Ask Lemmy

I sometimes take the ICE from Arnhem to Utrecht. It's special, because it's an international train with sleeping cabins and sometimes even on-board catering. You usually have to pay an extra supplement, but not if you only ride it nationally. This kind of train only stops on three stations in the Netherlands (Armhem, Utrecht, Amsterdam), which makes it more special.

I got the chance to visit the penthouse at the top of the Chrystler building. The guy opened the topmost windows and let me partly hang out of it for a photo (I have to dig it up though)

One of the events that comes to mind was a "open" conference at a university that "actively encouraged" "low class" participation. (They didn't say this).

What I mean by that is that it happened during normal work hours and you had to send an email to sign up, but they did allow you to come.

Over the course of the event it became clear that it was a joint PR thing for the sponsors and the university to appear to be "doing something about [issue]", so they had 2 talks, an audience participation thing, where it was very clear that the thing needed most was more funding for people and work material and tools (think PPE, it wasn't that or that critical). ...and a panel discussion between [company] and [5 politicians] that in absolutely no way addressed the issues that were brought up in the audience participation part.

There was very nice, expensive catering.

Pretty surreal experience and something that solidified my belief that some very important parts of our society are utterly broken beyond repair.

Funnily enough, a similar thing. When I was 20 I had a small business, but registered to the business register just like any other. I got invited by email to attend the opening of the new lodge in the stadium (because they were trying to sell me private seats passes I definitely couldn't afford). Shook hands with the players and everything.

My dad once told me how he won a bunch of money betting on a horse race and spent it all that night in the fancy suite type area that overlooked the racetrack.

Saved up for a few years to go to a 5 star hotel resort (thank you COVID!) and when we finally went, goodness gracious was the experience so wildly different from a 3 or 4 star hotel. Felt completely out of place there right from our arrival.

We arrived as backpackers and walk to main gate where the gatekeeper was. He was shocked and stammered "You.. you walked here?". We were quite naive in thinking everybody did since there was foot path, but upon looking back, it was not paved or anything. Nearly every visitor had their own car and there was a shuttle to get you between the bungalows. We also got a welcome cocktail and complementary snacks on some tours. We found out that we didn't even have to carry our own luggage anywhere and of course there was dry-cleaning but it was at max 20$ / item.

A great experience, but we'll need another few years to save up for a similar experience.

My parents liked to travel and eat out when we were young. If traveling, it meant we ate with them. I frequently remember eating at very fancy places wearing my little dresses and patent leather shoes and feeling very out of place. But mostly because I was a kid.

Also maybe the one time we flew first class at 14? Oooo they had ice cream!! In real bowls!!! And nice pillows!!!!

I worked at a financial company which had an office in London, I am an IT guy and was asked to go to the London office a few times.

Two of those times I got to stay at The Langham.

It is a far more luxurious hotel than I have ever stayed at before.

Not work related, but I used to do pickup games with the players on the best Tribes Ascend team in the world every day!