August 18, 2010...Can't wait for the MAGICal Mediterranean!!!

[jstin]

Wow, that is great. We've been in Stuttgart for one year and I find it VERY challenging to live in Germany. Of course, we do not have some of the 'perks' that military families do. (and we don't have some of the hardships they do either so not comparing)

We have 2 more years to go with my husband's assignment and I hope it will get better. I may just be too old to start over in a new location

How are you guys getting to Barcelona? We fly German Wings from Stuttgart to Barcelona on Aug 16th.

Shawn

We are actually flying on the 18th which is a little ... Is your husband a contractor? My husband just finished up a really difficult positions, we are really ready to go on a vaction and spend some much needed time as a family. We have been very blessed to have some great neighbors (German) that have made living in a strange country so easy. We do most everything off the base and have tried to embrace the culture.

 

[SettinSail]

We are actually flying on the 18th which is a little ... Is your husband a contractor? My husband just finished up a really difficult positions, we are really ready to go on a vaction and spend some much needed time as a family. We have been very blessed to have some great neighbors (German) that have made living in a strange country so easy. We do most everything off the base and have tried to embrace the culture.

Good luck with your flight - think positive

No, he's not a contractor either, he just got a request to transfer to the parent company for a few years.

We have made new friends but they are all Americans
Sounds like you guys have adjusted well. I hear the first year is the worst

Shawn

 

[mindelmouse]

ok thanks everyone for the input....I decided to send him...just got back from paying for it...I hope this is a good decision.

 

[jel0511]

Sam is going to have a blast Mindy, don't worry!!!!!!

 

[SettinSail]

ok thanks everyone for the input....I decided to send him...just got back from paying for it...I hope this is a good decision.

He will be fine and have a great time

Shawn

 

[soxfan1495]

We are flying on the 17th from London to Barcelona on British Airways. According to an article I just read on line, things could get difficult starting on the 18th... the article states that the strike in Spain "is expected to start on August 18." I wonder if it will affect flights leaving on the 17th.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/t...-air-traffic-controllers-threaten-strike.html

 

[jel0511]

Thanks for the info.... Let's all hope, that they don't strike until August 18th!!!!!

 

[pixie08]

Dan said tomorrow is the official date for the release of the strike dates. the meeting and vote for the strike was today and it passed...so strike they will. Fingers crossed the strike is the 18th or later. I feel really bad for any families who are planning to arrive for the cruise that day. I have a feeling our boat is going to be delayed for embarkation.

kate- yeah I think that's what we will do. Check Tues morning (very early) the status, and if the flights are crazy we will head to Gare de Lyon and try to get a day train to Barcelona.If not we try for the ellipsos. We have pre paid the hotel in Barcelona but it was so cheap (like $125) so if we lose that I am fine...as long as we get to Barcelona by 4:00pm on Weds!

 

[jel0511]

Mary, that's our plan as well.... though I think we'll just try for the Ellipsos first. When the french air traffic controllers went on strike, our flight the 5:50 took off, so hopefully some flights will still make it out and the train will be a last minute resort. Our other plan is for Darren to get his international drivers license so if the trains are sold out, we can rent a car and drive to Barcelona.

 

[crzy4dals]

Dan said tomorrow is the official date for the release of the strike dates. the meeting and vote for the strike was today and it passed...so strike they will. Fingers crossed the strike is the 18th or later. I feel really bad for any families who are planning to arrive for the cruise that day. I have a feeling our boat is going to be delayed for embarkation.

kate- yeah I think that's what we will do. Check Tues morning (very early) the status, and if the flights are crazy we will head to Gare de Lyon and try to get a day train to Barcelona.If not we try for the ellipsos. We have pre paid the hotel in Barcelona but it was so cheap (like $125) so if we lose that I am fine...as long as we get to Barcelona by 4:00pm on Weds!

We are flying out the 16th - through Paris and Paris to Barcelona on the 17th.. WOW this is one stress NONE of us need at this point!

Thanks to those that offered to help on the last part of the journals... I think I will be ok.... I will be printing these this weekend!!! I am doing a scavenger hunt for the last sea day - I have the hunt info - just need to find the answer sheet I had - or seek out assistance from my former cruise mates who put it together in '08. - We did this as a photo scavenger hunt event - we were a very large group that cruise so there were a lot of people running around the ship trying to win! I am sure by our final sea day we will all be POOPED out and want to be hanging on to a deck chair with our feet up!
pixie dust no strike

 

[mindelmouse]

Wow....between the hotel and the strike.....this seems like everything is happening...my saving grace is that I'm going from Newark to Barcelona on the 16th. Those coming in from Paris on the 17th, if there's anything we can do once we get to Barcelona, you can email me.

 

[ejw]

we are one of the families flying out of jfk on the 17th arrive in BCN at 8am on the 18th. if the strike starts at midnite on the 18th we are in serious trouble. i'm going to call delta

ellen

 

[ejw]

looks like this is the latest on the strike:

Spanish air traffic controllers to strikeExpected mid-August walkout would hit an estimated 2 million passengers during height of Spain's summer tourism season
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 3 August 2010 18.06 BST

Hundreds of thousands of British tourists face holiday chaos this summer after Spain's air traffic controllers tonight voted to strike.

The walkout is expected to begin on Wednesday 18 August, a spokesman for the air traffic controllers said this afternoon, and will continue for up to three days.

A final decision on exactly when the strike will start, and how long it will last, will be taken over the coming days, Spanish media reported.

It will be the first time air traffic controllers in Europe's most popular tourist destination have gone on strike, and the fallout looks set to be severe.

A three-day strike would affect 2 million airline passengers during the peak week for summer tourism in Spain. An estimated 300,000 people flying to or from Britain are at risk of disruption.

Controllers and the Spanish government blamed each other for putting the country's already ailing economy at risk by delivering a damaging blow to tourism, which accounts for 11% of GDP.


on the bright side, this might help bring down the price of the euro.....

ellen

 

[Adsmama]

oh my gosh! I am glad my TA told me to fly in on the 17th and not the 18th!!! I really hope they hold out that long and no one is affected by this!!! I wonder if trip insurance would cover this?

 

[pirateluv]

we are one of the families flying out of jfk on the 17th arrive in BCN at 8am on the 18th. if the strike starts at midnite on the 18th we are in serious trouble. i'm going to call delta

ellen

Hi Ellen, we're in the same boat! We are flying out of Toronto on the
17th to arive in BCN at 8am on the 18th. I guess I should call Air Canada.
-Joan

 

[jel0511]

I feel for those of you arriving on the 18th, as from everything I've read the 18th is the day. I've also read the the strike right now is speculative. The British Travel Agents Association, think it MAY NOT happen. Last year around the same time, they authorized a strike and it NEVER happened. Also, if this is any consolation, when the french air traffic controllers went on strike at the end of July, 100% of international flights landed, whether they were on time or not, I do not know, but with 8AM arrivals, you have a bit of leeway there. Also, some consolation, I'm sure people who booked their air through DCL are also in the same boat and if they're delayed, they might hold the ship a few hours. I don't believe we leave until 9PM, so that does give you plenty of leeway.

 

[jstin]

So I checked on changing flights but dh believes the cost is too much. We will keep our fingers crossed and if worse comes to worse it's an 11hour drive. Yikes.

 

[SettinSail]

Just think of all the cruisers who get off the Magic on Aug 18th if there is a strike...what a mess that will be trying to fly OUT of Barcelona for them!
Keeping fingers crossed that we all make it there w/o too much hassle...

On a happier note, I made it through my 20 minute run this morning, it was not easy and the sweat was flying but it is done now

Shawn

 

[K8T]

So I checked on changing flights but dh believes the cost is too much. We will keep our fingers crossed and if worse comes to worse it's an 11hour drive. Yikes.

Just a bit shorter than ours (30hrs)!!

Everyone by now should have the FE List who wants one.

Smores and Goofy559 if you want a copy of the FE, with deck plans, PM me with your email address.

Shawn, well done on the run, 20 mins in one go is a huge achievement. I didn't run this morning, it was throwing down rain, I have run in the rain before, no problem, but this was like drenching in a few seconds. I waited half an hour, but it didn't stop, so will try and do my WK7D2 tonight, I usually run in the morning, so it will be intresting to see if I can do it at the end of the day too!!

Anyone prebook tickets to the Colleseum? I am going to do mine tonight, I believe it means you can go at any time during the day and jump the queues. When we went last year, although we saw the outside (again!!!), we didn't go in as the queues were huge! DD is a bit older now to understsand the Gladiators - especially about them fighting the lions!, so it is one of our few 'must sees'.

Off to the Drs. now, hopefully DD will have the cast off. Wish us luck!

Kate

 

[jstin]

double post