Sorry for the great delay in writing about this trip. We have been so busy that I just couldn't get back to --or perhaps were not in the mood-- to write. Full of information and inspiration, but not ready to write.
Now is a quick post about the trip so far.
Celebrated my birthday on British Airways flight from San Jose to London and beyond to Amsterdam. I shared with each of the flight crew some birthday chocolate candy (choice of milk or dark). It was amazing the service received. Yes, we were in Club class, but I do think they went over the top to make sure my birthday went smoothly.
Arrival in Amsterdam was rainy and dark. We were escorted through the terminal to baggage claim and then the hotel pick-up point. We never met our driver; a kind driver from another hotel of the chain decided we waited too long and took us to our destination even though the traffic put him behind his schedule. At that hotel, our room was on a canal which allowed us to watch the crew teams practice in the morning. We traveled to the Anne Frank house and a Tuk Tuk-cab tour of the city with a cheese/wine tasting. After 2 nights we moved to a new hotel not far from the train station, because we told be taking an early train to Paris and didn't want to miss the next adventure.
The new hotel was a Hilton with an upgrade to concierge class and a lovely cocktail party. We has a
lovely view of the city, though I must say the room was smaller than that at the Wyndham. Access to the train the following morning was very fast. It was made faster because the hotel had one of their bellmen, a lovely young man from Italy, accompany us to the station (it was pitch black out) take our luggage, and place it and us aboard the train. Our very first train in Europe!
The seats were very comfortable and to our surprise, meals, drinks and snacks were included. The bonus to this form of transportation was that it let us see the countryside, avoid going to two more airports, and it was fast. Our Thalys train was a real treat! And highly recommended.
Next stop Paris, Oh la la!
The Optimistic Tourist
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
November/December 2016 Adventure
This trip probably took more advanced planning than any other trip we have taken. I spotted the offer for this trip a little more than a year before the ship was to set sail. We decided it was a good thing to project into the future because it does give one something to look forward to and plan. Oh, and plan and discuss we did!
Being optimistic, it is necessary to have some plans as to what one visualizes will happen. Though there may be changes during the trip, those need to be seen as opportunities to see, learn, and do new things. All that said, I started this planning adventure by finding a cruise that would stop at Casablanca ---a place that Marshall and I had talked about visiting one day. The cruise met other requirements we had for travel:
1. It would be in low travel season.
2. It would go to some other new ports as well as some we have seen.UIKeyInputDownArrow
3. The price was pretty good and there were rooms located where we wanted to be. ^
We would be able to fit in some time to see family in London and Lille.
Next began what we would like to see prior to the ship leaving from Venice. We needed to decide what we wanted to see this time around. Target events needed to be scheduled first.
We knew we would be doing London Thanksgiving on Saturday, November 19. I wanted to see Mama Mia on stage, so ordered 4 matinee tickets for the Thursday before. Visiting with family was the other objective of this trip segment since they live so far away from Stockton. We now have 2 time frames to work around: London visit and ship departure from Venice. Get a hotel in Venice 2 nights before embarkation. Decision to make; do we go to the previous hotel or try something new? Back to the website!
After the London plans were confirmed, we began discussing what other places and things we wanted to see. Marshall has been fascinated with the canal boats in Europe for some time and wanted to see more. Tours for canal boats are our of season during this time of year in the London area but never in Amsterdam! That information had us put another new pin on the map and travel to Amsterdam was confirmed. Details for that segment were done through our travel website. theoptimistictourist.dreamtrips.com and the prices were below those on other sites and sometimes through the same vendor! Transportation was arranged for arrival as well as tours to Anne Frank house, a Tuk Tuk tour, and cheese tasting.
We decided that since we were "on the continent" we should go to Paris and see the Moulin Rouge show. Last Paris trip we were in the neighborhood, saw the windmill but had no clue it was that show. Reservation made! Hotel reservation a return to the known.
We discuss it would be nice to visit the area from which Marshall's grandfather emigrated. Marshall got Christoph's Facebook address and the plans to visit Lille begin. Marshall wanted to meet as many Wattels as possible.
To connect all of these cities, wishes, and activities together we decided to take the trains of Europe. We would board our first train in Amsterdam and arrive in Paris to attend the show that evening. The next was a local train to Lille. Eurostar would take us from Lille to St. Pancras station in London. A ride on Italotren would get us between Rome and Venice.
The time after leaving London was set to visit Rome. We had been there before, but it was rainy and it was more a drive-by tour. Our hotel was set, driver from airport arranged, and flight to Rome confirmed. Transport to Heathrow was arranged by Jason in London. Our airport pick to the hotel was arranged as well as tours of the colosseum, forum, pantheon, Vatican, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's. Even the Hop on, Hop off was arranged.
Transportation to the Venice hotel and the Venice cruise ship terminal would be made upon arrival we agreed. There needed to be a little spontaneity
NOTE; The choice of some of our hotels was made on proximity to the train stations.
Communication while away was an important factor, so I went to T-Mobile on two different occasions to insure I had a plan that would work throughout Europe.* I went through the entire itinerary and was assured the switch in my plan would make calling in Europe a breeze.**
Marshall had arranged with Aurora to take us to San Jose and be there for our return.
Plans made; packing to be done. AND away we go.
^There was an offer that would move us to a suite and the ultimate drink package for a very nominal fee, so we took it instead.
*The boys at TMobile did not know what they were talking about and signed me up for a plan to call Europe from the US.
*.*If I forfeited the $200 T-Mobile has, they would set me up for another plan.
Solution: pull the sim card and get a new number in the UK. Save the sim card for return to US--then find a new carrier.
Until next time, The Optimistic Tourist
Being optimistic, it is necessary to have some plans as to what one visualizes will happen. Though there may be changes during the trip, those need to be seen as opportunities to see, learn, and do new things. All that said, I started this planning adventure by finding a cruise that would stop at Casablanca ---a place that Marshall and I had talked about visiting one day. The cruise met other requirements we had for travel:
1. It would be in low travel season.
2. It would go to some other new ports as well as some we have seen.UIKeyInputDownArrow
3. The price was pretty good and there were rooms located where we wanted to be. ^
We would be able to fit in some time to see family in London and Lille.
Next began what we would like to see prior to the ship leaving from Venice. We needed to decide what we wanted to see this time around. Target events needed to be scheduled first.
We knew we would be doing London Thanksgiving on Saturday, November 19. I wanted to see Mama Mia on stage, so ordered 4 matinee tickets for the Thursday before. Visiting with family was the other objective of this trip segment since they live so far away from Stockton. We now have 2 time frames to work around: London visit and ship departure from Venice. Get a hotel in Venice 2 nights before embarkation. Decision to make; do we go to the previous hotel or try something new? Back to the website!
After the London plans were confirmed, we began discussing what other places and things we wanted to see. Marshall has been fascinated with the canal boats in Europe for some time and wanted to see more. Tours for canal boats are our of season during this time of year in the London area but never in Amsterdam! That information had us put another new pin on the map and travel to Amsterdam was confirmed. Details for that segment were done through our travel website. theoptimistictourist.dreamtrips.com and the prices were below those on other sites and sometimes through the same vendor! Transportation was arranged for arrival as well as tours to Anne Frank house, a Tuk Tuk tour, and cheese tasting.
We decided that since we were "on the continent" we should go to Paris and see the Moulin Rouge show. Last Paris trip we were in the neighborhood, saw the windmill but had no clue it was that show. Reservation made! Hotel reservation a return to the known.
We discuss it would be nice to visit the area from which Marshall's grandfather emigrated. Marshall got Christoph's Facebook address and the plans to visit Lille begin. Marshall wanted to meet as many Wattels as possible.
To connect all of these cities, wishes, and activities together we decided to take the trains of Europe. We would board our first train in Amsterdam and arrive in Paris to attend the show that evening. The next was a local train to Lille. Eurostar would take us from Lille to St. Pancras station in London. A ride on Italotren would get us between Rome and Venice.
The time after leaving London was set to visit Rome. We had been there before, but it was rainy and it was more a drive-by tour. Our hotel was set, driver from airport arranged, and flight to Rome confirmed. Transport to Heathrow was arranged by Jason in London. Our airport pick to the hotel was arranged as well as tours of the colosseum, forum, pantheon, Vatican, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's. Even the Hop on, Hop off was arranged.
Transportation to the Venice hotel and the Venice cruise ship terminal would be made upon arrival we agreed. There needed to be a little spontaneity
NOTE; The choice of some of our hotels was made on proximity to the train stations.
Communication while away was an important factor, so I went to T-Mobile on two different occasions to insure I had a plan that would work throughout Europe.* I went through the entire itinerary and was assured the switch in my plan would make calling in Europe a breeze.**
Marshall had arranged with Aurora to take us to San Jose and be there for our return.
Plans made; packing to be done. AND away we go.
^There was an offer that would move us to a suite and the ultimate drink package for a very nominal fee, so we took it instead.
*The boys at TMobile did not know what they were talking about and signed me up for a plan to call Europe from the US.
*.*If I forfeited the $200 T-Mobile has, they would set me up for another plan.
Solution: pull the sim card and get a new number in the UK. Save the sim card for return to US--then find a new carrier.
Until next time, The Optimistic Tourist
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