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

[bellelinus]

What is the first thing you are going to do in Barcelona ? (after checking into hotel etc.)

Well, if it's not yet time for our lunch reservation at Hard Rock in Placa Catalunya, we will "ramble" Las Ramblas until it is time . . . actually, depending on how little sleep we were able to manage, we might actually "stumble" or "stagger" but won't call it "Las Stumblas" or "Las Staggaria". . . after lunch, Barri Gotic and Las Ramblas . . . the Cathedral . . . trying to stay up until a reasonable time to correct the old biological clock . . . next day La Sagrada Familia in the morning and then heading to the Magic . . .

 

[kidcoos3]

got a feeling it might be 32kg?

Our paperwork says 20 kg from Barcelona to Paris, which is 44 lbs.

 

[MrsJobba1]

Whew! Helen, you had me going there. I thought whaaaaa? I thought the limit was 50lbs which is 32kg, right? You scared me

Im so sorry- didn't mean to frighten you I was trying to help

 

[bellelinus]

Looks great to me!!



We are going to "chill" - maybe head to the beach. We leave our house at 4:45 on Monday am and arrive in Barcelona at 11:05 on Tues am - we will be exhausted! But, no naps, right Andrew??

Congrats on the

 

[MrsJobba1]

I cant wait to see Gaudi's work

 

[JustJus]

oops justine you are right !

sorry Im so tired today got a bit muddled

It's worth checking- I am always nearly over weight limits and am an expert at balancing on the scales holding a case. That's why I love doing it in kg because I have to switch the scales over first and then I don't understand what I weigh!!

The luggage scale sounds good and would eliminate some awkward last minute juggling in the bathroom....

When do you finish school?

 

[kidcoos3]

Our paperwork says 20 kg from Barcelona to Paris, which is 44 lbs.

We fly out on Delta, which has a 50# limit - but what about when we get into Barcelona? Does that mean we'll have trouble getting our luggage then, because it is over the limits? On the Delta website there is no difference between international and domestic weight restrictions.

 

[MrsJobba1]

ok I got to go and try and find some food.

Take care all xx

 

[MrsJobba1]

It's worth checking- I am always nearly over weight limits and am an expert at balancing on the scales holding a case. That's why I love doing it in kg because I have to switch the scales over first and then I don't understand what I weigh!!

The luggage scale sounds good and would eliminate some awkward last minute juggling in the bathroom....

When do you finish school?

School breaks up on Friday - but I finish Tomorrow

 

[salliep]

As we begin the final count down I want to say how much fun I have had, and I hope we will continue to have. I found this poem and thought it spoke of all of us.. To all my cyber friends: Its been so much fun, and so very informative. Thanks!!!!

THE CIRCLE OF FRIENDS

We meet on-line to have a great time....
We laugh and we giggle and smile at our screens,
We sit back and wonder what this all means.

We surf the Web, we travel afar,
We span thousands of mile without a car.
We watch conversations flowing on the screen,
We tell jokes and stories and know what they mean.

What are we looking for? Where's the attraction?
How can we do this and get satisfaction?
Who are we? Why are we here?

We are "the Circle of Friends", made from a chain.
And we're here because friendship is what we gain!
Born on-line formed by few,
We had no idea just what to do.

So we are linking our pages, first one then two,
And wonder where we'll end up when we are through?
The Circle will spread, like a wild vine,
It will breathe and whisper like the winds of time.

We are the Circle of Friends, made from a chain,
All of our motives are exactly the same.



​

 

[JustJus]

School breaks up on Friday - but I finish Tomorrow

 

[kyla]

Our paperwork says 20 kg from Barcelona to Paris, which is 44 lbs.

Ok, I just checked British Air:

USA, Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, Brazil, Nigeria, Caribbean and Central America
Passenger Free checked allowance
Adults and children
aged 2 years and over FIRST and Club World - 3 bags
World Traveller Plus and World Traveller - 2 bags
Maximum dimensions per bag (H+W+L): 158cm (62in)
Maximum weight per bag: 23kg* (51lbs)
Infants under 2 years One bag
Maximum dimensions per bag (H+W+L): 158cm (62in)
Maximum weight per bag: 23kg* (51lbs)
Plus one fully collapsible pushchair (stroller) and one car seat

* Please note: we will continue to accept a piece of baggage weighing up to 32kg (70lbs) for travel completed by 30 September 2007.

Their website always confuses me because they have the European flights where they are only allowed 1 checked bag, not 2. My flight info says I can have 2 bags and I had to call BA to confirm this. I guess I should call them again because I see the little note at the bottom saying they will accept bags up to 70lbs. I wonder if that is right?
ETA: I bet that means that they will accept it but charge for excess baggage.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I am hoping to make the kids a card with their names and room numbers so they will be able to find each other and maybe deliver fish gifts. Carley has already been told that she is not to disturb anyone, or go to anyone's cabin w/o permission. She has also been warned that she is not to run through the halls with her friends at any time and cause any disturbance to others.
But I know she wants to leave notes and messages for all her new friends. Please let me know if you want your child's name and room number on the list.

Post child's name /room #/ your name
Carley - 7546 (salliep)

ALICE STEPHEN 8568

 

[kidcoos3]

As we begin the final count down I want to say how much fun I have had, and I hope we will continue to have. I found this poem and thought it spoke of all of us.. To all my cyber friends: Its been so much fun, and so very informative. Thanks!!!!

THE CIRCLE OF FRIENDS ​

We meet on-line to have a great time....
We laugh and we giggle and smile at our screens,
We sit back and wonder what this all means.

We surf the Web, we travel afar,
We span thousands of mile without a car.
We watch conversations flowing on the screen,
We tell jokes and stories and know what they mean.

What are we looking for? Where's the attraction?
How can we do this and get satisfaction?
Who are we? Why are we here?

We are "the Circle of Friends", made from a chain.
And we're here because friendship is what we gain!
Born on-line formed by few,
We had no idea just what to do.

So we are linking our pages, first one then two,
And wonder where we'll end up when we are through?
The Circle will spread, like a wild vine,
It will breathe and whisper like the winds of time.

We are the Circle of Friends, made from a chain,
All of our motives are exactly the same.​

​

That is so perfect! Where did you find it?

 

[Pixie Dust II]

Hi everyone...

Okay, I'm desperately trying to catch up -- but you all know how that goes. In the meantime, I am also trying to add our new cruise friends to the Excel list, and the cabin map on powerpoint. I have indicated which cabins are participating in the Fish Extenders by making those red, while the other ones occupied by DISers are in lime green (what else). You can get to these lists on Page 1, post 1.

Okay, here is our passport story - It is long, so those who want to bypass the drama can skip to the next post.

On Thursday last week I checked online again to see my ds, Nick's passport status. It had been mailed out, but then was undeliverable to his dad's house. It turns out that whoever keyed in the address at the Passport agency transposed the numbers so the address showed 5309 instead of 9305. The agent told me to go to the LA Federal Bldg. at 1100 Wilshire Blvd, and that they would be open from 8am-3pm. We could then pick up the passport.

So, Friday morning, Nick & I took off at 6:30 and went to 1100 Wilshire Blvd. Now call me clueless (yes you can), but it didn't occur to me that the lack of American flags probably signified something. We went inside & I asked the security guard for directions to Suite 1000 -- um -- we were at a Condo in Downtown Los Angeles! and had to go 17 miles WEST to the Wilshire District to 11000 Wilshire Blvd.

Well, it took 40 minutes but we got there, and I think the several American flags outside of the 17-story white building was a good indication that we were really at the Fed bldg this time.

We were directed to a man at a podium outside the building, and he asked for our confirmation number (confirmation #?), so when I said we were told to go to the building, he gave me a slip of paper & said to call that number & get an appointment. So I called, and the agent I got this time listened to my story, and verified that the address they had to deliver the passport was wrong, and that we would have to go to the agency & have them issue a new passport. He gave us a 9am appointment - great!

So, when the 9am appointments were called up to stand in line to get ready to go in the building, we got in line, too. When the line was called forward to get into another line to get in the building, the guard at the front (the same one who had given me the slip of paper & told me to get an appointment) asked if I had a confirmation #. I said, no, but the agent emailed my name to the agency for a 9am appointment. He told me to join the long line of people sitting on the stone benches also waiting for their names to be called.

And so we sat.

And sat.

Names were called.

Ours weren't.

And we sat.

Finally after noon, I tried to make an automated appointment -- none available -- this took over 40 minutes.

And we sat.

So, I called the passport agency again - did they even submit our names? I wanted to know if the agency could hold on to our passports when the post office returned them, and if we could pick them up at Will Call. It turned out that the Washington DC office processed the passports. Well, now, that makes a lot of sense that the office in Washington DC would process them instead of sending them to Los Angeles or San Francisco offices (both California based Federal passport agencies). So, there was no way for us to pick them up. I explained that we had spoken with two agents, and that they had us wait at the LA agency -- she then explained that the Los Angeles agency will only take appointments 48 hours in advance.

Um, so waiting in the sun (oh, did I mention it was a beautiful hot sunny day in CA? Really - about 90 degrees, but I digress) from 8:30am to after 2pm was supposed to be a good exercise in patience, I guess, because there was no way that we were going to get our passport that day. I did get a farmer sunburn.

She told me that we will have to wait to see if the passport shows up in San Diego (about a 2-hour drive from Los Angeles) on Saturday, the 21st, and if it doesn't, call again, and they will give us a confirmation number. Our flight leaves at 6:30am on Tuesday, so Nick will have to go to the passport agency again on Monday, hopefully with confirmation number in hand, to have one re-issued. oh, and she told me no cost. I surely believe that after all of this. I thanked her for her advice/help & hung up.

As a last ditch effort, I went up to the guy who gave me the slip that morning - the one who had been standing there about 10 feet away from us -- wait, 20 feet because he was now in the shade, and we weren't, and asked him if there was any chance that he would call any more names. He responded that no, there was no chance. The last names he called was at 11:25, and usually if there were no names by noon, then they wouldn't be calling any more. So, I learned that yes, it is too much to ask of someone in that position to take a little heart for the people waiting for their names to be called. And now that I think of it, he had asked us all to move down the bench some after 12 o'clock because the will call line was getting longer.

So, that was how Nick & I spent our Friday.

I was supposed to go to San Antonio to visit some cousins, and was no longer in the mood, but Nick convinced me to go.

I had a great time, despite the long flight due to thunderstorms in El Paso that grounded the plane for two additional hours on the tarmac. So, I got there at 1am instead of 11pm. Oh yeah, it WAS Friday the 13th, huh.

We went shopping - I got cruise clothes - so really made out , but had no internet time, really, until I came home last night. However, it was already after midnight, so had to go to sleep & get ready for work today.

So here I am. Grateful to all of you for your thoughts. They really warm me.

Oh, and Sallie -- I DID think of you while on the airplane. As we were leaving from LAX (to go to El Paso & then San Antonio), I saw a family board the plane, and the son was wearing a DL propeller cap -- surely to help keep his mother cool.

With all you have been thru I just know things will work out for you. So many people are thinking about you! for luck!!

 

[bellelinus]

Our paperwork says 20 kg from Barcelona to Paris, which is 44 lbs.

Yes, same here -- higher allowance to get to Barcelona, but 20 kg from Barcelona to Paris and back . . . so I'm aiming for under 44 lbs.

 

[JustJus]

We fly out on Delta, which has a 50# limit - but what about when we get into Barcelona? Does that mean we'll have trouble getting our luggage then, because it is over the limits? On the Delta website there is no difference between international and domestic weight restrictions.

Hi Leslie,

Weight limits are a sore topic here because they have been cut so drastically in recent years. Also airlines (short haul in particular) are super strict.

There is a general weight limit for any one individual bag regardless of your overall limit. Not sure if this is the same for all airlines, but think it might be 32kg.

If your Barcelona/Paris flight has a smaller weight allowance than your Delta flight- if it is considered as part of the same trip by your airlines, they normally allow you to use the higher weight limit throughout the journey. If you booked them separately then I think you'll have to stick to the lower limit.
You'll have to check it out I'm afraid, better to know now.

Also, just a warning for anyone using Ryanair (may apply to others too, not sure). Weight allowances can't be combined- so two of you travelling together have to have a bag each up to the 15/20kg allowance- not allowed to share one bag at say 25kg. They are really strict about this

 

[kidcoos3]

Well, this won't help Mary Jo - but might help some future travelers:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/2...port_delays;_ylt=Aic3m92cB2m.0OLH_nXz0A_MWM0F

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I don't think anyone has had a problem with you surpassing Andrew -- except, perhaps, Andrew . . . and even he has to be willing to trade all those extra days of holiday in Barcelona for the top posting . . .
I know you can do it, JoAnn!

Do you know , as Catherine Tate would say.


Not really bothered!!!!

I am on holiday from Saturday, and I am not going to be posting a lot,

 

[Pixie Dust II]

As we begin the final count down I want to say how much fun I have had, and I hope we will continue to have. I found this poem and thought it spoke of all of us.. To all my cyber friends: Its been so much fun, and so very informative. Thanks!!!!

THE CIRCLE OF FRIENDS ​

We meet on-line to have a great time....
We laugh and we giggle and smile at our screens,
We sit back and wonder what this all means.

We surf the Web, we travel afar,
We span thousands of mile without a car.
We watch conversations flowing on the screen,
We tell jokes and stories and know what they mean.

What are we looking for? Where's the attraction?
How can we do this and get satisfaction?
Who are we? Why are we here?

We are "the Circle of Friends", made from a chain.
And we're here because friendship is what we gain!
Born on-line formed by few,
We had no idea just what to do.

So we are linking our pages, first one then two,
And wonder where we'll end up when we are through?
The Circle will spread, like a wild vine,
It will breathe and whisper like the winds of time.

We are the Circle of Friends, made from a chain,
All of our motives are exactly the same.​

​

So very nice! Thanks for sharing! It is all of us!