Brett I think most of us wish we were still there...
White Horse Tavern
Corner of Marlborough and Farewell Streets, is that UK enough?
Because Boston has International flights, plenty of affordable accomodations, numerous activities for people traveling from Europe and across the world, and many large venues to hold the 250+ SEOs and webmasters showing for the next event!
still here ;-) hey - where'd everyone go? lol
yes, there's nothing quite as funny as walking by the lounge of the hotel on the way out to see some sights and see Brett still mumbling SEO tips to himself and the drunk guy in the corner ...
;)
it's a shame it finally ends for me tomorrow.
Boston sounds cool, and the pubs sound good also. Just got to think of a new name to get the checks off employers for staff to come along?
I really did think Danny would be taller ;)
Anyway - can hardly type or keep my eyes open - fast approaching 24 hours up with the flight and all and it's not like banked any sleep at the conference - gonna go catch some sleep....
So does Southern Calif., a kazillion. And we don't talk funny here. ;)
Next year, hopefully I can allocate my own funds.
Still, that's the penalty of being self-employed ;)
I strongly disagree. ;)
My thanks to all, and especially to Brett and the organisers.
Tedster that was an inspiring conversation we had in the early hours at the hotel bar my have I got a lot of work to do.
Fantastic everyone and thanks.
Naturally, you would!
Maahhsha
There was discussion about that. I've always read you name as mar-see-a. I was really confused when North Americans called me "simml", while Europeans said "kimml". Only the folk from the UK called me "see eye emm ell". Fortunately Shaun (Sean?) pronounced his "tab kee" surname before I met his brother Brett.
There was a real mix of cultures. I was greatly impressed by how many different ways people have of making money online.
With a stack of business cards and an even bigger stack of ideas, it's hard to get back down to Earth (and work...) on this rainy day in Scotland.
Marcia is actually pronounced Marsha, not mar-see-a or Maahhsha.
Marcia was joking about the New England, and more specifically Boston, accent that removes the R's from most words.
Those Californians are too busy at their herbalists to explain.... ;)
Travel stories and reviews:
First, thanks to the London locals for all the help and support. So many people pitched in without expectations were folks needed a bit of help. The WebmasterWorld community represented itself with flying colors. I am very proud and humbled by the way everyone conducted themselves.
Did the Cittie of York come through big time or what? The food was excellent! Far more than we'd been expecting.
We sent Stuart a nice gift for the trouble. We heard there were still 20-30 people there well past midnight with some returning 2-3 times.
However, it obvious that next year, we need to find a bigger pub. Had we taken all that wanted to come, it would have been too packed.
The Thistle: Mixed reviews. Several people swapped rooms, and 3 pulled out and went down the street. There were many that were expecting more for the price, and some of the rooms were pretty poor with no views at all but brick walls out the window.
The guys at the bar were pretty good hanging out until wee hours of the morning. I don't think alot of the locals realized how much of the weekend took place at the hotel. Every night and day from Thursday to Sunday afternoon were swamped at the bar with conference goers. I had some really good conversations there.
As we were leaving the hotel room, we started going through drawers to make sure we had everything, and then we find the coffee service ;-) Here I'd been going down to the pub pay 2 pounds for a cup of bad coffee when we had it in the room the whole time. We also found the 2nd set of towels way in the back of the closet after fighting over one for a week - lol.
As I was checking out, the hotel manager stopped and chatted for a minute and thanked us for the patronage. There were no problem guests reported, and he certainly asked us back next year.
Sightseeing; We hit all the hot spots down town. My favs were the Millennium bridge and the London Eye. The bridge was pretty full of people, and I couldn't detect any tell-tale sway at all. I was surprised my mild fear of heights did not kick in on the wheel. Thanks for playing tour guide HG.
UK Surprises:
I didn't know that they buried people in churches. Man, Westminster abbey is more of a crypt than it is a church, but it was nice to set through services there and see the likes of Shakespeare, QE2, and Charles Darwins vaults.
The weather was a bit of a bummer. We saw the sun about 15mins the entire week we were there. I left the curtain up on the airplane the whole way home - I think I got a truckers tan ;-) I guess it is appropriate that the only souvenir I brought home was an umbrella. (update: wrote that on the plane. Got home to find out it snowed today...maybe the london weather wasn't so bad after all ;-)
I'm serious, there is a real market for gps units sold on the streets of London! Forget the guy in the trench coat with watches - gps units - big market baby. For those that have never been to London, streets change name about every half block and only a third are even marked on the best map. We walked in circles twice. GPS units - big growth market in London.
re: Boston.
Still kicking around ideas. We wanted east coast since we've already done the west coast - just need to be fair and euro flight friendly. Boston is a great convention and trade show town.
Glad to hear that you enjoyed London, its a heck of a place. Agree about the GPS, thats why i have one in the car, and believe me its very useful at times, though can be a little dangerous in the car if the sound commands are not switched on.
I had no problems with the hotel, but hey i can bunk up in a barn, so no surprise their as long as the food is good, which i don't remember hearing any complaints about, the coffee is warm (though not particularly tasty - must be said - I think it was one of the first things you commented on), and the beer is cold, and hopefully served all night, we tried.
All and all a stunning success, can't wait too do Boston, already got party plans underway courtesy of US members.
Last point - Thanks to yourself, RC, Engine, Mivox, Oilman, Louise, Mike, NFFC and everyone else who contributed too the most successful webmasterworld conference, and possibly the most relaxed and informative internet conference yet!
same here. Hotel was fine for me.
And not expensive considering London's outrageous prices.
>Streets, and no names: I often wonder if this is done on purpose.
"We never indicated streets properly and we never shall.."
I cannot remember which comedian replied to this often heard complaint:
So the Americans built their first street in New York, and on pondering what to call it - with amazing fantasy - came up with, First Avenue... Next street, what shall we call this one? Second Avenue..
Next year Boston - sounds perfect.
Thanks for an amazing weekend to all who organised it.
I don't think alot of the locals realized how much of the weekend took place at the hotel.
I am not sure i agree on that ;)
Nick
