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Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts

7/10/14

New Roaming falling charges !!!

Using a smartphone while travelling in the European Union became cheaper this week with the introduction of new cost caps on internet usage and calls.


From July 1, the cost of going online while abroad has more than halved, with the maximum price for downloading one megabyte (MB) of data – equivalent to a two-minute video clip – falling from €0.45 to €0.20.


4/4/14

OPEN access for internet service suppliers and BAN roaming fees


Two major legislative acts were approved by the European Parliament.

MEPs want clear rules to prevent internet access providers from promoting some services at the expense of others. EU telecoms regulator BEREC reported that several internet access providers were blocking or slowing down services like “Skype”, which is used to make phone calls over the internet.

Internet access providers would still be able to offer specialized services of higher quality, such as video on demand and business-critical data-intensive “cloud” (data storage) applications, so long as these services are not supplied to "the detriment of the availability or quality of internet access services" offered to other companies or service suppliers.

MEPs underline that internet access should be provided in accordance with the principle of "net neutrality", which means that all internet traffic is treated equally, without discrimination, restriction or interference, independently of its sender, recipient, type, content, device, service or application.

MEPs also amended the text to ban “roaming” charges (extra fees for using a mobile

phone to call, send text messages or access the internet in another EU country) anywhere in the EU as of 15 December 2015.

12/10/13

Let' start using our phone during take-off and landing !!!

The new European safety guidance establishes that passengers may use PEDs switched on in Flight Mode during all phases of the flight, unless flight crew or cabin crew instructs them otherwise.
Portable Electronic Devices (PED) include digital cameras, smartphones, tablets, e-readers, etc.
Before this change, the safety guidance stated that passengers could use their PEDs in Flight Mode (non-transmitting) in-flight, but not during taxiing, takeoff and landing.
The EU's Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has given the airlines updated guidance on how to expand the use of PED’s safely in all phases of flight. The process to implement this will vary among airlines. They will need to adapt their operating procedures, but many will be expected to do so in coming weeks.
It’s not yet allowed to send emails or texts but EU Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas has asked EASA to accelerate a safety review of the use of transmitting devices on board, with updated guidance to be published in 2014.

Any airline may opt for a more restrictive policy on the use of PEDs. Any restrictions on the use of PEDs by passengers that may apply are at the discretion of the airline.

7/16/13

3 million Erasmus students in Europe !!!

More than 3 million students have benefitted from EU Erasmus grants since the exchange scheme's launch in 1987. The statistics, covering the 2011-2012 academic year, also show that the programme enabled more than 250 000 Erasmus students – a new record – to spend part of their higher education studies abroad or to take up a job placement with a foreign company to boost their employability.


Erasmus is considered one of the most successful programmes of the European Commission!!!


The average monthly Erasmus grant, designed to cover part of the additional costs of living abroad and travel, was €252. The grant, which has remained stable for the past three years, is topped up in some countries by national, regional or institutional funds.


Erasmus+, the new EU programme for education, training, youth and sport, due for launch in January 2014, will build on the legacy of Erasmus by offering opportunities for 4 million people to study, train, teach or volunteer abroad by 2020. The programme is expected to have a budget of around €14.5 billion for 2014-2020 - 40% more than funding for the current education and training mobility programmes.
Trivia: a student leaving on an Erasmus exchange has 15% chances to find its mate and form an "Erasmus couple"!

In Romania numarul de studenti care pleaca cu burse Erasmus a ramas relativ constant, 4568 pe an.
Studentii prefera sa plece in cele mai multe cazuri in Franta, Spania si Germania, si ne vin in general studenti francezi si spanioli. Mai multe statistici se gasesc in raportul Erasmus in Romania.

7/8/13

Did you pick the right mean of transport? Do the right mix of urban mobility!

The European Commission’s Sustainable Urban Mobility campaign, launched in July 2012, is a three-year initiative aiming to support sustainable urban mobility campaigners in the European Union’s 28 Member States, plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

The central objective of this campaign is to promote the advantages of combining different modes of transportation

The campaign bears the slogan ‘Do the Right Mix’, and aims to highlight and advertise the fact that by using different modes of transportation for each journey as appropriate, people can improve their health, their finances and the environment.

Check out the Mobility Map!

Romania are un proiect inscris pe harta pentru Bucuresti - I like bike! 
asa sa fie oare ?...

12/27/10

Flying home for Christmas: 30 hours from Brussels to Bucharest !!!

Cosmar de Craciun 2 - continuarea mult asteptata a succesului trait Craciunul trecut; un deja-vu de cosmar adus pe aeroporturi de acelasi producator non-conformist: BLUE AIR. In rolul principal alti 150 de romani ce vor sa ajunga cu disperare acasa:

23 Dec Brussels Airport - the adventure begins
  • 17:00 - check in, zborul este intarziat de la 18:30 la 20:00. ardem gazul si asteptam nelinistiti sa se faca ora...
  • 22:00 -  zborul este iarasi intarziat...suntem si mai nelinistiti dar inca mai avem baterie la laptop si ceva filme...
  • 23:00 - aeronava a sosit de la Bucuresti dar nu poate ateriza, aeroportul din Brussels se inchide; afara viscoleste usor iar noi inauntru...primim vouchere de 13 euro ca sa ne cumparam sandvisuri scumpe si proaste: daca avem gura plina nu putem face scandal...
  • 01:00 - vom fi transportati cu autocarele la Koln fiindca acolo a reusit avionul sa aterizeze. trebuie sa ne recuperam bagajele de cala. Doar cei care nu au fost niciodata in Koln nu injura inca cu gura plina!
  • 02:30 - reusim sa ne gasim bagajele, ne bulucim printre calatorii blocati in tot aeroportul pentru a iesi in parcarea aeroportului. Facem haz de necaz iar BlueAir face haz de noi...
  • 3:10 - asteptam inghetati in viscol si desi zapada e suficient de mare, nu facem oameni de zapada ci asteptam nervosi autocarele;
  • 3:30 - ne luptam la propriu sa ocupam un loc in autocar pentru bagaje si pentru noi. inaintam cu 40 km/ora printre troiene. Nu ne simtim ca si camioanele Coca-Cola. ALWAAYYSSSS pissed off!!!
  • 4:30 - ramanem blocati pe banda 3 pe autostrada. damnnn. scaunele sunt maxim de incomode iar unii sforaie. SERENITY NOWWWW!!!!
  • 8:30 - Koln. suntem terminati dar ne imbulzim adormiti sa ne recuperam bagajele din autocar si sa prindem iarasi rand la check inn.
  • 10:30 - am fost din nou controlati, perchezitionati si verificati de data asta cu o strictete nemteasca. ranjim obositi ca sa ne recunoasca securitatea dupa poza din act. ma doare capul si stomacul... cautam poarta de imbarcare.
  • 12:30 - incepe imbarcarea cand deodata jumatate dintre noi sunt opriti in autobuz. nava nu poate decola fiindca e inghetata. abort mission!!! o nemtoaica in blugi incearca din rasputeri sa explice diplomat in engleza la injuraturile in romana...ne asezam resemnati jos, unii plang, altii trantesc iar un tip spune: "De 12 SMS-uri ii tot spun prietenei ca decolez intr-o ora...ce dracu ii mai spun acum?!?"
  • 13:30 - primim iar vouchere...de 8 euro de data asta...si in Koln au sandvisuri la fel de proaste ca la Brussels. toata lumea face scenarii, identifica motive, fiecare cunoaste cel putin un avocat sau reporter, toti sunam, intrebam, cautam alternative si injuraturi noi, in timp ce ne incarcam telefonul la singura priza situata in toaleta...
  • 16:30 - reprezentantul Blue Air are curaj sa isi faca aparitia, fiind pazit cu mitraliere...nava nu poate decola fiindca nu avem lichid de degivrare...va trebui sa ne recuperam bagajele si vom fi transportati cu autocarele la un hotel...incepe REVOLTA...turistii straini filmeaza bataia de joc... cum azi nu putem decola iar urmatoarea zi era 25 Dec, era clar ca pana pe 26 nu mai existau sanse reale de a pleca acasa...totul devine o drama...urlete, tipete, lacrimi!!!
  • 17:00 - scenariu de film - in timp ce noi ne certam inauntru cu reprezentantii, aeronava BlueAir apare cuminte pe pista inzapezita si se scurge usor la vale prin ... toti ramanem muti...5 secunde de liniste totala...apoi dintr-o data primim vestea: PLECAM!!! Am primit prioritate la degivrare!!! Un miracol de Craciun: ala micu de la Blue Air este eroul zilei...ne suflam nasu si trimitem iar SMS-uri spre casa...
  • 18:00 - ne imbarcam...suntem obositi dar fericiti!!!
  • 19:00 - desi degivrati nu decolam fiindca nu avem benzina iar cainii care ne insoteau la cala nu pot fi imobilizati. primim gratis de la Blue Air un mar ionatan. Stewardesele defileaza cu panerele ca de ziua recoltei. Toaleta este infundata: nu miroase a bine...suntem super obositi, transpirati, flamanzi dar avem centura trasa iar masuta din fata este corect rabatata...
  • 20:00 - asteptam ca toate bagajele sa ajunga in avion si inca un slot de decolare...
  • 20:30 - fiindca am stat prea mult in frig, avionul a inghetat iar si avem nevoie de inca o degivrare...F***ing amazing!!! in cele din urma decolam: pentru prima data la BlueAir cu totii am aplaudat decolarea si nu aterizarea.
  • 23:30 - ne ingramadim la banda de la Baneasa pentru a ne recupera bagajele. de data asta reusesc sa imi gasesc valiza...s-a terminat? nu imi vine sa cred...
PS: nimeni nu a fost ranit sau linsat pe toata durata calatoriei!

pentru fani: cat de curand Cosmar de Craciun 3 !!! The most awaited trilogy :(

6/21/10

The Last Station

Era iarna, multa zapada si acceleratul inainte greu spre Galati. Eram flancat in scaunele inghesuite de 2 pescari ucrainieni imbracati in camuflaj.

In fata mea s-a asezat o fata inalta, cu ochi verzi si cu o jacheta rosie. Tinea in brate o carte voluminoasa. Era nelinistita si desi incerca intens sa se concentreze pe citit, privirea ii fugea pe geam si se lovea de muntii albi de omăt. Ignora cu greu telefonul ce nu inceta sa ii sune si cu fiecare pagina devenea din ce in ce mai agitata.

Privirea ei era captiva intr-un triunghi format de paginile cu scris mic, albul de dincolo de geam si cuvintele de pe ecranul telefonului. A cedat la un moment dat si i-au dat lacrimile...s-a incapatanat insa sa nu lase cartea din mana.

Pe coperta cartii scria: Ultima gara - ultimele evenimente din viata lui Lev Tolstoi (Rusia 1910).

Contextul m-a facut sa zambesc, mi-am facut curaj si am intrebat-o: "Cum este cartea? Eram curios daca are un farmec mai aparte? fiindca frigul si muntii de zapada de afara aduc a Rusia, suntem inconjurati de 2 ucrainieni care vorbesc necontenit in rusa, suntem intr-un tren, iar tu citesti o carte ce se numeste Ultima gara si este despre cel mai renumit scriitor rus al tuturor timpurilor..."

A zambit si mi-a raspuns ca nu observase tot acest context. Cartea era doar rezonabila...

Ieri am vazut filmul: Last Station. Este o poveste simpla, intensa in sentimente curate, trista, autentica, despre iubirile ce definesc totul si transforma orice altceva in momente unice. Este viata noastra cu toate vagoanele si toate pasiunile ce duc intotdeauna spre ultima statie.

...si, este o calatorie la fel de emotionanta ca si povestea fetei inalte cu ochi verzi pe care am intalnit-o odata in tren...sper ca a ajuns acasa ;)

4/19/10

Travel Chaos

You already know about it: the Volcano...that created the biggest air transport crisis ever.

And because almost no one is flighing this means that everyone is onlining: the traffic has moved from the sky to the web. The EUROCONTROL (the organisation that keeps the airports closed) website mentions: Due to the current European air traffic situation, our website is experiencing heavy traffic. We apologise for any inconvenience we may cause :))

Online collaboration platforms have helped again millions of people blocked in airports: hundreds of Volcano Profiles were created on Facebook, people are searching to share cars and share available routes info on Twitter and famillies take dinner togheter via Skype.

If you were caught in this chaos and you have posted your story online please put the link as comment.
Good luck getting home!!!

PS: latest taxy fares on BBC (from Poland to Germany 800 Euro, from UK to Spain 5.000 pounds)...