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

[Andrew DEREK UK]

We are so slow here, where is everyone.

 

[eeyorelvr10]

all -

My ethernet cable box went out and it took about 3 days to figure that one out! (that one may be a groundhog for Andrew! ) Anyway, getting all excited now 125 days out - one downer though - Summer school registration for my youngest (soon to be a high schooler! DD-14) took place yesterday - Saturday - at 8 am no rest for the WICKED HUH? Sorta a play on words as I just saw WICKED last night!

Anyway, summer school is getting in the way of vacation - summer school was optional for DD this year - she wanted to get ahead for her freshman year and take some required courses during summer - so $900 dollars later - we're signed up. The scary part was when we found out that summer school ended on July 26 - so we had to get special permission for DD to take her finals on the 25th so we'll fly out after she gets out of summer school at 2 - nothing like cutting it close huh?

LOL - sounds like the household is waking up - gotta go - be on later!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

all -

My ethernet cable box went out and it took about 3 days to figure that one out! (that one may be a groundhog for Andrew! ) Anyway, getting all excited now 125 days out - one downer though - Summer school registration for my youngest (soon to be a high schooler! DD-14) took place yesterday - Saturday - at 8 am no rest for the WICKED HUH? Sorta a play on words as I just saw WICKED last night!

Anyway, summer school is getting in the way of vacation - summer school was optional for DD this year - she wanted to get ahead for her freshman year and take some required courses during summer - so $900 dollars later - we're signed up. The scary part was when we found out that summer school ended on July 26 - so we had to get special permission for DD to take her finals on the 25th so we'll fly out after she gets out of summer school at 2 - nothing like cutting it close huh?

LOL - sounds like the household is waking up - gotta go - be on later!

Nice to see you post over here as well. Keep the cable in.

 

[MrsJobba1]

hi Andrew and all

hope you are all ok.

Well I think I've got my 4 nights in Barcelona all planned out - thats one good thing having to have bed rest has meant time to do lots of reading.

We arrive Tues lunch so we'll just take a taxi from airport to our hotel. Have some lunch and then do a bit of a wander around to get bearings.

day 2 - Using tourist bus - go to Sagrada familia, then Park Guell and moving to the nou camp and a tour round the stadium.

day 3 walk to barri gotic, look at catherdal, then visit either picasso musuem or chocloate museum or both

day 4 wander down las rambas & shop

Obviously we will be visiting lots of tapas bars and cafes on our journey

Im so excited

What is everbody doing in Barcelona?

 

[MrsJobba1]

oh forgot to mention! I emailed the tourist office in Marseille to ask some questions. They sent me in the post (frre of charge ) a really good map and also a booklet with all the tourist info in it. However its in French - So next weeks job whilst relaxing will be translating it with the help of my school french dictionary

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

hi Andrew and all

hope you are all ok.

Well I think I've got my 4 nights in Barcelona all planned out - thats one good thing having to have bed rest has meant time to do lots of reading.

We arrive Tues lunch so we'll just take a taxi from airport to our hotel. Have some lunch and then do a bit of a wander around to get bearings.

day 2 - Using tourist bus - go to Sagrada familia, then Park Guell and moving to the nou camp and a tour round the stadium.

day 3 walk to barri gotic, look at catherdal, then visit either picasso musuem or chocloate museum or both

day 4 wander down las rambas & shop

Obviously we will be visiting lots of tapas bars and cafes on our journey

Im so excited

What is everbody doing in Barcelona?

That looks vey good, I am there seven nights, that gives me six days, and whats planed, well nothing, I have been there before and will leave it to what we feel like at the Time.

• A walk around city.
• Olimpic area.
• Beach
• Monsterrat.
• Blanes by train

Something like that.

Hpe you are well.

 

[MrsJobba1]

That looks vey good, I am there seven nights, that gives me six days, and whats planed, well nothing, I have been there before and will leave it to what we feel like at the Time.

• A walk around city.
• Olimpic area.
• Beach
• Monsterrat.
• Blanes by train

Something like that.

Hpe you are well.

Thanks Im doing ok - having this to focus on is really helping the recovery - although I want to spend more & more time on the computer rather than resting

I've always wanted to visit Barcelona, at Uni (way back in the dark ages) we looked at the work of Gaudi and since then visiting the sagrada familia has been on my must do list.

Our hotel is 5 mins walk away from casa batilo so we are not too far away form the tourist bus stop.

Take care

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Thanks Im doing ok - having this to focus on is really helping the recovery - although I want to spend more & more time on the computer rather than resting

I've always wanted to visit Barcelona, at Uni (way back in the dark ages) we looked at the work of Gaudi and since then visiting the sagrada familia has been on my must do list.

Our hotel is 5 mins walk away from casa batilo so we are not too far away form the tourist bus stop.

Take care

Glad you are doing well, I am staying near Passign De gracia? Metro station and a small walk to La rambler, can get anywhere.

 

[MrsJobba1]

Glad you are doing well, I am staying near Passign De gracia? Metro station and a small walk to La rambler, can get anywhere.

Sounds like we'll be quite close to each other.

 

[Pixie Dust II]

Great list and can't wait to see everyone! Just wanted to know if anyone is flying out of Philadelphia on the 26th? Disney is doing our tickets and we will leave from Pittsburgh, but I know the long flight will most likely be from Philadelphia so I was just checking to see what flights anyone from PA has??

 

[jlawall]

Hey HA, we are flying out of "Philly" on Friday the 27th at around 5pm arriving early the next morning in Barcelona..............

Question for Andrew and Helen.....(since you seem to know!)...........what do you suggest for people who only have a few hours to visit Barcelona..................

We're thinking go right to ship, check in, drop off luggage...........then should we take a siesta and then venture out around 4pm or ..................try to explore and hit a beach after checking in and arrive back at the ship around 5? Are these plans doable? What do you guys (and everyone else think??)

 

[MrsJobba1]

Hey HA, we are flying out of "Philly" on Friday the 27th at around 5pm arriving early the next morning in Barcelona..............

Question for Andrew and Helen.....(since you seem to know!)...........what do you suggest for people who only have a few hours to visit Barcelona..................

We're thinking go right to ship, check in, drop off luggage...........then should we take a siesta and then venture out around 4pm or ..................try to explore and hit a beach after checking in and arrive back at the ship around 5? Are these plans doable? What do you guys (and everyone else think??)

I think a lot will depend on how you actually feel after the flight.

Are you used to flying long distances? I know when I to the USA I am always really tired as I can never really sleep when travelling (whether it be in car, train or plane!)

A lot of the shops (most) will be closed between the hours of 2-4:30ish. However the tourist office in Barcelona told me that most of the museums will be still open.

If you want to check out a beach have a look at this website as it describes the beaches and tells you where they are;
http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/barcelona-spain-beaches.html

 

[Pixie Dust II]

Is anyone staying at the Grand Marina Hotel. Disney told us we could watch the Magic dock from the hotel and from the pictures I have seen it looks like we can walk to the ship. It is my understanding that everything is included in the price of the transportation. Of course, I probably will come up with my 101 question list and make more calls by at least June!

Lucky Mrs. J. and your Spanish lessons. That is very smart. Sounds like you have everything well in hand

Congrats on the Marithon! I do well on the Miracle Mile with Leslie Sansone!!

Think Spring!!!

 

[kyla]

I'm staying at the Grand Marina. I was wondering if you could walk to the port too. There is this bridge you have to cross and I'm not sure it has a pedestrian walkway on it. A friend of mine went to Barcelona last year and caught a cruise ship there. I asked her and she said she tried to walk it from town center with luggage in tow. They gave up when they got to the Columbus memorial and told that it was still another 40 minute walk, sorry can't remember exactly. So they caught a taxi. I'll try and ask her again about walking to where the ship will dock.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I'm staying at the Grand Marina. I was wondering if you could walk to the port. There is this bridge you have to cross and I'm not sure it has a pedestrian walkway on it. A friend of mine went to Barcelona last year and caught a cruise ship there. I asked her and she said she tried to walk it from town center with luggage in tow. They gave up when they got to the Columbus memorial and told that it was still another 20-40 minute walk, sorry can't remember. So they caught a taxi. I'll try and ask her again about walking to where the ship will dock.

I am staying in town, but I beleive you get around the port by small shuttle bus, like airports to terminals ect. I all depends which bay the Magic is in, i read its allocated one but not sure distance etc, but most people go around on the bus.

 

[kyla]

I am staying in town, but I beleive you get around the port by small shuttle bus, like airports to terminals ect. I all depends which bay the Magic is in, i read its allocated one but not sure distance etc, but most people go around on the bus.

From DCL site:
Getting to the Port on Your Own
The Port of Barcelona is close to the city of Barcelona and only eight miles from the airport. Exit the airport and take the road to Barcelona City. Once there, take the Ronda Litoral Highway and take the exit marked "Puerto." Turn right and continue to follow the signs indicating Puerto. Ships are berthed at Adossat Terminal (Moll D' Adossat). Guests board the Disney Magic® at Terminal C.

Terminal C is there in the far right top corner with the World Trade Center & Grand Marina in the foreground. Also notice the bridge you must cross if you are walking. There is a port bus that leaves from the columbus monument and the DCL site mentions a shuttle from parking area at the World Trade Center.http://www3.apb.es/en/PORT/Cruises,
ETA: http://www3.apb.es/en/SERVICES/Pictures_Gallery/files/03-Adossat03.jpg
http://www3.apb.es/en/PORT/Presentation/Port_Map/files/en.mapa.pdf
It looks too far to walk from the Grand Marina especially with suitcases in tow.
Looks like the Disney Magic will be arriving 0430am on the 28th. http://www3.apb.es/en/PORT/Cruises/Forecast/files/en.07-07.pdf

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

From DCL site:
Getting to the Port on Your Own
The Port of Barcelona is close to the city of Barcelona and only eight miles from the airport. Exit the airport and take the road to Barcelona City. Once there, take the Ronda Litoral Highway and take the exit marked "Puerto." Turn right and continue to follow the signs indicating Puerto. Ships are berthed at Adossat Terminal (Moll D' Adossat). Guests board the Disney Magic® at Terminal C.

Terminal C is there in the far right top corner with the World Trade Center & Grand Marina in the foreground. Also notice the bridge you must cross if you are walking. There is a port bus that leaves from the columbus monument and the DCL site mentions a shuttle from parking area at the World Trade Center.http://www3.apb.es/en/PORT/Cruises, http://www3.apb.es/en/PORT/Presentation/Port_Map/files/en.mapa.pdf
Looks like the Disney Magic will ...s/en/PORT/Cruises/Forecast/files/en.07-07.pdf

Thank you that clarifies

 

[MrsJobba1]

Thanks Kyla for the links - looks like we are really leaving @22:00

 

[eeyorelvr10]

all - I get on her to post and the darn household gets oh well - MrsJobba - know what you mean on the French - told the kids someone would have to learn French to get by and they all answered in unison - - Good Luck Mom! - Consequently within the next week - I got 2 different versions of learning to speak French - conversational french and basic French - LOL - you'd of thought I learned in the Army never to volunteer or open my big trap - oh well - I'll be the one laughing in the end - I hope - will be back later! Wanted to bump us up!

 

[MrsG]

We're arriving Thurs. in Barcelona and staying at the Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes which seems to be in the center of the city. Anyone heard of it. Friends stayed there and loved it. We booked on our own through our TA and plan to get a taxi to and from the airport and the ship. I know we plan on seeing Monserat which I think you can reach by train, but other than that, we really haven't decided. Any idea?