7/13/13 ~~ Eastern Mediterranean Mouseketeers!

[Stimpy]

Hi all! It's been a long time since I've checked in. You've all been so busy!

I wish we had time for pre or post time on this trip but DH is already cutting it close with work & DS-13 needs to be back for his acting stuff.

We were also on the Baltic! Loved that cruise so much!

We are still unsure about which excursions to do. Quite honestly this trip seems to be sneaking up on us fast. I think the freezing temps lately were a good reminder that we need a vacation LOL

 

[Bsb1012]

How hot do you think it's going to be? I hate the heat and it really makes me miserable. I don't want to walk, talk, anything... I'm hearing it could be in the high 90's! Anyone know?

 

[slg]

Make no mistake, its going to be very, very hot at that time of year. So be prepared with light clothes (but remember, no bare knees or shoulders in some holy places in Europe, so make sure you take that into consideration), misters, and good sunscreen and a hat.

I'm hoping that by going with Disney excursions, they will supply us with waters and air-conditioned busses! They did in baltic anyway. Others who have been on med cruises before, did they?

 

[slg]

Emailed Autos vilar yesterday but haven't heard back yet I read really good reviews so I'm surprised as I emailed EZYshuttle in Paris and we've emailed back and forth three times in the same amount of time and other places I've emailed have also responded.

Any other shuttle transfers that you guys can recommend just in case they are unavailable?

Thank you Newfoundland Sailor for the tip on the hotel in Barcelona. WE booked it and it seems perfect!

 

[Bsb1012]

Make no mistake, its going to be very, very hot at that time of year. So be prepared with light clothes (but remember, no bare knees or shoulders in some holy places in Europe, so make sure you take that into consideration), misters, and good sunscreen and a hat.

I'm hoping that by going with Disney excursions, they will supply us with waters and air-conditioned busses! They did in baltic anyway. Others who have been on med cruises before, did they?

Baltic was terrible! I wasn't prepared for that! I thought it would be much cooler!!! We were on an excursion in St. Petersburg...air conditioning on the Disney excursion broke down! 102 degrees, no air... I was dying! I bought misters after that and they go with me everywhere!!!!!

 

[slg]

I was on the baltic...and it was stifling! But they aren't prepared for heat in the Baltic and I'm hoping they are in the med.

Which one were you on? We were July 6.

 

[calihannah]

Make no mistake, its going to be very, very hot at that time of year. So be prepared with light clothes (but remember, no bare knees or shoulders in some holy places in Europe, so make sure you take that into consideration), misters, and good sunscreen and a hat.

I'm hoping that by going with Disney excursions, they will supply us with waters and air-conditioned busses! They did in baltic anyway. Others who have been on med cruises before, did they?

Yes, on all of our Disney-run tours in 2011 in the Med, we had A/C busses and lots of water

We were on the late May/early June one, and it was hot and humid in Rome and other Italy stops. This later date will certainly be VERY warm.

 

[Bsb1012]

I was on the baltic...and it was stifling! But they aren't prepared for heat in the Baltic and I'm hoping they are in the med.

Which one were you on? We were July 6.

We were on the same cruise! I was disappointed because Russia was on my "bucket list", and I may never get the chance to go back. I tried making the best of it though. Even went and saw the production of Swan Lake in the evening, which was fantastic!!!!! So much of the world I want to see!!!

 

[slg]

Yes the weather was stifling and I got such a migraine on the first day we were there that I almost didn't go on our tour as I was nauseated like crazy and couldn't stand the light.

But I sucked it up and went and now I have great pictures.

The crowds in Russia were crazy too.

But it was well worth it.

 

[Bsb1012]

Yes the weather was stifling and I got such a migraine on the first day we were there that I almost didn't go on our tour as I was nauseated like crazy and couldn't stand the light.

But I sucked it up and went and now I have great pictures.

The crowds in Russia were crazy too.

But it was well worth it.

So will the Med be THAT stifling? Like Russia was??? Trying to prepare myself now for it!!!

 

[slg]

yes...start taking some hot yoga classes to get used to the heat!

 

[fabulousoldshoes]

Wow I'm glad I wasn't on the same Baltic cruise as most of you! When we were there the temperatures were cool enough that on a few days we could wear light sweatshirts.

On the Canada cruise last year all our tours provided us with water so hopefully they will do that in the Med too.

 

[pirateluv]

Yes, we did the Med in August 2010. It was HOT, HOT, HOT. The Disney excursions had air conditioned buses and water available. Always take the water! Wear light comfortable clothes, hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Just know it is worth it because we are seeing such great sights!

Joan

 

[mom3bellasorella]

We are looking at staying at the Majestic in Barcelona. Does anyone know of that hotel?

We also did the med in 2010 but in July. It was hot but we also had a day of rain in La Spieza.

Can't wait to go back!

Tricia

 

[Newfoundland Sailor]

I wanted to share some tips that were sent to me by the tour company Ekol in Kudadasi on how to help make your day more of a family friendly tour:

- inside of Ephesus children often like to climb the ruins for special/funny pictures, make pictures of the statues or play as gladiators in the amphitheaters.

- at the House of Virgin Mary if you come ready with empty bottles and paper & pencil they will be busy to fill out the bottles with Holy Water (there are 3 different Springs and they need to listen carefully the guide when the spring names are told; there are no writings) and then there is a small Wishing Wall where they will write their wishes and tide them. The small one (4 yrs old) can only tide the paper or as mine is doing  untied the papers!! When the papers are untied the wishes come true.

- Artemis Temple is a nest for storks and turtles, however not all the time the storks are in their nest and the presents of turtles depends on the weather. If during the Spring time there are many rains then the turtles are staying longer in the basin.

- After visiting all the sites, if the kids are not tired and/or wish to ride horses, on the way back to the city, there is a small stud farm where we can stop you and 20 minutes supervised ride is 15 USD per child.

I thought the note about the House of the Virgin Mary was interesting - because I remember now that when I visited it in 1987 we were all scrambling trying to find containers (and bags) to get the water! I won't forget this time.

 

[Bsb1012]

Yes, we did the Med in August 2010. It was HOT, HOT, HOT. The Disney excursions had air conditioned buses and water available. Always take the water! Wear light comfortable clothes, hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Just know it is worth it because we are seeing such great sights!

Joan

HOT, HOT, HOT is how hot? 80's? 90's? 100's? It does make a difference : Oh I'm so not looking forward to this already

 

[Newfoundland Sailor]

HOT, HOT, HOT is how hot? 80's? 90's? 100's? It does make a difference : Oh I'm so not looking forward to this already

We have a picture from Aug 5 2011 that we took while on the hoho bus in front of the Columbus statue ( near the port) in Barcelona that says 35 degrees Celsius (95 F) at 10 am in the morning.

 

[Bsb1012]

We have a picture from Aug 5 2011 that we took while on the hoho bus in front of the Columbus statue ( near the port) in Barcelona that says 35 degrees Celsius (95 F) at 10 am in the morning.

O. M. G. - possibly thinking of cancelling this cruise. That is HOT HOT HOT plus a few extra HOT's! Thanks for the info!

 

[Newfoundland Sailor]

O. M. G. - possibly thinking of cancelling this cruise. That is HOT HOT HOT plus a few extra HOT's! Thanks for the info!

Don't cancel because of the temp! There r lots if ways to combat it. Besides my husband had never been in heat higher than 24 C (75 F) and he survived and wants to go back!

I checked the weather network for the averages for July:

Barcelona. High 27C (81F). Low 19C (66F)
Rome. High 31C(88F). Low 17C (62F)
Athens. High 32C (90C). Low 22C (72F)

Hope this helps!

 

[Bsb1012]

Don't cancel because of the temp! There r lots if ways to combat it. Besides my husband had never been in heat higher than 24 C (75 F) and he survived and wants to go back!

I checked the weather network for the averages for July:

Barcelona. High 27C (81F). Low 19C (66F)
Rome. High 31C(88F). Low 17C (62F)
Athens. High 32C (90C). Low 22C (72F)

Hope this helps!

I can tolerate it in small doses. I travel with a friend who LOVES the heat and is not compassionate about me hating it! A good walk in the rain, I would do in a heartbeat I guess it will depend on the excursions Disney will offer and what we end up doing. I'll have to be patient a little bit longer Thank you again for the information! I love these boards!!! You guys are all so helpful!