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

[MrsScooby]

'Morning all

Yeah what Barb said!!

Good morning

 

[MrsScooby]

Layering the is the way to go in the Baltics. 2 years ago we had nice weather, it was in the mid 60's and sunny most of the time so a jacket was needed in the morning into early afternoon.
Don't forget to pack an umbrella and/or a weather proof jacket, especially for StP. July can be very wet for StP.




We also cruised in July 2008 and layered with a jacket and t-shirt. StP was wet on day and dry and sunny the other. The day we were docked in Warnemunde, it rained in the morning in port and then the sun came out around 11am, but we heard it rained all day in Berlin.
For the most part we wore jackets in the morning and shed them from getting warm walking around and the sun being out.

DH also likes the zip-off pants so he doesn't have to pack shorts in addition to pants.

Debating on the umbrella Just seems easier to bring a rain poncho

I've been trying to push the zip-off pants to DH, but all he remembers is that we used to get those for my DS when he was little
They have some nice ones at REI-so if they go on sale I'm getting them for him anyway I'm still trying to lose weight so will hopefully buy a smaller size for me come July.

Trying to get my plans for London finalized, Big Bis vs Hop on Hop off,

I found an interesting full day bus tour with early entry to the tower of london & crown jewels, changing of the guards, st pauls & all the sites then a river cruise & finishes with the London Eye! but its pricey! oh & they pick you up at your Hotel at 7:30 in the morning!

Premium tours https://www.premiumtours.co.uk/tours/tour/total-london-full-day-tour.id40.html

Watch the video it makes it seem so easy!

Looks great
That is not a bad price actually if you take into consideration that it includes transport

Having a hard time cramming in everything we want to see with many of the buildings opening at 9 am and closing at 5 or 6. Can't get into the Punch Tavern for dinner like I wanted as they have a wedding reception there for Saturday night (sounds like a fun wedding). We are just going to grab lunch somewhere between Westminster Abbey and St Paul's Cathedral. Still looking for a good place for dinner on Saturday night

Right now for Fri-we have Trafalgar Square-then to LE/cruise/Porters.
For Sat.- start at Westminster Abbey, then Churchill's war rooms, then St Paul's Cathedral, then Globe theater, then Tower of London till they close. DH wants to try squeezing in the Tower Bridge exhibit as well, but I don't see us having time

We may swing by Buckinham Palace as well, but a changing of the guard will have to wait for next time.

Gotta get our oyster cards soon.

Otherwise most of London is planned for us.

 

[KathyInCitrus]

We're staying at the Park Plaza Riverbank. Gatwick Express to Victoria Station. Taxi to the hotel. The other 2 are probably going to take the Heathrow Express to Paddington, and ?somehow? get to the hotel.

Two of our party are doing a Grayline-Golden Tours tour of London (first-timers). I'm doing the British Museum and maybe try to catch Harrod's and/or Baker Street on my own.

The more adventurous one (me) is doing a twilight tour of Stonehenge (also with Golden Tours).

Now that I think about it, I don't think we're planning on eating at all!
Although, I would like to try a. . . . . . pub!

 

[RJAYL]

We are arriving Wednesday evening I would have booked the Premium tour for Thursday morning but the bus would pick us up at 7:30 AM at the hotel converted to US time about 2:30 in the morning

I think I will get tickets for one of the Hop on Hop off tours & the London Eye that way whatever time we all get up we can hit that maybe the river cruise for an overview!

Then I will book some sort of tour group or private for Friday

Saturday we are going to Portabello road in the Am I have sent away for my free guide, & we can shop Harrods in the evening! The DW will be happy I think

 

[jilljill]

We are arriving Wednesday evening I would have booked the Premium tour for Thursday morning but the bus would pick us up at 7:30 AM at the hotel converted to US time about 2:30 in the morning

I think I will get tickets for one of the Hop on Hop off tours & the London Eye that way whatever time we all get up we can hit that maybe the river cruise for an overview!

Then I will book some sort of tour group or private for Friday

Saturday we are going to Portabello road in the Am I have sent away for my free guide, & we can shop Harrods in the evening! The DW will be happy I think

Thanks, I had no idea Harrods was open late each evening. I'm used to them only being open late on Thursday evenings. I'm sure DH will just love that.
http://www.harrods.com/HarrodsStore/visiting

Robert...you can sign up DW to receive their catalogs in the mail. You are very welcome for the tip.

We arrive Friday morning and have no plans but Harrods and DH wants to go to Portobello Road Sat. to the markets. I guess we'll figure something out when we get there.

 

[RJAYL]

http://www.portobelloroad.co.uk/aboutpada.asp

 

[RJAYL]

Thanks, I had no idea Harrods was open late each evening. I'm used to them only being open late on Thursday evenings. I'm sure DH will just love that.
http://www.harrods.com/HarrodsStore/visiting

Robert...you can sign up DW to receive their catalogs in the mail. You are very welcome for the tip.

We arrive Friday morning and have no plans but Harrods and DH wants to go to Portobello Road Sat. to the markets. I guess we'll figure something out when we get there.

On both Bus routes back to my hotel!

I wish there was a multi day pass for the HoHo buses

 

[jilljill]

http://www.portobelloroad.co.uk/aboutpada.asp

Thanks

 

[jilljill]

I picked up my currency yesterday. I'm going to go back and order some more for Copenhagen to pay for our Tivoli tickets, about $126 for 7 people 12 & up and 1 child. My friend wants to go there so we'll hit that when they open at 11:00 and stay for a couple of hours or so.
I was really happy with the rates for the currency. Denmark was about 25% less than what we had 2 years ago.

 

[RJAYL]

I picked up my currency yesterday. I'm going to go back and order some more for Copenhagen to pay for our Tivoli tickets, about $126 for 7 people 12 & up and 1 child. My friend wants to go there so we'll hit that when they open at 11:00 and stay for a couple of hours or so.
I was really happy with the rates for the currency. Denmark was about 25% less than what we had 2 years ago.

Euro & Pound were both down again today soomer or later I will buy pounds not to sure about Euro's I might just let it ride & convert over there!

 

[jilljill]

Euro & Pound were both down again today soomer or later I will buy pounds not to sure about Euro's I might just let it ride & convert over there!

Here's what I picked up yesterday:

Denmark 450. .1775 $79.88
Norway 450. .1674 $75.33
Sweden 540. .1366 $73.87
Pounds 300. 1.52 $456.00
Euros 70. 1.33 $93.10

I had some other Euros and Pounds left from our last trip and I had bought some not long after booking the cruise. I have the cash to pay for the Ballyhoo bus set aside.

 

[smilis]

We are arriving Wednesday evening I would have booked the Premium tour for Thursday morning but the bus would pick us up at 7:30 AM at the hotel converted to US time about 2:30 in the morning

I think I will get tickets for one of the Hop on Hop off tours & the London Eye that way whatever time we all get up we can hit that maybe the river cruise for an overview!

Then I will book some sort of tour group or private for Friday

Saturday we are going to Portabello road in the Am I have sent away for my free guide, & we can shop Harrods in the evening! The DW will be happy I think

Robert,
Where did you order the free guide from? I trust it is about how to navigate the markets at Portabello huh? I like the idea Harrods is open late too . Just in case the relatives don't want to see us on Saturday, I need to have a back up plan.

Has anybody on our thread booked their tours with Anastasia Tours yet? I mean sent them their passport info and other required visa info? I wondered if you had received your "tickets" from them yet for the tour? It sounds like they don't send the Blanket visa until inside of a month. I think we will end up using Anastasia and pray that the exchange rate stays as good as it is right now come the middle of June and doesn't bounce all over the place.

Sandy

 

[smilis]

Robert,
Where did you order the free guide from? I trust it is about how to navigate the markets at Portabello huh? I like the idea Harrods is open late too . Just in case the relatives don't want to see us on Saturday, I need to have a back up plan.

Has anybody on our thread booked their tours with Anastasia Tours yet? I mean sent them their passport info and other required visa info? I wondered if you had received your "tickets" from them yet for the tour? It sounds like they don't send the Blanket visa until inside of a month. I think we will end up using Anastasia and pray that the exchange rate stays as good as it is right now come the middle of June and doesn't bounce all over the place.

Sandy

Robert,
Sorry I didn't see that you posted the link to Portabello in a previous post.

Sandy

 

[smilis]

Can somebody tell me if there is a specific place on Cruise Critic.com where it is best to post for shared shore excursions? I just registered and it was a little overwhelming to say the least . I posted something under the Disney cruise section in cruises A-L

Sandy

 

[abacab]

Here's what I picked up yesterday:

Denmark 450. .1775 $79.88
Norway 450. .1674 $75.33
Sweden 540. .1366 $73.87
Pounds 300. 1.52 $456.00
Euros 70. 1.33 $93.10

I had some other Euros and Pounds left from our last trip and I had bought some not long after booking the cruise. I have the cash to pay for the Ballyhoo bus set aside.

I got mine last week... you did better than I did!
Also got some Rubles.

 

[RJAYL]

Here's what I picked up yesterday:

Denmark 450. .1775 $79.88
Norway 450. .1674 $75.33
Sweden 540. .1366 $73.87
Pounds 300. 1.52 $456.00
Euros 70. 1.33 $93.10

I had some other Euros and Pounds left from our last trip and I had bought some not long after booking the cruise. I have the cash to pay for the Ballyhoo bus set aside.

I got mine last week... you did better than I did!
Also got some Rubles.

Unless I change my plans & do not use DCL tours I only plan on getting Pounds & Euro's maybe some rubles if possible as we are touring with Anastasia!

Robert,
Where did you order the free guide from? I trust it is about how to navigate the markets at Portabello huh? I like the idea Harrods is open late too . Just in case the relatives don't want to see us on Saturday, I need to have a back up plan.

Has anybody on our thread booked their tours with Anastasia Tours yet? I mean sent them their passport info and other required visa info? I wondered if you had received your "tickets" from them yet for the tour? It sounds like they don't send the Blanket visa until inside of a month. I think we will end up using Anastasia and pray that the exchange rate stays as good as it is right now come the middle of June and doesn't bounce all over the place.

Sandy

I have sent the info to Anastasia I was told that we would receive are tickets about a month ahead of time!

Happy T.G.I.F.

 

[Marla Hellwig]

Morning all!

Sun is shining here for a change

Kara is 19 today - eek

Have a great weekend everyone!

 

[jilljill]

I got mine last week... you did better than I did!
Also got some Rubles.

My currency was actually ordered last Thursday, so I'm sure those were Friday's rates they used at our local bank. I just checked my withdrawal slip and it was dated Friday.

I'm not able to order rubles from our bank. If I need them then I'll just use an ATM again over there.

 

[jilljill]

Robert,
Where did you order the free guide from? I trust it is about how to navigate the markets at Portabello huh? I like the idea Harrods is open late too . Just in case the relatives don't want to see us on Saturday, I need to have a back up plan.

Has anybody on our thread booked their tours with Anastasia Tours yet? I mean sent them their passport info and other required visa info? I wondered if you had received your "tickets" from them yet for the tour? It sounds like they don't send the Blanket visa until inside of a month. I think we will end up using Anastasia and pray that the exchange rate stays as good as it is right now come the middle of June and doesn't bounce all over the place.

Sandy

She won't send out the actual tickets until no earlier than 1 month out since that's when the final price for the tour will come about.
I'm still waiting on my friends passport info so I can send everyone's info to her at once. They had to renew their son's passport when they realized his had expired - good thing they were filling out the online check-in last month.

 

[jilljill]

'Morning all



Happy Birthday Kara