May Med Magic - May 15 2010 - Meet thread - Part 2

[mmickeya]

You are correct, if you buy the Colosseum tickets through the official site it was a 2 day ticket. Are you trying to buy the guided tour ticket instead of the regular just admission ticket?

Jill in CO

So I guess i'm not on the right site to booked them. I just want the regular admission. What is the official site to book it

 

[mmickeya]

Finally seasickness has anyone ever tried the patches that you put behind your ear if so do they work?

My mom feel sick on every cruise, so she tried Dramamine, Bonine, Gravol (here in Canada), the patch. She also were the bracelet.
For her, the patch was not OK, afer 24 hour of having it, she was green and was sick, she remove the patch and was OK after that. Now after 12 cruise, sge prefered non-drowsy Dramamine.

So if you decide to get the patch, try it before leaving

 

[leelee9878]

my guess for the total pages is 34

 

[mmickeya]

my guess for the total page is 44

 

[trampslady]

trampslady, glad to here you had a safe trip. Weather is always dreary here in Germany. Except for one week in May were it is sunny, warm and glorious. Then back to rainy gloominess.

Funny! We had a wonderful time anyway, and my husband was there for the glorious first week! We were actually not far from your home-we were in Schwabisch Hall. We celebrated Maifest with business associates in their tiny village of Enslingen. What an amazing experience.

I sorta wish we would have just stayed in Europe, but vacation time is slim.

 

[Jeff Spencer]

We're considering liveblogging the cruise.

http://vagabondsforbeauty.com

If any veteran bloggers have tips, feel free to PM me.

In case there are others considering doing this as well, here are some tips.

In terms of blogging live from the cruise, the biggest tip I can give anyone, if you're planning to include photos in your blog, is to either reduce the photo size in the menu of your camera to its lowest setting *or* download them to a computer (if you have a laptop) and use whatever software you have to resize them to 100 Kb or less. The internet connection on the ship is typically painfully slow and can be intermittent. People, not knowing, will try to upload 3-5-10 Mb photos and after 20 minutes of grinding (and using your minutes), you'll get a message back that the upload failed.

The 2nd tip is do as much as you can offline.

The 3rd tip has to do with the way they have the Magic internet set up. You have to connect *and* disconnect every time. Closing your browser and even shutting down your computer doesn't necessarily disconnect you. you must consciously go through the process of disconnecting; otherwise, your minutes will rapidly evaporate.

 

[peterpanstout]

Funny! We had a wonderful time anyway, and my husband was there for the glorious first week! We were actually not far from your home-we were in Schwabisch Hall. We celebrated Maifest with business associates in their tiny village of Enslingen. What an amazing experience.

I sorta wish we would have just stayed in Europe, but vacation time is slim.

WHAT! That is about 20 minutes from my house!!!!! (I am assuminging you meant Esslingen) OH, I can't tell you how sad I am to hear that. Wish I would have know. We could have had a little Dis meet.

I am glad to hear you got to experience a real German celebration. They really know how to celebrate and bring together the community. I am really going to miss living here.

 

[jedijill]

So I guess i'm not on the right site to booked them. I just want the regular admission. What is the official site to book it

http://www.ticketclic.it/Gb/HTML/musei/colosseo.cfm

Here you go....I bought the combo ticket on top that cost 13.50 Euro. I chose the print at home option. Super easy.

Jill in CO

 

[Travelbee]

Jeff - what is the link to the map that show the airport closures? I thought it was on your website but can't find the link anymore.

 

[k8e]

Jeff - what is the link to the map that show the airport closures? I thought it was on your website but can't find the link anymore.

Here's an article from BBC about the Spain airport clsures:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8669610.stm

 

[Jeff Spencer]

Jeff - what is the link to the map that show the airport closures? I thought it was on your website but can't find the link anymore.

I took it off after the airspace reopened and replaced it with blog links. It's not being maintained anyway...I just checked it and the last time it was updated was April 22nd.

 

[Jeff Spencer]

Woo hoo! Fish Extenders arrived and they look great. Need to do some more door magnet decorations now.

 

[mmickeya]

http://www.ticketclic.it/Gb/HTML/musei/colosseo.cfm

Here you go....I bought the combo ticket on top that cost 13.50 Euro. I chose the print at home option. Super easy.

Jill in CO

Thanks Jill

I'm glad that I have my ticket now and didn't have to chose a time. One lest thing on my to do list

 

[snackyx]

Currency Conversion question:

If I walk into a bank in Barcelona, which I am assuming will give me the best rate, can I convert $1000-$2000 US dollars for Euros without having an account at the bank? What fees will the bank charge to convert the currency? (I am assuming that banks in Spain are like banks in the U.S.--they do nothing without a fee attached.)

Thanks in advance for any info.

 

[sayhello]

Well, I'm doing laundry & sorting through clothes between doing a small install for work sad2. I think I'm in a bit of denial as to how much I have to do this weekend to be ready to leave Thursday morning. I *HATE* packing, I *HATE* airlines, but I *LOVE* traveling, so I guess the first 2 are necessary evils...

One week from right about now, we'll be settling in for our first meal together on the Magic. I am *SO* looking forward to getting to know all the wonderful folks I've met here on the DIS. I can hardly believe it's less than a week away!

I feel like I've made way too little plans for the day in Barcelona, but I have no idea what condition I'll be in, arriving that day, so I'm just playing it loose. Heaven knows the next several days will be FULL of things to see & do, so if I don't see tons of stuff in Barcelona, I think I'll be OK.

OMG. I'm flying to Europe in in 5 days! (Volcano: stay away!!!!)

Sayhello

 

[sayhello]

Crap. Barcelona airport is closed. They *expect* it to re-open by tomorrow. Pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease! Currently, Madrid is still open, so if it stays that way, Iberia has said they will transport us from there to Barcelona. I'm SO SO glad I'm arriving the day before.

It's sad, if you look at that map from the BBC, it looks like the cloud is directly attacking Spain. PLEASE let it recede!!!!

Sayhello

 

[Jeff Spencer]

Currency Conversion question:

If I walk into a bank in Barcelona, which I am assuming will give me the best rate, can I convert $1000-$2000 US dollars for Euros without having an account at the bank? What fees will the bank charge to convert the currency? (I am assuming that banks in Spain are like banks in the U.S.--they do nothing without a fee attached.)

Thanks in advance for any info.

La Caixa bank operates in the T1 and T2 terminals of the Barcelona airport. On the Barcelona Tourist site they say they don't charge commissions but also don't list their rates.

http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/airport/facilities-t1/bureau-de-change-barcelona-airport-t1.html

 

[pixiedust519]

In case there are others considering doing this as well, here are some tips.

In terms of blogging live from the cruise, the biggest tip I can give anyone, if you're planning to include photos in your blog, is to either reduce the photo size in the menu of your camera to its lowest setting *or* download them to a computer (if you have a laptop) and use whatever software you have to resize them to 100 Kb or less. The internet connection on the ship is typically painfully slow and can be intermittent. People, not knowing, will try to upload 3-5-10 Mb photos and after 20 minutes of grinding (and using your minutes), you'll get a message back that the upload failed.

The 2nd tip is do as much as you can offline.

The 3rd tip has to do with the way they have the Magic internet set up. You have to connect *and* disconnect every time. Closing your browser and even shutting down your computer doesn't necessarily disconnect you. you must consciously go through the process of disconnecting; otherwise, your minutes will rapidly evaporate.

I'm planning on doing a blog for my family and friends back home and set up an account through blogspot. The only thing that concerns me now is the most recent post from 5/5 cruiser's blog Mirsky Family. They are also using blogspot and she just wrote:

Technical issues with the ships internet have prevented my postings. Our blog web site is blocked by the satellite internet provider. Luckily, if you are reading this, we are using a work around with the help of our friend and Scott's coworker Jessica.

Any idea what that means?!

 

[sayhello]

I'm planning on doing a blog for my family and friends back home and set up an account through blogspot. The only thing that concerns me now is the most recent post from 5/5 cruiser's blog Mirsky Family. They are also using blogspot and she just wrote:

Technical issues with the ships internet have prevented my postings. Our blog web site is blocked by the satellite internet provider. Luckily, if you are reading this, we are using a work around with the help of our friend and Scott's coworker Jessica.

Any idea what that means?!

My guess is they're emailing the updates to someone stateside who is then uploading to the blog for them from here. But that's really just a guess...

Sayhello

 

[sayhello]

Latest from Iberia's website:

• According to the latest news from Eurocontrol and the civil aviation authorities, most of the airports closed today in Northern Spain will reopen between tonight and tomorrow early morning.
• The airports of Galicia – Santiago, Vigo and Coruña – will remain closed at least until tomorrow at 11 am; they could remain closed longer, depending on the evolution of the volcanic cloud.
• Authorities are informing that the volcanic ash cloud could affect some airports in France, Italy and Switzerland tomorrow, although this information has not been yet confirmed.
• Iberia is going to operate bigger aircraft to the airports that have been closed today in order to carry as many passengers as possible.

Looks hopeful... pleasepleaseplease!

Sayhello