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

[SettinSail]

We ended up having to get an additional hidden neck wallet thing as trying to put all 3 passports in DH's waist belt looked a bit, ummm, awkward......

 

[2BugsMom]

"packing light seminar" rofl!
Today is the day I attempt to shove it all in the bags! wish me luck, like someone else said,I keep adding things!

""tickets to tower"-My daughter and I visited Pisa/Florence last month. We did not pre book any tickets but did arrive early at each site and we're able to buy for that day. For Pisa we arrived by 8:30am and bought for the 9 am climb. It's worth a try, you may luck out.

"waiting your turn" at Pisa- probably refers the time slots they assign everyone. Unlike the Duomo in Florence, where the ticket is for any time, Pisa blocks out so many visitors per half hour (10 min up, 10 min to look, 10 min down, I believe is the reasoning) It sounds rushed, but it takes less then 10 min to climb up and down, so you will have plenty of time to admire the view.

 

[K8T]

"packing light seminar" rofl!
Today is the day I attempt to shove it all in the bags! wish me luck, like someone else said,I keep adding things!

""tickets to tower"-My daughter and I visited Pisa/Florence last month. We did not pre book any tickets but did arrive early at each site and we're able to buy for that day. For Pisa we arrived by 8:30am and bought for the 9 am climb. It's worth a try, you may luck out.

"waiting your turn" at Pisa- probably refers the time slots they assign everyone. Unlike the Duomo in Florence, where the ticket is for any time, Pisa blocks out so many visitors per half hour (10 min up, 10 min to look, 10 min down, I believe is the reasoning) It sounds rushed, but it takes less then 10 min to climb up and down, so you will have plenty of time to admire the view.

We have queued in the past without tickets, so I wouldn't worry too much. It is a bit of a pain and could take an hour, but you could take it in turns and the others go off and have a look.

We were hoping to do this with our daughter, but children under 8 aren't allowed Still I think we shall go and have a look, it is fun to see and the area around it is large and grassy for a run around, the Pizza in Pisa was the best we have ever had!

Personally I love Florence, but don't think she would appreciate it just yet.

Well I have dd's bag packed, just came on the computer to print off my cruise info. and the last magnets.

Back to work!

 

[2BugsMom]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Adsmama View Post
We would like to as well- two adults, one infant (no stroller for the pompeii though!). The plan right now is the SITA bus and then finding a tour guide there, but if someone has something, please let us know.
We wouldn't mind at all splitting a tour with you. We'll talk at the meet and greet. The more the merrier!

We are interested in Herculaneum (I have read it is better preserved then Pompeii). Would love to split a tour with someone...(family of 4. kids are 7 and 2)

 

[2BugsMom]

Kate, you are correct,CHilldren under 8 are not allowed to climb the tower....My DD is 7, was with me at the counter when we bought tickets and we were able to go up. (She is tall, but no one ever asked for "official" i.d.)

How old is you dd? Maybe she can slip by?

 

[mindelmouse]

So I'm so far behind it's not funny. Haven't finished laundry yet, and haven't put a thing in a suitcase or taken it out of a closet. My cancel the swimming part of our outting today, need the time to pack. I haven't been able to sleep past 6:30 am any day this weekend, not sure why that is. So now I'm hoping the kids sleep in so that I can print out all our paperwork.

I think we may reveal the surprise at the airport tomorrow night. We are going on a tour the next morning with other disbdrs and I'm afraid they'll either figure it out or someone will slip. I know I have many times, so when others do, it will put things more in perspective. This way we can tell them.
We'll see.

I'm so tired, maybe that will bode well for sleeping on the plane (yeh right). Lori should be in Paris now, Mike is in Barcelona already. Tomorrow, Kim will also be in Barcelona. Yikes...I can't believe it's here...it's so surreal.

 

[Vicky29]

Ok, packing finished Though I stupidly left printing the magnets until today and the printer won't take the paper for some crazy reason so it looks like we'll be magnetless.

Safe travels everyone who's setting off today

 

[SettinSail]

"packing light seminar" rofl!
Today is the day I attempt to shove it all in the bags! wish me luck, like someone else said,I keep adding things!

""tickets to tower"-My daughter and I visited Pisa/Florence last month. We did not pre book any tickets but did arrive early at each site and we're able to buy for that day. For Pisa we arrived by 8:30am and bought for the 9 am climb. It's worth a try, you may luck out.

"waiting your turn" at Pisa- probably refers the time slots they assign everyone. Unlike the Duomo in Florence, where the ticket is for any time, Pisa blocks out so many visitors per half hour (10 min up, 10 min to look, 10 min down, I believe is the reasoning) It sounds rushed, but it takes less then 10 min to climb up and down, so you will have plenty of time to admire the view.

Yea, I read that Pisa tickets are a timed entry....my confusion is that our driver says he has advance tickets for us - when I ask him what time they are for he just tells me we have to "respect our turn"
I am just going to go with the flow and see what happens

Rethinking my first 2 days of clothes since it appears that Barcelona will not be near as hot as I thought it would be, Monday high 75, Tuesday high 78.

Also, I had planned to wear "athletic" type clothing on the day we hike Vesuvius/tour Pompeii......such as gym shorts, tank top that is wicking, socks and tennis shoes....does that sound appropriate or will most people still be wearing "touring" type clothes, dress shorts/capris ?

Shawn

 

[SettinSail]

Ok, packing finished Though I stupidly left printing the magnets until today and the printer won't take the paper for some crazy reason so it looks like we'll be magnetless.

Safe travels everyone who's setting off today

Darn, maybe it will work for you later? We are your next door neighbors and we don't have any magnets either....I requested some personalized ones back in May but the guy didn't get to them....no biggie !

See you soon!
Shawn

 

[mindelmouse]

Darn, maybe it will work for you later? We are your next door neighbors and we don't have any magnets either....I requested some personalized ones back in May but the guy didn't get to them....no biggie !

See you soon!
Shawn

I have some generic ones that you can put on your door (like the sorcerers hat and ears to put over the numbers) - if you PM your email address I can send them to you.

 

[mindelmouse]

Ok, packing finished Though I stupidly left printing the magnets until today and the printer won't take the paper for some crazy reason so it looks like we'll be magnetless.

Safe travels everyone who's setting off today

Look at your printer, some times there are settings to set it to take thicker paper. or print it on paper and glue it to the magnetic paper.

 

[SettinSail]

So I'm so far behind it's not funny. Haven't finished laundry yet, and haven't put a thing in a suitcase or taken it out of a closet. My cancel the swimming part of our outting today, need the time to pack. I haven't been able to sleep past 6:30 am any day this weekend, not sure why that is. So now I'm hoping the kids sleep in so that I can print out all our paperwork.

I think we may reveal the surprise at the airport tomorrow night. We are going on a tour the next morning with other disbdrs and I'm afraid they'll either figure it out or someone will slip. I know I have many times, so when others do, it will put things more in perspective. This way we can tell them.
We'll see.

I'm so tired, maybe that will bode well for sleeping on the plane (yeh right). Lori should be in Paris now, Mike is in Barcelona already. Tomorrow, Kim will also be in Barcelona. Yikes...I can't believe it's here...it's so surreal.

Yes, it does seem very surreal !!! I can't get off the boards long enough to pack. My guys are finally getting excited
It takes alot to get them excited so its fun for me to come on here and share my excitement with those who understand

I still have not adjusted to European time since we got back here August 11...last night I did a little better and slept from 3 am to 10 am. Night before that it was 5 am to 10 am. Maybe it's just me
Only problem is we will need to be up around 4:15 am tomorrow morning. Hubby is telling me to just stay up all night but I know that's crazy
Will try to go to bed around 9:00 tonight (yea right!!)

Mindy, you still have until 3:00 tomorrow afternoon to pull it all together - you have plenty of time, don't stress

Shawn

PS Son's pants crisis solved but we paid 39 Euros for a pair of "khakis", not exactly what we would call khakis in US. These pants look like they would cost around $10 in US but atleast we have something now

 

[SettinSail]

I have some generic ones that you can put on your door (like the sorcerers hat and ears to put over the numbers) - if you PM your email address I can send them to you.

ooooh, would love that but (can't find the embarassed icon) I didn't buy the magnetic paper in the US since the guy never finished mine

Thanks anyway !!!

Shawn

 

[K8T]

Kate, you are correct,CHilldren under 8 are not allowed to climb the tower....My DD is 7, was with me at the counter when we bought tickets and we were able to go up. (She is tall, but no one ever asked for "official" i.d.)

How old is you dd? Maybe she can slip by?

She is 5, 6 in September (this is her birthday cruise!). I don't think she would pass for 8 though. I had thought about 'winging' it, will see when we get there now.

So I'm so far behind it's not funny. Haven't finished laundry yet, and haven't put a thing in a suitcase or taken it out of a closet. My cancel the swimming part of our outting today, need the time to pack. I haven't been able to sleep past 6:30 am any day this weekend, not sure why that is. So now I'm hoping the kids sleep in so that I can print out all our paperwork.

I think we may reveal the surprise at the airport tomorrow night. We are going on a tour the next morning with other disbdrs and I'm afraid they'll either figure it out or someone will slip. I know I have many times, so when others do, it will put things more in perspective. This way we can tell them.
We'll see.

I'm so tired, maybe that will bode well for sleeping on the plane (yeh right). Lori should be in Paris now, Mike is in Barcelona already. Tomorrow, Kim will also be in Barcelona. Yikes...I can't believe it's here...it's so surreal.

Mindy, you have plenty of time, get of the boards!!!!!!! Seriously, what the hell if something gets left, Barcelona is a great shopping place, there is the most amazing department store 'Cortes les ingles', or something like that, you get get everything you want. It is just at the top of Las Ramblas. I love buying bits and pieces there! (that reminds me, forget to pack dd's whilte shoes! (we bought them there last time!))

Ok, packing finished Though I stupidly left printing the magnets until today and the printer won't take the paper for some crazy reason so it looks like we'll be magnetless.

Safe travels everyone who's setting off today

Vicky, I can print some off, although only have cheap magnetic paper from the £ shop, whih is a bit greyish, I got some white glossy stuff on ebay, but have used it all!!!! However, they will look OK.

What characters does your dd like? What Mickey ears would you like on your door, we have two to change over, but we could swap with you anyway, so you have different ones. I will also do a couple of cruise magnets for you.

You could also print them onto photo paper (if you have that) and then pritt stick them onto the magnetic paper. Works just as well.

Let me know which ones you want.

Kate

 

[2BugsMom]

I am re thinking the wardrobe choices as well......Here is the weather forecast

Tues-Barcelona--79 partly cloudy
wed-Barcelona-81 mostly sunny
thurs..at sea...guessing mid 80's
fri-Malta-88 sunny
Sat-Tunis-96 sunny
Sun-Naples-86 sunny
Mon-Civitavecchia/Rome-88 sunny
Tues-La Spezia/Florence-79 sunny
Wed-Corsica-???low 70's (tues weather 73 sunny)
Thurs-Ville Franche/Monte Carlo- ??low 80's (tues 82 sunny)
Fri-at sea-
Sat- Barcelona-??? (my guess anywhere between 75-85)

Looks like sunny weather

Maybe I should leave the raincoats at home and just pack an umbrella???

 

[mindelmouse]

Mindy, you have plenty of time, get of the boards!!!!!!! Seriously, what the hell if something gets left, Barcelona is a great shopping place, there is the most amazing department store 'Cortes les ingles', or something like that, you get get everything you want. It is just at the top of Las Ramblas. I love buying bits and pieces there! (that reminds me, forget to pack dd's whilte shoes! (we bought them there last time!))

I'm only on the boards because I'm printing out all my paperwork that I need. Everyone in my house except me is still asleep. I can't do laundry or it will wake the kids, and the only time I can print out paperwork is when the kids are asleep. I can't pack because I have no where to put the suitcases because DH is in the bed sleeping...so I'm here as a lurker while I do other stuff...LOL

It's good to know about the store though...thanks

 

[mindelmouse]

I am re thinking the wardrobe choices as well......Here is the weather forecast

Tues-Barcelona--79 partly cloudy
wed-Barcelona-81 mostly sunny
thurs..at sea...guessing mid 80's
fri-Malta-88 sunny
Sat-Tunis-96 sunny
Sun-Naples-86 sunny
Mon-Civitavecchia/Rome-88 sunny
Tues-La Spezia/Florence-79 sunny
Wed-Corsica-???low 70's (tues weather 73 sunny)
Thurs-Ville Franche/Monte Carlo- ??low 80's (tues 82 sunny)
Fri-at sea-
Sat- Barcelona-??? (my guess anywhere between 75-85)

Looks like sunny weather

Maybe I should leave the raincoats at home and just pack an umbrella???

Weather looks fantastic...don't want it to be too hot while touring...I love it.

 

[2BugsMom]

She is 5, 6 in September (this is her birthday cruise!). I don't think she would pass for 8 though. I had thought about 'winging' it, will see when we get there now.

Good plan

If you have enough paper for one or two more magnet, we would be grateful

Beggers can't be choosers....we love all things Disney!

 

[2BugsMom]

@ Mindel- stole your signature idea
thanks!

 

[2BugsMom]

SO is anyone else packing light raincoats...Should I skip them???