simon8899

Very cool!!! http://www.themeparks.ie/southamerica/parquedelacosta/pulpo.htm - Schwarzkopf Monster 1??? I thought those were extinct.... http://www.themeparks.ie/southamerica/salitre/1001noches.htm - former german carnival ride "1001 Nacht"... http://www.themeparks.ie/southamerica/salitre/dobleloop2.htm - long time no see, Soquet double-loop! On a more practical note: How was security in Colombia? When you only hear tv-news about it one might get the wrong impression. Were you on a self-guided trip or with a group?

Well, hope this turns out. This is a nice small park with one of the first Vekoma Whirlwinds still in operation and a cool indoor Round-Up complete with strobe and laser effects. If bad comes to worse it might get closed now....

I was there last June during my holiday so my observations are one-time only: SFMM: Very good operations, all coasters with two trains - but I suspect it was due to summer-holiday crew training as I was there the week before Memorial Day, nearly no flats, meh food, depending on were you live count in some time to get there - I stayed in Long Beach and it took nearly 3 hours by car Knotts: very slow operations, many ride-breakdowns, okay flat-selection - nothing compared to euro parks or fairs, okay food, nice western-town, if you're a Schwarzkopf fan visit for the Shuttle-Loop - better than Revolution as this has no OTSRs. If you've only time for one choose the one closer to you, as I said the daily "carmageddon" on I-405 can get on your nerves...

In comes the fanboy.... Olympia Looping!

Colossos in Heide-Park is no small coaster at all - its the prototype Intamin/Cordes prefab-woodie who is even taller than El Toro. The best woodie in germany if not in europe!

There are non-coaster rides???

I beginning to think to maybe go to the US in April 2013 and add SFoG to my Orlando/Florida trip....

How did Yoghurt phrase it: "Merchandising!!!" But wets my appetite for Orlando next spring....

Great PhotoTR!!! And Fanta isnt orginally from australia - its history is a lil shady as it debuted in 1941 in germany. The then Nazi government ordered Coca-Cola to either produce a "german" named (Fanta = Fanta-stisch) drink or get out - Coca-Cola to save its business didnt got out and in this small way also supported the government....

I'd say some indoor coaster - I'd never go to a park if it likely pours all day. Even if its a once in a lifetime chance to visit...

While the Intamin launched coasters are good the best IMO is the LSM Launched Eurofighter by Gerstelauer - love the Fluch launch. Mostly that the car is after a small drop already at about 7-10mph and gets "picked up" by the launch system - this offers new future possibilities. Like having a coaster with a convetional lift that gets "picked up" when the ride would normally be over and the LSM sends it into a second...thrid... frenzy. One could built incredibly long coasters with this system... Hope to see such coasters soon.... @QueerRudie: Yes, after visiting Knotts I also love the oldie but goldie shuttle loops!

I love the signature Ra-tat-tat-tat of Schwarzkopf coasters when the train goes through the loops. On modern coasters you're always from the parking lot stretching your neck to see if they're all running - on the Schwarzkopf coasters you just have to point your ears.... The opposite are B&M divers - if it wouldn't be for the screaming girls you could sleep under them for hours and you won't be disturbed.

I'm planning for Jan/Feb 2013 - roughly like this: I'll likely stay at a Disney hotel as airport transfers are free. Mon: arrival Tue: Disney, Magic Kingdom Wed: Disney, Epcot Thu: Disney, MGM and Animal Kingdom Fri: getting my rental car at Disney Transport Center (all major brands) Sat: Kennedy Sapce Center Sun: relaxation day Mon: Busch Gardens Tampa Tue: Sea World Wed: Universal Studios IOA Thu: some shopping, return of rental car Fri: departure

Nessie - Schwarzkopf Loopingracer - at Hansa-Park, then Hansaland, was my first amusement park looper. The Schwarzkopf Katapult and the Dreier-Looping - Triple Loop also by Schwarzkopf - were my first carnival loopers. The later is still active in Mexico. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soAOvDDUMzI Found this clip featuring the Triple Loop on Oktoberfest 1983 in a movie by german comedian Didi Hallervorden. I can't really remember the shoulder-harness free trains - maybe only for the movie....? I was quite young when I rode this and utterly thrilled so my memory on such "non-essentials" is a lil clouded after that many years....

Cool pics... Wets the appetite for comming June....

So far I've only done Xcelerator and Desert Rece - but this summer will most likely add Kanonen.

Hansapark in germany on the baltic sea started as first german Legoland in the 70s - some landscaping from that time still exists when you walk behind Nessie toward the log flume and Fluch Von Novgorod.

I liked the Bobsleds last May. Lets see how the new ones will perform....

I dont know much about standard transatlantic fares - with beeing 1,95 meters tall I always buy a business class ticket. For scandinavia see for city parks like Tivoli, Bakken (Copenhagen), Liseberg (Gothenborg), GrönaLund (Stockholm). I'm doing a trip next summer early june including Finland with Linnanmäki (Helsinki) and Sarkeniemi (Tampere) and also go mostly by train and ferry - ecluding Hamburg to Helsinki - but only daylight connections. Honestly I could never ever sleep in a train - as well as I cant sleep on planes even in business - this is the first time I've realized something like City Night Line exists... And even thinking about sleeping with strangers gives me some creeps....

This was also discussed on the currently running annual convention of the german Chaos Computer Club - a german hacker club. They still have small hopes that it'll not pass and if it'll pass that the EU will not follow. But there's a whole trend not only on the hosting site of the coin. New devices like some Smartphones, HDTV-recorders, etc. are more and more locked up missing more and more functions of an universal computing device: No unrestricted interfaces like an USB-port, no ability to use external data-storage like an SD-Card or HDD, no data can be transferred to/from the device without a special software that could phone back all transactions if the transfer is at all possible, no software can be installed from independent sources,... All this is bundled up in a "nice" GUI and "nice" design to be bait the users who dont care. My fear is that in the future we've to pay for each picture, audio and video each and every time we watch/hear it and there will be no way to store any content... P.S.: Thats why I also dislike E-Books and always prefer the printed issue - that I can sell, make it a gift, share it freely - and of course can use it without any kind of device or electricity.

Never! In home parks I dont wait longer than 20 minutes. While travelling not longer than 1 hour even if its likely I'll never come by that coaster again. I love riding coasters but life is too short for longer waits. Thats why I dont go to parks during school vacations, public holidays and weekends.

Pilgrim's Plunge looks amazing....

great pics...

http://www.legoland.de/en/Explore/NEW-2012-LEGO-Ninjago/ Legoland Germany has announced a new ride to open March 30, 2012. The first Gerstlauer Sky Fly. The ride will be named Flying Ninjajo and will be accompanied by a new area in Miniland. Experience the flair of Asia in the streets of Little Asia at LEGO® City. You can lift off with the new Flying Ninjago, or pop in for a tasty bite to eat at the Asia Chicken House. And if you’re feeling like a true ninja, you can enjoy a topsy-turvy adventure at an altitude of 22 meters, soaring through the air on the new Flying Ninjago ride at LEGOLAND® Deutschland. SkyFly

They should've kept the Schwarzkopf Double-Loop I spot on that postcard....