Paris Hop-on Hop-off Bus 2008

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 01:06:31 +0100

Paris is one of my most favorite cities. And, one of the best ways to easily get around town is by using the L'Open Tour hop-on, hop-off bus. You can purchase a 1 or 2 day tour with 4 tour routes (29 Euros/1 day; 32 Euros/2 days). There are 50 stops total. Like other hop-on hop-off buses, there is an enclosed bottom deck with an open air top deck. Buses come every 10-30 minutes and you receive earphones for a guided tour. You can purchase the tickets as you get on the bus. This is also a Gray Line Company so they also offer tours outside the city of Paris and evening combo packages within Paris. Map of Routes Brochure Information #1 Brochure Information #2

London Hop-on Hop-off Bus 2008

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 01:05:14 +0100

There are multiple hop-on hop-off bus tour companies in London. We took The Original Tour. They offer up to 6 routes and have a recorded tour (you plug in your earplugs they provide to you). They have 80 stops on all the routes and once you buy a ticket, it is valid for all the routes. There are pick ups around every 20 minutes and they offer the option of purchasing entrance tickets from them for several main attractions (we purchased the London Eye tickets from them instead of waiting in line at the London Eye). We were able to purchase these tickets at our hotel (or you can just go to the bus stop and purchase them from the staff). This cost about $40 per adult but was a good way to get around London and see all the sights. It had a lower deck with an open air upper deck. Map Route#1 Map Route #2 Map Route #3 Map Route #4 Brochure Information (this map was so large, I had to copy it in 4 blocks -- you will need to print each and put them in order)

Munich Hop-on Hop-off Bus 2008

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 00:29:06 +0100

One of the best ways to get around Munich and see all the sites for a relatively inexpensive tour, is the hop-on, hop-off bus. You can take one of two routes -- the Grand Circle (8 stops) or the Express Circle (5 stops). The Grand Circle includes Palace of Nymphenburg, Olympia Park (home of the 1972 Olympics -- Mark Spitz and the Israli team kidnapped), see the BMW headequarters, and the Art District. Buses pick up about every 20 minutes (pretty good on time). When you get your ticket, you also receive earphones which allows you to hear a recorded tour. You can purchase a 1 or 2 day pass for the Grand Circle (18/23 Euros) and a 1 day pass for the Express (13 Euros). The buses have an enclosed bottom deck with an open air top deck (but covered for inclement weather). This is run by Gray Line and they offer other tours from Munich to outlying sights. Map of the Routes Brochure Notes

Celebrity May 2008

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 00:58:47 +0100

On different days, each of us will be leaving the United States from different gateway cities to meet in Venice, Italy. We will fly into the Marco Polo Airport with the goal of having some time to tour Venice – as well as get accustomed to the time change – before we have to get on the ship. Our hotel for these pre-cruise days is Hotel Santa Chiara located in Ple Roma with easy access from the airport, all Venetian water transportation, the cruise port, and does not require we load/unload our huge cruise suitcases into/out of a boat or drag them across cobblestones or bridges.

Venice: With its palazzos, bridges, and famous canals, this is one of Italy’s most enchanting cities. A tour around its most famous piazza features the Basilica San Marco, the Doge's Palace, the Campanile, and Basilica Museum. In addition, we should try to see the Bridge of Sighs and take in the beauty of the Grand Canal and smaller canals in either a gondola or using the water buses known as vaporettos. There is lots of shopping at the Rialto Bridge, a great view from the wooden bridge in Accademia, lots of options to eat some gelato, enjoy a dinner at a small café, or try to see other islands like Murano or Burano. With limited time, there is much to do! Currency: Euro. Language: Italian. Phrases. High: 76 Low: 61 Humidity: 85%. Shopping Souvenirs: Masks, Venetian Masks Side Trips

Friday, 23-May: Venice, Italy. (Docked) Today we can board the ship for our first day of this adventure. It will be docked at the Port of Venice, specifically the VTP (Venezia Terminal Passeggeri). Once we get on board the Summit, we can find our cabins, check out what they are serving for lunch, put our clothes away and/or get off the ship to continue any sightseeing as time permits. Our cabins are 6089 and 6091. We are scheduled for the late dinner sitting.

Saturday, 24-May: Venice, Italy. (Docked) We set sail at 4:00 PM and as we leave Venice, we should have a beautiful view of the island from our balcony. And the excitement is just beginning -- we cannot forget the obligatory life boat drill! Dinner will be in the Cosmopolitan Restaurant.

Sunday, 25-May: Dubrovnik, Croatia. (Docked 9 AM – 5 PM) This Jewel of the Adriatic on the Dalmation Coast is rich in Baroque, Gothic, and Renaissance architecture. The medieval Mediterranean city is encircled by 14th-century walls and massive guard towers, and the carefully preserved old town features, marble-paved squares, cobbled streets, and splendid churches, palaces, monastaries, and fountains. The top of Zarcovica Hill offers superb views of the old walled city and the coast. Currency: Kuna Language: Croatian, German, Serbian Phrases Hi: 79 Low: 63 Humidity: 63% Shopping, Side Trips

Monday, 26-May: At Sea. Just in time -- a day to unwind from all of our sightseeing in Venice and Dubrovnik. This gives us a chance to become more familiar with the ship, maybe go to the spa, see a movie, sunbathe, read, or just take it easy. Whatever activities any of us choose, it will be a relaxing day for sure. We will need to move our clocks AHEAD 1 hour tonight for our sail into Greece.

Tuesday, 27-May: Santorini, Greece. (Tendered 7 AM – 7 PM) Santorini embraces all that has made the Greek island legendary -- splendid beaches, unparalleled architecture, dramatic cliffs and quaint villages. Ride a donkey up the trail to the city of Thira or take a cable car to the top. The views from Thira, set atop a ledge overlooking the sea, are stirring. We should have plenty of time here to wander the streets, admire the churches and browse the shops and cafes. Currency: Euro Language: Greek Phrases Hi: 84 Low: 65 Humidity: 69% Shopping Side Trips

Wednesday, 28-May: Athens (Pireaus) Greece. (Docked 7 AM – 7 PM) Pireaus is the port to Athens while Athens is considered the birthplace of Western civilization. No visit to Athens would be complete without a visit to the Acropolis. There you will find the Parthenon, the largest building at the Acropolis, and one of the world’s most awe-inspiring sights. Also at the Acropolis is the Propylee, the Temple of Wingless Victory, the Erechtheum, and the Acropolis Museum. A drive down Syngrou Avenue offers an impressive view of the Arch of Hadrian and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. In Athens, Monastiraki and Plaka are the best places to purchase hancrafted goods. Currency: Euro Language: Greek Hi: 84 Low: 65 Humidity: 69% Shopping Side Trips We will need to set our clocks BACK 1 hour as we set sail for Naples/Capri.

Thursday, 29-May: At Sea. What a great cruise. Just to make sure you don’t get too tired from all the touring, we have another day at sea.

Friday, 30-May: Naples/Capri, Italy. (Docked 7 AM – 7 PM) Sorrento claims one of the Amalfi Coast's most picturesque harbors. There are so many options at Capri. You can also tour Pompeii,.Mount Vesuvius, or the blue grotto. Or, maybe you would prefer visiting the bustling city of Naples, with a unique culture that the natives still hold strong. Currency: Euro. Language: Italian. Phrases. High: 79 Low: 62 Humidity: 85%. Shopping Side Trips

Saturday, 31-May: Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy (Docked 7 AM – 7 PM) Civitavecchia is the port city of the Eternal City of Rome. A full-day tour to Rome explores some of the most famous churches, monuments, and fountains in the world: the Colosseum, Sistine Chapel, Vatican, the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps, and Trevi Fountain (toss a coin in the fountain to ensure your return). Sip cappuccino at a café in a piazza or window-shop among the high-fashion boutiques of Via Condotti. Currency: Euro. Language: Italian. High: 79 Low: 62 Humidity: 85% Shopping Side Trips

Sunday, 1-Jun: Florence, Italy (Docked 7 AM – 7 PM) From the port city of Livorno, the riches of this remarkable region are revealed. A trip to Florence, with a stop at the Leaning Tower of Pisa en route, provides some unforgettable experiences, including the Piazza del Duomo with its grand cathedral. Florence is home to the fascinating art treasures of the Italian Renaissance -- works by Botticelli, Da Vinci, and Michelangelo. A highlight is a visit to the Accademia Gallery, which houses Michelangelo's famous statue of David. Currency: Euro. Language: Italian. High: 79 Low: 62 Humidity: 85%. Shopping Side Trips

Monday, 2-Jun: Nice (Vilifranche) France (Tendered 7 AM – 8 PM) Villefranche is set on a wooded hillside overlooking the Cote d'Azur. Shore excursions take passengers to Cannes, Nice, or Monte Carlo, or you can easily visit these Riviera gems on your own via train or choose to spend the day in Villefranche will find medieval chapels scattered throughout the village and an impressive 16th-century hilltop fortress. Another worthwhile sight is the Chapelle St. Pierre with its frescoes by Jean Cocteau. Nice has long been established as a popular resort town and rightly so, with its graceful blend of Old World charm and elegant sophistication. Many tourists find the Promenade des Anglais and the colorful square in the Old Town to be two of the city's finest sights. The museums here are superb, including the Musee Chagall, the Musee Matisse, International Museum of Naive Arts, and the Beaux-Arts Museum. Currency: Euro Language: French Phrases High: 74 Low: 62 Humidity: 74% Shopping Side Trips

Tuesday, 3-Jun: at Sea. To make sure we are not too tired before we have to get off the ship, Celebrity gives us a great last day at sea. What a way to end a glorious trip!

Wednesday, 4-Jun: Barcelona, Spain. Can you believe we have to dock at the Port of Barcelona 5 AM! The cruise port is located in the Ramblas area of the city which is about a 25-30 minute drive (by cab) to the airport. Currency: Euro Language: Spanish, Catalan Phrases High: 75 Low: 60 Humidity: 85% Shopping Side Trips

Some may be leaving today for home from the Barcelona International Airport(BCN). But for those of us who can eek out a few more days, the streets of Spain's cultural centerare lined with bistros and filled with musicians. We can visit the city center, Gaudi's fanciful, eccentric Church of the Holy Family, the Columbus statue, the 14th-century Gothic Quarter, Park Guell, the Picasso Museum, and/or the Spanish Village. Barcelona does have public transportation we can use or we might decide to do an organized day tour, visit the 1992 Olympic sites, or possibly find a night tour with a stop to see some flamenco dancers. Who knows! No matter what, by this time we should all be relaxed and very happy. And, for those celebrating major milestones, it should be a trip to remember.

Relive!

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 00:26:14 +0100

This page is set up so that we can record information on past trips -- no matter how far back! Postings can range from past city trips, tours, bus tours, train rides, cruises, or any information you want to share. Each posting should include the year and a reference that makes sense!

Let the posting begin!

past-trip-notes

Paris Hop-on Hop-off Bus 2008

London Hop-on Hop-off Bus 2008

Munich Hop-on Hop-off Bus 2008

Celebrity May 2008

Relive!