Palermo and Naples (2 Days in 1)

First off, the internet on the ship sucks!!! The only good thing about bringing our own laptop is the ability to download the pictures from the camera to free up the memory card. Downloading pictures to the blog is impossible. The one pic from Barcelona did not post correctly, so everyone will have to wait until I get home to see pictures.

Anyway, Palermo was very nice. The port is very industrial. Lots of mechanical type stuff around and freighters, no other cruise ships in port. The city itself is right there. Our excursion was Mysterious Palermo and was in the afternoon. We left the ship around 1:30 and were back by 5:00. We saw many sites on the bus ride to Zisa Castle. That was our first stop. Our tour guide, Rita, was very informative and spoke very good english. After the castle we went to the Catacombs to see all the mummies. The dead were not really buried, but kind of hung from the wall where the families would come visit them. The last person "buried" in this way was a little 2 yr old girl, in 1920. She was preserved in a different manner than others and it was amazing how she looked. She had her hair and all her facial features. It was really facsinating.

Today was Naples. Again, our excursion was in the afternoon and I guess we were all so tired that we all slept until 11:00. Got everyone up and went and grabbed some lunch and were off. Our excursion today was a tour of Herculaneum. This is near Pompeii. Both cities were destroyed in 78 AD by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. Where some people in Pompeii were able to escape, there were no survivors of Herculaneum. In 1768 the cities were discovered and were uncovered. We walked through the reamins of the city and it was so interesting how wall paintings and such were perserved after all those thousands of years covered in volcanic ash and mud. After the ruins we went to a cameo factory and saw how they made cameos. That was fun and of course then they try to get you to buy their stuff. Some very expensive stuff.

Tomorrow is Olbia. Again an afternoon excursion to Costa Smerelda (Emerald Coast) We are having a great time. I'll try to post again soon, only if the darn internet will cooperate. And sorry about the pictures.

Ciao

Day 1 pic

On The Ship

We are finally on the ship. We got to the port around 12 PM and ckin was very smooth. It didn't take more than 20 mins., it that. We hung around the terminal for a bit cking out some of the little shops they had there. Then I asked someone when they were going to start calling the boarding numbers (we had a 6) and he said they weren't and we could just get on the ship. We had the standard embarking photo taken and stepped outside and up the gangway. I was soooo excited.

We went up to deck 9 and they announced our arrival. That always gives me chills. So cool. We headed over to Topsiders and grabbed a bite to eat. By the time we finished, it was time to go to our rooms. We have two category 5 staterooms (verandah rooms) w/ a connecting door between. Sam and I in one and the kids in the other.

We didn't do much today. Just kind of hung around and wandered around. Lugguge came quickly and everyone got all unpacked and organized. Dinner was @ 8:30 in Animators Palatte. I had lamb, which I thought was very good. We made it to the sailaway party on deck just in time. It was fun, but pretty much the same as it always it. We headed back to the room to again try to figure out the internet. As you can see, we finally got signed on.

Kids ordered room service at midnight and I hit the sack. Still needing to recover a bit from the jet lag. Tomorrow is a sea day. Just planning on taking it easy and see what happens. Formal night tonight, so we all get to get dressed up fancy.

I'm going to try to post some pics later. More later, if the internet cooperates. (So far, so good)

We Made It!!!

We arrived in Barcelona yesterday aroun 5:30 PM. Flights were fine, mostly on time. We did take off from DC about 45 mins late, but it wasn't an issue with our connecting flight. It was not difficult once in London getting throught the airport and didn't take much time at all.

The hotel, Rivioli Ramblas, is very nice and comfortable. We had two rooms, one double and one triple. Sam and Zach took the double and the girls and I took the triple. I was hoping for connecting rooms or at least two rooms right next door, but they were seperated by a room. It worked out ok. We didn't get out to really see anything, everyone was so tired. Everyone fell asleep almost immediately, but I tried to stay awake and made it until about 9:30 PM and was up again at 12 AM and back down around 2 AM. Woke up this morning at 7:00 and we all went to the buffet at the hotel for breakfast. It was a decent breakfast, but 19 Euros per person.

We are heading out in a few. Just waiting for our ride to the ship. I'll check back later with more info.

Almost.....

I can't believe that I booked this vacation 14 months ago and it is almost here. We leave tomorrow for the airport around 6 PM for our 10 PM flight. First stop London, then on to Barcelona.

I'm pretty much packed. My hopes of only 5 suitcases has been dashed. We are now at 7. Gotta watch the weight, have to keep them at 44 lbs each due to the fact that one leg of our flight is on Iberia Airlines and their limit is 44 lbs. No wonder I have 7 bags!!!

Still have a bunch of last minute stuff to get done, a little ironing, believe it or not. Have to make a run to the bank tomorrow and then a run to the courthouse to file papers for the tenants who just can't seem to manage to pay their rent. Also have to run to the grocery store, so that my mom will have sustenance while we are gone.

Well, next time I ck in we will be on the ship. Ciao

Got The Passport : )

Well, we got Julie's passport today. It was a rather trying experience. Our appt. for pickup was 11:30 and it took 3.5 hrs of waiting on line till I finally got that sucker in my hot little hands. It's done and she's good for 5 years. Oh, and the van is fixed. Picked it up this morning before heading to the passport office.

Still have tons of stuff to get done. Just a few more days and we are off.

6 Days and Counting

Today was the big day for Julie's passport. Up at 5 AM and leave the house by 6 AM. No problem, right? The three of us in the car, Sam backing out, smash, crack!!! What the hell was that? Sam hit the side view mirror against the basketball hoop pole. Tore the mirror right off. Well, it's hanging by a thread or should I say wire. Tomorrow it goes to the dealer to be fixed.

Anyway, we made it to the Passport office by 7:15 and the line was down the block. We were flipping out thinking this was going to take hours. They called people who had appts and put us in a seperate line and then inside to wait in another line and then to sit and wait for our number to be called. It took about 45 minutes and we get to pick up her new passport on Thurs. So glad that that is all done with.

Now, I need to start thinking about packing. I just have to pack for Julie and Zach and of course myself. Laura can take care of her own stuff. I've warned her that she is limited to 3 pairs of shoes; sneakers, sandels and dress shoes. We'll see how that works out!!!

The excitement is building. Can't wait.

Passports????

Of course I know that you need a passport to leave the country. I just didn't know that they need to be valid for at least 6 months after the end of your trip. Julie's passport expires in August, 1 month after we get back. And with a 10 to 12 week wait to receive a passport, well, I don't have that much time. Don't panic folks. It's all taken care of. We have an appt. on June 19th @ 8:00 AM @ the DC passport office to expediate her passport and should probably have it in hand by the 21st or 22nd. Talk about cutting it close.

You have to call an automated # to make the appt. and it took me an hour to get through to a computer, from 12 midnite to 1 AM. I was a bit tired the next morning, but at least it's done and she'll be good for another 5 years.

Leaving in 13 days, that's less than 2 weeks!!! So much still to do. I feel like a kid on Christmas, I am so excited. The rest of the crew, well, they just kind of put up with me.

Here we are, another day closer. I have bags and bags of stuff piled up here in my office. Shampoos, conditioners, shower gels, etc... I've started setting aside some clothes. I'm trying to limit us to one suitcase each. Wonder how that will work out!! With 3 females packing, it could be a challenge.

Ok, off to get some more laundry done.

Disney Magic

This is a picture of the Disney Magic heading out of Florida to the Med.

6/5/07---Getting Started

Just getting this new blog started so that anybody that wants to can follow along on our Disney Mediterranean Cruise. We will be leaving from Dulles Airport on June 25th 2007 @ 10:00 PM w/ a connection in London. We arrive in Barcelona, Spain on June 26th, 2007 @ 5:30 PM. We will be spending one nite @ the Hotel Rivioli Ramblas and on June 27th it will be off to the port to board our favorite cruise ship for a 10 day cruise. Being 22 days out, I'm starting to get things organized. I keep wanting to pack a suitcase, but I guess I can wait a few more days for that.

That's it for now. Ck back in a few days for more exciting updates.