It's A Small World - A Never-ending Pre-trip Report

[jedijill]

I hope you both feel better soon! No fun being sick on vacation. Your plans look lovely. You will love Pompeii! It's a really special place. I would love to visit Athens. I spent time in northern Greece but never got the chance to go to Athens.

Have a wonderful trip!

Jill in CO

 

[dolphingirl47]

Sorry to hear you are both unwell.

Thanks. We are both feeling much brighter today. I spent a significant chunk of the day at the Trafford Centre with no ill effects.

This British climate!

You can say that again.

Your Paris plans to rest might be an idea save your energy for the rest of the trip.

I hope so.

The dress is delightful. I like the colours the way the shade red gets stronger as it stripes down the skirt portion of the gown.

That is what originally attracted me to this dress, but I am just not at all sure about the style.

Your journeys are always so exciting and I really enjoy reading your TR's.

Thanks, I am glad that you are enjoying them.

I was there in 1997 , rode horseback through the "pass" and was in awe of the magnificent scenery.

I will rely on my own two feet.

Those nails are very pretty!!

Thanks.

I love the little bit of glitter!

There is actually three different kinds of glitter on them. I like my pixie dust.

We loved the Plaka area and had no idea that it existed and were surprised how nice it turned out.

I am glad that you liked it. It kind of reminds me a little of the old town in Cartagena.

And the Acropolis is certainly a sight that is worthy of a visit!! The most amazing thing about it was that it was actually mainly destroyed in the late 19th century by some well meaning people who tried to clean it up and ended up damaging the stone so that it all fell apart! Our guide showed us photographs from before the cleaning started.

That is really interesting. Thanks for sharing.

Sorry that you are both feeling unwell, but hopefully you are both on the mend and ready to start into your adventure!

We are both starting to feel better.

Have a marvelous trip - I am already looking forward to the trip report!!

Thanks.

I hope you both feel better soon!

Thanks.

No fun being sick on vacation.

Definitely not.

You will love Pompeii! It's a really special place.

I am really looking forward to this.

I would love to visit Athens. I spent time in northern Greece but never got the chance to go to Athens.

I have never been to Greece.

Have a wonderful trip!

Thanks.

Corinna

 

[dolphingirl47]

Petra


Well, they do say that you should safe the best for last. This is true in terms of this pre-trip report as well as for the trip itself. Petra has been a major bucket list destination for me as long as I can remember. Funnily enough, Graham and I never really discussed this, probably because we both felt that this was out of reach. As soon as I came back from our December trip, I was taunted as there was a massive poster promoting Petra right above the entrance to the platforms where I usually get my train to work from. Still, I did not consider that I would actually get there and much less so soon.


Here is the description from our tour operator, which captures what to expect very well:


Walk in the footsteps of Indiana Jones and discover this amazing city that was lost to the world for over 1000 years. Jordan’s biggest national treasure, Petra is one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites with 2000 years of history and 800 monuments still standing. Some archaeologists call it the 8th Wonder of the Ancient World – and it’s not surprising. Put simply, this place is out of this world. Pick a path through steep rocky slopes and craggy mountain tops, admiring the temples, tombs, theatres and stairways that have been carved into the rock. First off, you’ll walk to the entrance of the Old City of As-Siq. As you wander down to Al-Khazneh, also known as the Treasury, you might get a sense of déjà-vu – this place landed a starring role in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Your adventure carries on past the Street of Facades and Roman Theatre to the spectacular Royal Tombs, carved into the face of Jebel Khubtha. From here, you’ll head down the Colonnaded Street to many other temples and monuments including the High Place of Sacrifice Qasr al-Bint.


I think it is best to let some photos speak for themselves:







Corinna

 

[dolphingirl47]

Well, I am 95% packed. I just need to add the last odds and ends in the morning and then I am ready to go. See you all at the other end.

Corinna

 

[jedijill]

Ok, I am insanely jealous of your trip now that I know you are visiting Petra! Count me in as a huge Indiana Jones fan and I just watched the movies this past weekend.

Bon Voyage!

Jill in CO

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Petra looks great Corinna! What can be better than all that ancient history and Indie! My parents were lucky enough to go. They said it was well worth the visit. Again you will love the heat! Another oven! Folks can fry eggs on rocks..too cool ( or hot ) .

 

[Pinkocto]

Safe travels and have a wonderful trip!!!

Petra looks amazing, it has been on my bucket list ever since seeing Indiana Jones for the first time.

I love the earrings.

 

[franandaj]

Lovely dresses and your nails look great. I'm glad you are both feeling better.

It sounds like you have a great start to your vacation! Can't wait to hear about it!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Have a fabulous trip.

The Plaka is great, incredibly touristy - but a good place for a wander; and I can't wait to see Petra!!!

 

[Flossbolna]

Hi Corinna! I was thinking that it should be time for you to return from your travels. I hope you had an amazing time and welcome back!

 

[franandaj]

Welcome Back! I saw your plans in the KVC Club room! How exciting!

 

[dolphingirl47]

I have been back for nearly a week and I am almost caught up.

Ok, I am insanely jealous of your trip now that I know you are visiting Petra!

Petra was amazing.

Bon Voyage!

Thanks.

Petra looks great Corinna!

It was even better in person.

Again you will love the heat! Another oven!

Actually in terms of ovens, we must have travelled at the wrong time. None of the sights really delivered in this regard. We had pleasant and very mild weather for both Pompeii and the Acropolis and although Petra was plenty warm enough for me, they had a cold front coming through a couple of days earlier and for the most part the temperatures where in the low to mid twenties and peaked at 27 degrees (81 degrees) in the afternoon as we were leaving.

Safe travels and have a wonderful trip!!!

Thanks.

Petra looks amazing, it has been on my bucket list ever since seeing Indiana Jones for the first time.

Petra was mindblowing.

I love the earrings.

Thanks. i never ended up wearing them.

Lovely dresses and your nails look great.

Thanks.

I'm glad you are both feeling better.

Thanks. I only felt completely back to normal once we reached Barcelona and then I picked up another cold starting on the Suez Canal crossing. Fortunately neither spoiled he trip.

It sounds like you have a great start to your vacation!

We did.

Can't wait to hear about it!

Hopefully I will get this trip report started on Sunday.

Have a fabulous trip.

Thanks, we did.

The Plaka is great, incredibly touristy - but a good place for a wander;

This did not quite go according to plan. We only ended up at the very fringes, but we still had a good day.

and I can't wait to see Petra!!!

This was definitely a huge highlight.

Hi Corinna! I was thinking that it should be time for you to return from your travels. I hope you had an amazing time and welcome back!

We had an absolutely amazing time. Thanks for the welcome back.

Welcome Back! I saw your plans in the KVC Club room! How exciting!

Thanks. Yes, I am really excited about this although this has a knock on effect to our other plan. I will try to post an update on here in the next couple of days.

Corinna

 

[dolphingirl47]

Before I post an update, I wanted to post the link for the latest trip report. So far I have posted the prologue, which gives some of the background to this trip as well as a preview of the highlights. I will post day 1 on Thursday.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/so...-new-nothing-borrowed-something-blue.3516702/

Corinna

 

[dolphingirl47]

I am pretty much caught up and the last thing to do is catching up with the cruise meet thread for my next cruise so I figure I have time to update this pre-trip report. Things have taken quite a turn. Some of you already know about this, but for those who are not on Facebook, here is the news:

First of all, our Far East trip that we had planned for this November has been postponed for now, but the reason for this decision will be well worth it.

While we were on our absolutely amazing cruise, we got up to mischief. We booked what I believe will be our most amazing cruise yet. Some of you know that in 2010 the idea was born that we would go round the world on cruise ships in stages. With our recent cruise, we have now covered the distance from Hawaii to Dubai going in a eastbound direction.

The next cruise will be one of three legs that we still need to fullfill this goal. We will go on a 24 night cruise from Sydney to Seattle next spring on the Explorer of the Seas taking in the ports of Isle of Pines and Noumea in New Caldonia; Mystery Island, Vanatu; an overnight stop in Suva, Fiji; Kona, Big Island; Lahaina, Maui and Honolulu Oahu. Seeing some of the South Pacific islands has been a dream for a long time, but it was not really a dream that I ever expected to come true. So I am really excited. I am also glad to get to go to Hawaii again. I am hoping to spend the day that we are in Honolulu at Aulani. For Maui and Kona we will see what we can get up to nearer the time.

This has left a void for this autumn. We are looking at doing a Transatlantic as there are usually good deals around for those. My preference would be the Transatlantic on the Independence of the Sea, which goes from Southampton to Fort Lauderdale and stops at St. Maarten, St. Kitts, St. Thomas, St. Juan and Labadee. However, at the moment there are better deals to be had for the alternative, which is on the Navigator of the Seas from Southampton to Miami and stops at Boston, New York (overnight) and Port Canaveral. The advantage of this is that the Navigator is the sister ship of the Explorer so we have time to get used to this class of ship. In both scenarios we would spend a couple of nights in Orlando at the end of the trip and I should be able to go to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party while I am there. So it is all change at the moment, but I am rather pleased with this.

Corinna

 

[PrincessInOz]

What a great turn of events! Sounds like an awesome FE trip, jam-packed with so many highlights. And then it let you put in that autumn cruise as well. I'm so envious.

 

[Pinkocto]

Wow! Your new plans sound beyond amazing and very exciting!!! Are they booked or are you waiting for the special rates?

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Congrats on your new plans and what new plans they are too! Wow around the world including all those amazing destinations and a TA cruise that goes from Southampton. Win win! Will you have a stay in Florida at the end or fly direct back?

 

[dolphingirl47]

What a great turn of events! Sounds like an awesome FE trip, jam-packed with so many highlights.

I did not see that coming at all and I am very excited about this.

And then it let you put in that autumn cruise as well. I'm so envious.

I still have about 3.5 weeks leave in autumn and I am not very good at staying at home. There are usually deals to be had on Transatlantic cruise so that is how this idea was born.

Wow! Your new plans sound beyond amazing and very exciting!!!

I am very pleased with them.

Are they booked or are you waiting for the special rates?

For the Sydney to Seattle cruise we are all booked. This is such a special cruise that I fully expect that it will sell out. At the moment we have the whole package booked through Royal Caribbean (flights, transfer, pre-cruise hotel, pre-paid gratuities and a drinks package that includes soda, wine and beer). I will shop around for flights nearer the time, but considering that this is setting sail the week after Easter, it is school holidays in the UK and we would need two one-way flights, I am not sure I can do better especially if you take into account that they add the hotel and transfers.

For the Transatlantic, I will wait for special rates.

Will you have a stay in Florida at the end or fly direct back?

We will definitely stay in Florida for at least a couple of days.

Wow around the world including all those amazing destinations and a TA cruise that goes from Southampton. Win win!

I think so.

Corinna

 

[Pinkocto]

For the Sydney to Seattle cruise we are all booked. This is such a special cruise that I fully expect that it will sell out. At the moment we have the whole package booked through Royal Caribbean (flights, transfer, pre-cruise hotel, pre-paid gratuities and a drinks package that includes soda, wine and beer). I will shop around for flights nearer the time, but considering that this is setting sail the week after Easter, it is school holidays in the UK and we would need two one-way flights, I am not sure I can do better especially if you take into account that they add the hotel and transfers.

That takes all the worry out of it, how fabulous!

For the Transatlantic, I will wait for special rates.

Corinna

Will you use your DVC to stay at WDW? Maybe book that now just in case and you can always cancel at the 31 day mark if things change.

 

[dolphingirl47]

Will you use your DVC to stay at WDW? Maybe book that now just in case and you can always cancel at the 31 day mark if things change.

I simple don't know at the moment how it will pan out and as I have to bank my remaining points by July 31st, I am not sure if I can commit at this stage as I may end up with the wrong amount of points. One of the Transatlantic cruises that is an option is 15 nights, the other is 13 nights. If we end up with option 1, I would aim to stay in Orlando for three nights afterwards. For option two, we would have 5 nights to play with and in that scenario, ideally I would spend 3 nights in Vero Beach and 2 nights in Orlando.

Corinna