Barcelona would be a little more like San Francisco in some aspects: hills, different social pockets, Mediterranean mountains (hills?) straight into the sea (much warmer than by Ocean Beach), interesting architecture, etc.

If you manage to go to France, then you should DEFINITELY check Nice. It is so beautiful. The food is just amazing, the old market fragrant, the view incredible, etc.

At this point in time, the city that reminds me the most of San Francisco is… Sheffield, in the UK. I know there is no sea, but there is the amazing peak district where people come from all over Europe to do climbing or extreme sports (even got a whole-year ski slope), and there are big lakes and reservoirs. Sheffield has been voted the greenest big city in Europe, and the student population - from all over the world - is ever growing, bringing such a rich mixture of culture and tastes. I fell in love with it and decided to stay. There are many local breweries around, most with adjacent pubs with spectacular views. There is a great tram system ;-) and of course. a very active Apple Store :-)

iPhone Suica!

IMO, this offers the potential for far more than just automatic payment of transportation fees (and opening toll gates).

Done right (the Apple way), the iPhone could be the realization of the electronic wallet.

Oddly, I recently emailed Daniel with a suggestion that he do an article on the subject (attached below).

Daniel,

I enjoy (almost) all your articles– politics excepted.

I have a suggestion for an article

Possibility of iPhone/Touch supporting RFID payment systems like Mobile Suica.

I did some preliminary research & here’s what I’ve found.

Mobile Suica is a technology that supports mobile payments by cell phones.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Suica

Mobile Sucia is licensed by SoftBank– Apple’s Japan iPhone carrier (also NTT & DoCoMo– potential Japan iPhone carriers)

same reference

Mobile Sucia is implemented via Java interfacing a Sony FeliCa Chip.

same reference
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FeliCa
http://www.paymentsnews.com/2008/05/sony-announces.html

The ARM processor used in current iPhone/Touch is capable of directly executing Java ByteCode (Jazelle DBX).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARM_architecture

I am unclear whether any of the chips in the current or 3G iPhones have the capability of the Sony chip.

While not directly related, Apple appears to be interested in automated shopping, transactions and (by inference) payment systems.

http://www.macnn.com/blogs/2008/04/18/will-apple-open-a-store-in-second-life.html
http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/37064/118/
http://www.forbes.com/2007/12/26/apple-patents-iphone-tech-wire-bc_1227appatent.html
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/apple-patent-explores-wireless-media-device-applications/
http://watchingapple.com/2007/12/wireless-transactions-and-apples-pos-patent/

It would be really cool for the iPhone to replace the wallet (cash, credit cards, Identification, Medical History/Alerts) in addition its current roles (iPod, Phone, Internet browser) and future roles (Business, Gaming, 3rd-Party Apps). Some features of the 3G iPhone (Push, Remote Wipe, Assisted GPS, Tracking) only make the electronic wallet more practical.

I carry three things wherever I go: Keys, iPhone, Wallet. I’d like to reduce that to 2 devices, soon… then only 1, in the not-too-distant future.

If you decide to visit Austria too, come to Lake Millstatt, i have a Hotel there were you could stay at. http://www.parkschloessl.com

Have a nice time in europe!

iPhone Suica!

IMO, this offers the potential for far more than just automatic payment of transportation fees (and opening toll gates).

Done right (the Apple way), the iPhone could be the realization of the electronic wallet.

Oddly, I recently emailed Daniel with a suggestion that he do an article on the subject (attached below).

Daniel,

I enjoy (almost) all your articles– politics excepted.

I have a suggestion for an article

Possibility of iPhone/Touch supporting RFID payment systems like Mobile Suica.

I did some preliminary research & here’s what I’ve found.

Mobile Suica is a technology that supports mobile payments by cell phones.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Suica

Mobile Sucia is licensed by SoftBank– Apple’s Japan iPhone carrier (also NTT & DoCoMo– potential Japan iPhone carriers)

same reference

Mobile Sucia is implemented via Java interfacing a Sony FeliCa Chip.

same reference
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FeliCa
http://www.paymentsnews.com/2008/05/sony-announces.html

The ARM processor used in current iPhone/Touch is capable of directly executing Java ByteCode (Jazelle DBX).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARM_architecture

I am unclear whether any of the chips in the current or 3G iPhones have the capability of the Sony chip.

While not directly related, Apple appears to be interested in automated shopping, transactions and (by inference) payment systems.

http://www.macnn.com/blogs/2008/04/18/will-apple-open-a-store-in-second-life.html
http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/37064/118/
http://www.forbes.com/2007/12/26/apple-patents-iphone-tech-wire-bc_1227appatent.html
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/apple-patent-explores-wireless-media-device-applications/
http://watchingapple.com/2007/12/wireless-transactions-and-apples-pos-patent/

It would be really cool for the iPhone to replace the wallet (cash, credit cards, Identification, Medical History/Alerts) in addition its current roles (iPod, Phone, Internet browser) and future roles (Business, Gaming, 3rd-Party Apps). Some features of the 3G iPhone (Push, Remote Wipe, Assisted GPS, Tracking) only make the electronic wallet more practical.

I carry three things wherever I go: Keys, iPhone, Wallet. I’d like to reduce that to 2 devices, soon… then only 1, in the not-too-distant future.

Thoughts?

Dick Applebaum

That’s really an interesting subject you mention here. An iPhone with integrated “Suica” card can make an ideal travel companion.
Currently smart-cards are introduced as a ticketing method in various railway and metro systems, including the Oyster card in London and OV-Chipkaart in the Netherlands. What they miss is an interface.
The iPhone can act as a journey planner, which is perfectly possible today because you can get it over the Internet. But when combined with ticketing, an agenda and on-line travel advice (in case of delays) something powerful is emerging.

“One thing you’ll notice anywhere in Europe is the strange feeling it’s 1999 or so when it comes to the rarity of Macs. ”

Sure. This might also have something to do with the amount of money Apple spends in marketing and opening of retail stores in America versus Europe.

I’ll be interested to hear what you think about it. I like reading what’s going on in Silicon Valley because it is so tech savvy and entrepreneurial while sometimes I get frustrated by the more conservative attitude on this side of the ocean; you will experience it the other way round.
When using your iPhone be aware of high roaming fees; prepaid phone cards can be a more cost effective alternative.
When travelling around in Europe you can consider trains as an alternative to car or plane, especially when high speed services are available (French: TGV, Spanish: AVE). Switzerland railways are known as most reliable (clockwork) and also very scenic.
It probably isn’t on your route but I’ll be glad to show you around in The Netherlands.

http://www.wififreespot.com/europe.html

http://goeurope.about.com/od/wireless/Wireless_Hotspots_in_Europe_Finding_Hotspots.htm

http://weroam.hds.weroam.com/hsmap/?lang=en

http://www.free-hotspot.com/

http://www.hotspot-locations.com/

As a pom now living in Australia, personally, I’d have to say the absolute best’st part of Europe is ….

The Isle of Ischia, Italy - http://wikitravel.org/en/Ischia
Ischia is just a stones throw from -
Naples.
the Isle of capri.
The Amalfi coast.
Mt Vesuvius volcano.
Pompeii …
Blah, blah, blah.

Just hire a scoter on the Isle to zip around on and also hire one in Sorrento, on the mainland, then jaunt along the awe inspiring, draw dropingly beautiful, world heritage listed - Amalfi coast road.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amalfi_Coast - soaking up the sun, stopping off for a cool lager every now and then (within reason)

If you can’t make it to Italy … are you mad?
then -
Eat and drink in the Dordogne area in southwestern France.
Experience real ale in Oxford, England.
Explore and drink all around Iceland.
Drink and party all night in the Pest’ part of Budapest, Hungary.

Did I mention drinking …. ’spose you do it in Spain.

Bon Voyage.

http://www.wififreespot.com/europe.html

http://goeurope.about.com/od/wireless/Wireless_Hotspots_in_Europe_Finding_Hotspots.htm

http://weroam.hds.weroam.com/hsmap/?lang=en

http://www.free-hotspot.com/

http://www.hotspot-locations.com/

As a pom living in Australia, I’d have to say the absolute best part of Europe is ….

The Isle of Ischia, Italy - http://wikitravel.org/en/Ischia
Ischia is just a stones throw from -
Naples.
the Isle of capri.
The Amalfi coast.
Mt Vesuvius volcano.
Pompeii …
Blah, blah, blah.

Just hire a scoter on the Isle and also at Sorrento, on the mainland, then ride along the awe inspiring, draw dropingly beautiful, world heritage listed, Amalfi coast road.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amalfi_Coast - soaking up the sun.

If you can’t make it to Italy … are you mad?
then -
Eat and drink in the Dordogne area in southwestern France.
Drink real ale in Oxford, England.
Explore and drink in all of Iceland.
Drink and party all night in the Pest part of Budapest, Hungary.

Did I mention drinking….

Bon Voyage.