Seriously?!!???!?!!!?!?!?! So a few weeks ago, shortly after I booked the trip to New York and Boston for Rebecca's graduation, I bought a Boston Eyewitness Travel book. I am apparently one of the few people who still LOVE a travel book according to an article I read on line yesterday. I like that I can make notes in the book. I like that I can carry it with me. And mostly I like that I can refer back to it when I return home and am working on a photobook, a trip report, a travel blog or a review of a venue, restaurant, tour or event. But normally, within a week of buying the book, I have read it cover to cover and already know exactly what I NEED to do while in the destination. Not so much this time.
I haven't even opened the book yet. Did I mention that we leave on Friday?!!?!?!! I am so freaking stressed! I have been so busy that I have not had a moment to read anything about Boston. I'm not the least bit concerned about NY. I've been there multiple times and totally know what we need to do and where we need to go. But I have never been to Boston and I have not read anything about what we need to do. Everyone I know has already told me that we absolutely HAVE to visit Faneuil Hall. Beyond that I know that we have to get cannolis at Mike's (I am on that!). I'm almost certain that you can't visit Boston without going to the North Church. I know that you have to visit the North End. Obviously, we will be going to a Red Sox game at Fenway, after all, it's why we are going there. We're staying in Back Bay and apparently that's a good place to be staying. My cousin, Jan said we need to visit the cemetery. I wouldn't have thought about that. So it's good information.
Hopefully, I can spend some time reading the Boston Eyewitness Travel book tonight and tomorrow night. The problem is that I am also currently reading Inferno by Dan Brown and I am having trouble putting it down when I have a few free moments. The travel business is keeping me busy this week and I don't mind telling you that when the travel business is keeping me busy, I'm thrilled! But this hasn't happened too much since I started it last September.... and really????!?!?!? It had to happen right now? I'm not complaining! I honestly couldn't be happier. But I wish it had either happened a week earlier or a two weeks later.
I'm starting to think that my clients and potential clients have some sort of extra-scensory perception about when I am traveling or getting ready to travel and that's when they decide it's time to contact me about a potential trip or a trip they already have planned and just need loose ends tied up on. God bless them! I'm thrilled that they are contacting me. But I wish that the weeks when I have no trips planned and nobody is contacting me to query pricing on a trip or even look at trip options, these people would call. Wouldn't it be nice if sales occurred exactly when it was convenient. Honestly, anytime a sell occurs, I'm pretty darn excited. Just ask my Mom. I call her almost everytime someone books a trip. It's always exciting when someone books a trip.
So here's the deal..... I'll be traveling later this week and through the first part of next week. So if you contact me regarding travel during that time, you are likely to not get an answer for several days. Please don't feel like I am ignoring you. I'm just trying to figure out Boston. I will get back to you as soon as I return..... possibly sooner. If you know a lot about Boston, just mention that in your query and you are likely to get a very quick response. If you happen to have a top 10 list of things to visit in Boston, you just might get a free bottle of champagne on you vacation that you have me book following my trip to Boston..... Just sayin'.....
Margaritaville
Margaritaville - Cozumel, Mexico
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Monday, July 22, 2013
This Thing is Starting to Take Off!
Rebecca and I leave for New York in 4 more days. I'm beginning to get excited. Although I have spent a lot of time visiting New York there is always something to see that you haven't seen before. Also, it'll be nice just to get away from the daily grind for a few days. I know.... Daily grind, you say? Even planning trips has it's down side. Sometimes airlines cancel flights after they are booked. Other times clients change their plans or perhaps plans are changed by some issue outside their control. Either way, it's pretty easy to call the travel agent and just say, the flight/hotel/tour that was planned for that day needs to be changed.
People, the fun part of being a travel agent is not in the changing of plans, it is in the making of plans. I know what you're thinking. But Susan, you always say to schedule the trip early to get the best possible price.... we can always make changes once it is booked. I do say that and I mean it. But I secretly hope that you will be so pleased with the trip that we have put together that you don't want to change a thing. I know in the back of my mind that this probably won't be the case, but a girl can dream.
So, anyway in addition to my own personal trip this week to New York and Boston, I have a lot of clients scheduled to travel in the coming months. Lots of little adjustments are being made to their trips now. I'm busily running numbers every week in hopes of saving a client a few dollars on the trips that we already booked. Of course there are new trips to plan for people who have contacted me. In addition, I'm trying to pull trips regularly and post them in various locations either sending emails to people who may have expressed an interest in the past, writing blogs about them, or posting on Facebook and Twitter in an attempt to get some people interested in traveling to a place they haven't previously thought of. I try to write this blog somewhat regularly. You might be surprised at the amount of time I spend on it. Even with all the grammatical errors and the haphazard way in which it is written, it takes time. On top of that, I have regular weekly networking opportunities that I attend, and a girl has to get a pedicure!
When I first began this business, there was a lot of down time. If someone called or emailed asking me for pricing on a trip, I could take a day or two to pull everything I could possibly find. Plus at that time while I was still learning the different suppliers systems, it took that long. There was plenty of time for baking, piddling around the house, running for a pedicure and meeting up with friends at lunch or dinner. Not so much anymore. There were days even in the beginning when I worked until 7 or 8 in the evening. But now, it is becoming the norm. I'm not complaining. I'm actually kind of excited. It means, I'm getting busy and busy is good when you are getting a business started. I'm trying to plan to meet a friend for lunch or dinner this week and now I'm wondering how I'll get away for that long. That's a very good thing.
So, I guess I'll shut this blog down for today and get busy working on rescheduling a canceled flight to Orlando. Have a great Monday! Don't expect to hear from me too much this week it's going to be busy!
People, the fun part of being a travel agent is not in the changing of plans, it is in the making of plans. I know what you're thinking. But Susan, you always say to schedule the trip early to get the best possible price.... we can always make changes once it is booked. I do say that and I mean it. But I secretly hope that you will be so pleased with the trip that we have put together that you don't want to change a thing. I know in the back of my mind that this probably won't be the case, but a girl can dream.
So, anyway in addition to my own personal trip this week to New York and Boston, I have a lot of clients scheduled to travel in the coming months. Lots of little adjustments are being made to their trips now. I'm busily running numbers every week in hopes of saving a client a few dollars on the trips that we already booked. Of course there are new trips to plan for people who have contacted me. In addition, I'm trying to pull trips regularly and post them in various locations either sending emails to people who may have expressed an interest in the past, writing blogs about them, or posting on Facebook and Twitter in an attempt to get some people interested in traveling to a place they haven't previously thought of. I try to write this blog somewhat regularly. You might be surprised at the amount of time I spend on it. Even with all the grammatical errors and the haphazard way in which it is written, it takes time. On top of that, I have regular weekly networking opportunities that I attend, and a girl has to get a pedicure!
When I first began this business, there was a lot of down time. If someone called or emailed asking me for pricing on a trip, I could take a day or two to pull everything I could possibly find. Plus at that time while I was still learning the different suppliers systems, it took that long. There was plenty of time for baking, piddling around the house, running for a pedicure and meeting up with friends at lunch or dinner. Not so much anymore. There were days even in the beginning when I worked until 7 or 8 in the evening. But now, it is becoming the norm. I'm not complaining. I'm actually kind of excited. It means, I'm getting busy and busy is good when you are getting a business started. I'm trying to plan to meet a friend for lunch or dinner this week and now I'm wondering how I'll get away for that long. That's a very good thing.
So, I guess I'll shut this blog down for today and get busy working on rescheduling a canceled flight to Orlando. Have a great Monday! Don't expect to hear from me too much this week it's going to be busy!
Thursday, July 18, 2013
No Bites Yet... But Christmas on the Danube Still Looks Good
Hmmmmm.... I was certain that I would get at least one query regarding a river cruise down the Danube at Christmas time after yesterday's blog. But I didn't get a single bite. But worry not. I come from a long line of people who like fishing. I can dangle my line out in the water with the best of them.
So, let's just have a little "look see" shall we, regarding this magnificent Christmas cruise that I've been touting. First of all, we're looking at a 9 day trip from Vienna to Prague. Or if you like you can go from Prague to Vienna. There are several things you need to keep in mind when considering an Avalon River Cruise. The first is that most of the activities that I will mention are included in the price of your cruise. Additionally, sparkling wine at breakfast, soft drinks at lunch and beer or wine at dinner are also included in the price of your cruise. So you don't end up with an outrageous bar tab on the morning you leave. Also, Avalon offers these amazing Panorama suites in which the windows slide back and your entire suite almost becomes a balcony. They are truly amazing. Even without springing for the most expensive room, you'll at least have a terrific view of the beautiful scenery as you pass.
One of the big draws when it comes to river cruising is that you are on a nice calm river with no high seas and land is always visible from your ship. So, if you are freaked out by the thought of an ocean cruise, you don't have most of those worries on a river cruise. Additionally, if you think you couldn't stand to be cooped up on a ship for days without getting off, no worries here. You'll be stopping daily sometimes even more than once in a day. Finally, don't like the idea of being just one of thousands on board? That's not a concern on an Avalon river cruise. You'll be one of only about 180 with a crew to passenger ratio that will blow your mind. So let's get on with our cruise....
Day 1 Arrive in Vienna, Austria on December 3, 2014. You'll have until 5 PM to enjoy the City of Music on your own. Once you board, you'll meet your crew at a welcome reception prior to your first dinner on board.
Day 2 This day will also be spent in Vienna so don't worry if your plane arrived late yesterday! Today you'll enjoy a guided tour that is included in your cruise and you'll see the Hofburg Imperial Palace where you will see the Vienna Boys Choir. Youl'll also see the Lipizzaner Stallions, the Vienna Opera House and St. Stephen's Cathedral along with other sights. You'll have time to visit the Christmas market. There is an optional concert available tonight. But in my mind, the concert wouldn't be optional for me. How could anyone go to Vienna and not attend a concert?
Day 3 Durnstein - Melk - We'll arrive in Durnstein today as we enjoy our breakfast. Durnstein is the heart of the Wachau wine region. So this is looking to be a pretty good day. A local guide will take us on a walking tour of the town and tell us about King Richard the Lionheart of England, who was imprisoned in the castle whose ruins still stand above the town. After the walking tour, we will re-board the beautiful Avalon Panorama and sail through the Wachau Valley arriving at Melk in the early afternoon. Here we'll visit the 11th century Benedictine Abbey which is one of Europe's largest monasteries. This evening back on board, we'll sample some of the Famous Wines of the region.
Day 4 Linz - Passau, Germany - Linz which is Austria's 3rd largest city is situated on both sides of the river. From here if you choose, you can take an optional all day tour to Salzburg to see the Sound of Music sites! During this tour you'll also learn about how mice caused the composition of the carol Silent Night and learn how Austrians celebrate Christmas. You'll catch back up with the ship in Passau, Germany in the early evening. If you choose not to take the optional tour, you can stay on board and relax as you cruise on to Passau. Once there, you can see the highlights of the city in a guided walk which includes St. Stephen's Cathedral which is one of the worlds largest churches boasting organs with nearly 18,000 pipes.
Day 5 Regensburg - The Celts were in Regensburg in 500 BC and this is one of Germany's best preserved medieval cities since it is the only German city not bombed during WWII. We'll have a guided walk in the city featuring some of the 1,300 listed buildings of historic interest. We'll walk across the 12th century Steinerne Brucke (Stone Bridge), the oldest of it's kind in Germany. You can get a beer to enjoy your included snack with at the Histrische Wurstkuche (Old Sausage Kitchen). You'll be able to spend the afternoon on your own visiting the Regensburg Christmas market and buying up gingerbread before boarding the ship again. Tonight before dinner we'll have a beer tasting on board and enjoy some of the Famous Beers of Germany.
Day 6 Nuremberg - This morning we will cruise down the Danube before lunch and listen to an onboard lecture about the Main Danube Canal. This afternoon in Nuremberg, you can choose from two different included excursions either the Guided Sightseeing Tour which will feature some of the cities medieveal fortifications including Kaiserburg or you can go on a Nuremberg Trails tour and see the Old Town illuminated with festive lights and the Christmas market.
Day 7 Nuremberg (Disembarkation - Prague, Czech Republic - After breakfast, we'll say so long to the crew and head to Prague by motorcoach. Lunch and dinner will be on your own.
Day 8 Prague - One of the main sights and first on our list is the Astronomical Clock which was built in 1410. We'll visit Hradcany Castle Grounds, St. Vitus Cathedral and the Charles Bridge on our guided tour today. Then we be able to spend the rest of the day shopping in the Christmas markets while sipping svarene vino (hot mulled wine) before returning to our Prague hotel the Hilton Prague. Breakfast is included today. Lunch and dinner will be on your own as you visit the city.
Day 9 Prague - Your vacation ends with breakfast.
All of this starts as $2,319 per person for the land and cruise. I can't imagine a more beautiful time of year to visit this amazing part of Europe and just think of the wonderful Christmas gifts you'll bring back from all the markets. If this sounds like your ultimate Christmas gift to yourself, call me at 469-828-0254 or send me an email at susmeyers@yahoo.com. You could buy it for yourself this year and take the trip next year!
So, let's just have a little "look see" shall we, regarding this magnificent Christmas cruise that I've been touting. First of all, we're looking at a 9 day trip from Vienna to Prague. Or if you like you can go from Prague to Vienna. There are several things you need to keep in mind when considering an Avalon River Cruise. The first is that most of the activities that I will mention are included in the price of your cruise. Additionally, sparkling wine at breakfast, soft drinks at lunch and beer or wine at dinner are also included in the price of your cruise. So you don't end up with an outrageous bar tab on the morning you leave. Also, Avalon offers these amazing Panorama suites in which the windows slide back and your entire suite almost becomes a balcony. They are truly amazing. Even without springing for the most expensive room, you'll at least have a terrific view of the beautiful scenery as you pass.
One of the big draws when it comes to river cruising is that you are on a nice calm river with no high seas and land is always visible from your ship. So, if you are freaked out by the thought of an ocean cruise, you don't have most of those worries on a river cruise. Additionally, if you think you couldn't stand to be cooped up on a ship for days without getting off, no worries here. You'll be stopping daily sometimes even more than once in a day. Finally, don't like the idea of being just one of thousands on board? That's not a concern on an Avalon river cruise. You'll be one of only about 180 with a crew to passenger ratio that will blow your mind. So let's get on with our cruise....
Day 1 Arrive in Vienna, Austria on December 3, 2014. You'll have until 5 PM to enjoy the City of Music on your own. Once you board, you'll meet your crew at a welcome reception prior to your first dinner on board.
Day 2 This day will also be spent in Vienna so don't worry if your plane arrived late yesterday! Today you'll enjoy a guided tour that is included in your cruise and you'll see the Hofburg Imperial Palace where you will see the Vienna Boys Choir. Youl'll also see the Lipizzaner Stallions, the Vienna Opera House and St. Stephen's Cathedral along with other sights. You'll have time to visit the Christmas market. There is an optional concert available tonight. But in my mind, the concert wouldn't be optional for me. How could anyone go to Vienna and not attend a concert?
Day 3 Durnstein - Melk - We'll arrive in Durnstein today as we enjoy our breakfast. Durnstein is the heart of the Wachau wine region. So this is looking to be a pretty good day. A local guide will take us on a walking tour of the town and tell us about King Richard the Lionheart of England, who was imprisoned in the castle whose ruins still stand above the town. After the walking tour, we will re-board the beautiful Avalon Panorama and sail through the Wachau Valley arriving at Melk in the early afternoon. Here we'll visit the 11th century Benedictine Abbey which is one of Europe's largest monasteries. This evening back on board, we'll sample some of the Famous Wines of the region.
Day 4 Linz - Passau, Germany - Linz which is Austria's 3rd largest city is situated on both sides of the river. From here if you choose, you can take an optional all day tour to Salzburg to see the Sound of Music sites! During this tour you'll also learn about how mice caused the composition of the carol Silent Night and learn how Austrians celebrate Christmas. You'll catch back up with the ship in Passau, Germany in the early evening. If you choose not to take the optional tour, you can stay on board and relax as you cruise on to Passau. Once there, you can see the highlights of the city in a guided walk which includes St. Stephen's Cathedral which is one of the worlds largest churches boasting organs with nearly 18,000 pipes.
Day 5 Regensburg - The Celts were in Regensburg in 500 BC and this is one of Germany's best preserved medieval cities since it is the only German city not bombed during WWII. We'll have a guided walk in the city featuring some of the 1,300 listed buildings of historic interest. We'll walk across the 12th century Steinerne Brucke (Stone Bridge), the oldest of it's kind in Germany. You can get a beer to enjoy your included snack with at the Histrische Wurstkuche (Old Sausage Kitchen). You'll be able to spend the afternoon on your own visiting the Regensburg Christmas market and buying up gingerbread before boarding the ship again. Tonight before dinner we'll have a beer tasting on board and enjoy some of the Famous Beers of Germany.
Day 6 Nuremberg - This morning we will cruise down the Danube before lunch and listen to an onboard lecture about the Main Danube Canal. This afternoon in Nuremberg, you can choose from two different included excursions either the Guided Sightseeing Tour which will feature some of the cities medieveal fortifications including Kaiserburg or you can go on a Nuremberg Trails tour and see the Old Town illuminated with festive lights and the Christmas market.
Day 7 Nuremberg (Disembarkation - Prague, Czech Republic - After breakfast, we'll say so long to the crew and head to Prague by motorcoach. Lunch and dinner will be on your own.
Day 8 Prague - One of the main sights and first on our list is the Astronomical Clock which was built in 1410. We'll visit Hradcany Castle Grounds, St. Vitus Cathedral and the Charles Bridge on our guided tour today. Then we be able to spend the rest of the day shopping in the Christmas markets while sipping svarene vino (hot mulled wine) before returning to our Prague hotel the Hilton Prague. Breakfast is included today. Lunch and dinner will be on your own as you visit the city.
Day 9 Prague - Your vacation ends with breakfast.
All of this starts as $2,319 per person for the land and cruise. I can't imagine a more beautiful time of year to visit this amazing part of Europe and just think of the wonderful Christmas gifts you'll bring back from all the markets. If this sounds like your ultimate Christmas gift to yourself, call me at 469-828-0254 or send me an email at susmeyers@yahoo.com. You could buy it for yourself this year and take the trip next year!
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
The Stuff You MUST Buy That You Don't Need Before You Go On Vacation
The countdown is on. In only 10 days my niece and I will be leaving on our trip to New York and Boston. What is it about trips that forces you to spend money unnecessarily on things you really don't even need but perceive that you need?
Let me give you an example. I went to Target yesterday for toothpaste. If you have been reading this blog for any amount of time or have read my other blog Unemployment 101 you already know that it is impossible for me to get out of Target for less than $150. You might be surprised to know that my trip to Target for toothpaste yesterday only cost $124. Sadly though, it all fit in one bag and it wasn't even one of those big gigantic ones that they put toys in. I decided that I had to have a new magnifying mirror for the trip, new tweezers, more sample size shampoo and conditioner... Then once you get into all those sample sized items you can't stop. Believe me, I've tried. It's like going into a black hole. You can't get back out unless you fill up a shopping cart with 2 oz. products.
Then last night I was checking email once more before I went to bed.... After all, you never know when someone might decide that they simply must know what a River Cruise down the Danube at Christmas time might cost and you certainly don't want anyone to have to wait on that information! For the record nobody asked last night, but if you're curious, send me an email.... susmeyers@yahoo.com. :-) Anyway, as I was checking email I came across an email from my friends at REI. Unfortunately, they weren't contacting me to ask about Danube River Cruises on Avalon at Christmas time either, but again, if this sounds interesting to you..... call me!
They are having a sale for members. 25% off any one REI brand item. Now, I know this doesn't sound like much of a sale. But REI practically never runs sales except at the end of a season. So, I decided to look through all the REI brand stuff. I literally looked through 1,000 items and found a travel umbrella for $24 that I felt absolutely MUST be attached to my backpack when I head to NY and a travel document holder. Now, this isn't just any travel document holder. It protects the microchips on credit cards and passports so that no one can steel your identity or swipe your credit card as you pass by them. And HELLOOOOO it was only $15!!!!!
So here's the next problem I ran into when I went to checkout. If you buy $50 worth of stuff, shipping is free. Otherwise, it's $8.99 and up. That's more than you save with your promo code. Hey REI, I wasn't born yesterday! When I worked at the former employer who shall not be named I learned that those flat rate shipping fees are revenue producing miracles for retailers. It costs them a couple of bucks to ship your package and the rest is clear profit for them. So, for a few minutes I actually was suckered in to shopping around to see if there was anything else on the website that I just had to have. I found a water bottle cage for my bike which I really have been wanting. But I still wasn't up to the $50 mark so I emptied my cart and decided I'll make a trip over to REI today. Folks, it's at Park and Preston in Plano, I could literally ride my bike over there if I wasn't so lazy and then I wouldn't even be spending gas money to get there. So, yes I was nearly suckered in by REI to buy something on their website last night that I DO NOT need for the trip. But I resisted.
I have multiple umbrellas and don't need another, I'll just attach one of those to my backpack with a clip. That is what made the REI umbrella so special, it came with a clip. Well guess what, I already have two clips hanging on my backpack one of which is just waiting for me to attach one of the umbrellas already in my possession. I will go see if they have those travel document holders in the store today. If they don't I'm sure I'll find something else that I feel I can't possibly travel to NY without. But I probably won't spend $50.... right????!?!?!?!!!?!
Have a great Wednesday. Watch out for smart camels asking you what day it is.
Let me give you an example. I went to Target yesterday for toothpaste. If you have been reading this blog for any amount of time or have read my other blog Unemployment 101 you already know that it is impossible for me to get out of Target for less than $150. You might be surprised to know that my trip to Target for toothpaste yesterday only cost $124. Sadly though, it all fit in one bag and it wasn't even one of those big gigantic ones that they put toys in. I decided that I had to have a new magnifying mirror for the trip, new tweezers, more sample size shampoo and conditioner... Then once you get into all those sample sized items you can't stop. Believe me, I've tried. It's like going into a black hole. You can't get back out unless you fill up a shopping cart with 2 oz. products.
Then last night I was checking email once more before I went to bed.... After all, you never know when someone might decide that they simply must know what a River Cruise down the Danube at Christmas time might cost and you certainly don't want anyone to have to wait on that information! For the record nobody asked last night, but if you're curious, send me an email.... susmeyers@yahoo.com. :-) Anyway, as I was checking email I came across an email from my friends at REI. Unfortunately, they weren't contacting me to ask about Danube River Cruises on Avalon at Christmas time either, but again, if this sounds interesting to you..... call me!
They are having a sale for members. 25% off any one REI brand item. Now, I know this doesn't sound like much of a sale. But REI practically never runs sales except at the end of a season. So, I decided to look through all the REI brand stuff. I literally looked through 1,000 items and found a travel umbrella for $24 that I felt absolutely MUST be attached to my backpack when I head to NY and a travel document holder. Now, this isn't just any travel document holder. It protects the microchips on credit cards and passports so that no one can steel your identity or swipe your credit card as you pass by them. And HELLOOOOO it was only $15!!!!!
So here's the next problem I ran into when I went to checkout. If you buy $50 worth of stuff, shipping is free. Otherwise, it's $8.99 and up. That's more than you save with your promo code. Hey REI, I wasn't born yesterday! When I worked at the former employer who shall not be named I learned that those flat rate shipping fees are revenue producing miracles for retailers. It costs them a couple of bucks to ship your package and the rest is clear profit for them. So, for a few minutes I actually was suckered in to shopping around to see if there was anything else on the website that I just had to have. I found a water bottle cage for my bike which I really have been wanting. But I still wasn't up to the $50 mark so I emptied my cart and decided I'll make a trip over to REI today. Folks, it's at Park and Preston in Plano, I could literally ride my bike over there if I wasn't so lazy and then I wouldn't even be spending gas money to get there. So, yes I was nearly suckered in by REI to buy something on their website last night that I DO NOT need for the trip. But I resisted.
I have multiple umbrellas and don't need another, I'll just attach one of those to my backpack with a clip. That is what made the REI umbrella so special, it came with a clip. Well guess what, I already have two clips hanging on my backpack one of which is just waiting for me to attach one of the umbrellas already in my possession. I will go see if they have those travel document holders in the store today. If they don't I'm sure I'll find something else that I feel I can't possibly travel to NY without. But I probably won't spend $50.... right????!?!?!?!!!?!
Have a great Wednesday. Watch out for smart camels asking you what day it is.
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
A Very Disappointing Travel Blog
This blog, my Facebook page, my Twitter page and my Linked In page are all about travel. It's what I do and it's what I concentrate on Monday through Friday and many times on Saturday and Sunday too. I try to keep my personal opinions out of it except for the occasional recommendation on places to visit and things to do while you are there. And then somebody comes along and tries to ruin things and I have to express an opinion that I really don't want to express on my blog. But this is my forum. So here it goes. I apologize in advance.
Dear Politicians,
Stop trying to save us from ourselves and just do the jobs you were elected to do in an orderly manner. I'm not going to get into my party affiliation here because I don't think it is appropriate to do so. I don't want any political arguments on my travel blog. I just want politicians and everyone else for that matter to go do their job and leave me to do mine as I see fit.
Senator Wendy Davis (D), we all understand that you are passionate about your views and I am sure that you believe you know what's best for all of us common folks who obviously aren't gifted and pretty enough to be you. But here's a clue for you. DO NOT CALL MY HOUSE BEFORE 8:00 A.M. WITH A PRE-RECORDED PLEA to join you for a live town hall where you will undoubtedly try to make Texans understand that your way is the only way. When my phone rings before 8 A.M. I assume something horrible has happened and it can be upsetting.
I was able to ignore you Senator Davis (D) while you were just hanging out in Austin doing your part to keep it weird but now you've gone and made it personal. I sincerely don't care whether you lean right or left or just totally go off in either of those ditches. What I do care about is that you called and woke me up this morning and I will not stand for it. The time between 9:00 P.M. and 8:00 A.M. is mine. Don't EVER call me during that time again in a lame attempt to manipulate me into your way of thinking. Waking me before my alarm goes off is not how you win my favor. Basically, what you have done is akin to what the Japanese did on December 7, 1941 Senator Davis (D). You have "awoke a sleeping giant". And this giant is now officially pissed.
By the way, if you were my Senator and my district voted you into that position that you hold, maybe I could take this out on the morons in my district who voted for you and I wouldn't have to use this format to get my point across. But you are NOT my Senator. Ken Paxton (R) is my state Senator. I would just like to go on record now saying that Senator Paxton (R) has NEVER called and woke me up from a sound sleep before my alarm went off. So, guess who I'll be voting for (again) in the next election.....
I only have one more point to get across before I begin my campaign against Senator Davis (D), who (did I mention this?) is not even my Senator. Here it is. Texas elected those people in Austin to do exactly what is being done. If your party loses a vote because the majority did not agree with you that means that the Texans who cared enough to vote probably agree with how things went. We may not always be able to effect national elections the way we would like because there are too many people in Illinois, Ohio, New York and California who think differently from Texans. But here in our little corner of the world, things are being done the way the majority of the voters see fit.
So Senator Davis (D) - Don't Mess With Texas and don't wake me up before 8:00 A.M.
Dear Politicians,
Stop trying to save us from ourselves and just do the jobs you were elected to do in an orderly manner. I'm not going to get into my party affiliation here because I don't think it is appropriate to do so. I don't want any political arguments on my travel blog. I just want politicians and everyone else for that matter to go do their job and leave me to do mine as I see fit.
Senator Wendy Davis (D), we all understand that you are passionate about your views and I am sure that you believe you know what's best for all of us common folks who obviously aren't gifted and pretty enough to be you. But here's a clue for you. DO NOT CALL MY HOUSE BEFORE 8:00 A.M. WITH A PRE-RECORDED PLEA to join you for a live town hall where you will undoubtedly try to make Texans understand that your way is the only way. When my phone rings before 8 A.M. I assume something horrible has happened and it can be upsetting.
I was able to ignore you Senator Davis (D) while you were just hanging out in Austin doing your part to keep it weird but now you've gone and made it personal. I sincerely don't care whether you lean right or left or just totally go off in either of those ditches. What I do care about is that you called and woke me up this morning and I will not stand for it. The time between 9:00 P.M. and 8:00 A.M. is mine. Don't EVER call me during that time again in a lame attempt to manipulate me into your way of thinking. Waking me before my alarm goes off is not how you win my favor. Basically, what you have done is akin to what the Japanese did on December 7, 1941 Senator Davis (D). You have "awoke a sleeping giant". And this giant is now officially pissed.
By the way, if you were my Senator and my district voted you into that position that you hold, maybe I could take this out on the morons in my district who voted for you and I wouldn't have to use this format to get my point across. But you are NOT my Senator. Ken Paxton (R) is my state Senator. I would just like to go on record now saying that Senator Paxton (R) has NEVER called and woke me up from a sound sleep before my alarm went off. So, guess who I'll be voting for (again) in the next election.....
I only have one more point to get across before I begin my campaign against Senator Davis (D), who (did I mention this?) is not even my Senator. Here it is. Texas elected those people in Austin to do exactly what is being done. If your party loses a vote because the majority did not agree with you that means that the Texans who cared enough to vote probably agree with how things went. We may not always be able to effect national elections the way we would like because there are too many people in Illinois, Ohio, New York and California who think differently from Texans. But here in our little corner of the world, things are being done the way the majority of the voters see fit.
So Senator Davis (D) - Don't Mess With Texas and don't wake me up before 8:00 A.M.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Heading to NY and Boston
Maybe I froze a few mosquitoes out yesterday with my positive thoughts of Antarctica or perhaps they are just otherwise occupied. But I have no new mosquito bites in the last 24 hours. So I'm going to call yesterday's blog a victory.
Today let's talk about the trip I'll be taking with my niece later this month. I know that I have touched on this. But it is only 16 days away and since the day I booked the air and hotels and purchased the baseball tickets I haven't even thought about it again. I have lots of planning to do.
The whole point of going to Boston and New York is that she loves baseball and wants to go to some baseball games. I got us tickets in the upper level of Yankee Stadium on Saturday the 27th. They aren't great seats but it will be inside the ballpark and I suppose that is all that matters. The Yankees will be playing the Rays. It has a 1:05 start time. So obviously, we'll take the subway out to the Bronx and then back.
I really wanted to buy play tickets on the day of the play so that I could get them cheaper. The problem is that I don't think we are going to have a free afternoon so that we can stand around Times Square waiting in line for play tickets. On Sunday we are on a tour all day long. Monday we leave for Boston. So I just went ahead and bought tickets on NYTix this morning. We're going to see Kinky Boots at 8:00 on Saturday night. Again, not great seats but inside the venue. So, Saturday will be a very busy day.
So, we'll arrive on Friday a little before noon. But we are flying into Newark. I've flown into every airport in the NYC area at some point in the past except this one. I understand that it'll take us an hour or so to get from the airport to Times Square where we are staying. So, I'm still trying to decide on transportation into the city. I have nothing planned for the balance of that day. I would imagine that once we drop our bags off at the hotel, we'll be walking around Times Square and maybe up to Central Park stopping at various locations along the way. The only thing left to figure out for that day is where we will be having dinner that night. I have a feeling that someone in our travel party is going to want to go by the Sienfeld diner and I've already looked at the menu to confirm that it will fit comfortably in our price range.
Saturday is totally planned except for where we will be having dinner. Sunday is sort of completely planned since I booked us on an all day tour. Here's my thinking on this tour thing. I've been to NY a number of times. I've seen everything I want to see. It's going to be 180 degrees and humid in NY in late July. The bus will be air conditioned and I'll be able to read while Rebecca sees NY. This tour also takes you on a 1 hour harbor cruise past the Statue of Liberty, it includes lunch in Little Italy and includes admission to the Top of the Rock which I am hoping will mean that I don't have to stand in that horrible line again to get to the top of the Empire State Building. I mean surely the Top of the Rock is just as good as the ESB, right?
Monday we'll be taking Amtrak to Boston. We leave Penn Station at 8:30 a.m. We'll be in Boston at 12:36. In Boston our hotel is in the Back Bay area. Now, I'm kind of excited about this part of the trip except that it will be 170 degrees and humid in Boston. (But hey! It's a 10 degree improvement from Manhattan!) I've never been to Boston before. The only problem is that we only have 2 days there and part of one of those days will be spent at Fenway. Of course, a ballgame at Fenway will be great. But there is also so much to see in and around Boston and I feel like we aren't going to have much time for it. Our baseball game isn't until Tuesday night. So we will have all afternoon on Monday to explore. I already have a Boston book and am starting to look for what we absolutely can't miss during our visit.
We'll have most of the day on Tuesday to sightsee. Then we'll have to get to the game in time for a 7:10 first pitch vs. the Mariners. For this game we'll be sitting in the center field bleachers. So, I'm thinking we will get a real feel for a Red Sox game. Maybe more real than we want..... We leave on Wednesday on a 2:36 p.m. flight which means we'll have to be at the airport a little after noon. This entire trip is going to be done with no checked luggage since the Amtrak tickets I bought don't allow any checked luggage. I think that's going to be the most challenging part of the trip.
So, if you have any suggestions on places to eat in either NY or Boston, I'm open to hear them. Also, if you have thoughts on the most important things to see in Boston, let me know. Have a great day!
Today let's talk about the trip I'll be taking with my niece later this month. I know that I have touched on this. But it is only 16 days away and since the day I booked the air and hotels and purchased the baseball tickets I haven't even thought about it again. I have lots of planning to do.
The whole point of going to Boston and New York is that she loves baseball and wants to go to some baseball games. I got us tickets in the upper level of Yankee Stadium on Saturday the 27th. They aren't great seats but it will be inside the ballpark and I suppose that is all that matters. The Yankees will be playing the Rays. It has a 1:05 start time. So obviously, we'll take the subway out to the Bronx and then back.
I really wanted to buy play tickets on the day of the play so that I could get them cheaper. The problem is that I don't think we are going to have a free afternoon so that we can stand around Times Square waiting in line for play tickets. On Sunday we are on a tour all day long. Monday we leave for Boston. So I just went ahead and bought tickets on NYTix this morning. We're going to see Kinky Boots at 8:00 on Saturday night. Again, not great seats but inside the venue. So, Saturday will be a very busy day.
So, we'll arrive on Friday a little before noon. But we are flying into Newark. I've flown into every airport in the NYC area at some point in the past except this one. I understand that it'll take us an hour or so to get from the airport to Times Square where we are staying. So, I'm still trying to decide on transportation into the city. I have nothing planned for the balance of that day. I would imagine that once we drop our bags off at the hotel, we'll be walking around Times Square and maybe up to Central Park stopping at various locations along the way. The only thing left to figure out for that day is where we will be having dinner that night. I have a feeling that someone in our travel party is going to want to go by the Sienfeld diner and I've already looked at the menu to confirm that it will fit comfortably in our price range.
Saturday is totally planned except for where we will be having dinner. Sunday is sort of completely planned since I booked us on an all day tour. Here's my thinking on this tour thing. I've been to NY a number of times. I've seen everything I want to see. It's going to be 180 degrees and humid in NY in late July. The bus will be air conditioned and I'll be able to read while Rebecca sees NY. This tour also takes you on a 1 hour harbor cruise past the Statue of Liberty, it includes lunch in Little Italy and includes admission to the Top of the Rock which I am hoping will mean that I don't have to stand in that horrible line again to get to the top of the Empire State Building. I mean surely the Top of the Rock is just as good as the ESB, right?
Monday we'll be taking Amtrak to Boston. We leave Penn Station at 8:30 a.m. We'll be in Boston at 12:36. In Boston our hotel is in the Back Bay area. Now, I'm kind of excited about this part of the trip except that it will be 170 degrees and humid in Boston. (But hey! It's a 10 degree improvement from Manhattan!) I've never been to Boston before. The only problem is that we only have 2 days there and part of one of those days will be spent at Fenway. Of course, a ballgame at Fenway will be great. But there is also so much to see in and around Boston and I feel like we aren't going to have much time for it. Our baseball game isn't until Tuesday night. So we will have all afternoon on Monday to explore. I already have a Boston book and am starting to look for what we absolutely can't miss during our visit.
We'll have most of the day on Tuesday to sightsee. Then we'll have to get to the game in time for a 7:10 first pitch vs. the Mariners. For this game we'll be sitting in the center field bleachers. So, I'm thinking we will get a real feel for a Red Sox game. Maybe more real than we want..... We leave on Wednesday on a 2:36 p.m. flight which means we'll have to be at the airport a little after noon. This entire trip is going to be done with no checked luggage since the Amtrak tickets I bought don't allow any checked luggage. I think that's going to be the most challenging part of the trip.
So, if you have any suggestions on places to eat in either NY or Boston, I'm open to hear them. Also, if you have thoughts on the most important things to see in Boston, let me know. Have a great day!
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
I Hate Mosquitoes!
It's happening again and I don't like it one bit! Mosquitoes are living in my house and have initiated sneak attacks. I only began to notice them last night but already I have a number of bites on my body and it freaks me out! I can deal with the knowledge of a bite from a creature that I saw biting me. But when I didn't see the bite taking place and suddenly I have them all over the place, I freak! What is it about my downstairs bathroom that attracts them so well? Okay, I get it that the toilet has standing water in it. But there's nothing you can do about that, right?
So, I've decided to concentrate on places I could visit that mosquitoes don't live... EVER! So after several intense minutes of research I have discovered the only place on the planet that mosquitoes never live. Ladies and Gentlemen, today we are traveling telepathically to the Antarctica! I know what you're thinking, sort of extreme, right? But you do what you have to do to keep from being attacked by the little blood suckers at your very own computer under your staircase while doing nothing more than typing a simple blog entry. So prepare for a quick flight to South America where we'll board a small ship for an Antarctica cruise.
One of the things that I found most interesting when looking into this is that most cruise lines who cruise the area suggest you leave your parka at home since they provide one for you that you can take home when your cruise ends. I guess they do this for several reasons but probably mostly because they want to make sure that everyone has a proper coat that will keep them warm enough to avoid too many people in the ships medical office following the first excursion to land. There's nothing worse on a cruise of any size in any location than an overflowing medical office.
The Antarctica cruising season is from December through February since that is their summer. During that time of year average temperatures range from 23 to 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Plus you are on water. So it feels colder. I'm normally not a cold weather person, but if this is what it takes to keep mosquitoes away year round, maybe I could suffer through it. Most Antarctica cruise ships carry no more than 250 passengers. These are small ships designed to be able to get into tight locations. The hulls are made to withstand some hits against icebergs so you probably don't need to worry too much about a Titanic repeat while on board. But what you do have to consider is that if the weather turns bad in a location even though it is on your itinerary you might by-pass it and go someplace else with a simple announcement from the ships captain. In fact, on most cruises there will be at least one itinerary change during the trip. So, be flexible.
Another thing to keep in mind for your cruise is that your not on Oasis of the Seas. There are no swimming pools, but many of the ships do have hot tubs. There is no FloRider on board or an ice skating rink (if you want ice, you can hang out with the penguins during one of your stops). Whales, seals, sea lions, and penguins do not swim by on command. So this might not be the best cruise to the the kiddos on. They will probably get bored when there are no penguins to see. In most stops the excursions are just a part of the cruise and everybody does the same thing. The cruise line will tell you what to expect for each stop prior to the cruise. Almost all stops will require a tender by Zodiac. Some may actually use a helicopter tender. But what this means to you is that if you require a mobility scooter to get around while on board ship, this cruise is not for you. You must be very mobile to do an Antarctica cruise.
Some of the things you have to carry are: a couple of pairs of water proof pants, thermal underwear, more than one pair of gloves (they get wet), a couple of pairs of sunglasses, a lightweight rain jacket, a warm hat, sunscreen for any exposed skin, binoculars, a good camera, a waterproof backpack and lots of extra ziplock bags and waterproof non-skid rubber boots. Leave the Deet at home.
Some of these cruises still have formal nights so you would need to check with your cruise line to determine whether or not you'll need to pack formal clothes. One of the interesting things about most of these ships is that they do not have assigned dinner seating. I guess since the ship is so small and you do most excursions together, you sort of get to know everyone anyway. For more information read the article provided on this link from Cruise Critic. Have a great trip and enjoy your time away from the mosquitoes!
So, I've decided to concentrate on places I could visit that mosquitoes don't live... EVER! So after several intense minutes of research I have discovered the only place on the planet that mosquitoes never live. Ladies and Gentlemen, today we are traveling telepathically to the Antarctica! I know what you're thinking, sort of extreme, right? But you do what you have to do to keep from being attacked by the little blood suckers at your very own computer under your staircase while doing nothing more than typing a simple blog entry. So prepare for a quick flight to South America where we'll board a small ship for an Antarctica cruise.
One of the things that I found most interesting when looking into this is that most cruise lines who cruise the area suggest you leave your parka at home since they provide one for you that you can take home when your cruise ends. I guess they do this for several reasons but probably mostly because they want to make sure that everyone has a proper coat that will keep them warm enough to avoid too many people in the ships medical office following the first excursion to land. There's nothing worse on a cruise of any size in any location than an overflowing medical office. 
The Antarctica cruising season is from December through February since that is their summer. During that time of year average temperatures range from 23 to 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Plus you are on water. So it feels colder. I'm normally not a cold weather person, but if this is what it takes to keep mosquitoes away year round, maybe I could suffer through it. Most Antarctica cruise ships carry no more than 250 passengers. These are small ships designed to be able to get into tight locations. The hulls are made to withstand some hits against icebergs so you probably don't need to worry too much about a Titanic repeat while on board. But what you do have to consider is that if the weather turns bad in a location even though it is on your itinerary you might by-pass it and go someplace else with a simple announcement from the ships captain. In fact, on most cruises there will be at least one itinerary change during the trip. So, be flexible. 
Another thing to keep in mind for your cruise is that your not on Oasis of the Seas. There are no swimming pools, but many of the ships do have hot tubs. There is no FloRider on board or an ice skating rink (if you want ice, you can hang out with the penguins during one of your stops). Whales, seals, sea lions, and penguins do not swim by on command. So this might not be the best cruise to the the kiddos on. They will probably get bored when there are no penguins to see. In most stops the excursions are just a part of the cruise and everybody does the same thing. The cruise line will tell you what to expect for each stop prior to the cruise. Almost all stops will require a tender by Zodiac. Some may actually use a helicopter tender. But what this means to you is that if you require a mobility scooter to get around while on board ship, this cruise is not for you. You must be very mobile to do an Antarctica cruise.
Some of the things you have to carry are: a couple of pairs of water proof pants, thermal underwear, more than one pair of gloves (they get wet), a couple of pairs of sunglasses, a lightweight rain jacket, a warm hat, sunscreen for any exposed skin, binoculars, a good camera, a waterproof backpack and lots of extra ziplock bags and waterproof non-skid rubber boots. Leave the Deet at home.
Some of these cruises still have formal nights so you would need to check with your cruise line to determine whether or not you'll need to pack formal clothes. One of the interesting things about most of these ships is that they do not have assigned dinner seating. I guess since the ship is so small and you do most excursions together, you sort of get to know everyone anyway. For more information read the article provided on this link from Cruise Critic. Have a great trip and enjoy your time away from the mosquitoes!
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
You-ah NAP-KIN....
Yesterday as I finished up my blog, I was reminded of a story from my youth. But there was no time to retell it. So, now you have to read about it today. During the 9th grade my Dad got transferred and we had to move to Lumberton, Tx. I left all of my friends in Nacogdoches. We moved in February. Later that year one of my very good friends families also moved. They moved from Nacogdoches to Temple.
So that summer when we wanted to visit each other the logistics weren't that easily dealt with. But our mothers managed to get us together nevertheless. When all was said and done, my friend, Dana ended up coming to Beaumont on a bus. We picked her up at the bus station which was in a seedy part of Beaumont and after a week, my parents drove both of us to Houston and put us on an Amtrak train that took us to Temple. I then spent a week at Dana's house. My return trip was also on Amtrak. I think we may have done this another summer but I'm not sure. I also recall taking a bus to Temple at least once. But that might have been after we moved to Bay City. I don't recall.
During that first train trip to Temple, I remember being awed by everything going on around me. As a 16 year old I was struck by how old fashioned traveling by train seemed. The train had a dining car and we went there for breakfast. This was my first experience with ordering tea and getting hot water and a tea bag rather than a tall refreshing glass of ice tea. Since then I've always known that when ordering ice tea in unfamiliar surroundings, to add the word "ice" into my order. But I did manage to drink the hot tea with enough milk and sugar added. After all, I didn't want to seem uncouth in my first ever grown up travel experience.
After we had entered the dining car, we found a table and sat down. The tables were sat with white dishes and silverware and there were cloth napkins folded neatly at each place setting. Almost immediately after we took our seats our waiter, a large African-American gentleman came over and greeted us. He's the one who took our drink orders not even bothering to ask if I wanted that tea hot or iced. But that's neither here nor there. A few minutes later, he brought my tea out. I'm sure that Dana had ordered a Coke or something. I don't remember her trying to figure out what to do with teabags. So, I'm pretty sure, she didn't make my same mistake. But as the man brought my tea out, my napkin was still neatly folded on my place setting. He approached with his hands full and paused at my side looked me in the eye an in a very loud and forceful voice said "You-ah NAP-KIN....." I had no idea what he was saying but I could tell by the way he was looking at me that it was directed at me. I'm sure that I gave him a big ol' deer in the headlights look. He stood there with his hands full and then said again, "You-ah NAP-KIN...." Just a little louder. I think I began looking around me to see if I could figure out what "You-ah NAP-KIN...." might mean in english.
Finally, after he had said it three or more times, I looked at my napkin and realized this was what he was talking about. But I still didn't get that he wanted me to remove it from the table and place it on my lap. Hey, I was 16 and from east Texas, don't judge! I don't recall exactly how many times he said it before he finally gave up, put Dana's drink down and then whipped my napkin off of my place setting with a flourish and placed it on my lap. Most people were looking at our table to see who had upset the waiter by the time this had been done. I was mortified. After that, I wasn't all into the dining car anymore. The remainder of the day was very long and by the end of the train ride, we had spent several hours sitting in a corn field just outside of Temple as workers worked to fix some train tracks that had buckled so that we could pass. But I wasn't taken to task by any other waiters.
When I returned to Lumberton, I told my family the story about my napkin. To this day, when we sit at a table with cloth linens in a nice restaurant, someone will usually say, "You-ah NAP-KIN" while staring at someone's napkin across the table. But beyond that, they don't give me a hard time about it.
So that summer when we wanted to visit each other the logistics weren't that easily dealt with. But our mothers managed to get us together nevertheless. When all was said and done, my friend, Dana ended up coming to Beaumont on a bus. We picked her up at the bus station which was in a seedy part of Beaumont and after a week, my parents drove both of us to Houston and put us on an Amtrak train that took us to Temple. I then spent a week at Dana's house. My return trip was also on Amtrak. I think we may have done this another summer but I'm not sure. I also recall taking a bus to Temple at least once. But that might have been after we moved to Bay City. I don't recall.
During that first train trip to Temple, I remember being awed by everything going on around me. As a 16 year old I was struck by how old fashioned traveling by train seemed. The train had a dining car and we went there for breakfast. This was my first experience with ordering tea and getting hot water and a tea bag rather than a tall refreshing glass of ice tea. Since then I've always known that when ordering ice tea in unfamiliar surroundings, to add the word "ice" into my order. But I did manage to drink the hot tea with enough milk and sugar added. After all, I didn't want to seem uncouth in my first ever grown up travel experience.
After we had entered the dining car, we found a table and sat down. The tables were sat with white dishes and silverware and there were cloth napkins folded neatly at each place setting. Almost immediately after we took our seats our waiter, a large African-American gentleman came over and greeted us. He's the one who took our drink orders not even bothering to ask if I wanted that tea hot or iced. But that's neither here nor there. A few minutes later, he brought my tea out. I'm sure that Dana had ordered a Coke or something. I don't remember her trying to figure out what to do with teabags. So, I'm pretty sure, she didn't make my same mistake. But as the man brought my tea out, my napkin was still neatly folded on my place setting. He approached with his hands full and paused at my side looked me in the eye an in a very loud and forceful voice said "You-ah NAP-KIN....." I had no idea what he was saying but I could tell by the way he was looking at me that it was directed at me. I'm sure that I gave him a big ol' deer in the headlights look. He stood there with his hands full and then said again, "You-ah NAP-KIN...." Just a little louder. I think I began looking around me to see if I could figure out what "You-ah NAP-KIN...." might mean in english.
Finally, after he had said it three or more times, I looked at my napkin and realized this was what he was talking about. But I still didn't get that he wanted me to remove it from the table and place it on my lap. Hey, I was 16 and from east Texas, don't judge! I don't recall exactly how many times he said it before he finally gave up, put Dana's drink down and then whipped my napkin off of my place setting with a flourish and placed it on my lap. Most people were looking at our table to see who had upset the waiter by the time this had been done. I was mortified. After that, I wasn't all into the dining car anymore. The remainder of the day was very long and by the end of the train ride, we had spent several hours sitting in a corn field just outside of Temple as workers worked to fix some train tracks that had buckled so that we could pass. But I wasn't taken to task by any other waiters.
When I returned to Lumberton, I told my family the story about my napkin. To this day, when we sit at a table with cloth linens in a nice restaurant, someone will usually say, "You-ah NAP-KIN" while staring at someone's napkin across the table. But beyond that, they don't give me a hard time about it.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Another Graduation Trip Planned
Planning has taken place and almost the only the thing left to do now is to start the traveling. My only niece, Rebecca presented me with a complete change in plans last week. I thought we would be going on a cruise during the fall. But it turns out she will be in school in the fall and she didn't want to go on a cruise anyway. In fact she doesn't even want to spend her vacation near a beach. I'm not sure where she came from or how we can possibly be related. But there you have it.
So instead of a November cruise out of Houston on Princess, we'll be leaving later this month and heading to.... are you ready for this? New York and Boston! For several years, I have had a policy against going to the Northeast in the middle of the summer. There are only five people alive who could talk me into it. They all have a last name in common. The main plan of the trip is to go to a Yankees game and a Red Sox game. So, the trip is booked and paid for. The baseball tickets have been purchased. We'll be seeing the Yankees take on the Mariners and the Red Sox take on the Rays. We haven't decided on a play yet. I really want to see Kinky Boots but the tickets for that are super expensive. So, unless we can get discount tickets somehow, I don't see that happening. Maybe we can get some discount tickets the day that we plan to go to the play.
I've been to NY more times than I have kept up with. So, I booked us on one of those all day Grayline tours. I'm thinking I might be able to get some reading done during that. It includes a boat ride past the Statue of Liberty and a trip up to the Top of the Rock. I'm thinking that if we do that it might mean we can skip going to the top of the Empire State Building. It's not that I have anything against the ESB. I just don't ever want to have to pay all that money to have to stand in line for hours again. The major difference between this trip to NYC and all the others I've been on is that after 3 nights, we'll be leaving on Amtrak from Penn Station and heading to Boston.
I've never been to Boston. I'm sort of looking forward to it. The only thing is that we only have two nights there and we will be at Fenway Park one of those nights. So, I don't think we'll get to see too much. Maybe Boston is a city that doesn't require much time. But I sort of doubt that. The good thing is that our hotel seems to be located very well. In fact both of our hotels are located in good areas. In NYC we'll be staying at The Manhattan at Times Square. It seems like a nice hotel. In Boston we're staying at The Midtown. I'm going to have to do some research before I decide what we'll do in Boston. So, other than the Red Sox tickets I haven't planned anything for that leg of the trip yet. I'm sure that Rebecca will have thoughts on what we need to do too.
The train ride form NY to Boston should be fun too. I rode on Amtrak a few times when I was a kid. But somehow I think NY to Boston will be much more exciting than Houston to Temple. Ya know? The most challenging part of the trip is that we have to do it all with only carry-on luggage. Our Amtrak trip doesn't allow checked luggage. So, that means that there can be NO checked luggage for the entire trip. I'm not sure how I'm going to get a teenage girl through New York and Boston with one rolling carry on and a backpack. Wish me luck!
Well, I better shut this down for today. Mom and Dad are heading into town this afternoon and we are going to the Rangers game this afternoon. I'm so excited! It's fedora night at the Ballpark!!!! Woohoo!!!! Have a good Tuesday.
So instead of a November cruise out of Houston on Princess, we'll be leaving later this month and heading to.... are you ready for this? New York and Boston! For several years, I have had a policy against going to the Northeast in the middle of the summer. There are only five people alive who could talk me into it. They all have a last name in common. The main plan of the trip is to go to a Yankees game and a Red Sox game. So, the trip is booked and paid for. The baseball tickets have been purchased. We'll be seeing the Yankees take on the Mariners and the Red Sox take on the Rays. We haven't decided on a play yet. I really want to see Kinky Boots but the tickets for that are super expensive. So, unless we can get discount tickets somehow, I don't see that happening. Maybe we can get some discount tickets the day that we plan to go to the play.
I've been to NY more times than I have kept up with. So, I booked us on one of those all day Grayline tours. I'm thinking I might be able to get some reading done during that. It includes a boat ride past the Statue of Liberty and a trip up to the Top of the Rock. I'm thinking that if we do that it might mean we can skip going to the top of the Empire State Building. It's not that I have anything against the ESB. I just don't ever want to have to pay all that money to have to stand in line for hours again. The major difference between this trip to NYC and all the others I've been on is that after 3 nights, we'll be leaving on Amtrak from Penn Station and heading to Boston.
I've never been to Boston. I'm sort of looking forward to it. The only thing is that we only have two nights there and we will be at Fenway Park one of those nights. So, I don't think we'll get to see too much. Maybe Boston is a city that doesn't require much time. But I sort of doubt that. The good thing is that our hotel seems to be located very well. In fact both of our hotels are located in good areas. In NYC we'll be staying at The Manhattan at Times Square. It seems like a nice hotel. In Boston we're staying at The Midtown. I'm going to have to do some research before I decide what we'll do in Boston. So, other than the Red Sox tickets I haven't planned anything for that leg of the trip yet. I'm sure that Rebecca will have thoughts on what we need to do too.
The train ride form NY to Boston should be fun too. I rode on Amtrak a few times when I was a kid. But somehow I think NY to Boston will be much more exciting than Houston to Temple. Ya know? The most challenging part of the trip is that we have to do it all with only carry-on luggage. Our Amtrak trip doesn't allow checked luggage. So, that means that there can be NO checked luggage for the entire trip. I'm not sure how I'm going to get a teenage girl through New York and Boston with one rolling carry on and a backpack. Wish me luck!
Well, I better shut this down for today. Mom and Dad are heading into town this afternoon and we are going to the Rangers game this afternoon. I'm so excited! It's fedora night at the Ballpark!!!! Woohoo!!!! Have a good Tuesday.
Monday, July 1, 2013
Let Me Tell You a Little About Corsica
The Tour de France began on Saturday. This is always a big time of year for me (I watch nearly every moment of it) not because I am really into cycling or anything. I could never be that into anything that involves so much exercise. No, my main interest is based on the fact that the cyclists ride past so many amazing views. I watch it every year and add new places I'd like to go to my list. The most recent of those places is Corsica. Since Saturday the cyclists have been riding around the tiny French island located in the Mediterranean closer to Italy than mainland France.
In the last couple of days I've learned that there is more to Corsica than just beautiful views and amazing beaches. Although, what more do you need? For instance, did you know that both Napoleon and Christopher Columbus were from Corsica? It's an island that today only has a population of 302,000 and yet two of the most famous men in history came from there. I actually have an ancient coin from Columbus' native city of Calvi when the island was ruled by the Republic of Genoa during Columbus' lifetime. By the time Napoleon was born in Ajaccio (pronounced A-jack-ci-o) it had become an independent republic briefly (the Republic of Corsica) and then in 1769, the same year Napoleon was born there, it became a part of France.
It is the most mountainous island in the Mediterranean and is one of the only French regions that retains it's own language for everyday usage. About 10% of the population still speaks Corsican as a first language and about 50% of the population have some proficiency in the language. Oh! Here's one more little tidbit, there are a lot of fortress ruins along the coastline. The reason they had so many fortresses along the coast was because they were very susceptible to attacks from Barbary pirates from the African coast. Arrrrgh!!!! Now, all of that might seem boring to you. But if you combine the fact that Columbus was from there with the photos that I'm about to show you, you might begin to think this is a pretty cool places.... Take a look at these.
So, that's about all I have for you on Corsica. If you require more than that to become obsessed with it as I have become then I can't help you. I was captivated after a single photo. So, tomorrow the cyclists will be on the mainland. Maybe that will provide a new topic. Let's see where those steroid popping guys take us in the next three weeks.
So, that's about all I have for you on Corsica. If you require more than that to become obsessed with it as I have become then I can't help you. I was captivated after a single photo. So, tomorrow the cyclists will be on the mainland. Maybe that will provide a new topic. Let's see where those steroid popping guys take us in the next three weeks.
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