Ah, the glamorous life of a jet-setting tech enthusiast! Last weekend, I was at FOSDEM in Brussels, soaking up the electric atmosphere of open-source brilliance and arguing about the merits of systemd over a Belgian beer. As the weekend wound down, a friend tried to convince me to extend my adventure and head to ConfigManagementCamp in Gent. "Come on," he said, "it'll be fun!" But I stood firm. "No," I declared, "I need to go home."

"Why? What’s so important at home?" he asked, eyebrows raised.

I hesitated. The truth was, I didn’t have a good answer. I just felt like I needed to be home. Maybe it was the allure of my own bed.

Fast forward to me walking through my front door, dumping my bags, and flopping onto the sofa. I reached for the TV remote, ready to unwind with some mindless telly. But no. The screen lit up with those soul-crushing words: "Searching for the latest software..."

Ah, the Sony TV running Google TV. A marvel of modern technology, capable of streaming 4K cat videos and reminding me that even my telly is smarter than I am. But here’s the kicker: it wasn’t even installing the update yet. Oh no. It was just searching. Like a digital detective on the world’s slowest stakeout.

And there it was. The universe’s punchline. I’d rushed home for this, to sit and watch my telly think about updating.

So, if anyone ever asks why I couldn’t make it to ConfigManagementCamp, I’ll just show them the photo of my TV, mid-search, with the caption: "Sorry, mate. My telly’s on a quest for software. It’s a whole thing."

Sometimes, duty calls. And sometimes, it’s your TV Googling itself.

Back from FOSDEM in Brussels, and what an adventure it was! Tried to catch a train from Brussels-Luxembourg station to Brussels-Midi, but it was running 30 minutes late. No bother—opted for a rental bike instead. One of the perks of travelling with a backpack over a wheelie bag: you can cycle your way out of trouble!

Then, my Eurostar got cancelled. They bumped me onto the next one, two hours later. The departure lounge was packed with FOSDEM folk, and the train itself felt like a moving afterparty—nerdy conversations galore!

Finally made it back to the UK: Underground to Paddington, GWR to Bristol Temple Meads, and a quick bike ride home to wrap it all up. Proper FOSDEM fringe experience, really.

European Parliament

I'm on my way to Brussels for FOSDEM at the weekend.

Last night’s hotel room in London has to be the smallest I’ve ever stayed in. That said, it wasn’t pricey, and it was conveniently close to St Pancras for catching the Eurostar to Brussels this morning.

Speaking of which, the Eurostar waiting area at St Pancras was surprisingly quiet when I arrived at 7:45.

Berlin

I've just checking in at the Moxy Ostbahnhof Berlin. This place redefines hip—almost too cool for comfort.

Sign at Estación Buenavista in Mexico City: "Measure yourself! Are you a boy or a girl and are you less than 115 cm tall? Your access to the Suburban Train is free!"

On Sunday, I discovered Mexico City's Paseo Dominical (Sunday roads) quite by chance. On the first three Sundays of each month, from 8 AM to 2 PM, major streets blossom into vibrant car-free zones for cyclists, skaters, and pedestrians. What a delightful scene awaited me as I stepped out of the metro into this urban oasis.

@del Thanks again for the suggestions. I would have another go, but I've checked out of the Airbnb and I'm now 5,500 miles from it.

Just wrapped up a brilliant nine-day stint in Mexico City for the Wikimedia+Libraries Convention 2025. The conference was not only well-organised but also packed with fascinating talks and attendees. It was great to catch up with familiar faces and equally fantastic to meet some inspiring new ones. Beyond the conference, Mexico City itself was a revelation. Its vastness meant that I've only just begun to uncover its many layers. I stayed in three different Airbnbs across various neighbourhoods, each brimming with its own character. Stay tuned for more posts where I'll share insights into the local culture and public transport.

I enjoyed a brilliant spin around Mexico City on a municipal rental bike. The deal? Just 123 MXN (around €5.70) for a full day, with rides up to 45 minutes included in the price. Pushed my luck slightly and rode for 45 minutes and 15 seconds, landing a minor overage fee of 22.41 MXN (about €1). Absolutely worth it for the freedom to explore the city.

Enjoying a few quiet moments on my Airbnb roof terrace on my final day in Mexico City.

My Airbnb has a sophisticated Breville espresso machine, which I’ve never used before. After reading some instructions online, I managed to get it working, but the results weren’t exactly a triumph. The coffee didn’t brew properly, leaving me with a wet sludge in the portafilter and not enough liquid in the cup. Clearly, my technique needs some improvement.

I've got a problem. I need to book less trips. My next full weekend at home is 1 March.

Daniel Cosío Villegas Library
El Colegio de México