Back to the Med in 2013! More planning links added post 1

[mindelmouse]

Originally Posted by pixie08

Yes! this sounds like a fantastic trip. If I can get my way i would love to get on the Eastern med cruise too! That Med cruise was just amazing, I think it was such a blast a we had such a great bunch. If not I will live vicariously through you.

Hey Mary - how have you been? You are going to love Alaska...we did ...

[pixie08]

Originally Posted by mindelmouse

Hey Mary - how have you been? You are going to love Alaska...we did ...

I am doing great Mindy thanks...how are you guys? I am getting so nervous about Alaska. It's so different from anything we have ever done!

[mindelmouse]

Originally Posted by pixie08

I am doing great Mindy thanks...how are you guys? I am getting so nervous about Alaska. It's so different from anything we have ever done!

Don't be nervous. This was the cruise we were unsure of and we had the best time. It was a wonderful cruise and itinerary. Alaska was amazing. We are so glad we went.

[MinnieDiva]

Originally Posted by pixie08

Yes! this sounds like a fantastic trip. If I can get my way i would love to get on the Eastern med cruise too! That Med cruise was just amazing, I think it was such a blast a we had such a great bunch. If not I will live vicariously through you.

Well, we hope to see you! On board booking....just saying!

Have a great time in Alaska! Can't wait to read all about it!

[MinnieDiva]

So what does one do when in the car for an hour-plus when the kiddo is plugged into her iPod? Listen to the Rick Steves app, of course! I sat listening about travel tips for Greece as well as some info about Malta while driving up to Bellingham to hit REI to do an exchange on a pair of shorts I'd ordered. The original pair I'd purchased was actually too big, shocker of all shockers!! They refused to shrink and stretched out and were way too baggy for me to wear. The size smaller seems to do the trick, but now I need a day warm enough to wear them. Oh, and this order was a pre-trip purchase, by the way! :good vibes I ordered a new summer weight shirt to go with it!! Whohoo! That would be 2 whole new outfits already!!!!

I've reserved space for the 3 of us to go to 2 more classes at the RS travel center in July: Beginning Italian for Travelers and Italy. Now, I just have to not be working that weekend....I figure it's better to reserve the space and have to cancel than not be able to get in later when the work schedule comes out, right?

I made another small payment toward the cruise a few days ago...chipping away at that balance...

Hope y'all are having better (translate, warmer) weather than we are....

[MinnieDiva]

...in trip planning that frustrates me. When I'm stymied by inactivity. Sigh. I lived vicariously thru my dad the other day tho, as he ordered a new suitcase. For any of you looking to replace old ones, REIoutlet has a few Eagle Creek models available, and they have a 20% coupon good (thru tomorrow, I think...) off an outlet item. As I posted ages ago, I replaced all but one of our luggages pieces with Eagle Creek and I LOVE THEM!! They are light and durable. I've had them now for what, almost 3 years? Show almost no wear and tear, and they travelled a lot in the last few years.

I think Eagle Creek should pay me commission. Hm. So should REI. In my next life I think I need to be a gear tester....paid to travel and use stuff? What a cool job that would be!

[mindelmouse]

Originally Posted by MinnieDiva

...in trip planning that frustrates me. When I'm stymied by inactivity. Sigh. I lived vicariously thru my dad the other day tho, as he ordered a new suitcase. For any of you looking to replace old ones, REIoutlet has a few Eagle Creek models available, and they have a 20% coupon good (thru tomorrow, I think...) off an outlet item. As I posted ages ago, I replaced all but one of our luggages pieces with Eagle Creek and I LOVE THEM!! They are light and durable. I've had them now for what, almost 3 years? Show almost no wear and tear, and they travelled a lot in the last few years.

I think Eagle Creek should pay me commission. Hm. So should REI. In my next life I think I need to be a gear tester....paid to travel and use stuff? What a cool job that would be!

And noone is frustrating you more than I am....

My inability to plan 3 trips at once is just appalling .....but don't despair...I have been checking the airlines and the hotel you told me to book to make sure those ressies haven't opened up yet... As well as focusing on my imminent trip which I actually did a PTR for...not as good as yours but it's one.

[MinnieDiva]

Originally Posted by mindelmouse

And noone is frustrating you more than I am....

My inability to plan 3 trips at once is just appalling .....but don't despair...I have been checking the airlines and the hotel you told me to book to make sure those ressies haven't opened up yet... As well as focusing on my imminent trip which I actually did a PTR for...not as good as yours but it's one.

You certainly keep trying to throw roadblocks at me! But my planning will not be derailed!!

The airlines aren't worth looking at for at least another month. 330 days. The hotel keeps insisting on 12-months out. I can book private excursions, tho......

[MinnieDiva]

A year from today I'll be on a plane....

[mindelmouse]

Originally Posted by MinnieDiva

A year from today I'll be on a plane....

I think a year from tomorrow for us, but that could change...DH may decide to leave Wednesday night instead...I don't think so, but who knows.

[MinnieDiva]

This date a year from now we'll have been to Pisa and Lucca!!

I went ahead and ordered a camera bag. I decided to stop the indecision, and just order one. It arrives on Wednesday, so I'll get to play with it a bit, and decide whether it's a keeper or not. I realized that I ended to get off my rear and do something about it if I wanted to be able to travel with it this summer.

My July schedule is out, and it looks like I'll be able to make the travel classes I'd reserved space for at the Rick Steves travel center. School ends for Ashleigh tomorrow, so we'll have a ton more time to put toward Spanish. We still don't know if Sean is going to the conference in Denver in August . Very irritating. I'd like to register her for language camp before all the spaces are full. Sigh. So out of my control....

Mindy didn't argue at all this morning when I asked if I could start booking private excursions. So...I'll get to working on that here very soon! She just got back from one of the 2-night cruises and I'm awaiting pics. :good vibes She did her own pre-trip report for that cruise, if y'all are interested in hearing about her outing!

[tinkerbelltwins]

Hi Kim, My DH and I just got back from the 2-day NY one. We had so much fun meeting up with friends! Only bummer is that we didn't run into Mindy as I was hoping to see her because of all the pre-cruise chatting! Mindy did invite us up to her awesome suite but I didn't see the invite until we got home. Darn!

I saw your previous post about the camera bag. Which one did you buy, if you don't mind my asking. My husband has a really nice padded canon one (it is pretty heavy duty), but I'm thinking we might try to find him some sort of backpack one for Alaska in August and then for the Med next summer. I've forgotten (read so many threads lately) if you were the one who rented a great lens on your last Med cruise. If that was you, do you remember who you rented it from. I know my husband has some sort of really great lens on his amazon "wish list" but wow is it pricey!!!

Beth

[Tracerr00]

I know we're not on the same cruise but I follow your thread because I'm so excited about our Med cruise! A year from now we'll already be back from our cruise. Wow!

I was just able to book our pre-cruise hotel stay and I also booked a private shuttle in Naples. Somehow it makes it feel a little closer! I too am looking for a camera bag but haven't decided yet. We're going to WDW in August so I should probably find one before then. Let us know how you like yours!

[MinnieDiva]

Originally Posted by tinkerbelltwins

Hi Kim, My DH and I just got back from the 2-day NY one. We had so much fun meeting up with friends! Only bummer is that we didn't run into Mindy as I was hoping to see her because of all the pre-cruise chatting! Mindy did invite us up to her awesome suite but I didn't see the invite until we got home. Darn!

I saw your previous post about the camera bag. Which one did you buy, if you don't mind my asking. My husband has a really nice padded canon one (it is pretty heavy duty), but I'm thinking we might try to find him some sort of backpack one for Alaska in August and then for the Med next summer. I've forgotten (read so many threads lately) if you were the one who rented a great lens on your last Med cruise. If that was you, do you remember who you rented it from. I know my husband has some sort of really great lens on his amazon "wish list" but wow is it pricey!!!

Beth

Hi Beth! I ordered this one:

http://www.clikelite.com/products/pro-express/

It still hasn't arrived yet. It apparently is on the slowest driving truck EVER out of NY. It should be here tomorrow and I plan on taking pics of it with stuff crammed in it!

I was one of the people that rented a lens. I use BorrowLenses. They have an insurance option, and I've never had an issue with any of my orders! They have all sorts of camera gear.....totally worth checking out!

What lens is your husband "wishing" for? And what was your impression of the 2-day?

Originally Posted by Tracerr00

I know we're not on the same cruise but I follow your thread because I'm so excited about our Med cruise! A year from now we'll already be back from our cruise. Wow!

I was just able to book our pre-cruise hotel stay and I also booked a private shuttle in Naples. Somehow it makes it feel a little closer! I too am looking for a camera bag but haven't decided yet. We're going to WDW in August so I should probably find one before then. Let us know how you like yours!

I hear you! I can't yet book my post stay, but I will by the end of next week! I'd have the private tours done, but I've been at work and crazy busy the last several days, and I needed Mindy to not flip out about it. I think I'm safe now....!

It'll be interesting to hear how your cruise goes! I figure with all the repeat ports, everything should be smooth sailing...(yes, pun intended!).

[mindelmouse]

Originally Posted by MinnieDiva

and I needed Mindy to not flip out about it. I think I'm safe now....!

Very funny Kim.... You know me...just book everything for me and then just tell me where I need to be and when...that way I won't get overwhelmed....I think now that I know that I can actually get the time off from work, the pressure around this has lightened. I just have to have DH have a conversation with me to let me know when he wants to go. I can't imagine we'd leave before Thurs night because the kids will already be out of school 5 days and if it's like this year, they're still taking tests the Monday of the last week.