7/18/10 Mickey's Baltic Ballyhoo Part 6

[MrsScooby]

I think you pretty much answered your own question....How old is the United States 1788 by the current constitution, I believe. The Kingdom of England goes back to roughly 927, 1083 years to catch up on at least.

You are right I work central London, but never even walk further than 100m from my office (park at work, as I commute by motorcycle).

Although you are getting there with Football (soccer) today on the radio I heard that 26 million americans play soccer, compared to 4 million in the UK although you did take a beating last night from Croatia. First game for England in the World Cup next month is against the USA and everyone here thinks that will be our hardest game. Great time for the game in the USA 19:30 GMT on Sat 12th will allow both coasts to watch you get beat. Ciders on me if USA beat us.........

I know loads of boring useless facts about London, for example when you look at Nelson's Column, his good eye is looking down the mall towards the little palace with the birthday cake outside (Buckingham) watching his ships. But where are the ships you ask.......look at the lampposts that line the mall and you will find them! Theres plenty more where that came from.

Celestine was born & brought up in North London and the strange thing is that she has been helping fellow Dissers, get tickets for the keys ceremony at the Tower of London. In the 30ish years she has been around, she has never been there herself!!!

There is some fantastic stuff in London and most of it like Washington DC is free (been 4 times work & pleasure) museums, parks etc...reading on here sometimes I wonder why people are doing certain things, but then each to their own. Example being Stonehenge, to me a pile of dead rocks standing up in a field near a major road, the more interesting story is how they got there?. Moved from Wales by the druids I believe, how they stood them up has been covered in many documentary. You cannot get anywhere near the stones anyway, I went there as a child with the school and was just as unimpressed then as I am now. Amesbury is a lot more interesting, Maybe I am just not cultured enough. Give me the Science or natural history museum any day, event the building is an amazing structure alone.

Paul DH of Celestine

I'm the Science and Natural History museum type myself
But not on this trip
We're cramming in as much as we can of London in a day and a half. My DH (Darren) and kids are very into the history. I like it too, but can never seem to remember the dates
Very grateful for the Key Ceremony tickets

 

[MrsScooby]

Firstly limited to one post tonight, rather unwell, we have had a nightmare of a week, and its still going South, now laid up with massive pains that came on directly at 5pm no warning at all, (then had a two hour trip home on the Tube).

Hope you feel better soon

 

[MrsScooby]

We just purchased the Eagle Creek cubes and folders from backcountry.com

So excited...my OCD is coming out !!

Just tried out their packing folder when I went to CA for a long weekend. My Dsis didn't want me checking any bags and it was nice to have the folder to keep things organized and neat in the bag. Definitely want to buy some more.

We bought the Oslo Pass 2 yrs ago when we were in the Baltic. And did the same this cruise. It's so easy. The ferry to take you to the Viking Museum ,etc is right there ! We also used the city bus. Everyone spoke English. I personally have had bad luck with the HO HO's. Too full, one time the bus was full and it just passed us up. Waited almost an hour for another one.

The Oslo Pass is the one where they send you a voucher and you pick up at the port, right? Is the line for people with vouchers substantially shorter than the line for people buying their passes at the port?
How long did it take to arrive in the mail?

Still trying to decide on the Stockholm card as well. We save money on the adult cards, but not on the kids because their admission into the museums is sometimes free. Someone stated that the card can save you waiting in line though so might consider it for that perk alone.

I promise you that he isn't in Scotland. Yep, he got hacked, virused or whatever BIG time! Not sure what he's going to do, but I've got emails, phone call, FB messages all day. What a pain in the behind this is going to be.

Umm, did people actually believe he was in Scotland? My first thought was scam when I saw it But I had heard about this type of scam before so I was kind of forewarned.

My whiney brother's surgery went well yesterday. They kept him overnight since surgery was early afternoon and the doc felt it best for him to spend the night.


Tomorrow is DD's 16th b'day. We are heading up to NYC late morning for lunch at John's Pizza and then we are going to Peter Max's studio and to dinner with him and his wife. It's going to be a long, fun and busy day.

Glad things went well for your brother
Loved John's pizza
Hope everything goes smoothly tomorrow for your trip

 

[mstinson14]

Does anyone know what movies will be playing on the cruise?

 

[Caropooh]

Umm, did people actually believe he was in Scotland? My first thought was scam when I saw it But I had heard about this type of scam before so I was kind of forewarned.

Yes, we did actually have some people that thought we/he was in Scotland! Don't think anyone was getting ready to send money though! My sister was ready to go to the police. I'm not sure why or what she thought they were going todo.

 

[Madisonznana]

I promise you that he isn't in Scotland. Yep, he got hacked, virused or whatever BIG time! Not sure what he's going to do, but I've got emails, phone call, FB messages all day. What a pain in the behind this is going to be.

I got a letter from him too. I wondered why it went directly to junk until I read it! I was surprised he was looking for money from someone that just paid for a Disney cruise!

 

[mstinson14]

Good Night everyone

 

[smilis]

Gonna get the Oslo Pass as I pretty much know what we want to see-Viking museum, Kon Tiki museum, Fram, Akershus Fortress and Norwegian Resistance museum.From what I heard it isn't too hard to find your way around

Laurie,
Were you able to find out time schedules for the bus or metro in Oslo? DH is concerned about having to stand around and wait for a bus after finishing up at any given museum He wondered how frequently busses come by the different sights. I know the HOHO is a 30 minute time span. I told him I really wanted to get Oslo decisions made by this weekend

I offered him the opportunity to do some of the research himself so that we were doing/seeing things he wanted to do as well. Well you know his answer to that one, "Honey, you are doing a GREAT job" .

 

[RJAYL]

Good Morning All
A special hello to Andrew in Scotland!

 

[Caropooh]

Good Morning All
A special hello to Andrew in Scotland!

That's so nice of you to remember him and his other family that are stranded over there!

 

[Celestine]

Andrew or Celestine,
What are your reccommendations for transportation getting to Park Plaza Victoria from the airport on the 17th?

Depends on which airport you fly into. If you arrive at Gatwick, unless you have heaps of luggage, I would hop on the Gatwick Express & either walk down from the station or catch a cab. If you arrive at Heathrow it depends on the time you arrive & how well you travel. You could catch the tube into London, or for an easy life book a car (PM me if you need a company recommendation).

Celestine

 

[Celestine]

Wow
How long did it take you?
ok, gonna ask..why not the full moon?

It took 3 hr 50 which was longer than we'd hoped, but my walking buddy twisted her ankle at the 8 mile mark, so did very well to get round. Had not done sufficient training for the full moon although I would probably get round, it would be about 6/7am when I finished - the feeling of jetlag was bad enough having fallen into bed & got 5 hours sleep, so would dread to think about that one! Maybe next year if I do the sunwalk I'll go for it!

Celestine

 

[smilis]

Just tried out their packing folder when I went to CA for a long weekend. My Dsis didn't want me checking any bags and it was nice to have the folder to keep things organized and neat in the bag. Definitely want to buy some more.



Okay, I looked at those Eagle Creek cubes and folders online. Do they really save space in your roll aboard suitcase? It seems to me they would just be adding more bulk! . I can see where they would be beneficial if your were using a backpack or duffel type bag. I like the idea and they are a good price right now, but just wanted your feedback on them.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Hope you get feeling better Andrew! Thanks to you and Celestine for the restaurant suggestions.

On a different note Caro I just got spammed by someone claiming to be alanpapa & he is stranded in Scotland looking for me to sent him some dough!

Do you know where Andrew is?

Yes feel better!

Feel better Andrew!!

Sorry you're ailing, Andrew ! Better now than July ! Feel better soon !!

Andrew or Celestine,
What are your recommendations for transportation getting to Park Plaza Victoria from the airport on the 17th?

Sorry to hear give him my regards tell him that I am glad to hear that he is not broke in Scotland without a passport!

Hope you feel better soon

Firstly a lot better tonight you all will be pleased to know, thank you very very very much for all the nice wishes hope I didn't miss any but thanks. or something I eate

Pain was terrbile last night, not sure if it was because i was working hard

Facebook spam email I alerted one of us on this thread yesterday about the spam asking for money as they were trapped in Scotland, had a warning up on my facebook last night, it was made up from facebook as they asked for $'s in Scotland and knew the location of the other person. Ensure your privacy settings are at the highest level, for thoose who ha vent increased security to the highest level already.

Looks like whoever it is is doing our group, Julie also had one.

Heathrow>Victoria, I did it today!!!!!!!! -Not a day to do it as the District line that runs close to the Piccadilly at times was out so all its passengers were on ours.

Anyway.

Heathrow>Picaddily line, you can go down on elevators or escalators.

Picaddilly to Barons Court, swap to District line.

Reason, District runs parallel but on the outside tracks of the Picadilly from aobut Acton, but stops at all stations the piccadilly doest and is *fast* you could change at Hammersmith but its a large and busy station.

Barons court the platform is an island between piccadilly and district, just walk off one and on the district a few feet away, (after this station the piccadilly takes a dive underground.).

At Victoria just walk up stairs as its just sub surface.

Taxi is expensive but doable, Heathrow Express takes you to paddington north west London.

 

[mstinson14]

Thanks Andrew and Celestine. We are coming from Heathrow.

 

[Caropooh]

Facebook spam email I alerted one of us on this thread yesterday about the spam asking for money as they were trapped in Scotland, had a warning up on my facebook last night, it was made up from facebook as they asked for $'s in Scotland and knew the location of the other person. Ensure your privacy settings are at the highest level, for thoose who ha vent increased security to the highest level already.

Looks like whoever it is is doing our group, Julie also had one.

As Robert, Laurie, Barb, Karen and I have already discussed, it would be my husband.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Thanks Andrew and Celestine. We are coming from Heathrow.

As Robert, Laurie, Barb, Karen and I have already discussed, it would be my husband.

Yes, - When mentioning things like privacy and spam attacks I try to be very careful to respect every-one's privacy on the ''open Internet''.

People who are victims of an attack often get subsequent attacks, as lists are handed around.

Even with privacy settings on high levels on my FB, I still do not put on address and personal details as it can be got at.

 

[Caropooh]

Yes, - When mentioning things like privacy and spam attacks I try to be very careful to respect every-one's privacy on the ''open Internet''.

People who are victims of an attack often get subsequent attacks, as lists are handed around.

Even with privacy settings on high levels on my FB, I still do not put on address and personal details as it can be got at.

OK! From your first post, I was under the impression you didn't know who it was.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

OK! From your first post, I was under the impression you didn't know who it was.

Yes did know, I sent him a private Facebook message last night, it was the first thing I did, i try to be careful on names, as there are those out there who feed on information so tend to deliberately be vague on places names etc, anything someone can put together.

This attack was quite specific from information clearly gleaned from FB, and my Internet security system waked it into quarantine straight away, I saw the name and thought just for a second it might be important, but viewing it from the first words released it was a poor scam.

Normally though then then try various attacks, pretending to be your Bank etc, and they feel if they keep trying one will get through.

I just try to be helpful what I post, don't always get it right, someone here told me earlier this week I got it wrong.

 

[MrsScooby]

Does anyone know what movies will be playing on the cruise?

I was lurking on the thread for the Baltic cruise before ours and they had a list posted there.

Laurie,
Were you able to find out time schedules for the bus or metro in Oslo? DH is concerned about having to stand around and wait for a bus after finishing up at any given museum He wondered how frequently busses come by the different sights. I know the HOHO is a 30 minute time span. I told him I really wanted to get Oslo decisions made by this weekend

I offered him the opportunity to do some of the research himself so that we were doing/seeing things he wanted to do as well. Well you know his answer to that one, "Honey, you are doing a GREAT job" .

Yeah my husband passed on the offer as well

I know I saw the schedules somewhere-maybe in the Rick Steves Scandinavian book. There is a ferry that takes you to the Bygdoy Pennisula where the museums are-I'm guessing that is where people will head first and I think the ferry is pretty frequent if I remember correctly. I'll look it up and let you know

It took 3 hr 50 which was longer than we'd hoped, but my walking buddy twisted her ankle at the 8 mile mark, so did very well to get round. Had not done sufficient training for the full moon although I would probably get round, it would be about 6/7am when I finished - the feeling of jetlag was bad enough having fallen into bed & got 5 hours sleep, so would dread to think about that one! Maybe next year if I do the sunwalk I'll go for it!

Celestine

Celestine when I saw half moon, I thought that was literally for the phase of the moon...but you meant distance right? That's alot of walking for that time of night

Okay, I looked at those Eagle Creek cubes and folders online. Do they really save space in your roll aboard suitcase? It seems to me they would just be adding more bulk! . I can see where they would be beneficial if your were using a backpack or duffel type bag. I like the idea and they are a good price right now, but just wanted your feedback on them.

I have not tried the packing folder in the suitcase, but was surprised by how much I easily fit in my carry-on with it. Plus it keeps the clothes from getting squished into a lump so less wrinkles. Plus when I needed to find something in the bag it was much easier- I can see that being a real plus when we partly unpack in London. I've heard the cubes are good for rolled clothes (t-shirts/shorts etc) and the folders for anything you don't want to roll (dresses, slacks, etc).
I would bring along my luggage scale to make sure our bags don't weigh too much though as I can see it being easy to overpack and make the bags too heavy with them.

Firstly a lot better tonight you all will be pleased to know, thank you very very very much for all the nice wishes hope I didn't miss any but thanks.

Glad you're feeling better