Harry Potter fans please help

[dream_labyrinth]

A while ago I asked whether anybody was attending Terminus, which didn't seem to be the case. But some of you apparently plan to attend Portus.
I've never been to Texas, but there is a first time for everything, right?
But would I meet enough people I know and enough people I like to make it worth while? Are the speeches, roundtables, informal events, feasts and balls as much fun as they seem to be? Will I be able to find somebody to share a room, and therefore be able to stay in the hotel, or do I have to find myself a cheaper place nearby?
Or would I end up spending a load of money for four days of sitting in a corner being alternately bored and lonely?
I think it would be cool to attend, but the prices are just a bit scary, especially as I would also have to take into account that I'd need to get a plane ticket and would then take my main vacation of the year around that time, which means I would have to do more than just attend the conference, there's time to fill before and after.
I'm horribly undecided and would welcome each and any suggestion, of Harry Potter fans or anybody else who attended conferences in his or her fandom.


[Poll #1043814]

Comments

[shiv5468.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed Lumos because thre were lots of people there that I knew. Sectus wasn't as much fun, but I did meet some new people who were fun and interesting.

[dream-labyrinth.livejournal.com]

Portus is a huge journey for you, too, though. Are you going to stay in the US for longer, or really just fly over for Portus?

[shiv5468.livejournal.com]

Dunno yet. I've just booked for the conference dates. I might potter round more bits of the US; I might not.

I'm a lawyer

[dream-labyrinth.livejournal.com]

*sporfle* Thanks, I just got cookie crumbs all over the screen from laughing...

Considering the long flight, I would stay over a bit longer and get a look around. I wouldn't be able to afford another holiday that year anyway, so I might as well make the most of that one. *g*

[shiv5468.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but I miss my teeeeeaaaa.

And it depends on whether work would let me go for longer as well. A week might be the most I can do. And what the hell is there in Dallas?

Actually, what the hell is there in the States that can top London?

[dream-labyrinth.livejournal.com]

*snort*

Well, you could consider it poking around the backwoods to appreciate civilisation all the more? And imagine the stories to tell of how you fought off singlehandedly a number of armed rebels who couldn't accept that it was actually a benefit for Great Britain to lose the American colonies...

[shiv5468.livejournal.com]

Or I could ahve a ncie cup of tea

And some curry.

God I miss curry if I go away. THere was none n Vegas.

[dream-labyrinth.livejournal.com]

*raises eyebrow*

Missing tea I might accept, but how anyone could miss any sort of British food is beyond me. How you people managed to hold an empire without ever learning how to prepare food remains a mystery for the rest of the world.
;-)

[shiv5468.livejournal.com]

It's why we went and got an Empire dear. It was that or spotted dick for tea.

[dream-labyrinth.livejournal.com]

But why didn't you bring any of the good food home for good, then?
Okay, so even though I did eat fish and chips about once in my life and I did survive a total of eight weeks with different host families in Britain, my experience might not be all-encompassing, but I didn't get the feeling that British cooking has benefited greatly from the Empire.

Spotted dick is a sort of cake, isn't it? *checks wikipedia*
Okay, close enough. (I'll never get that "pudding" thing. In Germany, a pudding is something quite different.)
Apart from the name, it doesn't sound too bad.

[scatteredlogic.livejournal.com]

I had so much fun at Lumos, and I expect to have even more fun at Portus. I enjoyed most of the presentations, but that's not why I went to Lumos. It was to meet so many people from my flist. And there's even more going to Portus! You won't have to worry about sitting alone in a corner at all!

[dream-labyrinth.livejournal.com]

The more I think about it, the more I really want to go. I even asked the sergeant today whether it would be a problem if I took my next summer vacation in July rather than August as we are supposed to, because if I travel for 14 hours, I definitely won't go back after just four days, I'll stick around and explore Texas.

I saw that you intend to share a room with others; how did you find them? On your own flist, or plans you made at Lumos, or do people just ask for roommates on the message boards or in the communities...?
It's probably really the best option to stay in that hotel, as so many things run late into the evening and getting to another place to sleep would likely be too much of a hassle, right?
And if I do take my vacation in Texas, what else besides Dallas should I definitely see? (When in doubt, as the locals... ;-D)

Sorry for asking so many questions, but if I do go, I really need to plan well. I checked on tickets today just to get a general idea and those would come at around 900 Euros, so this holiday really needs some thinking-through.

[holyrood.livejournal.com]

if you're coming all the way to texas, might as well go just a bit further west and visit los angeles....we can look for celebrities! and you can stay on my couch for a coupla days. :)

[dream-labyrinth.livejournal.com]

Yay! Thank you!
Now that's something I like to hear! Pleasant company, a free place to stay, and celebrities!
Sure, that's definitely an idea.
I could baffle the people at the immigration office when they ask me where I'm going to stay by giving them a long list of places... :-D