Greece, Turkey & Malta - Here we come - Med July 2013

[Newfoundland Sailor]

I went on to double check that the bookmark I had for booking tickets to climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa hadn’t changed. It’s a good thing I did – they changed their policy – in 2011 you could start booking your tickets 45 days prior to your visit. Now you can ONLY BOOK BETWEEN 20-12 DAYS PRIOR. You can purchase a maximum of 10 tickets (for every 15 minute interval). Children 8 and up only allowed and tickets are €18 (regardless of adult or child). [My DS -4 is out of luck again - he already knows though and says that he gets to go back again when his legs grow longer]

Here’s all the details if anyone out there is interested in doing this on their own.

PS: Last time we bought in advance and bypassed a lineup that was wrapped around the building and we would of skipped altogether if we didn't pre-book

http://boxoffice.opapisa.it/Turisti...&page=Error&service=direct&session=T&sp=SHome

The visit is absolutely not recommended for people with cardiovascular and muscular disorders. The ascent is on foot and there are 297 steps. For safety reasons, children under the age of 8 are not permitted to enter. Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult.

Data:
In order to make an online purchase, you will need: an identity document, a credit card, the name of a visitor or group leader, and an e-mail address. The data submitted must be that of a person taking part in the visit. At the end of the operation, the following will be sent to the e-mail address indicated: confirmation of purchase, a ticket for each selection made, the order code (this needs to be memorised) and full information about the visit.

Time:
Online tickets are limited to 10 in number. If the time chosen is not available, you can try at the ticket offices on site.

Check the time of your visit. Any delay not attributable to this institution will not give any right to reimbursement. The ticket for the visit to the Leaning Tower will not be valid for any later visit. Before the visit, any bags/baggage must be left at the cloakroom. The visit takes about 40 minutes. Cameras and video cameras may be used.

CHILDREN
Visits to the Tower For safety reasons, children under the age of 8 are not permitted in the Tower. Children aged 8 or more may visit the Tower with a full-price ticket. Under-18s may enter only in the company of an adult responsible for them. An identity document may be requested to certify the age of the child.

Visits to other buildings and museums Children aged 10 years or less have free entry, provided that they are accompanied by an adult. For children aged more than 10 years, an ordinary ticket is required.

PRICES
Leaning Tower €18 (this ticket cannot be combined with others)
Cathedral admission free (ticket included in combinations)
one building/museum €5.00
two buildings/museums €7.00
three buildings/museums €8.00
complete visit €9.00

 

[Newfoundland Sailor]

I just found out from one of the Platinums on my trip that the DCL excursion to Delos is from 10:15 - 4:00pm. (There is also an 8ish one as well - but I don't have confirmation on when that one comes back).

That means if I go to Delos on the 10:15 excursion, I won't have time to wander Mykonos.

Hmmmm....I was originally thinking that my Dad & I would go over to Delos in the morning and meet everyone to wander Mykonos in the afternoon. I'm not sure if that is going to be possible with a DCL tour if they are running 6 hours.

Also, it was noted in many places that the water between Mykonos and Delos can be rough - and if you suffer from sea sickness make sure you take gravol prior to getting on the ferry. [Which might rule out my father all together]

So.....do it on my own? hmmm.... I took some time tonight looking up that possibility....here is what I found:

Boats leave at 9AM, 10AM and 11AM from the pier at the west side of the harbour, right behind the little church of Agios Nikolaos. The boat trip takes about 30 minutes. Boats return at 12:15PM, 1:30PM and 3PM. Boat trips to Delos are also organized from Platys Gialos and Paranga Beach.

The excavations are open from 8:30AM to 3PM, so have an early start if you really want to see it all. The cost is 17 Euros for the boat trip plus 5 Euros for entrance (though free for students and 3 Euros for those over 65). A guided tour, departing at 10AM from the pier in Mykonos, will cost 40 Euros (including boat trip and entrance fee).

You will get a good map with different coloured tours. You can walk around by yourself or explore the exhibits with a guide.

You can buy guidebooks at the ticket booth at the entrance of the excavation. Some shops in Mykonos sell the same books for double the price.

Official Delos Brochure:
http://www.visitgreece.gr/deployedFiles/StaticFiles/Photos/TAP brochures/122_DIL_Dilos_W.pdf

Map of the Delos Ruins
http://www.planetware.com/map/delos-ancient-remains-map-gr-gr105.htm

Description on Delos
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/greece/delos

A very informative blog on Delos a must read if you going on your own. And if you cant decide if Delos is for you&.a great preview
http://mygreecetravelblog.com/2012/04/01/visiting-delos-how-to-get-there/
http://mygreecetravelblog.com/2012/04/01/visiting-delos-the-sacred-cradle-of-greek-gods/
http://mygreecetravelblog.com/2012/04/01/visiting-delos-so-much-to-see-indoors-out/

Some great photos
http://www.flickr.com/photos/heimdall_1/sets/72157627791957268/

 

[Newfoundland Sailor]

I found this article on the Top 10 Things to Do in Athens and thought I should share it.

I especially like tip number #9 The Poet

We only have one day so our current plan (which is everchanging) is to see all the highlights of Athens including the parliament and the changing of the guards (wearing the traditional costume), the tomb of the unknown soldier, the national garden, the ancient marble panathenaic stadium, the academy of fine arts, the university of Athens, the national library, the arch of Handrian, the temple of Zeus, and then visit the monuments of the acropolis, the Acropolis museum and the plaka, of course a proper Greek Lunch at a Taverna, and whatever else I can squeeze into the day.

* * * * *

http://www.athensguide.com/top-10/index.htm

Top 10 Things to Do in Athens

1) The Parthenon:
Even if you don't care about archaeology or the fact that if it were not for the ancient Greeks you might be living in a far less civilized way, you can't come to Athens and not visit the Acropolis and see the Parthenon. Yes I know that there are actually Athenians who have never climbed the steps to see one of the wonders of the ancient world, the reason millions of people come to their city, the spectacular building that symbolizes some of the highest achievments of mankind. But that's no excuse. If you do nothing else on your visit to Athens, this is the one thing you should do. Since you can buy a ticket that allows you to see the other major archaeological sites that day I can free up some of my top ten space since the Theater of Herod Atticus, Theater of Dionysious and the Ancient Agora and even Keramiekos are all included among others, in the price of admission. Oh yeah and don't forget the new Acropolis Museum.

2) The National Archaeological Museum:
Yes it is a 45 minute walk from Syntagma but this is one of the great museums of the world, right up there with ummmmm, well those other great ones. You won't find a better collection of ancient Greek sculpture, jewelery, pottery, and the Antikythera Device, a 2000 year old computer found in the shipwreck off the island of Antikithera will have you wondering just how advanced those ancient Greeks actually were. Athens has a lot of museums and depending on your interest you may find another that is more interesting, like if you love coins, the Nuimismatic Museum or if you like religious Icons the Byzantine Museum or if you like weapons the War Museum or if you want to see a continuous history from ancient to modern Greece go to the Benaki Museum which I actually like better. But in terms of importance you can't beat the National Archaeological Museum. But don't go on Sunday because only 8 of the 64 galleries are open and you don't even get a discounted price.

3) The Agora-Athens Central Market:
No matter how you feel about fish, meat and vegetables you won't find a more lively place than the Central market on Athinas Street. Whether you come early in the morning to watch the trucks unload because you are jet-laggedand suffer from insomnia or you visit between 7am and 1 pm with the majority of the Athenian shoppers, a walk through the market will probably change how you feel about shopping and may make you wish you had an apartment with a kitchen so you could join in. The restaurants in the meat market can't be beat for good food at a cheap price at any time of the day or night. And if that is not enough the Market is also the beginning of Athens Chinatown and Eolou Street, the pedestrian shopping district. But watch your wallet or handbag when wandering through the crowds.

4) Mount Lycabettus:
Maybe you took one look at this green mountain rising out of the center of Athens and said to yourself "I hope there is nothing important up there because I really don't feel like climbing a mountain". There is somethingimportant up there. An amazing view. Also a great cafe, not to mention an ampitheatre where you can see such renown acts as Leonard Cohen, Peter Gabriel, James Brown and many other acts who visit Greece in the summer. In fact I would say that between Lycabettus and the Theatre of Herod Atticus below the Acropolis, there is no more impressive place to see your favorite band or musician. And you don't have to climb. There is a strange looking train that will take you almost to the top. Walking down is a lot offun and you never know which neighborhood you are going to end up in. If it seems too daunting a task climbing Philopapou Hill is a good substitute and right across the road from the Acropolis.

5) The Plaka:
A walk through the oldest neighborhood in Athens is a must and one of the most plesaureable activities especially in the early evening. There are hundreds of shops from kitchy tourist to the workshops of some really great artisans. Thereare several good restaurants where you can sit outside almost year round. There are also some nice little ouzeries that are cozy when it is too cold to sit outside. The famous Brettos distillary on Kydatheneon could be in this top 10 list on its own. The out-door Cine Paris where you can watch a move on the roof of a building below the lit walls of the Acropolis could too. There are ancient Greek and Roman ruins scattered around as well as some beautiful 19th century and older buildings and several Byzantinechurches. Lets not forget Anafiotika, the neighborhood closest to the stone slope of the Acropolis where you can wander around and feel like you are on an island in the middle of the Aegean instead of an island in the middle of a modern city. Best time to be here? Apokreas.

6) Psiri:
With the up and coming areas like Gazi getting more popular we should not overlook Psiri with its endless small streets of cafes, ouzeries, restaurants, bars, clubs, theatresand galleries, all within a minute's walk from Athinas and Ermou streets or Monastiraki square. Join the crowds on a weekend night, especially during Apokreas, Greece's Carnival. Psiri came of age as the center of Athens nightlife during the 2004 Olympics and regardess of what people say about its commercialism, you won't find a cooler place to be in any city in Europe or America. You can feel the buzz as you walk past cafes where a hundred people are talking, drinking and smoking simultaneously or you can find a tiny little cafe on a back street with two or three tables and a guy grilling soupia (cuttlefish) or octopus. Or find a nice ouzerie in Platia Iroon where some rembetis are playing un-plugged.

7) The Temple Of Poseidon at Sounion:
On a hill overlooking the sea at the very tip of the Attiki Peninsula on a spot that could not be more perfect for an ancient site of worship is the Temple of Poseidon, God of the Sea, which boasts not only the carved grafitti of Lord Byron but the best sunsets after Santorini. There is a small beach below and a sea that looks and feels like the islands, as well as two small fish tavernas and many more on the way there and back. Go in the late afternoon, have a swim and an ouzo and some mezedes and see the temple and watch the sunset before going back to Athens for a quick shower and a nap before going out to dinner and maybe out on the town later. OK is not really in Athens but you still need to come here. Its only an hour away.

8) Monastiraki Flea Market:
It is not really a flea market in the way most of us think of them, except for Sunday when people seem to come from the hills to lay out their blankets and sell all sorts of stuffthat may be junk to you but of real value to someone else. Its a mob scene but worth the experience even if you just sit in the cafes overlooking the ancient agora and the metro tracks on Adrianou Street watching the parade of shoppers, street musicians and African bootleg DVD sellers running from the cops. During the week it an assortment of tourist shops, clothing stores, fur and jewerly stores dotted with some pretty interesting shops, especially if you like vintage vinyl and rare CDs or really stupid T-shirts. Monastiraki Square is still one of the most lively squares in Athens and at night it is filled with young people, street venders and pickpockets.

9)The Poet:
Where else in the world can you find a guy who is a published poet, a really famous one at that, whose works have been translated into English, French, German and Italian and his best known work The Rubaiyat is on the curriculum of a number of American universities and is one of the most beautiful tributes to wine and life that I know of, and who makes sandals for a living? Melissinos has touched the feet of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Sophia Loren, Jackie Kennedy, Rudolph Nureyev, Margo Fontaine, Anthony Quinn, George Pappard, Ursula Andress, and Gary Cooper among others as he fitted them for his sandals which are based on ancient Greek designs and are as famous as his poetry. You may say "Wait a second! How can you justify putting a tiny shop with a little old man making sandals in your top ten along with the Acropolis, the National Museum, the Temple of Poseidon and entire neighborhoods?" The answer is: Easily. Visit him on tiny Ag Theklas street across from Monastiraki Square or visit his statue someday and say "Damn. I could have met him in person and bought some sandals too".

10) Pireaus:
This was the hardest because there were so many places I had to leave off after choosing number ten or I would have to go back and remove one of the other nine. In the running were the National Gardens, the African rain forest in the middle of Athens which should not be missed whether it is in the top ten or not. Or how about the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the largest of all the Greek temples that took almost a thousand years to complete. Or Kerameikos, the ancient cemetery of Athens, or the First Cemetery of Athens where all the most famous modern Greeks are buried and is one of the most beautiful cemeteries in Europe. Certainly Phillipapou and the hill of the Pnyx where such famous Athenians as Aristides, Demosthenes, Pericles and Themistocles used to speak to the Democratic Assembly in the 5th Century BC deserves to be in my top ten. Or the Benaki Museum! But in the end my final entry was the Port of Pireaus. Why? Well, because for me there is no better feeling than going to the harbor and getting on a ferry boat and sailing off to a Greek island. As much as I love Athens, there is a feeling of having escaped as you sail out of the port and onto the Aegean sea and you gaze over the waves at the white sea of apartment buildings and look for those famous landmarks of the Acropolis, Lykabettus and Phillipapou or the mountains of Hymettos, Pendeli and Parnitha. Yeah I guess choosing Pireaus is sort of a cop-out but I think that once you visit all these places I have mentioned and find yourself on a ferry steaming towards the Greek Islands you might agree with me.

 

[Newfoundland Sailor]

We had a lot of fun decorating our door last time for our Med Cruise. So I thought I should start looking for some MM images specific to our ports.
Of course we’ll have the standard DIS magnets and I picked up some Disney Princess Paper Doll Magnets (which should be fun).
Here are some of the designs I found online.

GREECE

http://parksandresorts.wdpromedia.c...blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/opa982349.jpg

http://www.simonphipps.com/artwork/365mickeys/11-07/11-07-26-Greek-Mickey.jpg

FRANCE

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4119/4822835028_af24e69dcd_z.jpg

http://www.littleflowerschool.co.uk...4-b220-c82bf4469567/Images/Mickey Painter.gif

Mickey & Minnie in Paris
http://images2.fanpop.com/images/ph...aris-disney-7946320-800-600.jpg?1363511649519

ITALY

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4141/4822219433_00482b90ee_z.jpg

http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/Italy Pavilion 83.jpg

http://www.fumetto-online.it/ew/ew_albi/images/MONDADORI EDITORE/io_volumi001.jpg

Turkey

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FdwPzlVoOT4/T_7EL0eOfkI/AAAAAAAAAGg/Bn5txp8VnlI/s1600/TR_hero_mmch.jpg

Malta
http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs9/i/2006/020/f/b/MICKEY_MALTESE_by_Dimkas.jpg

http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs9/i/2006/022/e/a/MICKEY_MALTESE_wallpaper_by_Dimkas.jpg

 

[eeyorefanuk]

Hi

http://www.saintjohn.gr/

Can I ask what does the 30 euro get you? Can't find the info

 

[Newfoundland Sailor]

Hi

http://www.saintjohn.gr/

Can I ask what does the 30 euro get you? Can't find the info

The 30 Euros get you transportation to and from the Port and the use of the private resort for the day.

I first found out about it going through the cruise critic site and then looking them up at tripadvisor. I checked out their website as well but didn't see anything about day passes either. I looks like it is through word of mouth (they don't advertise on their website) and you contact them via email. Here were two of the good links I found:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1441401&highlight=st+johns+resort
http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1641336

Hope this helps. I know that WDW Princess 71 ended up booking it after I mentioned it on our meet thread. She is really excited about it - and I can't wait to hear all about it

Let me know if you end up going...and how beautiful it was. I'm jealous

 

[eeyorefanuk]

The 30 Euros get you transportation to and from the Port and the use of the private resort for the day.

I first found out about it going through the cruise critic site and then looking them up at tripadvisor. I checked out their website as well but didn't see anything about day passes either. I looks like it is through word of mouth (they don't advertise on their website) and you contact them via email. Here were two of the good links I found:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1441401&highlight=st+johns+resort
http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1641336

Hope this helps. I know that WDW Princess 71 ended up booking it after I mentioned it on our meet thread. She is really excited about it - and I can't wait to hear all about it

Let me know if you end up going...and how beautiful it was. I'm jealous

thank you for that, I will look at it properly late when quiet.

Loving all the details of your pre trip and love the magnet photos

 

[Newfoundland Sailor]

thank you for that, I will look at it properly late when quiet.

Loving all the details of your pre trip and love the magnet photos

Yay I am always glad to hear someone is reading my pre-trip report. Thanks - it encourages me to keep sharing

I love the magnet pictures too....I forgot to look for Spanish Mickey....that will be a good task for me to do this upcoming week.

 

[Newfoundland Sailor]

Remember I said I was looking for self-guided walking tour or Delos.....

Well I haven't found the perfect walking tour yet for Delos - but I did discover a company that specializes in walking tours for Cruiseship passengers. http://www.discovery-walk.com/

Here is their description:

“Discovery Walks produces self-guided audio walking tours designed for active travelers who are interested in seeing all of the historic sights of a city on their own while listening to all of the historical facts and colorful insights available on our audio recordings. The audio recording is accompanied by a detailed map outlining a recommended walking path and pinpointing all of the important sites along the way.”

You can get the self-guided tours in two ways – by visiting their agent in each of the locations where they will lend you an iPod to use while in the town or by downloading onto your own iPod or MP3 player from their website.

It looks like most of the tours are $15 each (up to $20 each). And there are lot of Disney Magic towns that they cover. The towns listed in the Med are:
• Lisbon, Portugal
• Barcelona, Spain
• Florence, Italy
• Pisa, Italy
• Rhodes, Greece
• Mykonos, Greece
• Cannes, France
• Dubrovnik, Croatia
• Sorrento, Italy
• Corfu, Greece
• Portofino, Italy
• Amalfi, Italy
• Athens, Greece
• Capri, Italy
• Monte Carlo, Monaco
• Rome, Italy

I read some reviews, and they seem pretty decent...Just another option for those independent wanderers.

I am thinking I will try and download the Mykonos guide to my iphone...

And maybe this is an inexpensive and self-pacing solution to my Barcelona tour needs for my friends' daughter (who is most likely going to be jet-lagged on her Barcelona touring day - same day she arrives from her first transatlantic flight)???

 

[disfreaks]

Thank you so much for posting all this information! This is our first trip to Europe and I am feeling so overwhelmed by everything! I am trying to find the right combination of seeing what we want without exhausting ourselves and then have everyone be cranky and tired. I really appreciate all your research and information. Any tips for first timers to Europe? I have a private guide and car for Rome and Athens, and I contacted the cooking lesson person you are using, but beyond that we are still trying to decide.

 

[pirateluv]

Heather: Thank you for so much more info, especially all the magnets. I think you are the Cruise trip Fairy Godmother!!! Love reading about all your plans and I love your enthusiasm!!!

Joan

 

[Newfoundland Sailor]

Thank you so much for posting all this information! This is our first trip to Europe and I am feeling so overwhelmed by everything! I am trying to find the right combination of seeing what we want without exhausting ourselves and then have everyone be cranky and tired. I really appreciate all your research and information. Any tips for first timers to Europe? I have a private guide and car for Rome and Athens, and I contacted the cooking lesson person you are using, but beyond that we are still trying to decide.

How fun - first trips to new places are always the best - you never know what to expect and everything seems so different. Let me know how you make out with Arianna in La Spezia

I totally get the cranky and tired....the best combat is being organized in advance - so you are halfway there.

What a great question about Tips for first-timers to Europe. I have been so many times that it wasnt until you asked me did I really even think about it - especially from what is different from North American travel (per say).

I have pulled together some thoughts I had - I hope they are not too obvious or impertinent. They are just things I thought of off the top of my head.

Europe is easy to get around. I find that the public transportation system is so much further advanced than North America . The old streets are friendly to pedestrians and a lot of people are on bikes both motorized and peddle. We usually avail of these things when visiting. However, I do find that when you only have one day in a city it can slow you down if you don't know the local directions.

I think you have to prioritise what your goal is for each port and then decide from there how you are going to get around.

For example, when its just me I always to take the public transportation. When with my husband, we take public transportation but I have to remove half my list of to-see because he doesnt like to move to quickly up or down the stairs or push his way to the front of the subway line&.. With 10 of us this time (ages 1 75 years) I wouldnt dream of taking them on a subway I have booked cars everywhere. Although last time in La Spezia I did take 6 of us (ages 2-74) by foot to the train station, train to Pisa, bus to the Leaning Tower and then return. My husband said he wasnt doing the planes, trains and automobiles this time in Pisa - he found it tiring and hot. Now my two year old - loved it - and would do it again.

I also find that I try to include everyone in the plans regardless of their age. That way there is a variety of things to see and it isnt just another ruin that by the end of the trip looks the same as the first one you saw. Which trust me can happen&even my notes on photos start to become shorter and shorter. I remember in a previous trip to Kusadasi my friends and I all took the same picture of a pile of ruins (near the end of our touring day). Not a single one of us remembered what the photo was of. We didn't have a clue and still don't. Who knows, maybe this time I will see it again and I can finally put a caption to that photo.

So here it goes:

Toilets

• Go to the toilet when the opportunity presents itself because sometimes it's a long time before you see another one. And restaurants won't necessarily let you in to use the facilities without purchasing.
• Have change a lot of Tourist washrooms charge - some as much as 5 Euros. Most are 1 Euro though and you need change to get in.
• If there is a washroom attendant, they can be frugal on the toilet-paper I always have some tissues in my purse just in case. I remember a nun once at the Vatican only giving me one square.

Eating

• I usually try to avoid the tourist areas to eat. Usually the prices are much higher and food quality is lower. Even just walk a couple of blocks away and find somewhere to eat. If there are a lot of locals there then usually the food is good - pubs, taverns, etc are usually great places to get good food.
• Quick food on the run - the grocery stores in Europe have great grab and go options usually for a lot cheaper than take-aways or fast-food.
• Soda pop is not all you can drink in most places in Europe be careful because soda can really add up on a bill. Also choosing a soda that is not a standard bar pop (i.e. 7-up, soda water or coke) can also be much more expensive for a smaller amount. Also note, water is usually brought to you in a bottle and is not free of charge.

Try to visit stress free

• Dont try and do everything. Europe is old so there is a lot of history and there is a lot to do in every single city. Choose the main thing you are going to see in each place. Then two sites you want to see. And then a list of places that would be nice to see. Organize them on your map and you will begin to clearly see what is doable and not based on your priority.
• Dont sweat the small stuff. If you miss the first subway, dont worry, theres another one coming. Now if you miss the last train back to port then just quickly come up with a back-up plan. I always figure out what train is my very last train I can take to make it on time and then aim to be on the one before it.
• Put the cost in perspective if you just spent $10K to get to Europe; And it will cost you $20 vs. $5 to take a taxi (instead of the subway) and will make your day more enjoyable, save time and your feet - then do it!
• If you are lost - then pop into the closest hotel theyll always point you in the right direction. Ask a local most have an understanding of English and if they dont they usually will help find someone who does. I have met some great people this way.
• When you get off the ship pick up the local map from the tourist info. Even if you dont need it. You never know what information it has on it.

Transportation

• If you take the train make sure to find out if the ticket needs validating before you get on the train. Usually there is a machine on the platform. Otherwise you could end up with a hefty fine from the ticket taker on the train.
• Not all trains are air-conditioned. They can get very hot. Consider first class tickets for this reason alone.
• When you taking a cab just stick with the licensed cabs. Black (illegal) cabs can be cheaper but they can also take you for a ride.

Money

• There are bank machines everywhere so dont stress about getting a lot of currency before you go. But check with your bank to see if they have any limitations on international withdrawals or what their extra fees are.
• Have small bills it can be hard to pay for a small taxi fare or water with a $100 bill. And in places like Turkey youll end up with Turkish Lire as change.
• Tipping in Europe is very different than North America. Tips are usually included already in restaurant prices (quite often the menu even states this).
• Taxes are already included in the price and arent added after the fact. If you make a large purchase see if the store participates in the VAT refund program. They will fill out a form for you that will allow you to get a certain portion of the included taxes back when departing from the airport. You will need your passport and this is only good for receipts of a decent value (i.e. $100+). Remember without the forms completed at the time of purchase there is no way to get your money back.

Finally
If someone is dressed up in costume (unless it is Mickey Mouse) chances are they are doing it for money. The gladiators outside of the Coliseum are expecting you to pay them for any sort of picture. But beware they might say $2.00 originally but when you get dressed up in their spare costumes and the whole family is in the picture and then you take 5 poses it could cost $10 or more. And if you dont have exact change it could cost you even more!

 

[Cousin Orville]

Your plans for La Spezia sound really neat.
So, you organized the trip to Pisa with ariannandfriends as well? Are you doing that after lunch? I'm thinking of emailing them and basically copying your idea if that's ok. We were planning on a day in Cinque Terre, but we've been there a couple times before (it never gets old) and this sounds pretty cool.

Kevin

 

[poohmomof5]

Love all the great info!!!

 

[Newfoundland Sailor]

Your plans for La Spezia sound really neat.
So, you organized the trip to Pisa with ariannandfriends as well? Are you doing that after lunch? I'm thinking of emailing them and basically copying your idea if that's ok. We were planning on a day in Cinque Terre, but we've been there a couple times before (it never gets old) and this sounds pretty cool.

I am glad you like the sounds of our day!

Go for it - contact Arianna and hopefully it will work for you too. They have arranged everything for us, except the climb tickets (I am going to book those myself).

Let me know how you make out!

 

[keenercam]

Subscribing to your thread. You are an amazing source of information! Thank you so much for sharing all of your hard work. We are on the Venice to Barcelona (with Greece and Turkey) itinerary in July 2014, and I am so eager to follow your pre-trip planning and your trip report when you get back.

 

[Newfoundland Sailor]

First of all.....thanks everyone for the great words of encouragement about my pre-trip report...I'm having fun writing them.

Now I have to vent for a second.

I just received my 5th itinerary change from Air Canada today.

3 of the 5 were minor - a couple of hours here or there, or even 3 minutes difference in one of the changes.

1 of the 5 was pretty major - 24 hours major
It's funny because I got the notice (for 3 of our 4 passengers) and couldn't find any time changes. I even passed the notice to a colleague at work and she couldn't find a time change so we thought it was sent in error. We only noticed a month later because our friend's daughter tried to match our flights and couldn't get on one of our flights. It was then we realised our return flight on the 25th had been moved to the 26th - a whole 24 hours.

Now our latest change....
....and I don't know if I should be happy or sad. The schedule is better but I lose my special plans.

We had a connecting flight from Newcastle, UK to Barcelona through Brussels, Belgium. The original connection time was enough to allow me to plan a side-trip to take the boys to see a Commonwealth Cemetery in what they know as "Flanders Fields" and then return back to the airport to get our next flight to Barcelona. We were really looking forward to it and had even picked out where the Canadians were buried (and the Newfoundlanders because we were our own country back then).

Well...Air Canada just changed this part of flights. We are now going through Heathrow (instead of Belgium). The Connection times are better and we are getting into Barcelona earlier....but we are going to miss our little adventure and history lesson

Tooooo bad.

I wonder how many more changes Air Canada will make before our trip starts....I should say anything because next you will know they will cancel our direct flight from Newfoundland and make us back track to Toronto

 

[disfreaks]

Newfoundland Sailor, those are quite the time changes on your flight! My goodness! I sure hope they don't send you back through Toronto, but I guess anything is possible at this point? I hope they don't change again on you. That Brussels stop sounded cool!

Thank you so much for all the tips for the first timers to Europe. I will be printing those out. I had no idea about the money for the bathroom. I know in Mexico they do that , but had no idea in Europe. All your other tips are so very helpful. I can't say thank you enough for sharing them!

We contacted Arianna and friends and have the cooking lesson all set up. When I originally contacted her, it was just our family, but now we are joining up with another family which made the price cheaper (Yeah and thank you to that family) and I was wondering if it was someone on here who booked with her as well. My daughter has dreams of going to culinary school after college and her dream was to take an Italian cooking class. Thanks to your help, we can!

I don't have the tickets purchased yet for the tower, our daughter 18 wants to climb and our son 14 does too. Not sure about my husband and myself. Would the kids be allowed to climb without us? If not, I guess we will work out a little harder and make the climb too!

I think we figured out the rest of our excursions last night, now I just hope they are available on April 14.

Thanks again for all of your help and if you don't mind, I may have more questions as we get closer!

 

[Newfoundland Sailor]

I think one of the most important things I have been looking for to try and save time (on a one-day visit) when visiting some of the popular sites is investigate if there is a "skip-the-line" queue because you pre-purchased your tickets.

Be careful though, because many private ticket sites will also sell these tickets at a marked-up rate and you could pay double what you would have if you had purchased from the official site itself.

In 2011, we pre-purchased for the Leaning Tower and the Vatican Museums. Thank goodness we did - because the lines were insane...especially because we were traveling during the high European Summer holidays (early-August). We went through the Forum entrance to get our tickets for the Coliseum last time (there was no line at the Forum but gigantic at the Coliseum - which we could then bypass).

The Coliseum doesn't have an official website for tickets - but I have included the website our guide this time round suggested.

Recommended tickets to purchase in advance to avoid lines:

La Spezia
Climbing the Leaning Tower of Pisa: http://boxoffice.opapisa.it/Turisti/ [20-12 days prior to visit]

Florence Uffizi Museum - http://www.b-ticket.com/b-ticket/uffizi/ (A great article on ticket purchasing here: http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Travel-g187893-c145508/Tuscany:Italy:Museum.Tickets.html ) NOTE: CLOSED ON MONDAYS


Rome
Vatican Museums: http://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/do [up to 60 days prior to visit]

Coliseum: http://www.ticketclic.it/Gb/HTML/musei/colosseo.cfm or use the Forum or Palentine Hill entrance to avoid the line ups

Galleria Borghese: www.tosc.it [up to 45 days prior to visit] – Often sells out everyday, so tickets are recommended.


Malta
Hal Saflieni Hypogeum: https://booking.heritagemalta.org/ - Sells outs weeks in advance (only 60 tickets per day)

Playmobil Factory Tour: email - funpark@playmobilmalta.com - only two tours a day (maximum of 10 people per group)


Athens

I did a lot of reading about any pre-purchased tickets in Greece and I wasn't able to find any suggestions. And you can't even pre-purchase tickets for the Acropolis (but you can for the Acropolis museum).

I did find a great Google Map of Athens Points of Interests:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=U...7661,23.733945&spn=0.025675,0.042143&t=k&z=15

 

[Newfoundland Sailor]

We contacted Arianna and friends and have the cooking lesson all set up. When I originally contacted her, it was just our family, but now we are joining up with another family which made the price cheaper (Yeah and thank you to that family) and I was wondering if it was someone on here who booked with her as well. My daughter has dreams of going to culinary school after college and her dream was to take an Italian cooking class. Thanks to your help, we can!

I don't have the tickets purchased yet for the tower, our daughter 18 wants to climb and our son 14 does too. Not sure about my husband and myself. Would the kids be allowed to climb without us? If not, I guess we will work out a little harder and make the climb too!

That is awesome you're are going cooking. I am so excited for you - and especially for your daughter....I think I might have a clue of who might be joining you... but I haven't heard back confirming if they booked.... Have you picked out your menu???

For Pisa - first of all the climb is pretty easy (as far as walking steps goes). It's sort of cool to walk the tower because the stairs are all worn on one-side and I don't recall them being steep. And I don't know if it is your mind playing tricks on you or not - but I swore I was leaning too

In terms of age. The tickets for the Leaning Tower say that "under 18s must be accompanied by an adult." So I would interpret that to say that your 14-yr old son could go with your 18-yr old adult daughter? ....But I think you should go up anyways Just imagine, you'll be walking the same steps as Gallileo when he was testing his theory on Gravity.