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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 23/08/16 21:13, Dave Cridland wrote:<br>
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cite="mid:CAKHUCzxyb0__ZgfQbZiww71zbBqZf=mJxKVbtgGHGRsGR1Ak+w@mail.gmail.com"
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<p dir="ltr">On 23 Aug 2016 20:45, "matt via Swlug" <<a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:swlug@mailman.lug.org.uk"><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:swlug@mailman.lug.org.uk">swlug@mailman.lug.org.uk</a></a>>
wrote:<br>
><br>
> Hi all,<br>
><br>
> I'm quite keen to attend a big techie conference. As
FOSDEM 2017 is coming up in a few months time, that's awfully
tempting. Would anyone else be interested?<br>
></p>
<p dir="ltr">I've been going to FOSDEM as part of the XMPP
Standards Foundation's outreach efforts for years. I also did
two talks there last year. If you happen to be interested in
XMPP, there's a two day Summit beforehand - and you'll find
there are a slew of other specialist events around the weekend,
too.</p>
<p dir="ltr">It's absolutely not anything like any other tech
conference in the world (I'm told there are a couple that come
close, mind). It's amazingly crowded, highly non-commercial, and
has very little central organization (most "devrooms" are
semi-independent).</p>
<p dir="ltr">Most of the talks I've attended are really good
quality, serious technical talks, and whiling away a random hour
in the lightning talks theatre will seriously blow your mind.</p>
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<br>
Sounds good. I suspect the two main days will be plenty for me.<br>
<br>
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<p dir="ltr">I'd recommend looking at Eurostar; though it's not
hugely convenient for getting back across to Wales. The Eurostar
has the advantage that it dumps you right in the middle of
Brussels.</p>
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<br>
Just a personal thing, I'll be flying. But I'd agree otherwise
Eurostar is great, I can highly recommend it.<br>
<br>
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cite="mid:CAKHUCzxyb0__ZgfQbZiww71zbBqZf=mJxKVbtgGHGRsGR1Ak+w@mail.gmail.com"
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<p dir="ltr">> Rooms aren't particularly cheap, but there are
some cheap and cheerful places which aren't that expensive.<br>
></p>
<p dir="ltr">I don't know where the XMPP crowd will be staying,
quite yet, but I'll let folks know here, since it's a friendly,
English-speaking crowd who've all been attending FOSDEM for
years, and know all the best places (including the truly amazing
ribs place).</p>
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<br>
That'd be excellent. If we can get a group of us all at the same
hotel, that'd be good.<br>
<br>
Cheers,<br>
<br>
Matt<br>
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