Travel with the Geeky Blogger

Las Vegas from Feb!

2010-06-07T19:56:00.000-05:00

I went to Las Vegas in Feb for a mini-family reunion! It was a ton of fun! We stayed downtown at the Golden Nugget (which if you haven't been there in awhile has completely changed). The picture up above is from one of the restaurants. They have totally redone the whole hotel, you should check it out sometime! I personally like downtown when you go with Family as it reminds me of Old Vegas back before the Strip became this big personality all of it's own.

Sushi from the Sushi place at Golden Nugget YUM!

A picture of the light show that happens on Freemont Street! I love that show!

This was off a penny machine! Love that I won :)

The club inside Golden Nugget. I didn't go in but they were rocking some 80's tunes because of a class reunion--LOVED THAT!

H2O pool bar, this place was packed most of the time!

Yummy Fruity Drink!

We ventured on to the strip to see Menopause the Musical! So worth it, it was hilarious :)

This was a fantastic trip with Aunt Jerry, Uncle Wallace, Gaye and her family, Dad, Nada, Carrie, and Trey! Can't wait till I go back again :)

Thanksgiving in New Orleans...

2010-01-04T18:57:00.001-06:00

I spent Thanksgiving in New Orleans doing what I love to do: eating, touring, and gambling. It was a great road trip with my Mom and Brother.

Thanksgiving Dinner: Lobster Ravioli and Praline Bread Pudding

Touring the Cemetary

Eating more good ole N'awlins Food

Hitting the Ghost Tour with a guide that does NOT believe in Ghosts

One More Meal and then home....

Alaska has come and gone...

2010-01-04T07:59:00.002-06:00

I am not sure why I did not blog on my amazing trip to Alaska (blame twitter and facebook)! I went last September and can say it is probably one of the prettiest trips I have ever had the honor of going on. I would recommend going to Alaska at least once in your life. It really is unlike any other place I have been. It is mostly untouched, the people are very down to earth, the animals/wildlife/ect. is just amazing to behold!

Here is my photos from the trip! I promise that I will blog more about my trips this year and try not to be the slacker I was last year!

10 Days and Counting....ALASKA

2009-08-25T12:27:00.001-05:00

This will be a double (maybe triple if you are a friend of mine on facebook) post. It will be on Confessions, Where in the World, and Facebook (just because it auto-magically posts my Confessions blog to there).

In 10 days I will be porting out of Seward, Alaska for a 7 day cruise. The picture above is of Seward and if the views are even half as amazing as that, I am in for a real treat. The family all leaves on Saturday, they are doing the 7-day land trip first. Me, I am such a dedicated worker (read I used some of my vacation for other things) that I am going to meet them for the last leg of the trip.

This trip I am not over-planning, as I want it to be relaxing too. With that in mind, I have planned out a Zipline and Salmon Bake tour (two different ports). I think those should be fun and exciting (never been on a zipline so I am kind of nervous excited about that)! The only other plans are to get out at every port and see the towns (visit a museum or two), spending tons of time out on the deck while cruising, and trying every type of seafood offered to me.

Speaking of food, can I just say that is going to be the best part of this trip. Yes, I am a fish fanatic so fresh seafood is just going to be fantastic to have everyday (unlike the caviar in Russia thing: NASTY but I tried it)! I guess with all my trips it was about the food. Even the food in Paris was interesting but not since fish/chips in London have been looking so forward to vacation food! Las Vegas was great for food but I was more excited about meeting up with old friends and celebrating birthdays with close friends. This trip = FOOD!

Well, mostly about the food because I think I am looking forward to the weather just as much. I am ready to get out of this hot Texas heat and let the outside AC do all the work! I am looking forward to sweaters, sweatshirts, boots, and jackets. That, my friends, is my kind of weather!

Packing/Planning: so to finally start thinking about what I am taking with me should have started a little bit ago but it didn't. Also trying not to use it as an excuse to get new things but that isn't working either (shopping trip after work today). So anyone else a big ole procrastinator like me in that aspect? Seriously, I will probably be doing it the night before I leave and then forget something truly needed like my straightening iron.

Oh well I still have a week and half to get it all together, Right? LOL

Alaska Trip Planning!

2009-07-06T08:27:00.004-05:00

Time to start planning....

7 Night Alaska Southbound Cruise

Everything in Alaska is bigger. Including the adventures. From the awe-inspiring blue ice of a massive glacial field to the expansive grandeur of its wildlife and nature, Alaska is a land of natural wonders.
Alaska Cruise Map

Sailing Itinerary

Date Port Arrive
04-Sep Seward, Alaska
05-Sep Hubbard Glacier
06-Sep Juneau, Alaska
07-Sep Skagway, Alaska
08-Sep Icy Strait Point, Alaska
09-Sep Ketchikan, Alaska
10-Sep Inside Passage (Cruising)
11-Sep Vancouver, British Columbia

All booked now to just decide on the excursions!

Vegas was all about Friends....

2009-07-01T11:10:00.006-05:00

I had a blast while in Vegas catching up with old friends!

I had not seen Jacki/Scott in more than 17 years. They were FAB hosts and made the trip to Vegas memorable!

Vegas was all about the Food!!!

2009-07-01T11:09:00.001-05:00

Let me preface this by saying I didn't get pictures of all the food we ate while in Vegas (missed some great sushi shots)!!

I have to say food is something I enjoy: looking at, smelling, and eating. I have some limits on what I can eat due to GB surgery I had 5 years ago but I have found that I can eat almost anywhere. There is usually something on the menu that fits within my limitations. Though, I have to say it makes me appreciate what Vegans and Vegetarians have to go through. At least with me,mine is usually limited to how something is cooked and sometimes what spices are in it. It doesn't usually ex out whole restaurants, other than Thai ones but even then if I look hard enough usually I can find one thing. My scale is no where near as limited but if you are ever out eating with me, please know that not only will I be patient but if we need to switch restaurants, I will drive LOL. (Sorry but after reading a few stories where food places got aggravated at friends of mine for requesting changes to their menu items, I got a little aggravated. I mean, really, almost everyone I know asks for something to be changed: less this, more this, no mushrooms. ) Yes, Kim this means I am way behind on my blog reading LOL

Now on to my very pretty meal :) The presentation was AMAZING at both Craftsteak and Wolfgang Puck's Restaurant!!!

First Craftsteak:

1rst course: Mine: Ceaser Salad

Cindy's: Tossed Lettuce Salad

2nd Course: Main Dish and Sides

Mine: Roasted Lamb and Asparagus

Cindy's: Ribeye and Au Gratin Potato (above)

Birthday Dessert: Cheesecake for Cindy

Wolfgang Puck Main Dishes: Ceaser Salad, Roasted Chicken, Grilled Salmon, Baked Penne Pasta (mine it was YUMMY)

Desserts: Cookies and Chocolate

We also had amazing Sushi, Potstickers, Hamburgers, and Breakfast food!!! I just forgot my camera :)

Chicago the last day :)

2008-08-27T14:49:00.001-05:00

This one will be the shortest one as

a) I am supposed to be working
b) I ended with the United Airlines thing I already went into and I prefer to think of the meeting as the end of the Chicago trip

One of my favorite moments from the trip was meeting Kilax!!!

We met at Rock Bottom Brewery, it was caddy cornered from our hotel (actually I think everything was caddy cornered from our hotel)! Steven was fantastic putting up with all gals, even after the "cheese" incident with his hamburger. Kim was great!! She is very down to earth, funny, and we had tons in common. Kerri might have introduced her to American Idol Karaoke and that I am not sure Steven was happy with LOL. We talked and giggled and just plain had fun!!! It was a great way to wind up a fantastic trip to the city! I did post pictures on flickr so feel free to check them out later!!!

:) Flea

Chicago Saturday Style: Wicked!!

2008-08-27T14:45:00.000-05:00

Ok, so there were many great things about Chicago. So many things in fact that I am sure to leave some of them out because a) it has been a week and b) well I am a talkative person, you get me started and I might write a novel.

However, let me just tell you Wicked The Musical was a beautiful treat. Let me just say that yes I realize you can go see this in any city that it is currently in (and if you have the chance you should jump at it) but it was the first time that I had the opportunity to go and I was not disappointed at all. The theater itself was beautiful and there was not a bad seat in the house. The stage was beautifully crafted, and they really made use of the space that they had. The production was very well done and the orchestra was amazing. It truly was a magical experience. Of course we ran right out and bought the soundtrack. I also got a t-shirt and a program, yes I am "that girl". Next time I am spending whatever it takes to get closer to the stage and let me guarantee that there will be a next time I see Wicked.

Ok back to Chicago, the city!!! We spent Saturday going shopping: Loemanns and Macy's (Marshall Fields). Ok so Macy's was the largest department store I think I have ever been in. It was amazingly huge and I got lost several times (aka bad sense of direction + bright shiny things = one lost flea). I bought a really nice shirt that I love and we ate in the food court. Where I had some pretty good sushi for premade. We then went to the matinee of Wicked and then headed back to the hotel. We spent some time getting ready for the evening and on the agenda was a Ghost Tour and more Fado's (yes folks we went back for a second night). Next time I will check out more places like maybe The Red-Headed Piano Bar and a couple of the other local spots. I have heard for dancing (we got invited several time to go) Excaliburs is the place to go, so if you are ever there let me know how it is.

We headed out to the catch the ghost tour bus around 630ish. It was also meeting really close to the Hotel (yep my theory still works):

On the tour we got to see Hull House (Rosemary's Baby Anyone), Harpo Studios (ohhh ghosts a plenty evidently),The Iroquois Theater fire spot (and the back of the current production of Wicked so got to see cast/crew hanging in the ally...just a plus), the Chicago Riverwalk where a Titanic type of event occured, and The St. Valentines Day Massacre site (where we almost saw two guys get in a fight over a parking spot and then the one that won hit the car that was parked behind him---karma is kind of funny). It was a great way to see the city and learn a little more about its history. Alot of a cities history is built around things that make it stronger and often that is violence/tragedy.

We then headed to Fado's, had a fantastic time again and headed back to the hotel. All in all another good day in Chicago!!!!

Chicago Friday Style...

2008-08-27T14:04:00.000-05:00

So my Chicago trip did not really start until I woke up and got out of the door around 3:30 pm (pretty good after the Thursday night thing)! I will probably say this a thousand times but I loved Chicago. The city was clean, the people were friendly, and the atmosphere was excellent.

We headed off to grab something to eat: PF Changs. Now we have one of these in Dallas, they are excellent and the plus side is they were right next door to our hotel (did I tell you I have a theory that most of the things were right next door LOL)!!! After that we headed down the block to check out the mall. We walked around the mall, it was not very big but it was tall. However, we did do a very girly thing and get our makeup done. First, I learned a new eye liner tip (if you use powder liner) and that blue eye shadow does not always look very 80's. I had to admit I cringed a little bit when she started putting it on me but in the end I ended up buying said blue eye shadow and have been using it ever since. I just would have never gone out on that branch alone. We then headed back to the hotel with a stop by the local corner store for some snacks. We took our time getting ready, watched a little olympics, took a little nap, and primped/pampered until we headed out the door. We didn't have any real plan, just wanted to find somewhere to eat and check out a few of the local pubs. We ended up at Harry Caray's for dinner:

We split a Rib-eye (YUMMY) and I had asparagus with mine. Kerri had a twice baked potato that she said rocked. I will tell you I like my steaks medium and this one was cooked to perfection. It had the right seasonings and you can tell by the picture that the outside had the marbalized yumminess that makes steaks very appealing. The asparagus was crunchy but not to crunchy. All in all an excellent meal, plus we were sat right by the "holy cow" which is the best picture opportunity evidently. So the people watching and comment listening was fun. Our waiter was fantastic and it was an overall enjoyable experience.

Next we headed out to check out some local pubs. Well actually we ended up checking out only one because we met a great group of people there. None of us knew each other before then but by the time we all left we were exchanging numbers/emails. The Pub: Fado's Irish Pub was an excellent recommendation by one of my Chicago co-workers. The bartenders were excellent, the music was fun (80's, 90's, and today), the atmosphere was electric, it was crowded but not to much so, and wasn't to badly priced (well no more than Dallas Pubs). It also seems to attract people from all over. To make our international crew that night: London, Irish, Sweden, St. Louis, Nebraska, Ireland, Mexico, Cuba, and Texas. I will admit, we didn't talk to Mexico/Cuba much, they were a couple of fun young guys who I think were just fascinated with everything. However we hung all night with the rest of the crew. You must check out: http://www.rira.com/ which is the London/Irish couple place. I think we are going to take a trip just to visit them :) I would highly recommend the Fado's if you are ever in Chicago!

I think we headed back to the hotel around 12:30. All in all it was an excellend first day in Chicago :)

Chicago United Style...

2008-08-20T10:11:00.000-05:00

The plane that started the United Airlines flight woes. Let me preface this story as I figure it is my turn for bad flights as I have been lucky enough up to this point not to ever have a hugely delayed flight and never before a cancellation.

This post is first as I also would rather get the unpleasant part of the trip blog over with first!!!

I am one of those people that really do get to the airport 2 hours before a domestic flight (though to my defense I am usually early to everywhere)! So I got to the airport in plenty of time before my flight. I even tried to get on an earlier flight but it was booked solid. What should be noted is that United only has 1 flight every 2 to 3 hours going from DFW to Chicago (the same for the way back too). So my first suggestion, if there is only a little difference in price go with American they have several flights going to and from Chicago all day. So I grabbed some Starbucks and I waited for my flight. They announced that our flight was delayed because they were switching our original plane (I imagine because we were not a full flight and the one to Denver was so they got our bigger plane), so I went to grab something to eat as I was pretty much starving by this point. I had some pretty good BBQ and got to watch some of the Olympics. That was no biggie, we were delayed by 30 min. When we got the new plane, it was broke (read the stearing something or other had issues and something had to be replaced). They orignally moved it to where we were going to leave at 2 hours post our normal time. Again not a big deal except that they posted no agent at our gate to answer questions and for about 2.5 hours we got no update at all unless you called United or went to bug the agent at the San Fran gate that was already having to fend questions from that group that were delayed 4 or so hours. I had plenty of reading material and even got to finish a book. I was making the most of my time. I also met some very nice people and learned alot about Chicago from a lady that was going home. We got an update about 3 hours after our original flight departure time saying it would be another 2 hours...the part from Chicago that came in on the United flight did not work and another part was coming in on American. Other than the airport was freezing, I was still pretty pepped about my vacation. I figured I could sleep in. Finally about 2 am they cancelled the flight all together. At that point it was too late to go home, the next flight was 6:50 am so we grabbed cots and slept for 2 hours in the terminal (it took about an hour to get our seats and such for the next flight). The agents that had to switch our flights were very nice considering some people who were on my flight were not all that considerate to them. I was impressed with how they handled it but they were really not equipped to give out much information. We got out on the 6:50am flight and got to Chicago about 9am on Friday. I got to the hotel and slept until 2ish (yep I started out with lack of sleep LOL)

Oh, I should mention that Kerri ended up on an earlier flight so she was in Chicago before my original deperature time LOL. So she had to do all the check-in at the hotel and such :) She didn't mind, she got a great nights sleep. I still have not received a voucher from United (sent an email on Monday), if I do not hear anything from them by tomorrow I will call. I was just trying the nice route first.

My flight home was not much better but I did get a voucher for that one already. I did however make it home, so I am all kinds of happy :)

None of that dampened my vacation though just my sleep time LOL!!!

The fun stuff I will try to post today :)

Whoops one post before I go :)

2008-08-14T09:00:00.000-05:00

Ok, so we had 3 different hotels on hold deciding where we wanted to stay while in Chicago. We finally decided on the Hilton Garden Inn Chicago Downtown/Magnificent Mile. I am not familiar with Chicago but we had heard that it was a good area to stay in because it was halfway between all the fun stuff.

We will be taking the Chicago Hauntings Tour , trying to follow one of these :

Or The Chicago's Irish Pubs (northside Crawl)

We will be having lunch with Kilax on Sunday (where I don't know....I might make her choose). On Friday I think we are having lunch here and we are planning on having drinks here one night.

I am super excited about the trip...can't believe I leave tonight :)

Headed Home

2007-09-13T05:01:00.002-05:00

We are headed home and overall I had a delightful time!!!

Review:

SAS Airlines: Economy class is very cramped so if you can afford to upgrade to business at least it is probably worth it. The flight is good though, 2 free alcohol drinks, movies (new releases to DVD), and the food was pretty good.

Train Station/Train Copenhagen: The train is very clean and I enjoyed riding it. The people in Copenhagen, including the station, are very friendly and helpful. The baggage claim/check is downstairs and there is only one small elevator so you may have to wait. Also you have to use kroner or a debit card so be prepared for that.

Clarion Hotel Copenhagen: It is a decent hotel. The rooms are small but they were clean. They come with hairdryers but you will need converters for everything else. Also they have free tea and cakes at 3 am and a free dinner buffet type of thing. Breakfast cost though it is pretty good. Free Wi-Fi.

Comfort Inn Europa Copenhagen: It is a nicer hotel, there was a cleanliness issues in my parents room but ours was nice. No free meals though and the staff was a little less friendly. Our room was much bigger though and more space equaled more comfort. It had free Wi-Fi too. Bring your converters, no hair dryer supplied.

Star Princess Boat: The boat was nice sized with plenty of deck space if that is your cup of tea. It was clean and the crew was helpful: check in/out was pretty much standard and entering/exiting is easy as long as you follow the protocols.

Star Princess Entertainment: The musicals were pretty good. The dancers were amazing. The singers were OK. All of them put on a good show though -- definitely worth seeing. The first comedian -- Dan Bennett was a better juggler than comedian. He had a few good cracks but he was just not that funny. Duggy Brown was funny. He is worth seeing. The ship board activities were fun and there was a little bit for everyone. John and Julie were great cruise directors and their staff was fun!!!

Star Princess Food: Buffet was really hit or miss. The staff was not all that friendly and the food not all that good. It did have a few good days but overall it was just standard. Tequilas was very yummy!! The steak (Ribeye for me) was good, the appetizers were good, and the wait staff was nice. You do have to pay to eat here and reservations are required. Dining Room was good. Angel our waiter was fantastic. The menu had a bit of everything on it and the food was very good. The last night the teak was a bit tough but every other night was pretty good.

Star Princess Crew: I found that the cabin stewards were friendly and helpful. The crew staff were fun and upbeat. The waiters on deck and in the buffet were OK but not all that helpful. The bar(s) staff were pretty good but slow. The deck crew, security, and tour staff were all very good at making things go smoothly.

Star Princess Cabins: We had a balcony stateroom. There were 3 of us in there and while a little bit cramped, it was nice. The ceiling bed was a bit hard but the other two beds were comfy. The balcony was nice to have through the Fjord and Archipelago.

The Tours:

Sweden: Royal Palace and Old Town--Old Town was worth seeing and spending time in the area is fun and relaxing. The Palace wasn't all that impressive but the changing of the guards was fun to watch. The Palace is a working palace, so parts are closed at times.

Finland: We didn't get to stop the waters were to rough.

St. Petersburgh: Peterhof Palace and Gardens, A night at Catherine's Palace, and the Hermitage and Gold Room. Peterhof was great. Very beautiful and tons to see. Catherine's Palace was an experience to be had. It was my second favorite excursion of the trip. You got basically a private tour that you can use flash photography. Then you get a champagne ballet reception and a Russian dinner with folk show. The Hermitage and the Gold Room. I was not impressed with how fast they shuffle you through. If you are an art lover, you will want to go but otherwise skip it. The Gold Room is really just trinkets and jewelry.

Tallin, Estonia: We did on our own (not through the ship) and had fun. The shuttle is $5 both ways ( I walked back, it is a bigger hike than you think0.

Gdansk/Gdynia Poland: We did the on your own excursion through the ship (cheaper than a cab ride to the city). We go to see plenty and it was a fun day.

Oslo Norway: The Open Air Folk Museum and City Highlights tour was my favorite tour of the trip. We saw the sculpture park, ski jump, folk museum, and bus ride through the city.

Copenhagen, Denmark: Did the city bus tour and canal tours. Both were great and you can walk to most tings you want to see in the city. Tivoli was nice too see too.

I think I covered it all..I can't wait till my next trip.

--
Have a Great Day-

Felicia

Last Day Copenhagen

2007-09-13T04:29:00.001-05:00

We docked at 5 am. Don't worry I wasn't up at that time, I got up at about 6. We had to eat and get out of the room by 8. After that we sat in the atrium until our bus that would take us to the train station. At the train station we checked our bags (40 kroner per big one, 30 kroner per small bag). We then headed down to take a canal tour of the city. I know, I know we just got off water but it was worth it. We then ate at Mama Rosa's (Mexican and Italian). Then headed back to get checked into the hotel. We stayed at the Comfort Inn Europa and we got a really nice room. It is located next to the train station so it is a bit noisy. We had a bathtub though so I got a nice long soak. No hairdryers though so either bring converters or let your hair dry naturally. We had dinner at a really good steak place (reasonably priced for Copenhagen). I had a very yummy BBQ burger. We then split up and I went in search of a Hot Chocolate (the 7-11 ones are yummy). I tripped right afterwards so watch those coblestone roads. Oh well, maybe next time. Headed back to the hotel and bed.

--
Have a Great Day-

Felicia

Final Day: Norway

2007-09-13T04:12:00.000-05:00

First, Norway is way more expensive than Copenhagen but out of all the places we visited - I would live here in an instant. It was a beautiful city and the people were friendly. It also had the hottest guys 9not that it was a factor). I visited the sculpture park, the Folk museum, and the ski jump. I got to see quite a bit of the city. The sculpture park was amazing and no pictures can put it in perspective. It was fun naming the statues and to imagine how much work went into making these statues.

The Folk museum was neat too. It showed Norway through the ages. The different types of housing and lifestyles through the years was neat to look at. The ski jump was big but I am not a skier, so instead I spent my time buying the most expensive coke and candy bar on the planet. Ok, maybe not but it was quite expensive.

We got a bus tour around Oslo and a little shopping at the pier. Once we got on the ship, we grabbed some lunch. Good thing because once we got out of the Fjorde (beautiful sail btw) it was rough sailing and I got quite a bit of a headache. So I took soe sleeping pills and headed to bed. I slept like a baby.

--
Have a Great Day-

Felicia

Another At Sea Day

2007-09-13T04:04:00.001-05:00

The last at sea day was really relaxing. After sleeping in I went to grab some breakfast at the buffet. It was great because it wasn't crowded, something about not having somewhere to be puts everyone in a better mood. Then I headed to the deck with my blanket, pillow, and my journal. I spent three hours on deck just relaxing. I went and grabbed some lunch in the buffet (they had sushi-YUMMY). I went to get some packing done. Headed to the dining room for dinner. Then we headed to watch the musical finale: Destination Anywhere. It was a great show.

--
Have a Great Day-

Felicia

Poland:

2007-09-13T03:55:00.001-05:00

The whole family did the on your own in Gdansk. This is a great excursion to pick towards the end of the trip because you can choose how much energy you want to use. Trust me, you are tired by the time you get to this point. There is a ton of walking on these excursions. If it says moderate, that only applies if you are in good shape. Be prepared to walk your hiney off. I lost 10 pounds on this cruise and trust me, I ate.

The drive to Gdansk takes about an hour. It is not all that pretty but you must keep in mind that they just got back rule of their country. The first democratic elections in 1999. So the country is in a rebuilding stage and the economy is looking up. You will see lots of graffiti and old buildings. The people look happy though, so you get the impression that they are happy with the way their country is heading.

Gdansk is a totally rebuilt city as it was bombed during the World War. They rebuilt it to medieval style and tried to use as much of the original brick as possible. They even went off of old patterns of the city, so it is authentic to the city as it once stood. Either way it was a great place to visit.

Trey and I visited the Napoleon Museum. I call it that because it was about when Napoleon invaded. It was a pretty neat museum with original documents, some outfits, and lots of decor from that time period. For extra kroner we paid to go up in the tower. That was a bit of a hike up about 20 flights of stairs. This is not for the faint of heart -- they are narrow and a bit steep. The view is worth it though and you get a great view of the city. The rest of the day was spent shopping, sitting in cafes, and visiting the Internet cafe. It was a fantastic stop.

After a day in Poland we headed back to the ship where we ate dinner in the dining room, caught Duggy Brown (comedian and very funny), and caught the magic show (it was not very good at all). Then headed to sleep.

--
Have a Great Day-

Felicia

Estonia

2007-09-13T03:40:00.001-05:00

This was an early port but it was one of my favorite ports overall. I could live in Tallin. The locals were friendly, the food was good, and the prices affordable. I really enjoyed my nice relaxing morning there.

I didn't do a tour but just an on your own type of thing. I recommend this, all the things you want to see are in walking distance and you get to experience local live. I had some great roasted nuts, a happy meal, a coke, shopped in a bookstore (where you can buy stamps), sat at a local restaurant, and just enjoyed a peaceful morning. I fell in love with the little town of Tallin and highly recomment it.

This was and early port and early leave time. So make sure you get there and enjoy every minute.

I had an early night to sleep and enjoyed the ocean sounds of the night.

--
Have a Great Day-

Felicia

Russia Day 2: Hermitage

2007-09-12T10:13:00.001-05:00

Second day in Russia and I am still not used to the traffic but willing to close my eyes and hope we get there. The Hermitage (Winter Palace) is wonderful. I am not an art lover, so I can only somewhat get the idea of what an art lover would think of the palace. I think the building and statues were wonderful. I do have a thing for statues. I don't know why but I find them fascinating. Plus the palace had an extensive Egyptian collection which I would have loved to have spent more time exploring. The Hermitage is huge, so pick something that appeals to you. Unless you are interested in jewelry, you can skip the gold room. I personally thought it was neat but not worth the hour that I spent in there.

Overall, I would say out of the palaces that I saw the Hermitage was my least favorite of the three but it was still wonderful. Catherine's is a must see and the gardens at Peterhof put it just ahead of the Hermitage. Nada, Carrie, and Trey said the canal tours were great too so I think there are a ton of things to see in Russia should you ever get there.

Russia Day 1: Peterhof Palace and Catherine Palace

2007-09-12T09:57:00.000-05:00

Russia was another early start day. By then, I was getting used to these. Princess has tour organization down to a science. Carrie, Nada, and I did this tour together. We got to Vista Lounge, then down to the ship gang plank to disembark...in little to no time. Russian immigration is another story,very slow and very under staffed. This is true for coming back also, so be prepared for that. Also, there is this little red tag thing they give you, make sure that you get that and keep it. It will cost you $50 if you lose it and more importantly it will cost you time. Also, on your first day you will need a copy of your passport to leave with the Russian Authorities.

We then got into the bus and it was about an hour drive to Peterhof Palace. Oh and there are some pictures from the bus, sorry about the reflection and the little blurriness but this was my only chance to get everyday pictures of Russian life. The drive itself was fascinating, Russian traffic is a trip. They have similar driving rules to ours but they use them more as guidelines. Lines on the roads only mean for you to try and stay inbetween them. Merging is an at your own risk type of thing and if you cross the street on foot here is what you must do:
1) say a prayer
2) look both ways twice
3) cross quickly (you don't have alot of time)
4) hope that you don't have to do it again
Even the walk signals only last 15 seconds, so don't expect a lot of time to cross. We learned quite a bit about living in Russia today. Everything cost money from paying for school (public and private), health care, and nothing is cheap. The ratio of women to men: 10 to 7. So us single women should skip the country for man hunting LOL.

There was a ton of stuff to see on the way to Peterhof but the pictures weren't always spot on due to the roads in St. Petersburg are not the best. Though they have a joke that the roads are the reason that they have not been successfully invaded. I think they might be right. If you are wondering why so many McDonald's and KFC Pictures, my family kind of has a game to get a picture of them in each country.

Peterhof Palace and Gardens are beautiful. The Palace is so ornate that it is hard to actually accurately to describe. The amount of detail put into just a door decoration alone is enough to take your breath away. There are many brilliant tapestries, even more painting (each Royal had their favorite and it was almost like an art museum). The furnishings were magnificent and it was interesting to get a glimpse of Royal life.

The inside was nothing compared to the gardens and the fountains. The main fountain was massive and very impressive. We got to see it all in it's full glory. The gardens were beautiful and there were other fountains spread out around the grounds. I think he must have had a sense of humor because a few of them are quite whimsical . They really are a must see.

We headed back to the ship for some rest, some lunch, and a change of clothes (the night event was black tie).

I really haven't talked about the food yet on the cruise. We are dining in the Amalfi and have ate there about half the nights. Our waiter Angel is excellent and has a great support staff. The food for dinner has been excellent. There have been a few dishes that I have ordered that I wasn't sure if I was going to like but this is the perfect opportunity to try these new things. Things to note when dining in the dining room:
1) Takes about 2 hours
2) Never opens on time
3) Is brought out in courses
The buffet has been hit or miss on the ship. Some days it has been very good and other days not so great. Though there has not been one day where I couldn't find something that I liked. Let's just say that you can't find something on the buffet, you still have pizza and hamburgers from the grill on the deck. So I think you will be able to find something that you like.

Catherine's Palace with dinner was an excellent excursion. First you get to use flash photography, even in the Amber Room. It is almost like getting a private tour because the only people there were the 5 buses (130 people) from Princess. We also had a champagne reception that was toast to unity and friendship between all countries. A ballet sampler and carriage entrance of the Royal guests was also fun to watch The Palace was magnificent and just like Peterhof (this is his wife's castle) it was ornate and full of tapestries, furnishings, China, and portraits. I got many pictures, they are way more descriptive than I could ever be. I am just amazed at these palaces.

Dinner was next at a Russian restaurant and they supplied a local Folk Band. I have some great shots o my brother trying Vodka and cavier. It was a pretty good meal overall though I did not drink my vodka (it was a bit strong smelling). The dinner, entertainment, and the people were great. I haven't felt that much fun energy in one room in a long time. We got back to the boat at 11:30pm and we were quite exhausted.

At Sea- Supposed to be Helsinki

2007-09-11T14:02:00.000-05:00

Well we had our bad weather day -- the tides were up to 4 to 7 ft ranges. It was also very rainy and cloudy. They had to cancel the Finland port, so no steam train ride for me.

GOOD TO NOTE: For those that don't believe a ship will leave passengers at port, we had six left in Sweden. They were took to Helsinki to catch the ship at that port. Since we didn't get to that dock, they had to be taken into Russia ( a bit tricky due to Visa Restrictions). I am not sure how they got from place to place but I did finally hear that they got back on the ship. Plus side, I guess they got to Helsinki.

The sea day was really relaxing. I really like the ship and they have tons of activities. Also they were quick on their feet to get an agenda out there for the passengers to do. I know the staff had to be tired as most of them probably had the day off. I don't know what they do the night before a day off but I can imagine it involved at the very least staying up late, hanging with friends, and sleeping in. They hid it well and were chipper as always.

Let's see...what did I do? I watched a talk on St. Petersburg. It was fascinating -- all about The Romanovs , particularly about Nicholas and the fall of their reign. It was a great love story between him and his wife Alexandra. It was a great look into how rich the royals were and how poor the other people in the country had gotten. Though after I saw the palaces, I understood a bit more. I also watched the Motown Legends show. It was really good--covered music from the 50's, 60's, and 70's. Best number of the show was Superstition which was done in black light and fluorescents. I was picked from the audience to be serenaded too by the lead singer by the song My Girl. It was fun. Though when we were dancing all I could think was not in these shoes. Overall, I think the shows here have been pretty good--the dancers are amazing, the band is great, and 2 of the 4 singers are really good.

Other than that it was a lazy day. Had I known that Russia was going to be such a workout I would have scheduled a foot massage.

I was a little disappointed I didn't get to Finland but it was a fun day on the ship.

Flickr Updated

2007-09-08T06:30:00.001-05:00

Flickr has been updated...I found a wireless connection. I will try to upload my blog after I finish with the pictures if I have time.

--
Have a Great Day-

Felicia

Spoke to soon...

2007-09-06T06:33:00.001-05:00

Day 2

Ok, I love Denmark. The train ride from the airport to Central Station was beautiful. I get ahead of myself though. Though it must be noted...Denmark is not cheap. 3 cups of coffee cost about $24 American dollars, 130 Kroner. Just to put it into perspective. Though there is no tipping in Denmark, gratuity is built in.

The Airport and The Hotel:

I have only ever seen one other international airport and this one is far better than Barcelona. Hey it wasn't hot, icky, or dirty. It was however a "witch" to get through. I would say they have a thing about left to right...let me tell you they cattle prod you all into one area and you fight for your place in line. Word of caution if you must be nice do it for only about 5 minutes. That alone will cost you at least 20 but you can say that you tried. So when in Rome (or Europe) do as they do and just nose down and get through. Once we got through the passport check things spread out a little bit as you made your way to baggage claim. This is what cracked me up...there is very little space in the airport (the lines coming out of the terminal were wrapped) but huge amounts of space in baggage claim. It also contained the longest conveyer belt I have ever seen in my life. At first I thought it was two (which really confused me because which "1" were you supposed to go get your bags from) but nope just one that did a really strange zig zag thing. You could turn locating your baggage into a game if you tried and you weren't so tired. That zig zag really did make it interesting.

Somthing I loved and think more airports should adopt (if there is a rail system in your city), when you left baggage claim you could go straight to the train station. These people have got transportation down to a science; we could stand to learn a thing or two from them. Did you know that you can use any bicycle in Copenhagen as long as it does not have a lock on it. This is part of their public transportation and it is used frequently by the locals. So much so, I think I saw more bikes than cars (with a 200 percent sales tax on cars not hard to imagine) at different points of the day. Back to the train though, very clean and I have decided that I would love to take a train ride across Europe. I think it would be a great way to see it. Things to know so you don't have to be the dumb traveler, there are reserved sections on the train. We sat in one and the ladies that had the seats were really nice about explaining the process to us. We did get to stay in the section since there was plenty of seating but do be aware that the reserved tickets get it first. Oh and I have to say this, the staff at the train and the hotel were very helpful. The train guy helped us off with our luggage and cleared the way for me to get off. He also told us how to get to the Central Station. Once at Central Station, we found some other nice people who told us how to get to the hotel. On a whole, I think people in Copenhagen were very helpful but as you will find out later, I don't think that translates to the food industry.

We headed to the hotel about 4 hours before we were supposed to check in. We had our fingers crossed that we would get into at least one room, as we were all exhausted and wanted showers. We did manage to get one room (very small but this is typical for overseas from what I have heard). I stayed in the room while everyone else headed out to explore. I wasn't feeling too well, I think the airplane and junk food was really taking its toll. Another thing, we found out in most hotels only the handicap room has a tub, the others have walk in showers. We lucked out that one of our rooms was equipped with a tub. I took the longest, hottest, best bath that I have taken in awhile. By the time I got out, I felt a ton better and a little bit refreshed. The only thing is not all hotels have converters....it is about 50/50 chance. So, here is what you should note: the hair dryer supplied by the hotel is good for cooling off but actually blow drying your hair well it takes forever and your hands will get burned. Hey as a girl, it is a good thing to note for all my fellow gal travelers out there. The room itself was clean and because the weather was so nice you could just open the windows to cool it off. They had the really nice comfy think comforters that were cool to the skin but Warming. I layed down and waited for the adventurers to get back.

The family returned about 20 minutes after I got my hair dried and we all laid down to take naps (everyone got their rooms by then). Oh, other note...they really only allow 2 people to a room so keep that in mind while booking. Anyway, we took about a 3 hour nap before we got out exploring a bit more.

Tivoli:

We headed to Tivoli to catch the site after dark. Since this is one of the must see sights we heard about in Copenhagen. We had heard that it was pretty after dark. My brother and I took the swing ride that took you high above the city to an amazing view of the City. We did this right before dusk and it was beautiful They didn't allow cameras, so we didn't get any shots. It was worth the 60 kroner a piece to see the view. We all ate at a restaurant inside the park..and it wasn't any more expensive than outside the park. Though it is expensive...we got 3 appetizers and 2 main dishes for a 1100 kroner. Now here is the part that I have to say I was not impressed with both at the restaurant and the hotel, wait staff is very short with you and don't like to be asked questions. I don't know why, maybe it is because they don't have to be nice because tip is already included or they (the ones I ran into) had all had really bad days. Either way neither the food nor the service at the restaurant was that good. I did like the presentation of the food though from the dry ice under the shrimp to the asparagus appetizer. I would say the best things I ate in Copenhagen were on the second day and it was more of the pastries.

That was about it for Day 2...as we headed back to the hotel exhausted from lack of sleep and jet lag. Nada and Carrie stayed out a bit longer and Trey explored the night life but I will let them fill you in on their adventures!!!

Day 3: Copenhagen and Boarding the Ship

We got up early on Day 3 and by early I mean 4 am. Our room was located across from the Bunny Bar and there were a few working women being pulled over. I know that makes it sound like we were in a bad part of town but we really weren't. It was just that some bars don't close till about 4 am because nothing starts at them until midnight. We took showers, got the breakfast buffet, and headed out to walk down to the "shopping street" of Copenhagen. Here is the thing about Europe, nothing really opens till 10am, some things will open at 9 but most open at 10. We got there way before anything opened but it was fun to watch everyone going to work, the shops getting ready to open, and window shop. It was like a mini-outdoor mall. It ranged from high end things to low end things but as we found out later from our cabbie everything is relative to the minimum wage. Their minimum is much higher than ours, even with 1/2 going to the government in taxes, so even though everything is expensive to us...it is either average or bargained for them. Also their health care and dental are all paid for, so I guess it all evens out in the end.

Trey and I took a sightseeing bus to see the Little Mermaid and a few other sites. I loved touring the city and like everyone else think the Little Mermaid is a little overrated (loved the Angel much better). However, the tour was awesome and gave you just enough history/info on Copenhagen to explain the different parts of town, about the royals (present and past), and about the buildings that you see. Finding literature in English is hard to do in Copenhagen, so it was nice to be able to listen to stories about the town. If you get a chance print off information before you get there. I would still suggest the tour but this gives you a chance to follow along or know a bit of what they are talking about. There are alot of tourist information places but about the only handouts I saw in English were town maps. We also walked around town center and went into town hall. It was just a nice, comfortable walk around the city. Carrie, Dad, and Nada spent 130 kroner on 2 cups of coffee and a hot chocolate. So, it just goes to show you have to be ready to spend money while you are in Denmark.

We headed back to the hotel, got checked out, got piled in to two cabs, and headed off to port. The ride to the dock was informative and I believe where ever you travel it is the cabbies that really know the city. So take time to talk to them as they will give you some really great insights. We got to the dock just as it was time to get checked in. We didn't have to wait long in the holding tents and then we headed into the ship. I don't know how many of you have cruised before but this is a pretty standard thing. First you get put into a tent and assigned a section to sit in until you can go up and get your cruise card (the closer you are to the cut off time to check in the less chance you have of sitting in the tents). The next step is to get your cruise card, this is your ticket on/off the ship, your charge card, and your basic lifeline while on the cruise. You can not use money on the cruise ship, so write down everything that you charge (which I would suggest as charges tend to add up quickly..I spent $15 dollars without trying) your card is your ticket to getting a drink and/or any number of other things. I would say keep your card with you at all times. After getting your card, you get to go to boarding where they take a picture of your group and then shuffle you through security. This process is not very bad at all and can go quickly if you have your purse/carry on ready to go through scanning and your card ready to present to the ship.

We found our room, checked out the balcony, and then took a nap (I know your thinking another nap but those 4 am hookers were highly annoying). There are 3 of us in the room, so we are using the ceiling bed which I got a shot of. Here is what you need to know if you have to use this bed, it is as hard as a rock so if you are using it ask for something to put on it (which I am going to do tonight) or like hard beds. We had dinner in the dining room and met our waiter Angel. If you have assisgned dining, you will have the same waiter every night you eat in the dining room. The 5 of us got our own table, so we didn't have to share...that was kind of nice. Most of the time, especially if you are travelling with only 2 or 3 people you are assisgned to a table with other travellers. Dinner was amazingly good. I had Lobster something or other (don't ask I can't remember), Shrimp Cocktail, Grilled Salmon with Asparagus, and then some chocolate thing that wasn't all that great. Our waiter was terrific and because the travel agency gave us a voucher we got a bottle of wine. I headed to the bar afterwards to see if I could get a glimpse of any young people (there aren't really many on this cruise) but instead got a little preaching as a Baptist minister was in there with part of his congregation. It was a nice bar though, with a great view and some very good music. So I sat up there for awhile and then headed back to the room for some sleep!!!

Day 4: At Sea Days

You would think these would be the most relaxing days but alas this one tended to be busy. There are tons of things to do on the ship. You can take dance lessons, play games, hit the gym, hang by the pool, eat all day, check out shopping, play in the casino, and have a drink in the one of many bars on the ship.

Today I have:

1) Walked 2 miles around the top of the ship (the walking track gives you a beautiful view of the ocean)
2) Taken a line dancing class (learned the achy breaky, the electric slide, the funky chicken)
3) Watched a presentation on Stockholm (John the speaker is really fab but this is his last season)
4) Won 3.75 at the slot machines (then lost it as it fell out of my pocket)
5) Had lunch and breakfast (in the buffet, the food has been hit or miss in there...when good, really good...when bad, really bad)
6) Got an internet login (then found out my laptop blue screens everytime I connect to their wireless, not a problem at ports and other wireless connections, so not getting to blog like I would like.
7) Saw a show based on Broadway Musicals: the dancers were amazing,the singers are ok...2 of them are really great though.
8) Saw a comedian: he was a good juggler but wasn't very funny at all. Though he was an amazing juggler
9) Went to the Skywalkers lounge for some more line dancing: macarena anyone?

I should mention that the time of year we took this cruise means there are not very many young people on the ship. I think only 5% of the ship is below 40 and of that maybe .5% are single. This is strangely liberating as I don't have to worry about what I look like. I am also having a blast and the older people are showing me that there is no limit to the amount of adventure you have in your life. You just have to be willing to go out there and do whatever your heart allows you to do.

I hope ya'll are having a great week!!!

Ciao!!!

Day 5: Sweden

Ok, so the one thing I haven't enjoyed on this trip is sleep. I haven't gotten enough but that is ok because I can sleep at home LOL. I got some great sunrise pictures heading into Sweden. Especially once we got into the Arcepellagio, it really is a pretty cruise into the country. Lots of trees, plants, and flowers. People are very fit here and you can tell they enjoy their outdoor activities. However, all the pretty stuff does get in the way of pictures if you are in a bus, so keep that in mind while planning tours.

I did the Old Town and Royal Palace tour. Our Tour Guide Helen was great and very funny. She was also very knowledgable, just don't ask her about trees. We got to the Royal Palace in time to see the changing of the guards. It was fun to watch but I have to imagine that the soldiers are thinking that they could change positions without all the fan fare. Evidently on Saturday and Wednesday is the biggest show, so we saw the big show, the other daily routine might not be as big a production.

We headed into the palace and I am sure that this would have been fascinating except that some of the rooms were not open because they were preparing for a state dinner. I guess that happens when you go see a working palace. We did get to see pictures of the current royal family, some of their clothes, hear about their daily lives, and hear about all the Gustavs. I thought that it was neat that they still use the palace for functions and that it isn't just a museum.

We then headed into old town which was quaint. I really did enjoy my time there, as we were given about 1.5 hours to walk around, shop, and just be on our own. We did get the initial tour where the oldest street in Sweden is and the smallest statue. The buildings were old but they had been restored in a way where you could not tell that a lot of work had been done on them. However, they were restored where people could live in them (but no elevators were installed so you must take the stairs), business could use them as shops, and where gardens were placed in places they could not restore. There was some very neat history that I will share when I get back (need an internet connection that doesn't charge). I did some shopping, set at a cafe, and mailed some postcards. It was a really nice afternoon.

We then headed back to the ship.

Day 6: Supposed to Finland but Another Sea Day

Bad weather and high waves caused us to miss Finland. We couldn't port because it would have been to hard. Also because it was so cold and windy, I imagine that a lot of the activities would have been miserable too. We made the best of a sea day though: we played a Flea Family round of putt-putt, did some of the activities, caught up on sleep, had several good meals, caught another show, gambled a bit more, and just generally got some down time.

--
Have a Great Day-

Felicia

Posting from Poland

2007-09-06T06:25:00.001-05:00

I found an internet cafe, however it doesn't have a USB connection on the computer so I can't upload my blog posts :(

We are having a wonderful time and I have blog posts (and pictures) all ready for ya'll. In Copenhagen I will get it all posted!!!!

--
Have a Great Day-

Felicia

Blue Screen

2007-08-31T09:19:00.001-05:00

Well ya'll, my laptop decided that the wireless card would not work. I am hoping to fix this but in case I don't I am blogging on paper and will upload them all when I get home or to a free internet cafe!!!

--
Have a Great Day-

Felicia

Flickr Updated

2007-08-29T15:14:00.001-05:00

I will blog about our day in Copenhagen, but I am exhausted!!

I did upload some pictures to flickr (set 2007 Family vacation Day 2)so you can check them out!!!

Brief summary: Tivoli, Train, Walk around Town (the rest did a bus ride but I was not feeling great when I got off the plane), and dinner.

We get on the ship tomorrow, I am super excited. I will catch ya'll later :)

Ciao

What I learned Overnight...

2007-08-29T14:44:00.001-05:00

Howdy ya'll!! Or as they say in Denmark...Hejsa.

We have landed but before I get to the story so far, let me tell you about the plane ride over. You would not expect a simple flight, no matter how long, to be an exciting thing (well maybe if you haven't been on a plane) but this one was at least entertaining.

Newark:

First, not my favorite airport for 3 reasons: No AC, Not a T-Mobile hotspot to be found, and no postcards that say New Jersey. Now I could possibly forgive them for the first 2 but not the last one. We ate at Chili's while we were there and I have to say that I was impressed. They didn't raise the prices or at least they were not different than Dallas prices. With eating, security (not nearly as friendly or entertaining as DFW's crew), and boarding we were on our way in no time.

SAS:

The seats (because you must start there) were very cramped but since it was not a full flight, we at least got to spread out. I would say that SAS is a pretty good airline. I thought the staff was nice, the entertainment selection was good (we were in a row that some of the channels were fuzzy but that can be fixed), and the food they served was pretty good.

However I learned 3 things (don't know why things are in 3 today) on that flight.

1) Make sure that the lavatory latch is compleatly pulled over or someone will walk in on you. The later in the day you can find out that same guy is staying at your hotel. Not that happened or anything (It did and I was horrified LOL)

2) If you have problems sleeping on a plane, do not ride economy your chances will dwindle to about an hour of sleep, no matter how tired you are. Unless of course you are a contortionist and can't hear.

3) Children and international flights do not mix well. Though I did laugh when the very American couple threatened to not let their daughter on a plane again if she did not behave. I guess they plan to paddle back across the pond.

I really overall enjoyed the trip over. I look forward to spending time with the family, seeing the sites, and getting some relaxation.

Ciao!!!

No, we aren't moving

2007-08-28T07:20:00.001-05:00

No, we aren't moving,
originally uploaded by the_history_chic.

But you would have thought so from the crazy amount of luggage that we had packed in the back of Dad's truck. It was crazy loading all that in and my laptop still had to go up front.

We got to the airport in good time (hehe hard to believe there is no traffic at 4:30 in the morning...that is the time to travel). We managed to get every bit of luggage unloaded and up to the terminal. It was quite the adventure and I am sure we looked like pack mules coming up the escalator. While we waited for Dad to park the car we weighed the luggage and made sure it was all standard. I don't know what we thought we were going to do if it wasn't but it all turned out well. By the time we got all checked in (you will love this Kerri, the ticket lady was flying to Nebraska for a game sometime soon) and through security it was 6:30. I don't think we did to badly though I am glad we came early...I can't imagine trying to get all that done after the "business" crowd got here.

I am going to say this...DFW airport security rocks. They do their job and do it well but they were pleasent and fun. Even when my little brother forgot he had pocket knives in his suitcase and we had to go out and mail them. They took the time to show us where and were even ribbing him a little bit about having them. They were really good natured and were cracking me up I love it when people enjoy their job and know how to do it in a pleasant manner.

Now we are just waiting for the boarding of our flight (about 2 hours away) and I am getting some photos posted from this morning just in case I don't have another hotspot for awhile.

Have a Great Day!!!

Flickr

2007-08-28T07:05:00.001-05:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Leaving on a "Jet" Plane

2007-08-28T02:59:00.000-05:00

Good Morning Bloggers, Family, and Friends!!! I hope ya'll are having as good a Tuesday as I am :)

Ok, so we are not quite yet leaving on a plane but I have been up since 1:45am. I am hankering to go. I was way to excited to sleep and I figure why not get a jump on Copenhagen time. Never mind the fact that I am hoping this helps me to sleep on the plane ride from Newark to Copenhagen. (Speaking of I got it wrong, we are flying to Newark not LaQuardia so I get to see a new airport ...whooo hooo). It is morning in Copenhagen after all!!! Just to think, this time tomorrow, I will be getting off the plane overseas.

Everyone is super excited and we can't wait to get on the road. We are all up (with the exception of my brother) and we are just counting down. Whoops my brother decided to join the living LOL.

Here are the morning photos...ENJOY!!

Okie Dokie, I will blog more from the airport.

Ya'll have a great one :)

Planes, Train, and Boat

2007-08-27T09:08:00.000-05:00

Ok Ok Ok Ok, so I hope my trip is nothing like the movie but I thought the title was catchy!!!

1) The Planes: I will be taking two...the first to New Jersey, the second to Copenhagen. I am excited about that, as I am one of the few people I know that love airports. Don't you love to see all the people excited about where they are going, the people worried about the meeting they have to rush off too, and the general feel of anticipation that radiates from everyone. I have been in LaGuardia once (it is where I connected going to Barcelona) but it was so long ago that I am excited to see the airport again. I promise to wave to all my NYC friends during my layover (should be about 3 hours)...hopefully ya'll are out having a martini and/or a margarita celebrating my trip!!! I am excited to see Copenhagen's airport too because the only overseas airport I have seen is Barcelona and it will be interesting to see how they compare.

The Train: We are actually taking a steam train ride in Helsinki. It has been long a time since I have been on a train. This is the whole family excursion so I am sure that will make it blast. I don't know if Finland can handle 5 Flea's Family Members but we will try not to scare them :) I don't know though, we can be frightfully overwhelming with our big Texas drawls and over friendly personalities. I think it makes us colorful but I think it scares some people LOL!!!

The Boat: We are sailing Princess Cruise lines on the ship Star Princes. The last cruise I went on was Royal Caribbean, so it will be interesting to see how the ships compare. I really enjoyed my last cruise and I am looking forward to this one (can it get here already)!!! From the pictures I have seen of the boat and the reviews I have read this should be a really fun voyage.

Today is going to be spent shuffling the dogs of to boarding, checking the luggage, and finally making myself hit the sheets early so the time change doesn't kill me. I hope ya'll have a great Monday and cross your fingers that there are a plethora of hot spots so I can blog while overseas!!!

Oh I will be posting the pictures on flickr

Here is the "list":

Aug 29/Aug 30 2007 COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

Aug 31 2007 AT SEA

Sep 01 2007 STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN

Sep 02 2007 HELSINKI, FINLAND

Sep 03 2007 ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA

Sep 04 2007 ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA

Sep 05 2007 TALLINN, ESTONIA

Sep 06 2007 GDANSK (GDYNIA), POLAND

Sep 07 2007 AT SEA

Sep 08 2007 OSLO, NORWAY

Sep 09/Sep 10 2007 COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

So cross those fingers and pray for good wi-fi!!!

Ciao--

Flea

2002 Med Cruise

2007-08-27T09:02:00.001-05:00