Photo TR: Hanno and the TPR Europe Trip

[Hhappy]

Here we are once again, after an amazing time with good friends and excellent parks it is back to basics (aka work)

But..

 

I still have some images i would like to share with all of you, hope you enjoy them.

 

Let's get this report started, my first stop was Europa Park. This was my third visit to the park (in the same amount of years) and everytime i see new details and i notice things that have been added and/or changed as well. To me this is one of those parks in the world one should visit at least once in a lifetime.

 

Anyway, this update will have a lot of pictures of BlueFire (and some more of the park)

Not much else of a story to tell for the moment, feel free to comment.

 

Day 1: Europa Park (scroll down)

Day 2: Europe Park and Olympia Looping

Day 3: Phantasialand

Day 4: Efteling en Joris en de Draak

reason number one to love this place, amazing hotel (just a shame regarding the fountains..)

hotel ceiling

a lot has changed since last year in this area

Blue Fire

part of the new entrance building

let's start this session with a bunch of happy people (or so it seems)

how's it going Steve?

getting ready for that one amazing image..

launching

happy faces

to give you a small idea of the seat and restraint system

they look so tiny

I guess most people have something similar

yummie

the many faces of the launch

prayer time?

rocks and turn and the end of the launch

in the loop

rocks and twists

happy face

going down...

looking back at the station

launch fun from the other side

is that a Larry smile??

next train

that looks like a very big smile

fun turn part

the old que area is now open for walking and picture taking, although when it's really busy it will be used as overflow que area

so many things to take a look at when walking there

up close and...

my favorite part of the ride

hmmmm

flying by

twisty

passing by

lots and lots of theming

another train

so much fun

ok, time to move on and check out some other things

going up

as seen from backstage

bits and pieces

bring on the tune

my favorite bench

reserved parking spots

so many things to look at

back outside

part of a tv-set

immer wieder Sontags

new picture angle

trying to get that one amazing picture

time to move on

here comes the train

crazy people in the back..

Silver Star

part of one of the amazing looking party places at the park

ehmm, there's something so look at around every corner

wedding reception anyone??

and there's still more

back outside. no worries, there's nothing to be worried about..

roof work in progress

time to cool down a little.. i just love the look of the random person walking by

the ropes/que give away we are still inside a park..

Matterhorn Blitz

time for the "best" part of the day

don't think i need to add anything to this

hmm, switzerland..

hold on tight

waterrides

part of a fun ride which is perfect to cool down a little..

ehhmm

time to get some more Blue Fire pictures

looks like the ride is a hit with the public

random people, love the hair

this years addition, an amazing looking splash battle

these waterguns looked to be working pretty darn good

did i mention the theming yet?

glad i'm just out of range

back to the steel structure that is Blue

another look at the loop

happy riders

hmmm, i like

perfect with these restraints

bottom of the loop

happy riders

side view

some random folks, looks like somebody is a bit afraid..

enough said, just some more images

thanks for the fun rides

if you see a sign like this...

... hide that's it for this update. Hope you liked it

Edited July 15, 2010 by Hhappy

[dandaman]

Is she carrying a Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch?

 

 

Awesome photos as usual, Hanno.

[mightbeawannabe]

Hanno, are you sure that this is a theme park? It has amazing theming everywhere! But some of it's ruined by those unsightly coasters that stick out like sore thumbs. Amazing photos as well.

[CoasterHo]

Coming out of lurkdom to say that those are some great photos! I love the way you capture the facial expressions so clearly.

 

One question...What is the coaster that is running along the side of the glass building? I've never seen anything like that before. Very cool.

 

Marcie

[Hhappy]

One question...What is the coaster that is running along the side of the glass building? I've never seen anything like that before. Very cool.

 

Marcie

That is Euro-Mir, one of the awesome rides in the park with a catchy tune going up the lifthill

[Kooky]

^^ it really is very unique und much of fun, especially in the last forceful helixes... during the lifthill, the cars were spinning controlled by a motor. when you reach the top there is a mouse like part were the cars spin again. Then they stop spinning before the first drop, so you don`t know before if you ride the first drop forward or backwards. On the first hill after the first drop the trains spinn again 180 degrees so that you change your direction. Hope that`s understandable, my english is not the best.

 

Here an onride with lights on in the lift, (you can see how the cars spin in the upper little window):

an one with lights off and spinning view, the first 2-3 minuts you`ll see about nothing, sometimes the theming of the lift. and yes the lift roundup is very long:

and an old picture from http://rcdb.com/972.htm?p=1266:

 

EDIT: I forgot, really amazing pics... what is more to say. EP is my home park since i was born and on every visit in the last 25 years i discover new details and theming i have never seen. I´ve just been in several parks in Europa but on this continent it is really the best park!

Edited July 11, 2010 by Kooky

[Mechanic]

As usual Hanno, your pictures are absolutely stunning. The colors in some are so vibrant that I almost have to put on sunglasses to look at my monitor. Thank you for sharing these and I'll definitely be on the lookout for more.

[Hhappy]

This should go pretty quickly from this moment on (depending on time at my end..)

 

Anyway, after a short night of sleep due to a lot of fun at the hotels bar (should have gone there during previous visits) it was time for day 2 (for me)

 

More time at Europa Park and a nice drive to Wurzburg to have some fun at Olympia Looping, drink and eat at a bear tent and other random fun. It was a nice warmup for the Oktober Fest trip later this year.

the morning ritual

let's start with some more ERT

lovely blue

it's a bit blurry.. but darn it.. Larry

spot the dutch

after a nice drive we made it to the next stop.. hmm.. 5 loops

empty train with a nice view on the restraints

ride website

expression time worries, joy and ...

.. another Larry image..

...looks like a "oh sh*t" expression as well

next train and more expressions (screams)

love the hair

better then a dark ride...

through the loop

did i get a picture of everybody so far?

time to zoom in just a little...

what can i say...

such a fun ride

and yes.. this is a coaster travelling from fair to fair..

and it was smooth as well.. smiles all around

the rings

first drop fun

thumb up from Larry is always a good sign

they look so happy

and some ride specs (for the nerds)

time for a small bonus.. this was in the bear tent.. the guy looked way too... ehm..

excitement

well done, fingers crossed there's another one of these at OktoberFest

[Louise]

As always Hanno your pictures are so stunning that I don't have enough superlatives to describe them! Utterly beautiful, and incredible capture of facial expressions (and my hair, this is becoming a theme!) as always. Can't wait to see more, thank you so much for posting them!

[STR8FXXXINEDGE]

Awesome photos as usual Hanno!

I'm always excited when you post photos, but this time I am even MORE excited, as I see that I have made an appearance in a few of them!

Thanks again Hanno, and it was great meeting you.

[Medusa1861]

I love this update! Olympia Looping is one of my favorite coasters, and these pictures show off just why, all the expressions on everyone's faces! Not to mention a really good photo with me on it!

[vuurvogel]

Thanks for the pictures Hanno. They look really great. And they proof I had lots of fun on the trip.

 

Can't wait to see more.

[cobra_roll06]

Fantastic TR Hanno! I could look at your pictures all day. Especially of peoples reactions on the coasters!

 

Was great seeing you on the trip! Looking forward to the rest!

[Hhappy]

Happy to hear people enjoy the pictures and updates so far.

 

Here's another short update. Yeah short..

 

Day 3 was spent at Phantasialand.

 

Home to Black Mamba, Winjas and other fun stuff. Usually i try to take pictures of everybody having a great time during ERT sessions and other moments.. this day my picture taking skills basically had a "crash" and i just had a fun, break day.

Found a seat on Black Mamba and basically did not leave it for the entire ERT session, after that..i just needed a bunch of sleep.

 

So yeah, not that many pictures of today. I'll try to make up for it with the update of day 4.. Efteling.. but that's for the next update.

after arriving late.. this was the first look out of the window the next morning..

Black Mamba

fail or kinda cool.. not sure yet..

anyway, the hotel

i can only imagine what happened the night before...

yes, we are still at the hotel..

so many photo options and angles..

another look at the hotel..

in the winjas area there's plenty to see

stairs..

wuze town

the "elevator" ride gives a different angle at winjas

time for some more spinning...

and i'll leave you with this image... that's all folks

[tiger01]

Nice, Can't wait for the Eftling Pics. GCI are full of twisty goodness!

[RoCo]

Just spectacular, both the parks and the photos. Europapark and Phantasialand have been on my bucket list for so long and they just look better and better, the more I see of them. Thanks!

[Beeja]

Nice angle in that last picture of Phantasialand

 

Great pictures as usual, Hanno! You and your camera are an amazing couple... I really love to look at your pics, they're always entertaining, special and sometimes "failed" but still beautiful! And you say your picture taking skills crashed that day?! My best skills don't even come close to yours on a "bad day"...

 

Thanks for posting these and I'm looking forward to your Efteling update! Take care!

[bgwfreak777]

 

Would that be Apollo's Chariot?

[gameplayer951]

someone likes Blue Fire... lol

[Six Flags Enthuseast]

Awesome photos as always, Hanno!

[KrautWithAltitude]

Very cool photos indeed. Nobody else think that Euromir is a piece of crap? When its not boring, it is rough, I wonder what everybody is so excited about....

[ginzo]

Nobody else think that Euromir is a piece of crap? When its not boring, it is rough, I wonder what everybody is so excited about....

 

I think it's overrated, but "piece of crap" might be going a bit far. I like the theming, music, the satellite out front, the spiral lift, etc. But, the ride itself is pretty meh to me.

[STR8FXXXINEDGE]

Nobody else think that Euromir is a piece of crap? When its not boring, it is rough, I wonder what everybody is so excited about....

 

While it's a unique and some what fun ride, I think most of the fun and excitement comes more from the experience of riding it with a bunch of friends than the ride itself. Everyone dancing and clapping while going up the lift, then seeing everyone in the "mirror's" after you exit the lift. Then you also get to see each other while spinning the rest of the ride. It's a great time!

While I agree that's it's not a super good coaster, the experience of riding it with a bunch of friends definitely makes it a super good experience.

Not to mention, everyone hums and claps the Euro-Mir song for the next week, and some of us are still talking about it and have bought the soundtrack or downloaded some songs. I don't even care for that type of music, but damn, I had to buy it just cause it helps extend my great experiences that I had with everyone on the ride. Great times!

[larrygator]

^I'm not a big fan of EuroMir or EuroSat. One ride is all I need.

 

Nice angle in that last picture of Phantasialand

 

So true, Hanno needs to focus on taking more of these photos and less pictures of me making strange faces.

Edited July 14, 2010 by larrygator

[Hhappy]

The reason i like EuroMir as much as i do at the moment is mostly due to the group vibe thing.

There's (almost) nothing better then raving to the music with a group, going up the lifthill and keep on clapping, humming yelling and doing other random stuff based on the tune. It's the vibe that just sticks and makes it fun.

 

The ride itself.. every ride on it is different and that's also something i like.. and i don't mind riding backwards and seeing other people's reaction to the ride. It's a bit shaky in places.. but you know what.. all the more fun.

 

regarding the different angle picture at Phantasialand... i don't plan on focussing on that too much.. don't want to end up in some sort of jail or something worse due to people thinking weird things of me.. (no stalker shots unless they are really funny)

Edited July 14, 2010 by Hhappy