OT: Stockholm and Utrecht June 17, 2008
Posted by Richard Foote in Travel.trackback
I’ve just recently returned from a very hectic but enjoyable visit to Sweden and The Netherlands to do some training for Oracle University. I had two great classes and met a whole bunch of really nice people so a big thank you to all who attended and made me feel so welcome.
Stockholm is a really beautiful city that reminds me somewhat of Sydney with it’s magnificent harbour. However, as with most cities in Europe, it’s the history and amazing architecture of the place that made it a real joy to simply walk around and explore. The highlight for me though was visiting the Vasa Museum and seeing first hand the incredibly well preserved wreak of the massive but doomed Vasa, which sank in the harbour on it’s maiden voyage in 1628. Hidden for centuries, it was only rediscovered in the 1950’s and can now be seen in almost all her glory at the museum. Amazing. The highlight for the Swedes during my visit was no doubt beating Greece in Euro 2008 and it was fun being in the crowd and watching the match on a large outdoor screen.
Utrecht in the Netherlands was another lovely city to visit. You know the place has some history when the so-called “New” canal was built in the 1400s. Being Australian, anything older than a hundred years is deemed antique here so I soak up history whenever I’m lucky enough to get the opportunity. With it’s narrow cobbled streets and picturesque canals, it was another great place to simply walk around and enjoy. Being a keen cyclist, this was certainly my kind of town with people on bikes just everywhere and interestingly, I saw very few overweight locals. I must have that lucky touch as during my visit, the Dutch beat France 4-1 in Euro 2008. If any country is interested, there’s still time for my services if required, although perhaps not so for the host countries.
Will get back to writing about indexes and the such once my body stops wanting to sleep by midday …
Hey Richard can’t believe you where in my part of the world (stockholm) and I missed you oh well may be next time. I moved here from oz 8 years ago. I love that everyone lives in the city and there ain’t really a CBD like in sydney or melbourne.
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I’ve been at your session in Utrecht. It was very enlightening.
I hope your presence in the Netherland isn’t mandatory for victory of the Dutch team, or you’ll have to come back. The amount of Dutch goals in the last match already was half of that of the previous one 🙂
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Hi Slater
Maybe we’ll meet next time !! I do have some concerns regarding the Stockholm winters 🙂
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Hi Marcel-Jan
Pleasure meeting you. I’m not sure my magic powers are as effective from this distance though !!
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Hey Richard as the locals say “No such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes” 🙂
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Hi Slater
Coming from Australia, there’s no doubt I would have bad clothes if I visited in January !!
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Hiya Richard, glad you got home safely to Austria (according to Burleson, and HE couldn’t possibly be wrong about such an important detail). Ho Hum… Pity you couldn’t have dropped by in Ireland with your magic soccer dust… but then again, we need rocks! :o) Keep her lit, as we say here in Ireland!
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Hi Richard,
thanks for the great presentation. I was at your session in Utrecht, it was great. Yeah everybody (almost) knows how to ride a bike and it’s very convenient in the city with all the traffic jam.
I hope to see you for another presention.
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Hi Sean
Burleson wrong again eh 🙂
Still, in his defence, Australia and Austria, what’s the difference, they’re both just parts of Africa right 😉
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Hi Herald
Glad you enjoyed the presenation 🙂
Must be hard to find your parked bike among all the thousands of bikes I would think !!
Hopefully heading back to Europe again later in the year.
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Hi Richard.
Are you having any plan to come to India?
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Hi Latha
Plans for next year are still at an early stage but yes, depending on demand, India is a possibility.
A very good mate of mine visited India earlier in the year and had a great time so I would love to go and visit India sometime.
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Hi Richard Foote
Iam jalaja from India. Which place do you like to visit in India?
with regards
jalaja k
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Hi Richard,
Thanks. We will wait for your visit. If you come to india you can see TajMahal & lot of temples other than oracle.
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Hi Jalaja
Being a big cricket fan, it’s almost more of a question of when as much as where I would like to visit. It would be fantastic to watch an Australia vs. India test match in India.
The Taj Mahal looks like a stunning place to visit for a start although my mate went on a really cheap 3 day tour in a beaten up old bus around the Delhi area which sounded like a lot of fun.
Latha, hopefully one day. Contact Oracle University and demand to get this Richard Foote guy out to do a seminar or two 🙂
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Hi Richard,
Thats’ right. I will try my best level with Oracle university.
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Slater/Richard
Hi guys i just moved back to oz after 4 yrs in stockholm (working at Oracle). Will be going back regularly (being a new born swede and my partner being swedish) and could have new job in stockholm working remotely from brisbane.
Anyway was wondering if i can get your email slater or richard if you could pass it on. Didnt realize there were aussies in sweden who know oracle.
cheers
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Hi Adam
I didn’t realise there were Aussie DBAs in Sweden either 🙂
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