10/02/04 Antigua Cruise

[Viking]

FL Tours wants even $270

 

[bettemom]

Gee Peter,puts our party to shame....

 

[Viking]

Hey Mary, I got #2500:thewave:

OK, need a Disney-fix now: Will watch 'Snowdogs' with Anja now

 

[jeanneg]

Originally posted by Viking
I just checked Tiffany's and they want $210+ min 20% tip for the roundtrip MCO-Port. Quite a raise compared with last years rates

Yikes!!!! maybe we could try skateboarding there!

 

[Zapp1213]

Originally posted by jeanneg
Yikes!!!! maybe we could try skateboarding there!

Actually, it doesn't sound too bad. It's $210 r/t plus $42 tip? Divided by three families, that's only $42 each, each way. Renting a car is in the high $30's before all the extra charges. And we wouldn't have to do all the driving!!!! I could do that.

Still haven't decided on a hotel yet. The LaQuinta airport is around $50 for the night, and we like LaQuinta's. They also mention they have a complimentary airport shuttle. Any bad reports?

Mariaññe

 

[Zapp1213]

Originally posted by jeanneg
Forgive me if I've forgotten, but have either of you done DCL before? And tell MaryJo not to be concerned about axes. A New Jersey girl's best weapons are her looong nails and whatever she can hide in her high hair!

Hey, I'm a Jersey girl myself. Born & raised in Middletown. Mary Jo's axes don't scare me!

 

[jeanneg]

I was born and raised in NYC (northern Manhattan), but spent 15 years in Tenafly NJ before moving to NC. NJ got so much of our income and property tax money I feel I can insult them all I like! (Sure do miss not having that tax on clothing though......)

 

[cdnmickeylover]

Ugh taxes. We just had a new budget and although income taxes weren't raised other user fees were, including a new health care premium. This from a government that pledged before it got elected not to raise taxes of any form and to balance the budget. This is the provincial government.

This weekend there is supposed to be a federal election called and we'll see how that goes. Here we don't have set elections like in the US. I think if the election is called this weekend the election will be the end of June (can't quite remember how long the campaign is allowed to be). My DS will miss voting by a couple of weeks since he turns 18 mid July.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Eric -- loved Snow Dogs!

Fiona

 

[Sarah'sMomfrom PA]

I'm glad that we're not the only ones complaining about taxes and I for one can't wait for the election to be over in November...It is only May and already I am sick of the negative political ads...enough already.

Eric and Fiona...loved snow dogs...Nana always reminds me of my dog...very similar breed!!

Drizzle here today..I haven't been out so I don't know if it is humid or not. Going to a purse party tonight that my dd roped me into...told her we can't afford to buy purses because we have to save our money for the Panama Canal cruise (not to mention 4 weeks of vacation planned for this summer which I have to pay for)--I told her that the money tree in the backyard hasn't bloomed yet!!! Mary Jo

 

[Viking]

We just finished Snowdogs and loved it. Cuba GoodingJr is such a great actor. And I really appreciate him doing such a funny film after excelling in a film like Men of Honour, or after his Oscar for best supporting act in Jerry McGuire. I also loved him im Boattrip.

Talking about elections: We have our presidential election this weekend. Sounds confusing with us having a Chancellor, doesn't it?
Our President has just representative functions, although he is our head-of-state, his role is more like the Queen's role in the UK. Opening hospitals, receiving guests of honour from other countries, signing all laws (He has veto-rights, but according to my knowledge it only happened once or twice that one of our presidents used it). He -or she- is elected by the Federal Congregation consisting of our 602 Congressmen (Too many for such a small country, but a leftover from the reuinfication of the two parliaments) and the same number of representatives from our 16 states. We just have two contenders, one from the Christian Democrats (Comparable to your Republicans), and one (A lady) from the Social Democrats (Comparable to your Democrats). As the Christian Democrats together with the Liberal Democrats have a majority it is more than probable that their candidate will win. But after being elected the President usually leaves his/her party as a symbol for being the representative of the whole population.
And in three weeks time we'll elect our representatives for the European Parliament, but this we dou ourselves

OK, gotta catch some Zs now

Have a great weekend

PS: Don't forget: The fun place is the Radisson Forget RonJon

 

[piglet33]

Originally posted by jeanniec
Renee' - Do you have any information on how long it takes to get to the Pineapple resort? An hour each way sounds like a long time. I think I read that it was 30". I'm not sure I want to spend 2 hours in travel time. Sounds as tho you have been in contact with the staff there -- could you check the time?

I just heard from Myriam from the Pineapple Beach Resort. Here is what she says:

Dear Renee:

We are 25 minutes away from the dock.

You can reserve it right now if you choose to, let me know the date and give me a reminder closer to your departure.

Regards,

Myriam

We're still going to do this. If anyone else wants to join in (or out), let me know.

Reneé

 

[ciadriamom]

Originally posted by Sarah'sMomfrom PA
ciadrimom...just be sure that if you ride to the airport with marianne (zapp1213), leave your axes behind in New Jersey because Tom might get a little squishmish and refuse to get into the car with you. Guess you'll never live this one down, Tom!! (An inside joke for Marianne and Tom)!!! Mary Jo

P.S. Forgot to ask...how was graduation??

MaryJo, I guess I'll leave it home, I am on vacation after all!!! LOL

Graudation was AWESOME. DD Ciara cried through most of it, so did my good friend Pat, which of course, reduced me to a blubbering mass of intelligence.

 

[ciadriamom]

Originally posted by jeanneg
Van Schman......I thought we were going in a limo!!!!!!!!!

LIMO, LIMO, LIMO!!!!

 

[ciadriamom]

Originally posted by jeanneg
Marianne and Sharon:
yes, we would be more than happy to share a ride with you guys.
It seems like it will be 5 adults and 4 kids so we should fit very comfortably. Besides, we can make all the Radisson and Ron Jon people jealous when we pull up to the port in our swanky limo.
My only request is that we get there early as I will be doing the ressie scramble and want to get a good position in line. I notice we all have late dining so we'll be able to return to the airport at approx. the same time (we ARE all going back to the airport, right?) I've also used Tiffany Town Cars to get to WDW and was very pleased with them. I will check to see what the current rate is and as Eric said, they always have a coupon offer. Whatever hotel you decide to stay at is fine with me as long as there's a free shuttle from MCO. I believe Arlene and Andy will also be staying near the airport. Maybe we can fit 11 and turn it into a real party! Forgive me if I've forgotten, but have either of you done DCL before?
And tell MaryJo not to be concerned about axes. A New Jersey girl's best weapons are her looong nails and whatever she can hide in her high hair! (Am I the only one who gets nostalgic at the opening credits of the Sopranos?)

I'd also love to get there as early as possible, for spa ressies and cabana massage. Not sure if I'm going to stay a few extra days or not, since we have Monday off.

This is our second Disney Cruise -- did four days on the Wonder last August. We were lucky enough to be on the last sailing with those awesome fireworks.

 

[ciadriamom]

Originally posted by Zapp1213
Actually, it doesn't sound too bad. It's $210 r/t plus $42 tip? Divided by three families, that's only $42 each, each way. Renting a car is in the high $30's before all the extra charges. And we wouldn't have to do all the driving!!!! I could do that.

Still haven't decided on a hotel yet. The LaQuinta airport is around $50 for the night, and we like LaQuinta's. They also mention they have a complimentary airport shuttle. Any bad reports?

Mariaññe

Zapp - check our Barb's website trip reports -- I believe there is one La Quinta which is not so hot. She gives great specifics about the two different locations.

 

[ciadriamom]

Originally posted by jeanneg
I was born and raised in NYC (northern Manhattan), but spent 15 years in Tenafly NJ before moving to NC. NJ got so much of our income and property tax money I feel I can insult them all I like! (Sure do miss not having that tax on clothing though......)

Hey Jeanneg - I was born and raised in Brooklyn, went to high school in lower manhattan and only moved to New Jersey about 10 years ago. Left the taxes in New York for the car insurance premiums in NJ

 

[jeanneg]

My favorite place in Brooklyn is that little Italian restaurant on Frost St. We always called it the Frost St. Restaurant but I'm not sure if it has another official name. We don't really know Brooklyn all that well but will be returning there in mid June. My oldest son will be filming a movie pilot there and we want to be nosey. We can only take a few days so I think we're going to fly up and rely on mass transit to get around. Navigating a car through mid-town Manhattan is enough to give me a heart attack. I really want to get tickets for "Wicked" also .....hope I haven't waited too long. I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to real bagels and authentic Italian pastries!

 

[ciadriamom]

Amen on the bagels. I go at least once a month for my pizza fix. That's cool about your son, can you give details?

 

[bettemom]

Originally posted by jeanneg
My favorite place in Brooklyn is that little Italian restaurant on Frost St. We always called it the Frost St. Restaurant but I'm not sure if it has another official name. We don't really know Brooklyn all that well but will be returning there in mid June. My oldest son will be filming a movie pilot there and we want to be nosey. We can only take a few days so I think we're going to fly up and rely on mass transit to get around. Navigating a car through mid-town Manhattan is enough to give me a heart attack. I really want to get tickets for "Wicked" also .....hope I haven't waited too long. I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to real bagels and authentic Italian pastries!

Hi Guys Kim here,

Checking the boards since the rain has started again , I can't install the new window sills and trim on the front of the house...

REAL BAGELS !!! We used to take the train into the city early Sat am and pick up all our bagels, danish & Rye bread. In NH they do not have any idea how to make bread. How about the NY 1/2 sour garlic pickles, I can eat those like a piece of fruit...Hopefully we will get down to the city in the next few months to " stock up".. Favorite deli of all time is the Carnegie Deli Times Square, that place is a hoot...

Hopefully I will have a little scrapbook to bring on the cruise and show you all what we have been doing to the house. By October 1/2 of the house will be totally renovated, and next summer/fall we hope to finish the other half.


Gotta go, told the mother figure that I would help clean out a closet, and with the rain there is no escape...

Bye, Kim

 

[jeanneg]

Sharon: This is how I understand it.......One of his former NYU classmates has written a screenplay and pitched it to a major Hollywood distributor, who told him to produce a 20-30 minute pilot. There is a well-known TV star (don't know if i can say the name) who wants to star in the lead role of this movie and is helping my son and his friend in financing the pilot as well as appearing in it. If the movie gets purchased it will be a major milestone for his buddy. No major studio is going to use my son as its director of Photography (DP) but if he does a good job, it could open some doors and get him an assistant's or apprentice position on the film.....which would be a major coup for him. It would be nice for him to eventually get a paycheck, but this is all part of working his way through the ranks. I believe the budget for the pilot will only reimburse him for expenses. It is very exciting though and we are so proud of him.