red-eye, -------part 2

NOTE***This will make no sense if you have not read Part 1, so read it first.

Going to Mexico or Hawaii, I have taken early morning flights and  I may as well have just forgotten about sleeping.  To get to that 5 or 6 am take off, it was necessary to be at the airport when it was long before morning's first light.   Why anyone would call it "top o' the morning", I do not know. It is night to me and I really wish they would have had a red eye-- I would have gotten some sleep and more beach time in the tropics.  Is that the glutton coming out again? (You had to have read part 1 to understand.)   

When we have a driver, it is waiting around for the driver to come and the short ride to Sacramento is not enough time to merit the title "sleep."  Staying near SFO or Oakland makes for a "doze off" only with need to coordinate the shuttle ride and check-in times.  Should have taken that red eye. 

On the other side of the coin,  arrivals can be in the pitch dark of the night.  After arriving in several strange cities in the dark of night,  I am wondering about taking those day flights that appear so convenient.  Yes, I was able to sleep the night away in the comfort of a top notch hotel and have that leisurely breakfast and extra cup of coffee in the morning before the flight; how did  such little pleasures wreck such total disorientation when I arrived at my new "favorite" destination.  From the air, blue runway lights look the same in any city--some just have more blue than others.  Maybe it wasn't my fault; maybe they didn't have a different flight time--it is possible.  That was really true for my last strange--not odd, but new--city.   It sure helps to have someone waiting with your name on their sign as you exit the terminal to make that afternoon flight a delight.  Did I just loose a complete day of my vacation by flying during the day in the wrong direction?

Sleep may be difficult if one spends the day sleeping on a plane. Should have taken that red-eye!

   

MORE HISTORICAL TALES OF TRAVEL 

Slow and steady—forget about winning any race.

May 2018  TransAtlantic crossing on Jewel of the Seas

After leaving Puerto Rico on May 6, we spent 5 days at sea.  Most people were really ready to get off of the boat and touch land once again.  This fact was attested to by the abundance of seating found in the Windjammer dining room.  For the first time since boarding, we were able to have just about any seats we wanted.  We could debate the view we wanted rather than what we could get.  No crowds, no lines, no children, few people!  Totally delightful!  Unfortunately, no shopping or casino as the drawback.  Oh, the internet works via my phone! That was our first land day on La Palma. Canary Islands.

Prior to our leaving home, we committed to a tour on Tenerife. Since we did not do anything on this island the last time we did a crossing, we felt we needed to see what it has to offer.  We saw beautiful coasts, forests, moonscapes and a very tall volcano.  Most tours go in a loop and you get all around an island, not this— you can’t get all around.  It is true, you can’t get there from here.  About six hours into the tour, we were more than eager to return to the ship.  Visions of empty hallways and alcoves danced in our heads.  The last two hours, with yet another stop for coffee and bathroom, was almost more than we could bare.  Had we known how to get back to the ship, we would have escaped.

Surviving the Spring Adventure: Part 2

May 2018. Following Jewel of the Seas TransAtlantic crossing 

We returned to Milan after our Glacier and Brenina Express adventures.  Following a light of resting up and visiting the Executive Lounge at the Hilton, we taxied to the international airport of Milan.  That was the only sane art of the Italian transportation on that day.

At last, we located the check-in counter.  Our bags checked through, tickets in hand, we declined the wheelchair assist to the gate--a major mistake.  With a great deal of time prior to our flight, we ventured through the terminal to the assigne gate.

Spontaneous travel? Really?

NOTE:  I will be posting a few of the previously unpublished editions of our previous trips and then switch to writing with the mister a combined blog called The Optimistic Tourists11@blogspot.com. 

There will be several more of the unpublished to come. Thanks for reading.

September15, 2018 Planning is almost complete

It is hard to believe we decided to go on a cruise at the end of the month just 7 days ago!  Usually we or I decide more than 9 months in advance where we will go and then work to build a trip.  This is short notice for sure.  I am not even sure what we want to see, but we will not let an opportunity go to waste.  

This started when an email came advertising a 14 night cruise on Holland America Westerdam from Vancouver, BC, via Alaska to Yokohama, Japan at a price we found hard to believe.  After putting in our Mariner numbers, it became $500 cheaper and they were giving us more onboard credit!  Hard to pass up, but that was the cheap part of the adventure.  The real costs were to come along as the week progressed. 

The following was written post trip and therefore contains a critique of a supplier or two. 

We decided that this might be our only opportunity to get to Asia, again, so we expanded the land portion of our trip.   We would now visit  Hiroshima and Seoul.  it was learned that  getting to Seoul required an 18 hour layover in Shanghai, so we decided we may as well stay for several days and explore that city also.  These side trips and the fare home were where the REAL costs.  Airfares and hotels ran just about double the bargain price of the cruise.  Considering the value of having a wonderful adventure together, it was well worth the total financial expenditures.

There was only one unexpected glitch in the planning;  the ship would let us off at 7 am and our flight left Haneda airport at 10:30.  The transfer provider, Viator/ Cherry Tomato, said the time was too short and we would need to rebook our flight. We were not advised of this until 2 days before arriving in Yokohama.   It was an extra $600 and we lost the $200 already paid on nonrefundable tickets.  Worst of all was that we were at the airport in less than 30 minutes and would have had plenty of time for the flight. I kicked myself for listening to the "service". Viator and Cherry Tomato never offered as much as an apology!  Those companies are off of our supplier lists for future travel and/or recommendations. Viator and Cherry Tomato get 5 rotten tomatoes  from us.  

Viator did compensate us for our lost money and reimbursed us for prepaids when I sent a copy of the text conversation to them.  Now I check my credit card benefits or get travel insurance. 

Sept 29—to Vancouver. 

The big “splaining” as Ricky Ricardo would say.

Sitting here in Puerto Vallarta on Ground Hog Day 2019, I have been sifting through events of the past that I did not publish.    I keep an ongoing dialogue of what we have done, expect to do, etc. —when traveling, this blog.  Unfortunately, I have not posted them to share.  I am not sure exactly why that has been, perhaps it is that there is so much shared information I subconsciously decided to “Keep it to myself”.

Knowing that, you will be getting some glimpses of the travel M and I have been doing over the past few years if you choose to read  The Optimistic Tourist.  I must warn you it may be a little disjointed; just consider it a conversation with yours truly.

Best to you .
MEW

Rejoice! Sound the trumpets! The Optimistic Tourist is back! Hallaulah!!

NOTE:  I will be posting a few of the previously unpublished editions of our previous trips and then switch to writing with the mister a combined blog called The Optimistic Tourists11@blogspot.com. 

There will be several more of the unpublished to come. Thanks for reading.

With ages and stages,  we move from what was in vogue becomes blasé ;  the enthusiasm wanes and the luster dulls.  As it were, the thrill of travel, new faces, places, and friends never hits that low;  just the task of sitting down and putting the experiences in permanent form were just unappealing.

With that said/written--and I am not sure when, it's time to start publishing some of the adventures we have been having. Life is a whirlwind of intellectual stimulation and excitement.    Tales of our adventures may not appear in order of activity, so you will just have to stick with me/us and find out where we are in each report.  

Today we are in Seoul, South Korea.  We are in home's tomorrow since crossing the international dateline.  Just finished talking with Jared and family who area n yesterday and sent text to Jason ho just got to today; Time travelers.  

We have been to the Peace Park, Tunnel #3, The DMZ, and city.  Going out in a bit to go to the market.  What is an good trip without a trip to the local market?   Almost hate to leave the hotel since our view is of a wooded area in the city; quite pleasant and serene.  

Cutting this entry short as the time is fleeting and we return home tomorrow.  More to come soon!

Survived the Spring Adventure Part #1

Our spring cruise aboard the Jewel of theSeas was absolutely delightful.  The people we met online during the planning stages of our adventure were friendly, charming, and ever so delightful.  It was the best group of Cruise Critic folks w have met and we hope to meet some of them again on future adventures.

The crossing was smooth and the crew outstanding.  We loved “the suite” life on this trip and it was amazing.  Our room steward, Sandy, made everything seamless.  We were also fortunate to have the concierge, Romania, who made arrangements with ease.  Captain Justin was the most personable we have met on any of our cruises and be aboard again with him at the healm.

We caught a flight to Milan after our arrival port and stayed at the Hilton that night. The following day , leaving our bags in hotel storage, we ventured via train to Zermatt, Switzerland.  We discovered a place where parkas are in style year round.

Zermatt does not have regular auto traffic; travel is by bus, electric mini cars, bicycle, or walking.  There is a cog train that takes you to the outer arches of the community and beyond,  It was quite an experience to be snowed on in May!  We felt “up close and personal” with the Matterhorn.  One of our others discoveries was that it was quite expensive—$25 for a meal at MacDonald’s and it wasn’t what we were used to.  Note, the fondue was delicious and we had it more than once.

The qbjective for being in Zermatt was to ride the Glacier Express, which we did.  he full route took 8 hours to complete as it retraced some of the track to reach all of the destinations.  Majestic mountains and valleys stretched throughout the trip.  It was amazing how much parts of the trip reminded us of Yosemite, the Sierra Nevadas, and other locations in the United States.  We remarked that the USA has it all.  The last stop on the Glacier express in our direction was St. Moritz.  We disembarked next to the beautiful snow-fed picturesque lake.  Fortunately, our hotel balcony overlooked the lake, also.

After a good night’s rest and a bountiful breakfast, we boarded the Berninna Express for our return to Milan.  Another day of  spectacular scenery!  How much of this wonderful stuff an one take?
Arriving at the Milan station is a story in itself, but from there we returned to the Hilton and relaxed and regenerated until our nxt day’s adventure was to begin.