May 18, 2013 Magic EBTA Part Two - From Tejas to España

[binkytell]

The apartment management group we are using to rent our Paris apartment just sent out an email with a pickpocket warning for Paris. It seems it's getting worse and/or the thieves are getting more aggressive.

Wow it must be bad for such drastic action, I wish we would take a leaf
Out of the French's book when it comes to working conditions, they don't think
Twice of going out on strike.

 

[DisneyMouseHouse]

Submitted form for tasting (3 of us). Just let me know if you need anything else. This is exciting!

Got your form submission for the Chocolate tasting just fine - looking forward to everyone having a good time on this one!

If anyone is still interested, the form is HERE

We're up to 36 people now - once we go over 40, then persons 41-50 will be put on a waiting list, but once we hit 50, we will schedule another class - LOL!

So keep those submissions coming!

 

[SaraCat]

I need to visit a shop in The Strand district of Galveston, what time will the shops stay open until on the Friday night and what time are they likely to open on the Saturday morning?

This is the most important purchase of my trip and I don't want to miss out!

 

[WVURunner]

deleted: Got a response

 

[MandyGirl]

I need to visit a shop in The Strand district of Galveston, what time will the shops stay open until on the Friday night and what time are they likely to open on the Saturday morning?

This is the most important purchase of my trip and I don't want to miss out!

I think it depends on the specific shop. Does it have a website with hours listed maybe? The strand isn't like a mall... All individual stores.

 

[MandyGirl]

This is updated with PMs that came through today. Any more to update?

Is anyone able to help coordinate a rideshare with Lysand from IAH? (See below)

All are arriving 5/17 unless indicated otherwise:

Galveston
Precruise Meet: 7:00 pm on 5/17 at Rooftop Bar of Tremont
SNOWHITE7 (Tremont starting the 14th)
Tubbsteruk (Tremont starting the 15th)
MandyGirl (Tremont)
binkytell (Tremont)
Tink1987 (Tremont)
BigHugsForEeyore (Tremont)
chrisandedfromCT (Tremont)
Goofynewfie (Tremont)
Lysand (Tremont) - arrive IAH at 7:30 on Friday night from Toronto - rideshare anyone?
Maza (Tremont)
gonecrusin (Tremont)
wickesy (Tremont)
mboekhoff (Tremont)
SaraCat (Tremont on the 17th)
Goofy39.3 (Harbor House on 16th and 17th)
DavidaTN (Galvez)
NancyIL (Galvez)
Grandma x3 (Galvez)
JenDen (Candlewood Suites)
StephenKay (Candlewood Suites on 16th and 17th)


Houston Hobby Area
Viking53 (Hampton Inn Hobby Airport)
ThePedersonFamily (Hampton Inn Hobby Airport)
birkner (Hampton Inn and Suites, League City near Hobby)
WVURunner (Springhill Suites)
geffric (Country Inn & Suites)
ramadden13 (tbd)
1stDC2013 (Lives near Hobby)


Houston IAH Area
kaseyC (IAH Marriott)
Kirbo (IAH Marriott)
kris3kid (IAH Marriott)
Carys (IAH Marriott)
MissAndrea (Hyatt North Houston)
bobbiwoz (Town Place Suites)
sumeto (Country Inn & Suites By Carlson)
steve_woodward (Country Inn & Suites 5/16,17)
StephenKay (Country Inn & Suites 5/15 then to Galveston)


Other (Houston Area)
tobyjasper1970 (Magnolia Houston) on May 17th
SaraCat (Lancaster Hotel in Houston on the 16th May and then moving to the Tremont on the 17th)

 

[MandyGirl]

deleted - saw above post

 

[MandyGirl]

deleted: Got a response

So thankful you received a response!!

 

[p17blo]

Looking at the posts above about safety and pick pockets, I'd like to say, let's not scare people. I have been to Barcelona (fairly recently) and I travel to European cities a lot. Sure you get pick pocketing and it is more rife that I would like, and you also have the possibility that your bag may get stolen, but let's put it into perspective, these people look for easy targets (bags left on or under chairs whilst people aren't looking, that exposed wallet poking out of your wallet, the open handbag with a mobile phone/camera showing).

I have know some people get 'stung' but most of the time they didn't even realise it - Of course this is still upsetting, but I'm trying to stop that feeling that the city isn't a safe place to walk around. For the most part it is, I personally walked pretty much from the port into the heart of the City in Barcelona and when through every sort of neighbourhood without 1 iota of a problem (in fact I felt more uneasy walking around in the dark in a UK town centre last night!).

As others have already said, just be sensible, highten your guard a little and don't invite people to make you their next victim.

Guys I recommend you keep your wallet and/or phones in your front pocket keep everything else in zippers.

Ooh and the latest craze around some tourist destinations is SLR lens theft - OFF YOUR CAMERA whilst it is round your neck - They talk to you and release the lens and off they go. Again, never any malice (as in violent behavior) from the perpetrator, just opportunity, so those of you with SLRs, maybe don't have them around your neck?

I am pleased to say I've never been stung, no pick pocket, no wallet snatch, no phone lifting, no lens snatching.

I am sure you will all be fine with just a little awareness.

 

[MandyGirl]

Thanks for sharing that, Paul!! On a previous cruise we spent two full days exploring Barcelona, using the metro as our mode of transportation and no private tours. We crammed a whole lot in. Zero issues. But of course we were constantly aware of our surroundings, kept minimal things with us, and kept money secure (yes, a sports bra counted as "security" LOL- upgrading to a PacSafe now - but the bra makers and I should have a discussion because I could give them some ideas for these situations!). Heck, I had a fanny pack to keep diapers in, but traveling on the Aerobus to Pl Catalunya, I strapped it to our baby carrier (with passports, some cash), where it was inbetween our carrier and stroller, so someone would have had to literally lift the baby carrier out of the stroller to grab it - in front of a Mama Bear. This Mama Bear.

 

[EjeG]

Photowalkers...

We will be doing a sunrise photo walk on May the 20th. Sunrise is expected to happen approximately at 6:25am with dawn starting at 5:59am. So let's meet up at the ungodly early time of 6am on deck 10 forward by the World Wide sports deck.

Since we are on easterly heading this should give a great view of the sunrise across the front of the ship. After we gotten our sunrise pictures we will start moving towards the aft of the ship and be able to get some great light of the outlook bar, Quite Cove pool etc.

Being that we are up this early there should be minimal amount of people so not only are we catching the best lighting of the day (Golden hour) but should have "people free" pictures.

I would recommend bringing a tripod, but is not necessary. If you have a dSLR might want to make sure you have a wide angle lens with (somewhere 18 to 35mm). If you have a ultrawide or fisheye you might really want to consider bringing it. If you need/want help/assistance/recommendations on what/how to shoot, feel free to ask, I know I'm not the only "decent" (modest to) photographer that will be there willing to give assistance.


For a evening walk I need to look at the event calendar but I really hope May 24th is viable. We will have a full moon on that day, the sun set is around 8:09pm and the moon rise is around 7:55pm so just as the sun sets the moon rises. I know this would interfere with dinner for many (including myself).
For evening walk I would suggest meeting on deck 10 on the outlook behind Palo. I think 8pm would be a good time to meet up.

Could anyone refresh my memory what time the outlook on deck 7 aft closes?

 

[EjeG]

Photowalkers...

We will be doing a sunrise photo walk on May the 20th. Sunrise is expected to happen approximately at 6:25am with dawn starting at 5:59am. So let's meet up at the ungodly early time of 6am on deck 10 forward by the World Wide sports deck.

Since we are on easterly heading this should give a great view of the sunrise across the front of the ship. After we gotten our sunrise pictures we will start moving towards the aft of the ship and be able to get some great light of the outlook bar, Quite Cove pool etc.

Being that we are up this early there should be minimal amount of people so not only are we catching the best lighting of the day (Golden hour) but should have "people free" pictures.

I would recommend bringing a tripod, but is not necessary. If you have a dSLR might want to make sure you have a wide angle lens with (somewhere 18 to 35mm). If you have a ultrawide or fisheye you might really want to consider bringing it. If you need/want help/assistance/recommendations on what/how to shoot, feel free to ask, I know I'm not the only "decent" (modest to) photographer that will be there willing to give assistance.


For a evening walk I need to look at the event calendar but I really hope May 24th is viable. We will have a full moon on that day, the sun set is around 8:09pm and the moon rise is around 7:55pm so just as the sun sets the moon rises. I know this would interfere with dinner for many (including myself).
For evening walk I would suggest meeting on deck 10 on the outlook behind Palo. I think 8pm would be a good time to meet up.

Could anyone refresh my memory what time the outlook on deck 7 aft closes?

May 24th is Pirate night.. ugh..

May 23rd looks good tho. 97% full moon, moon rise at 6:48pm and sunset at 8:08 so moon will be fairly low still as the sun sets..

 

[birkner]

May 24th is Pirate night.. ugh..

May 23rd looks good tho. 97% full moon, moon rise at 6:48pm and sunset at 8:08 so moon will be fairly low still as the sun sets..

When you have final details, would you be sure to have them in the DIS Navigator so we can have them on board? John and I are looking forward to doing this.

 

[EjeG]

When you have final details, would you be sure to have them in the DIS Navigator so we can have them on board? John and I are looking forward to doing this.

Yes, will make sure it goes in there. The 20th is "set", just noticed I (me and my DW) already are booked on the 23rd.. Will have to look on a different date for evening walk..

 

[birkner]

Yes, will make sure it goes in there. The 20th is "set", just noticed I (me and my DW) already are booked on the 23rd.. Will have to look on a different date for evening walk..

Thanks much!

 

[kris3kid]

Cruise docs came today, they sent mine to the TA but my friend that used the same TA got hers at home ???

 

[EjeG]

Unless people want it later in the cruise my final (?) proposal for sunset walk is the 22nd. Sunset estimated at 7:14. Meet at 7 Deck 10 aft behind Palo on the outlook?

If we wait until around the 28th (Madeira, sunset will be around 9pm). Soooooo if we want to save it for later in the cruise, than the 27th might be better(except no evening moon rise) since at least early dinning will be well done and over with, just us late diners that would be "inconvinieced". Kinda like the 7pm since that hopefully be later enough for early dinners to managed to scarf down their meal and run and would give late dinners some time to go shoot before they go eat. But wouldn't hurt my feelings to much if I once had to eat buffet for dinner

 

[birkner]

Champagne Girls Update

New problem with Hawaiian shirts. Shirts came in and color is horrible. Now using a different vendor. Need all guys or spouses to measure shirt from shoulder to should so I can reorder.

 

[MandyGirl]

Yes, will make sure it goes in there. The 20th is "set", just noticed I (me and my DW) already are booked on the 23rd.. Will have to look on a different date for evening walk..

Okay - to add to post #1 calendar - May 20 sunrise shoot to meet at 6am on deck 10 forward by the World Wide sports deck. Is that correct?
Any specifics for sunset shoot?

 

[MandyGirl]

Cruise docs came today, they sent mine to the TA but my friend that used the same TA got hers at home ???

A TA can call DCL directly to ask that the docs be sent directly to passenger's address on file versus to their agency. Quite possible the TA called DCL and updated reservation numbers to reflect that (have to do it over the phone) but overlooked your reservation number.

Still no docs for us and we booked a specific cabin number directly through DCL.