The guys at Pulver were able to arrange free wifi with The Cloud, a European ISP that has unwired all public train stations in Stockholm and who knows where else.
To test it out, I just arrived in Stockholm at the central station, and before looking for my hotel I booted up. It works. So, I found a cafe, ordered a Carlsberg (Export), and decided to check email, etc. The nice thing about working in a public place like a train station, vs. a hotel room, is that you can feel the buzz and energy of people. And it’s magnified when it’s someplace you don’t go to often, like say Stockholm.
It’s been a busy trip so far, and I had fun in London yesterday with a little bit of rare free time, while acclimating to the time zone. I walked about 8 miles, from my hotel, through Hyde and Green Parks, by Big Ben, along the south embarkment, my goal being the Tate Modern musuem. Fun museum, great space, plus they had an interesting interactive PDA guide that the engineer in me had fun exploring. It definately added to my understanding and appreciation of the art. I especially liked the plaster cast negative impressions of things like tables, bookcases, and entire houses done by Rachel Whiteread.
It’s been a long time since I had free time in London, so I also really enjoyed walking by the Eye (although I didn’t have time to take the ride), crossing the Millenium Bridge, sharing a bottle of wine with friend/colleague Nick in Hyde Park on a perfect Spring Day, finding the Peter Pan statue (very appropo after watching Finding Neverland with the family Friday night, great family movie), and finding myself oddly moved by the peace and serenity at the new(ish) Princess Diana memorial fountain.
And, to make some sort of professional comment about telecommunications, I should tell you that after logging in here I have had 3 Skype IM conversations, one of which hit me before I’d thought I’d even authenticated with the ISP, and Skype rang twice and I had nice long chat with Marilyn. All. For. Free. Ubiquitous broadband + IP communications truly is a new world order — what need have I for mobile calls tariffed at $1.49 per minute from my USA-based carrier.