7/18/2010 Mickey's Baltic Ballyhoo!! Part 5

[Andrew DEREK UK]

You do all realise Portobello road is nothing like Bedknobs & broomsticks or whichever film that song comes from? I took father-in-law there as he kept going on about it & he was rather disappointed - not entirely sure what he was expecting though! Off to watch Grays Anatomy - series 6 starts here tonight!

Celestine

Funny, been in Central London a lot recently, and was walking over he Millennium (wobbly) bridge a few times to St Paul's. beautiful sights, both day and night, rain and snow!

Thoughts, so many tourists around in this bad weather, people taking photos everywhere, I was thinking how people cruising on the Baltics this year would see London.

Those hidden corner pubs all with distinctive charm, the river Thames in and out and watercraft, St Paul's the building gardens and graveyard.

All (us) Londoners rushing past all these incredible sights and booking to see similar things in other countries this year. .

Rule 1: for everyone here, promise me you will get off the Taxi; bus:Tube etc, and have a walk!!!!!! Hidden London is best when you just walk and find something, You 'cant' get lost, you will always fine a Tube station bus stop or get wet in the Thames, but with subtle hints like London eye, The Gherkin, St Paul's, Westminster, BT Tower, there is always something to tell you where you are.

 

[RJAYL]

Anybody seen Noah??????????? My pool is overflowing!

As long as its water dont complain!

 

[MrsScooby]

Whilst you have been getting drunk in cyber space I've been looking at the excursions and have discovered that the Viking tour in STockholm appears to be run by a company called gallivant productions (or they both use the same photo) and cost 125SEK/adult (about £11/$18) with accompanying children free (on a 1:1 ratio). I wonder what the DCL excursion charge will be??? THe only thing I'm not sure about is the proximity of the start of the tour to the cruise ship port - I may well e-mail them & ask!

Celestine

This looks great Celestine I showed the website's video to my DH and he loved it
I think we would want the Taste of Sweden tour that includes the food
But their availability dates and times were confusing
They are available during the week in the summer?
I'm ready to book at the price they have

My choices for flights going out on the 30th are 12:35 and 4:15. I don't like the 12:35 time since I think that's cutting it too close. I don't like the 4:15 flight since that means we have to sit with our bags since they can't be checked until 3 hours before flight time. We did that last time and had to sit for 3 hours in the terminal before we could go thru security. Looks like we will be doing that again since I don't want to book the 12:35 flight. I wish we had a 1:00 or 2:00 flight we could book but there isn't one.

We went through this after our PC repo cruise in 2008. It was kinda nice to see everyone else from the cruise at the airport, but the waiting was tough.

All children under 5 are free. For each fare paying adult 1 child 5-15 goes free.

Now not often I get called a lady - at the sandwich shop the other day I was "love" which some what amused me as he either thought I was old or was trying to hit on me, I'd like to think it was the latter.....

Celestine

Nope you're not old enough for the former so definitely the latter

Looks like Celestine is the tour-finding Queen of the group, and even better for finding the deals for the kids.
Thanks for posting all the info you are finding.

The tour info is wonderful
Actually very grateful for both of you

This tour company was just doing their press party the day we were in Tallinn in 2008. They didn't have any info to hand out to us when we asked for it. So they may be the only Segway tour company in town.

I remember you writing about this before which was what made me look for it on the internet. My kids are dying to do this, but DH and I are a little afraid that they won't pay enough attention to the sites while they are racing their segways
Gotta go for it anyway as they would be very disappointed every time they saw someone go by on one.
Bigger group gets charged less, so maybe we can get some groups together if enough are interested.

I would like to do a Segway tour! Hmm what to do with the kids? I know i will send them with Barb!

Actually they had something on their site saying that kids under 12 were allowed with parents along-so not sure of the age cut-off. They are very easy to use--DH and I had a blast on a segway tour in Nassau last July.

Im not Barb Im goin to Barcelona!

I was going to ask....whats a ''Return Flight''.

Uggggg
I'm so jealous of you two!!

Funny, been in Central London a lot recently, and was walking over he Millennium (wobbly) bridge a few times to St Paul's. beautiful sights, both day and night, rain and snow!

Thoughts, so many tourists around in this bad weather, people taking photos everywhere, I was thinking how people cruising on the Baltics this year would see London.

Those hidden corner pubs all with distinctive charm, the river Thames in and out and watercraft, St Paul's the building gardens and graveyard.

All (us) Londoners rushing past all these incredible sights and booking to see similar things in other countries this year. .

Rule 1: for everyone here, promise me you will get off the Taxi; bus:Tube etc, and have a walk!!!!!! Hidden London is best when you just walk and find something, You 'cant' get lost, you will always fine a Tube station bus stop or get wet in the Thames, but with subtle hints like London eye, The Gherkin, St Paul's, Westminster, BT Tower, there is always something to tell you where you are.

I've been looking forward to seeing London since I was 8 years old
Promise we will be walking alot

 

[MrsG]

We also can't wait to visit London!!!! We love to walk and love to appreciate the beauty of a city. Our kids still talk about how much they loved London. Now it will be our turn.

 

[jilljill]

Us as well we should make a morning of it!

I guess this will have to take that place of drinks at BLT in April. This sounds like fun.

I would like to do a Segway tour! Hmm what to do with the kids? I know i will send them with Barb!

Remember the fun your youngest had with my DD, I'm sure she'd have no problems with that. Around the city square there are numerous restaurants, we could sit there with them and give them drinks and watch for all the Segway'ers going by.

Im not Barb Im goin to Barcelona!

I can only wish on continuing the journey with you.

I was going to ask....whats a ''Return Flight''.

Yeah, must be nice. Oh wait...we just did that this past Sunday when we got off the Wonder.

You do all realise Portobello road is nothing like Bedknobs & broomsticks or whichever film that song comes from? I took father-in-law there as he kept going on about it & he was rather disappointed - not entirely sure what he was expecting though! Off to watch Grays Anatomy - series 6 starts here tonight!

Celestine

We've been to Portobello Rd in the past so we know what to expect.

 

[RJAYL]

Happy T. G. I. F. All

 

[poohmomof5]

Happy T. G. I. F. All

I agree!!! Bring on the weekend!!!

 

[alanapapa]

Happy T. G. I. F. All

I agree!!! Bring on the weekend!!!

I agree, this has not been a great week. Lets start a new one.

 

[Marla Hellwig]

http://parkthoughts.com/2010/01/20/ducks-invade-disneyland/

Jan 20 Ducks Invade Disneyland!1 Posted in Thoughts, Updates | by Justice

Southern California has been hit hard with storms lately, and it has resulted with the flooding of Main Street, the parks entrance area. It is quite a sight to see the water level so high at Disneyland. With such high water, ducks have invaded Disneyland! And no I do not mean these two ducks:

With Main Street flooded with so much water, real life Ducks have started to swim down the street. It is quite an interesting and funny sight. People are tweeting like birds about it!

 

[jilljill]

Marla thanks for that link. When I first read it I was thinking the hockey team, not Donald & Daisy or real ducks.
I had heard they closed D'land the other day due to weather, but hadn't heard about the flooding there.

 

[Celestine]

Funny, been in Central London a lot recently, and was walking over he Millennium (wobbly) bridge a few times to St Paul's. beautiful sights, both day and night, rain and snow!

Thoughts, so many tourists around in this bad weather, people taking photos everywhere, I was thinking how people cruising on the Baltics this year would see London.

Those hidden corner pubs all with distinctive charm, the river Thames in and out and watercraft, St Paul's the building gardens and graveyard.

All (us) Londoners rushing past all these incredible sights and booking to see similar things in other countries this year. .

Rule 1: for everyone here, promise me you will get off the Taxi; bus:Tube etc, and have a walk!!!!!! Hidden London is best when you just walk and find something, You 'cant' get lost, you will always fine a Tube station bus stop or get wet in the Thames, but with subtle hints like London eye, The Gherkin, St Paul's, Westminster, BT Tower, there is always something to tell you where you are.

I completely agree. One cool thing if you are on the mall, i.e. big road leading to Buckingham palace, look up at the street lights - each one has a ship on it & if you turn to face trafalgar square you will see Admiral Nelson is watching his fleet of ships from high up on his column. If you are not on foot (or possibly horseback) this little detail would be completely missed.

I walk to most places once I've arrived in London - it is generally quicker, cheaper & much more fun.

Celestine

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

This looks great Celestine I showed the website's video to my DH and he loved it
I think we would want the Taste of Sweden tour that includes the food
But their availability dates and times were confusing
They are available during the week in the summer?
I'm ready to book at the price they have


We went through this after our PC repo cruise in 2008. It was kinda nice to see everyone else from the cruise at the airport, but the waiting was tough.



Nope you're not old enough for the former so definitely the latter


The tour info is wonderful
Actually very grateful for both of you


I remember you writing about this before which was what made me look for it on the internet. My kids are dying to do this, but DH and I are a little afraid that they won't pay enough attention to the sites while they are racing their segways
Gotta go for it anyway as they would be very disappointed every time they saw someone go by on one.
Bigger group gets charged less, so maybe we can get some groups together if enough are interested.



Actually they had something on their site saying that kids under 12 were allowed with parents along-so not sure of the age cut-off. They are very easy to use--DH and I had a blast on a segway tour in Nassau last July.




Uggggg
I'm so jealous of you two!!



I've been looking forward to seeing London since I was 8 years old
Promise we will be walking alot

We also can't wait to visit London!!!! We love to walk and love to appreciate the beauty of a city. Our kids still talk about how much they loved London. Now it will be our turn.

I completely agree. One cool thing if you are on the mall, i.e. big road leading to Buckingham palace, look up at the street lights - each one has a ship on it & if you turn to face Trafalgar square you will see Admiral Nelson is watching his fleet of ships from high up on his column. If you are not on foot (or possibly horseback) this little detail would be completely missed.

I walk to most places once I've arrived in London - it is generally quicker, cheaper & much more fun.

Celestine

Went past the City about an hour ago, in the dark and all lit up, looks so different than daytime.

The Mall is a great walk, the same as the parks either side Green Park and St James, just a nip around the block from Westminster, or Knightsbridge.

The important thing is to plan plan plan, rather than bounce around link up places where you want to go.

For example Windsor and Hampton Court are out of town 60 mins by train.

Tower of London, Tower bridge, London Dungeon all together. The old Globe is 5 mins from there, often missed as its hidden away, next to the Tate.

Trafalgar square, the National gallery, Piccadilly circus, > The Mall, or to Westminster or up to Regent street is all very doable, even with kids.

Hamleys and Harrods, or Arrods, as Eastenders call it, are 'British' as the Tube sign and a black cab.

Book up a theatre trip, but get a Oyster card, and go on red buses with it, not tourist buses, if you want a touristy thing do the duck, which is land and on the Thames.

Travel on the Docklands light railway, Stratford, to see the Olympic development, to Canary Wharf for the new 'city' to Greenwich, for Cutty Sark, get the front window seats, ( no driver) all on Oyster card, want more , go out to Woolwich on the DLR past London City airport and excel centre (Olympic venue).

Changing of the guard at Buck House, is always worth watching but is crowded.

 

[Celestine]

Went past the City about an hour ago, in the dark and all lit up, looks so different than daytime.

The Mall is a great walk, the same as the parks either side Green Park and St James, just a nip around the block from Westminster, or Knightsbridge.

The important thing is to plan plan plan, rather than bounce around link up places where you want to go.

For example Windsor and Hampton Court are out of town 60 mins by train.

Tower of London, Tower bridge, London Dungeon all together. The old Globe is 5 mins from there, often missed as its hidden away, next to the Tate.

Trafalgar square, the National gallery, Piccadilly circus, > The Mall, or to Westminster or up to Regent street is all very doable, even with kids.

Hamleys and Harrods, or Arrods, as Eastenders call it, are 'British' as the Tube sign and a black cab.

Book up a theatre trip, but get a Oyster card, and go on red buses with it, not tourist buses, if you want a touristy thing do the duck, which is land and on the Thames.

Travel on the Docklands light railway, Stratford, to see the Olympic development, to Canary Wharf for the new 'city' to Greenwich, for Cutty Sark, get the front window seats, ( no driver) all on Oyster card, want more , go out to Woolwich on the DLR past London City airport and excel centre (Olympic venue).

Changing of the guard at Buck House, is always worth watching but is crowded.

I'm off to Hampton Court on TUesday with the school as the current topic is the Tudors, so I'll give a mini TR on my return. I do know we are not doing the maze because of the weather!

Celestine

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I'm off to Hampton Court on TUesday with the school as the current topic is the Tudors, so I'll give a mini TR on my return. I do know we are not doing the maze because of the weather!

Celestine

I did the Maze and know the trick!!!!!!

Going into the kitchens and watching Demos is good. We saw and tasted the old bread... AmazeING.

 

[jilljill]

I completely agree. One cool thing if you are on the mall, i.e. big road leading to Buckingham palace, look up at the street lights - each one has a ship on it & if you turn to face trafalgar square you will see Admiral Nelson is watching his fleet of ships from high up on his column. If you are not on foot (or possibly horseback) this little detail would be completely missed.

I walk to most places once I've arrived in London - it is generally quicker, cheaper & much more fun.

Celestine

I never knew about the ships on the street lights and we've been in that area many times. Learn something new everyday.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Prices for shore trips are up!!!!!!!




Now wait for all the new threads to come up!!!!!!!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Looking at the prices they are similar to Princess cruises so far and the ones I posted a week or so back.

 

[poohmomof5]

Looking at the prices they are similar to Princess cruises so far and the ones I posted a week or so back.

Thanks for keeping us posted Andrew, I don't have time to look, and I am so excited to do so!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Thanks for keeping us posted Andrew, I don't have time to look, and I am so excited to do so!

Ring the Bank manager and credit card company first to check you have lots of credit for these, actually they are in the ball park of Princess and nearly the same as I posted last weekend.

 

[poohmomof5]

Ring the Bank manager and credit card company first to check you have lots of credit for these, actually they are in the ball park of Princess and nearly the same as I posted last weekend.

With our large family, we may go broke, but it will be worth it!!!