Com-Central.net

I'm expecting an outing on Friday to visit tanks at two locations so hoping for good weather. One is only 500 meters from the offices of my business associates, so should be no problem to get there...this is the big outdoor display Polar mentioned.

We called the military base (the active one) today, as was suggested, to make an appointment to see the vehicles there...and after some animated discussion on the telephone (in Polish) it wasn't "sounding" too encouraging. After the call, my colleague put the response he got in the language of "another time" along the lines of "I cannot say 'No', but it is not recommended". I took this to mean it was not a good idea to pursue it further at this time. So plan 'B' is to visit the alternate site south of the city (I think). So, two sites on one day sounds pretty good. Fingers crossed for good weather....and....(perhaps not unrelated to item below)

...for no incidents here at the hotel, since the abnormally high level of security (to include a lot of tall and husky young men in dark suits with bulges under their arms) and long dark cars and news media types and Polish military and Pakistani officials are accompanying one General Pervez Musharraf who is apparently staying four floors above me. My guess is he's addressing the Polish Parliment, which is only a coupla' hundred meters from the Sheraton Hotel. So that's why I couldn't upgrade to club level! (I'm thinking the sixth floor is completely blocked off). Of course, anything used to take out the sixth floor will also likely affect the second, so if y'all don't hear from me again.....

Those husky security fellows aren't real chatty when you share the elevators with them...and they all look like they came from the same brood and use the same tailor. Not what you'd call "low profile".

Do you know what is the reason their faces do not reflect any emotions? During training they have to carry hedgehogs in their armpits instead of "G stuff" - and these bulky guys still can remember the pain....

- palic

Do you know what is the reason their faces do not reflect any emotions? During training they have to carry hedgehogs in their armpits instead of "G stuff" - and these bulky guys still can remember the pain....

They all wear the same clothes, same shoes, same pins, have the same white wires coming out of their ears, and can be spotted at about 75 meters away..probably intentionally. Minimum height requirements seem to apply for this service. I managed a few discreet pics in the lobby without getting any limbs broken.

nm

Here is apparently what all the hubbub was about:

www.pakistantimes.net/...24/top.htm

www.dailytimes.com.pk/...2007_pg7_6

...which also explains why all the military dudes and dudettes that showed up at the hotel ballroom yesterday morning.

I'm not worried about any "monitoring", Dennis, but I did make it a point not to make any furtive movements with my backpack/briefcase when moving about the lobby when all this was going on with all those husky security folks about (of which I counted about 15 of the cloned dark suit/white wire/bulging armpit variety).

There were 16 numbered Mercedes' in the motocade, with a similar number of "unmarked" but obviously gov't issue Volvos and, oddly enough, Chrysler vans in escort, plus the blue-and-white police thingies running interference.

Returning to topic, if there is one....Friday is designated tank picture day, so it better not rain, which it isn't supposed to. Tomorrow we're off to Krakow by train for da' day....

Meanwhile, stuff for Geoff Steer...

This stuff just happened through Central Station while I was waiting to pull out on the way to Krakow. Probably traveling between museums or something. I love steam...

- Doug_Kibbey

Meanwhile, stuff for Geoff Steer...

This stuff just happened through Central Station while I was waiting to pull out on the way to Krakow. Probably traveling between museums or something. I love steam...

This loco was traveling to Wolsztyn Station (near Poznan) to "Steam Picnic" what was in saturday. Wolsztyn is last in Europe station where start and end regular steam line.
More info about it
www.geocities.com/ligh...oland.html
and gallery from picnic
www.parowozy.com.pl/parada07.html

- Polar

- Doug_Kibbey

Meanwhile, stuff for Geoff Steer...

This stuff just happened through Central Station while I was waiting to pull out on the way to Krakow. Probably traveling between museums or something. I love steam...

This loco was traveling to Wolsztyn Station (near Poznan) to "Steam Picnic" what was in saturday. Wolsztyn is last in Europe station where start and end regular steam line.
More info about it
www.geocities.com/ligh...oland.html
and gallery from picnic
www.parowozy.com.pl/parada07.html

Just too much cool stuff to see and too little time! I'd have loved to made that "picnic"!

One more....

If you will be another time in Warsaw you should see Train Musum. They have a lot off steam and
PzTrWg16 - german armour train

It's likely I'll be back before the end of this year. There is to be a congress on antiphospholipid syndrome in Ljubljana in October and I'll certainly attend that so maybe tie in some seminars in Poland with that trip.