!) will be faced to a complete mess!
Basically, you must now leave Central Station in the opposite direction
for exit "Breslauer Platz" and move left to a new temporary subway entrance to get a tram to the YH.
I first need to check possible connections to the YH from Central Station myself (today, Thursday) and will then publish updated information at the website. Stay tuned!
INFRASTRUCTURE:
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The website (check the NEWS page!) has relevant information about how public internet access was set up for our visitors.
TICKET PREORDER CLOSING FRIDAY:
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The Mensys shop page for WSE tickets will be closed as of Friday, November 10th at 17:00 (5 pm). After that time, get your ticket onsite at the registration desk.
PAYMENT FOR MEALS AT YH:
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If you're not already fed up with that meals mess at the Youth hostel, please note that payment for lunch/dinner is also possible now (and preferred) at the Warpstock Europe registration desk. This enables us to give a single call to the kitchen staff when we pass along the money and will help us tracking if we need to alert the YH if more people want to have lunch/dinner than we have estimated (so everyone will have something to eat!
That's it for today.
Hope to see you in Cologne next week!
-- The Warpstock Europe 2006 organisation Team --
Roderick Klein, Roland Schmalenberg, Thomas Klein