US Open

[pjk]

Hey guys,
For those of you going to the US Open, how do you plan on getting from the airport to your hotel? I heard there was a train that went from the airport down to Mich. Ave, is this true? If so, where can I find info on it?

For those of you staying at the Congress Plaza, what time are you getting there, and how? I will get there by around noon on the 14th.

 

[AvGalen]

I definately WON'T get there by following the directions on http://maps.google.com/

1) go to http://maps.google.com/
2) click on "get directions"
3) fill in "Rotterdam" (from) and "Chicago" (to)
4) click "Get directions"
5) step 1-27 make me drive to a roundabout in France
6) step 28 reads "28. Swim across the Atlantic Ocean
Entering United States (Massachusetts) 5,572 km"

I guess I will not make it in time for the qualification on saturday

And step 29 and further assume that I either had a 2nd car waiting for me at Long Wharf (USA) or that I brought my car with me during the 5,572 km swim.



Seriously, I will land on friday at around 8 pm and probably take a train/taxi to the congressplazahotel to meet as many people as possible.

I am staying in the US from 15-23 june and these are (roughly) my plans. I will work them out tomorrow night, so if someone has a good idea let me know please!

15-Fri: Fly, land, meet at congressplazahotel, sleep in hostel (Sven/Lars/Stefan also)
16-Sat: Qualification + more cube-fun, sleep in hostel
17-Sun: Some final rounds and some side-events + more cube-fun, sleep in hostel
18-Mon: Visit Chicago, sleep in hostel (alone?)
19-Tue: Visit Chicago, take night-train or plane to New York
20-Wed: Visit New York
21-Thu: Visit New York, take night-train or rental car to Niagara Falls
22-Fri: Visit Niagara Falls, take night-train or plane or rental car to Chicago
23-Sat: Visit Chicago (or just rest), fly back to Netherlands
24-Sun: Go back home, participate in the weekly competition

 

[pjk]

Sounds good. I am heading out now to Denver, and will fly to Chicago at 8:30am tomorrow, so I will be at the hotel (congress plaza) by noon. I will leave on the 18th to Minnesota. See you all in Chicago.

 

[AvGalen]

Have a safe flight!

 

[watermelon]

Is anyone else staying at the Hard Rock Chicago Hotel?

 

[pjk]

I did a little report on my experience of the Open here:
http://stingmoney.com/2007/07/01/report-us...n-2007-chicago/

 

[Rama]

Too bad with the pop on the 4x4 PJK.

 

[AvGalen]

It looks like you are suffering from the same (non lethal) disease as Erik: Competitus nervosa.

I must admit that I also suffer a little from this disease lately. On my 5x5x5 solves I decided to take it easy on the 1st qualification solve to make sure I got a sub-3 time. However I was so shaky that I got about 20 mini-pops (centers twisting on the spot) and finished just to slow in 3:03.62. Because I only had one more attempt, I took a breath and did a very nice solve (PLL-start at 2:25), took a look at the timer......and POPPED in the middle of the Corner-PLL. It took me about 20 seconds to put all the pieces back in and 5 more seconds to analyze how to finish the Corner-PLL. With just a couple of seconds left I finished the Edge-PLL to get a 2:58.18 qualification!

The second day I was much less nervous and I got a new personal best average of 2:43.56.

 

[pjk]

Yeah, well, that may be true. Although I certainly think it is gone now. I wasn't really nervous at all, but now that I got the drift, I should do fine... we will see soon enough . I think Richard got some of your 5x5 solving on vid, and I did watch you on them, not too bad, you still qualified. Keep up the good work Arnaud, and also, it was a pleasure meeting you.

On a side note, what did you think of America? What are some of the major similarites/differences between America and the Netherlands?