Today is my last day of work, and then 'vacation' starts. It is hard to believe that the gestation period for this cruise has been 17 mont
hs (we booked in April of 2006)...and it is finally here. Tomorrow we get to go to the delivery room (OK, I guess having two wonderful grand-daughters born in the last 5 months prompts baby related comparisons.)
30 more hours...that is it. Then we call the cab and leave for the airport.
hs (we booked in April of 2006)...and it is finally here. Tomorrow we get to go to the delivery room (OK, I guess having two wonderful grand-daughters born in the last 5 months prompts baby related comparisons.)I have checked and double checked the To Do list, and think we are in GREAT shape. We know where we are going, we know how we are going to get there, we know what we are going to do (or not!) when we get there, and we have the option of coming back (...option!). We know what we are going to wear, we are prepared for rain and/or heat, we have an extra change of clothes in our carryon in case the checked-in luggage gets delayed (or...gasp...LOST). We have dollars, Euros, ATM and credit cards. We have domestic cell phones, international cell phone, and a wireless laptop for communication. We have copies of all confirmations, phone numbers for all contacts, copies of passports, and at least 2 tags on each of our four (to be) checked
bag (with TSA locks). We have travel guides, Italian/French phrase books, novels, magazines, MP3 players, etc. to occupy our minds as needed.
bag (with TSA locks). We have travel guides, Italian/French phrase books, novels, magazines, MP3 players, etc. to occupy our minds as needed.30 more hours...that is it. Then we call the cab and leave for the airport.
OK, so what haven't I talked about yet? I think Dubrovnik and Barcelona are about it. We talked with Ric
h and Lynn about Dubrovnik, and decided that we could go hog wild on excursions or we could just do the minimum...and we opted for the minimum given all the other 'stuff' we have planned. So the plan is to debark (I think we have to take tenders into this port), find an english speaking cab driver and ask him to give us a panoramic tour of the port area. Then we will come back and do the self-guided walled city walking tour, followed by lunch (and some local wine!!!). We had investigated several neat looking water front expensive touristy restaurants, but decided that we would be fed well enough on the ship, and have great ocean front balcony cabins already, so we plan to just look for something perhaps off the beaten path...we'll just have to see what happens.
h and Lynn about Dubrovnik, and decided that we could go hog wild on excursions or we could just do the minimum...and we opted for the minimum given all the other 'stuff' we have planned. So the plan is to debark (I think we have to take tenders into this port), find an english speaking cab driver and ask him to give us a panoramic tour of the port area. Then we will come back and do the self-guided walled city walking tour, followed by lunch (and some local wine!!!). We had investigated several neat looking water front expensive touristy restaurants, but decided that we would be fed well enough on the ship, and have great ocean front balcony cabins already, so we plan to just look for something perhaps off the beaten path...we'll just have to see what happens.For Barcelona we think we are going to book a cruise tour (our one and only) that will take us to Montserrat and then drop us off right at our hotel. The 'method to our madness' here is that we're thinking that by booking that tour we will then be among the first to debark as that process can often take a VERY long time...we'll see. We have a Barcelona tour book, lots of advice from friends and CruiseCritic/TripAdvisor, so despite not having a plan (per say) we feel comfortable that we will have no problem filling our 3 days there.
That's it. The planning is done. Now I just have top off the charges on ALL my batteries...there goes the PG&E bill for the month!!!
