July 28, 2007 - "Rome-ancing the Mouse Cruisers" -11 days! Part 2

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Yikes - I've been caught - still trying to unpack and now I'm getting the evil eye! Anyway, speaking of "catching" people - I caught a certain elusive person - at the top of the Leaning tower - I think they were evading all of us. However, reports and evidence show that they did attend the cruise - Andrew!!!!

Gosh - gotta go - be back to post later. On to my second suitcase!

You gave me a shock there I nearly fell off the tower!

Talk elusive-I hadnt seen you before that day

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Was Andrew on the cruise?????? I know he was on the tender to La Spezia, but he doesn't appear in our group photo . . .

I switched to the sovereign of the seas in Naples.

PS Frabrizo said you didn't call him, if you missed his picture, posted here and also on the REPO thread with comments a while back here it is again!

Where you on my plane at Barcelona airport, I came down form the BA Lounge to get my flight and thought I saw you and your girls,

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Hi Everyone,


Things are slowly getting back to normal- as normal as they can be under the circumstances.

Matthew and Leah's wedding in St. Augustine, Fla. was beautiful. There were 210 guests -some who travelled from as far away as Saudi Arabia!
My DD Amy was a bridesmaid, DS Andrew was Best man, and my nephew was a junior usher.

Leah was a beautiful bride and Matthew a very handsome groom!
Leah's grandfather who is a pastor and missiionary, performed the wedding ceremony. They wrote their own vows. It was very moving.

The reception was wonderful. It was a delicious buffet prepared by the Italian chef and his wife who own the small resturant Matthew worked at during college. A band played many old songs - Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett,etc. and some new songs,too.They played my dad's favorite song- Let Me Call You Sweetheart.

I am so glad we went ahead with the wedding. It was good for all of us even though at times it was difficult.My dad would have been very proud of Matthew.

They spent their honeymoon in Hawaii and arrived safely home today.

I'll try and post more pictures in a couple of days.

Amy(DD), Russ(DH), Leah(DIL), Matthew(DS), Andrew(DS)

Matthew and Leah at the reception

My mom Marilyn, Matthew and Leah

Matthew and I during the mother-son dance.

Matthew and Leah leaving the reception.

Wonderful pictures.

 

[bellelinus]

I switched to the sovereign of the seas in Naples.

PS Frabrizo said you didn't call him, if you missed his picture, posted here and also on the REPO thread with comments a while back here it is again!

Where you on my plane at Barcelona airport, I came down form the BA Lounge to get my flight and thought I saw you and your girls,

No, I haven't called Fabrizio -- yet -- but I do still have his number, thanks for that. Nice to keep one's options open . . .

I did see you in the airport in Barcelona, but whenever you were with your family (that is, always!) I didn't want to come over and pester you . . . our plane to Paris was delayed but we ended up leaving from the gate your plane left from, just after you did . . . we were delayed about 3 hours but it was all worth it to get to Paris safely.

 

[bellelinus]

Nice pic, belly to big!

Go easy on yourself, you know what it's like when the wind whips into your shirt . . . never anyone's best look. But what a look back at the Magic!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

No, I haven't called Fabrizio -- yet -- but I do still have his number, thanks for that. Nice to keep one's options open . . .

I did see you in the airport in Barcelona, but whenever you were with your family (that is, always!) I didn't want to come over and pester you . . . our plane to Paris was delayed but we ended up leaving from the gate your plane left from, just after you did . . . we were delayed about 3 hours but it was all worth it to get to Paris safely.

Yes with my kids I often have my hands full. I thought it was you we were there only a short time at the gate as I had been in the BA/IBERIA Lounge .

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Go easy on yourself, you know what it's like when the wind whips into your shirt . . . never anyone's best look. But what a look back at the Magic!

I put on a lot in Barcelona then on the cruise.

 

[bellelinus]

I put on a lot in Barcelona then on the cruise.

You were on vacation; it's allowed (even expected) . . . hope everything is fine at work since you got back.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

You were on vacation; it's allowed (even expected) . . . hope everything is fine at work since you got back.

Sort of, thanks for asking.

Looking forward to booking the next part of the 2008 holiday, have the Repo paid for, had Disneyland pre stay booked trying for the flights late next week.

 

[bellelinus]

Sort of, thanks for asking.

Looking forward to booking the next part of the 2008 holiday, have the Repo paid for, had Disneyland pre stay booked trying for the flights late next week.

Given what you have been through at work "sort of" sounds like the best you could ask for right now . . . yes, the best way to deal with post-vacation let-down is to work on the next one . . . it's going to be terrific.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Given what you have been through at work "sort of" sounds like the best you could ask for right now . . . yes, the best way to deal with post-vacation let-down is to work on the next one . . . it's going to be terrific.

This one will be terrific a different kind of cruise, more relaxing like your transatlantic, hope we have Susan Egan performing back on the repo again.

There showing the last series of Dancing with the stars here at the moment and everytime I see Joey Fatone I remember him being on the repo in 2005.

 

[bellelinus]

This one will be terrific a different kind of cruise, more relaxing like your transatlantic, hope we have Susan Egan performing back on the repo again.

There showing the last series of Dancing with the stars here at the moment and everytime I see Joey Fatone I remember him being on the repo in 2005.

There will be more stops than the 2007 transAtlantic (we really only had a few), but they are all beach-type stops, more or less, very unlike the 11 night Med . . . fewer sea days in a row than this year but plenty of them . . . it should be a really nice cruise. That being said, relaxation aside, I don't know if any cruise will ever top this year's Med one -- no, it was not relaxing but it was amazing -- in some ways it makes the relaxing cruises look trivial! (Not that I don't still plan to do the relaxing ones, of course.)

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

There will be more stops than the 2007 transatlantic (we really only had a few), but they are all beach-type stops, more or less, very unlike the 11 night Med . . . fewer sea days in a row than this year but plenty of them . . . it should be a really nice cruise. That being said, relaxation aside, I don't know if any cruise will ever top this year's Med one -- no, it was not relaxing but it was amazing -- in some ways it makes the relaxing cruises look trivial! (Not that I don't still plan to do the relaxing ones, of course.)

I loved the Med, so much to do, funny, it didn't 'feel' like DCL in some ways to me, the usual is Fly to USA, do things there, Disney parks then cruise. Flying just for an hour or so, was nice, but I was in Europe mode, I was on the Magic and for example requested 'COKE LIGHT' when I am in USA mode I always say Diet Coke.

Of all my holidays until this year the 2005 repo was my best holiday ever, now its joint No with the MED 11 night, and I do hope DCL go to Northern Europe in 2009.

The repo in 2008, will be, as you say relaxing, I like 2/3 days at sea, didn't fancy 6 in a row, as you posted thats more like a beach holiday.

I booked so many private tours this year, which were all great, in 2008, I might 'go it alone'.
There are many beach's, I know Acapulco well now, so fancy just not planning anything, walking across from the Magic to the fort, and then some shopping.

Aruba is new to me, but thats about it, but 15 nights of Magic is worth looking forward to.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

PS we should be posting this on the repo thread,but there again they are posting about the Med.

 

[bellelinus]

I loved the Med, so much to do, funny, it didn't 'feel' like DCL in some ways to me, the usual is Fly to USA, do things there, Disney parks then cruise. Flying just for an hour or so, was nice, but I was in Europe mode, I was on the Magic and for example requested 'COKE LIGHT' when I am in USA mode I always say Diet Coke.

Of all my holidays until this year the 2005 repo was my best holiday ever, now its joint No with the MED 11 night, and I do hope DCL go to Northern Europe in 2009.

The repo in 2008, will be, as you say relaxing, I like 2/3 days at sea, didn't fancy 6 in a row, as you posted thats more like a beach holiday.

I booked so many private tours this year, which were all great, in 2008, I might 'go it alone'.
There are many beach's, I know Acapulco well now, so fancy just not planning anything, walking across from the Magic to the fort, and then some shopping.

Aruba is new to me, but thats about it, but 15 nights of Magic is worth looking forward to.

PS we should be posting this on the repo thread,but there again they are posting about the Med.

I think Northern Europe in 2009 would be fantastic -- I'm really looking forward to what DCL plans for then . . .you are right that we are mixing our threads! I accused you of trying for a 500 pirate on the other thread when they only count on this one . . .

 

[kidcoos3]

I am green with envy - I'd love to go on the repo with you guys!!

I think Bellelinus said it very well - "in some ways it makes the relaxing cruises look trivial". It was such a great mix of history, education, relaxation and vaca - I loved it!!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I think Northern Europe in 2009 would be fantastic -- I'm really looking forward to what DCL plans for then . . .you are right that we are mixing our threads! I accused you of trying for a 500 pirate on the other thread when they only count on this one . . .

I get a 500 post-and they do not count, Currently if its northern europe, and during school holidays in 2009,I will do anything to be on it, if its Carribean, ( unlikley) I most likley will go non-Disney.

I am green with envy - I'd love to go on the repo with you guys!!

I think Bellelinus said it very well - "in some ways it makes the relaxing cruises look trivial". It was such a great mix of history, education, relaxation and vaca - I loved it!!

The repo including Panama is just so fantastic as soon as I herd they were doing it again I wanted it. Many agree it sold out both for 2005 and 2008 in hours.

 

[jlawall]

JoAnn, remember in the weeks before the cruise when Sallie (I think) asked if we would stay in touch after the cruise and I responded that it would never be the same, so we should enjoy it? I'm glad we all seized the moment and enjoyed each other like nuts before the cruise, since it made the entire experience so much nicer, don't you think?

It's Susan Egan, original Belle on Broadway and voice of Meg in Hercules, with Meredith, my youngest daughter. Laura was kind enough to take pictures during an autograph session.

Thx for asking, I didn't know who it was either!!!

You know, Julie, and everyone, I AM STILL FRIENDS WITH THE 2005 Mexican cruise DISers!!

 

[MrsG]

Northern Europe in 2009 would be wonderful!!!! We can only hope. I'd also love the Eastern Med, Greece, etc. Disney, are you listening??????

Wendy,

So glad the wedding was beautiful! It was great to hear from you!

Julie & Andrew,

Your banter sounds like old times!!! You are both right, I don't think we could ever have a cruise like this again, unless we have a reunion cruise. It became an entity unto itself. Ugh... too philosophical, but true.

Maryann

 

[bellelinus]

You know, Julie, and everyone, I AM STILL FRIENDS WITH THE 2005 Mexican cruise DISers!!

Northern Europe in 2009 would be wonderful!!!! We can only hope. I'd also love the Eastern Med, Greece, etc. Disney, are you listening??????

I don't think we could ever have a cruise like this again, unless we have a reunion cruise. It became an entity unto itself. Ugh... too philosophical, but true.

Maryann

We have such a terrific group on this thread, it hard to imagine not staying friends in some way . . . it's just much easier when we all have one cruise we are planning together! Let's hope for 2009.