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

[Goofy559]

Bank of America wants to charge me over 1.38 for traveler's checks or currency.

Now, that is weird! Here in Canada, where there our dollar is worth about .95US, I can buy Euros (either TC or cash) for 1.3745....and they are really easy to find. For 2 countries that are so similar in so many ways, it truly is remarkable how different our banking systems are!!!

 

[jel0511]

We're getting our travelers checks through Amex. We have a gold card with them and they'll issue them with no fees to gold card members. I'll have to get on DH to get down to the Amex office to pick them and some euros up. We also have EVERY card and we're bringing all of them! I told DH what if one gets shut off for some reason, even though we've called. It's happened to us before an we've had to resort to another card, this way we're protected in that case or if we get stuck from the strike I have tons of plastic to fund us until we can get home.

 

[MinnieDiva]

Geez, I missed my window of opportunity on buying cheap euro's they seem to be up again. It's a little over 1.31 right now. Bank of America wants to charge me over 1.38 for traveler's checks or currency. DH is going to find out what it costs at his place in NYC...we may have to go with all cash.

That's where my dad ordered them for me and that's what I paid...

We're getting our travelers checks through Amex. We have a gold card with them and they'll issue them with no fees to gold card members. I'll have to get on DH to get down to the Amex office to pick them and some euros up. We also have EVERY card and we're bringing all of them! I told DH what if one gets shut off for some reason, even though we've called. It's happened to us before an we've had to resort to another card, this way we're protected in that case or if we get stuck from the strike I have tons of plastic to fund us until we can get home.

Oh to have an amex office near here....i live in such a podunck little area...
BofA wouldn't talk to me even though my amex is thru them....

 

[Vicky29]

Not much accomplished here for the cruise today, trying to finish a big work project before we leave next Monday, so just got back about 20 minutes ago (10p.m. our time). Though mum and I (we work together) did manage to plan what we're going to do for Elizabeth's birthday whilst we're on the ship - so I guess we did do something afterall Too shattered now to think about ironing, going to get some sleep and tackle it tomorrow. Hope you all have a nice remainder of your day

 

[jel0511]

Oh to have an amex office near here....i live in such a podunck little area...
BofA wouldn't talk to me even though my amex is thru them....

I'm not suprised they wouldn't talk to you, these services are only for their banking customers, which we are one. We're getting everything through Amex since DH can walk past one to/from the bus and they're giving us a better rate than through BofA.

 

[mindelmouse]

We're getting our travelers checks through Amex. We have a gold card with them and they'll issue them with no fees to gold card members. I'll have to get on DH to get down to the Amex office to pick them and some euros up. We also have EVERY card and we're bringing all of them! I told DH what if one gets shut off for some reason, even though we've called. It's happened to us before an we've had to resort to another card, this way we're protected in that case or if we get stuck from the strike I have tons of plastic to fund us until we can get home.

We have a gold card and when DH went through the website to get the travelers checks they forwarded it to Bank of America. It had no information about going to their office to get them.

 

[K8T]

Mike, is your Gladiator school a Disney one, or separate. I would be grateful if you could let me know. Not sure she would sit through 45 mins about Rome, but would love the Gladiator bit.

Kate,
Sorry I'm only responding now. It's separate from Disney. Here's the link...

http://www.viator.com/tours/Rome/Ro...Learn-How-to-Become-a-Gladiator/d511-2466GLAD

We're doing the 1:00pm. Your more than welcome to join us. I'm thinkin we"ll take the train to Rome... Which leads me to the question: Does anyone know how far (or accesible) the train station is from the ship in Civitavecchia?

Mike[/QUOTE]

Thanks for this, I had a look and it looks fun, I did wonder if she may be a bit too young and then saw that the minimum age is 6 anyway and she isn't 6 until mid September!!!

To answer your question, the station is a short 5 min walk away from where the shuttle bus drops off (all other cruises we have been on have had a shuttle bus!). The trains are very regular, but there is a fast one and a slow one, so try and get the fast. If you get of at the Central Terminus, you could walk to the Colleseum, or get the Metro (very easy to use) which comes out immediately opposite the Colleseum.

We will also be getting the train, it takes just over an hour.

 

[jel0511]

We have a gold card and when DH went through the website to get the travelers checks they forwarded it to Bank of America. It had no information about going to their office to get them.

We didn't go through the website, Darren just walked to the office and asked.

 

[MacG]

Not sure if it helps, but Amex Travel offices near most big cities will only charge 1% for Amex members for foreign currency transactions.

We picked up our Euros last week, after the small rise in USD vs EUR.

Geez, I missed my window of opportunity on buying cheap euro's they seem to be up again. It's a little over 1.31 right now. Bank of America wants to charge me over 1.38 for traveler's checks or currency. DH is going to find out what it costs at his place in NYC...we may have to go with all cash.

 

[pixie08]

We ordered our Euro through BOA last month. We ordered quite a bit since we will be traveling Paris before. The published rate then was like 1.2 and we paid 1.3 ish so it was not so bad. plus no shipping.

 

[mindelmouse]

We ordered our Euro through BOA last month. We ordered quite a bit since we will be traveling Paris before. The published rate then was like 1.2 and we paid 1.3 ish so it was not so bad. plus no shipping.

No shipping? They told me that over 1,000 USD in Euros' had to be picked up from a banking center and then they charged me over $22 to send it to said banking center....all in all it still came in cheaper than the other places we checked out and according to my treasury folks at work, the Euro was only expected to go up.

 

[crzy4dals]

Need to purchase the Vatican tickets and Colosseum...
Which sites did you all use?

 

[ejw]

Need to purchase the Vatican tickets and Colosseum...
Which sites did you all use?

here is the site for vatican tickets:

http://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/do

ellen

 

[jel0511]

week 7 of c25k in the books!!! 28 min next week!!! Mapped out my Paris run this morning.... Heading up the Champs Elysee towards the Arc de Triumph, making a left on George V(at the Louis Vuitton store site of my later shopping adventure) past the Four Seasons (Ooh la la) over the Pont de L'alma to the Quay Branly to the Eiffel Tower!!! Turn around and head back to the hotel. Google maps has it at a bit over 2k each way, so that should be long enough for me with extra sightseeing time to spare!!!!!!!!

 

[mindelmouse]

week 7 of c25k in the books!!! 28 min next week!!! Mapped out my Paris run this morning.... Heading up the Champs Elysee towards the Arc de Triumph, making a left on George V(at the Louis Vuitton store site of my later shopping adventure) past the Four Seasons (Ooh la la) over the Pont de L'alma to the Quay Branly to the Eiffel Tower!!! Turn around and head back to the hotel. Google maps has it at a bit over 2k each way, so that should be long enough for me with extra sightseeing time to spare!!!!!!!!

Great Job

 

[SettinSail]

week 7 of c25k in the books!!! 28 min next week!!! Mapped out my Paris run this morning.... Heading up the Champs Elysee towards the Arc de Triumph, making a left on George V(at the Louis Vuitton store site of my later shopping adventure) past the Four Seasons (Ooh la la) over the Pont de L'alma to the Quay Branly to the Eiffel Tower!!! Turn around and head back to the hotel. Google maps has it at a bit over 2k each way, so that should be long enough for me with extra sightseeing time to spare!!!!!!!!

What a beautiful route that will be

I did W6D1 today and it was TOUGH (for me)

Found lots of personal misters/fans at walmart yesterday, decided to just get one for all 3 of us to use.

The website to order Coliseum tix is www.ticketclic.it

Have a great weekend everyone

Shawn

 

[SuperStar94]

...ten pages later and I discover that airlines are striking. Phew, I'm glad we decided to fly in on the 17th. We could always make the 30 hour drive from England to Barcelona like others. 15 hours was the most I have been in a car for - 1am to 5pm for a school trip to Germany

In brighter news I had my hair done tuesday in preparation for the cruise and finished clothes shopping a few days ago too! Just need the magnets printing out and to pack my clothes and we'll be all set to leave. Can't believe how close it is now!

week 7 of c25k in the books!!! 28 min next week!!! Mapped out my Paris run this morning.... Heading up the Champs Elysee towards the Arc de Triumph, making a left on George V(at the Louis Vuitton store site of my later shopping adventure) past the Four Seasons (Ooh la la) over the Pont de L'alma to the Quay Branly to the Eiffel Tower!!! Turn around and head back to the hotel. Google maps has it at a bit over 2k each way, so that should be long enough for me with extra sightseeing time to spare!!!!!!!!

Wish I could join you! I would love to spend a few days in Paris before the cruise - it is one of my favourite cities in the world

 

[K8T]

week 7 of c25k in the books!!! 28 min next week!!! Mapped out my Paris run this morning.... Heading up the Champs Elysee towards the Arc de Triumph, making a left on George V(at the Louis Vuitton store site of my later shopping adventure) past the Four Seasons (Ooh la la) over the Pont de L'alma to the Quay Branly to the Eiffel Tower!!! Turn around and head back to the hotel. Google maps has it at a bit over 2k each way, so that should be long enough for me with extra sightseeing time to spare!!!!!!!!

Woohooo. What an amazing start to your Week 8 - Historic!!!!

You may just be so wowed by what you are seeing, you forget the pain and just keep going! and what a place to do it.

I have last day of Wk7 tomorrow, I am at my mums, so haven't a clue where I am going to run, it will mean more on roads than I am used to, she also lives in the Cotswolds (that means hills!!!!!), but no getting away from them, but I feel a bit out of my comfort zone with my usual running place.

Week 8 starts Monday - 30 mins running - I figure I am doing 36 at the moment, albeit with a break in each 12, how much harder can it be?!!!!!!!

Best of luck with it, you should be so proud of yourself

 

[jel0511]

Woohooo. What an amazing start to your Week 8 - Historic!!!!

You may just be so wowed by what you are seeing, you forget the pain and just keep going! and what a place to do it.

I have last day of Wk7 tomorrow, I am at my mums, so haven't a clue where I am going to run, it will mean more on roads than I am used to, she also lives in the Cotswolds (that means hills!!!!!), but no getting away from them, but I feel a bit out of my comfort zone with my usual running place.

Week 8 starts Monday - 30 mins running - I figure I am doing 36 at the moment, albeit with a break in each 12, how much harder can it be?!!!!!!!

Best of luck with it, you should be so proud of yourself

Actually Kate, it will be week 9. I start week 8 on Monday... 28 min nonstop running.... move up to 30 in week 9!!!!

 

[pixie08]

No shipping? They told me that over 1,000 USD in Euros' had to be picked up from a banking center and then they charged me over $22 to send it to said banking center....all in all it still came in cheaper than the other places we checked out and according to my treasury folks at work, the Euro was only expected to go up.

What? I would call and ask them to refund you. We got way over $1,000 euro.


In exactly one week I will be getting ready to go to the airport to fly to paris!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!