The Start Of Our Mediterranean Vacation

Well it's early Wednesday morning, 10/09 and Veronica and I are up at 6:10am. We decided to leave the house and head to the Norfolk Airport at 7am.
We hit the local Starbucks before heading out of town and it was raining pretty hard. We had a Nor'easter off the Southeastern coast and we were hoping that the winds and rain would not affect our flight out of Norfolk en route to JFK.
I knew that once we made it to JFK that we would be safe from any storm related issues for the remainder of our trip to Venice.
We arrived at Norfolk around 0930 hours and by the time we got checked in and baggage done, it was about 1000 hours when we got to our gate. We checked the board to see what the status of our flights was and it showed our flight to JFK as being "canceled". Our hearts instantly sunk knowing that we would have to scramble to put together alternate plans to get to JFK in time for our international flight to Venice.
As it turned out, the "canceled" flight was actually a glitch in the computer system and our flight was still good to go.
After boarding the plane, the plane left the gate and then stopped on the tarmac. The captain got on the intercom and told us that we would have to stay where we were at for approximately 30 minutes. We were starting to wonder if all of these things that were going on were actually omens and that we weren't supposed to be going on this trip at all.
As it turned out, everything was fine and we eventually were allowed to take off and we had an uneventful flight to JFK.
Since we had over 5-6 hours to burn while awaiting our flight to Venice, Veronica and I decided to try out the Delta Sky Club at the JFK International Terminal.
After paying $25 a piece to get into this "club", Veronica and I soon decided that it was a waste of money.
If you wanted anything serious to eat or drink, they charge you top dollar. So what did we get for our money. Well we got to sit in our choice of several rather noisy large rooms in which some of them were served a few crackers and nibbles and bits, free soft drinks, a few cut up veges and free wi-fi.
After being there for a bit, we left and got some real food in the terminal.
We ended up waiting near our gate for our flight to start boarding.
When Zone #1 was called we boarded the plane and found our way to our seats in aisle 13...Economy Comfort...for which we paid a few more dollars so that we would have more leg room, wider and deeper seats along with a few additional amenities.
Our flight took off around 2037 hours. Veronica and I stayed up long enough to have our in flight dinner of chicken and mashed potatoes.
After eating dinner, we decided to try to get some sleep around 2300-2330 hrs...which is our normal bed time.
We decided to try to stay on as much of our normal schedule as possible in order to ward of any effects of jet lag when we arrived in Venice.
We had plans when we arrived in Venice to get our bags, catch a bus, go directly yo our hotel, drop off our bags and hit the streets of Venice. So we wanted to be as well rested as possible and did our best not to deal with jet lag.

The plans have been made, the money has been saved, the money has been spent and this sure is a welcome sight for us at JFK. We have been anticipating this moment for quite some time and now it has become a reality. 

The happy go lucky adventurers in their Economy Comfort seats

Up up and away...the city lights on New York

Its morning already...wow time flies when you are crossing the "big pond"....NOT!!!!...best to sleep through it, which we did. We went to sleep around 11:30 our regular time to keep on as close to a normal sleep schedule as possible. We figured that it would help with the jet lag issues and it actually helped quite a bit. 

I believe that this is part of the Alps

Are we there yet????!!!!!

Almost Time To Hop Over That Big Pond Again

Well the packing is just about all done and our house sitter is all settled in. Just a few minor things to wrap up and we will be already to head out on our next adventure.
Tomorrow morning Veronica and I will be heading into Norfolk Airport to catch a  flight to JFK and from there the long international flight to Marco Polo Airport in Venice.
I will be writing a journal about our daily events along with my usual taking of numerous photographs.
I personally can't wait to sink my choppers into a slice of authentic stone oven baked pizza in Venice. There is one place that I was checking out that I really want to try.... Antico Forno  I am sure that we will find many more plus we want to find a great pasta restaurant too. Here is the hotel that we will be spending 2 nights at before boarding our ship, the NCL Jade, for  14 day Med cruise...
Hotel Papadopoli  
Be back before you know it...hopefully with lots of exciting stories and tons of great photos to share.                  

Getting Closer To Our Big Getaway

Veronica and I are only about 30 days away from flying over to Marco Polo Airport and going to Venice for a couple of days before boarding the NCL Jade for a 14 day cruise that includes visits to ports in Italy, several Greek Isles, Croatia & Dubrovnik.
I am still compiling and printing information from various on line resources and putting the info into a folder to take with us.
Tonight I will be go through the Tripadvisor web site looking at various restaurants such as pizza places, pasta places, bread and pastry shops....anything that looks good that we might want to try while we are walking around and exploring Venice. Besides the pictures on Tripadvisor, I will also look through the ratings and reviews and find a location for the ones that are chosen. I will then print out the information of each one and file them in that folder.
I had already ordered and received from Amazon.com a couple of waterproof and  detailed street maps of Venice along with a Rick Steve's Pocket Venice book.
By the time I get done, we will have more than enough information to go anywhere or to get anything we need in Venice.
I almost forgot to mention....I have been trying to get an upgrade from our Inside Cabin to a Balcony Cabin but the prices are still extremely high. My contact at NCL, whom I have been dealing with since I first booked this cruise last October, was able to get me a complimentary upgrade from our Inside Cabin to a Oceanview Cabin that has a good sized window in it and a little more room. This new cabin is in a good location on the ship also.
I will continue my attempts to get us into a Balcony Cabin as we get a little closer to our sailing date. Hopefully things will loosen up a little when we are about 2 weeks out.  

The Countdown Continues

The countdown for our upcoming vacations continues. Veronica and I have only 36 days until we fly out of Norfolk and head up to Minneapolis, at which time we will pick up our rental car and then drive approximately 6 hours to International Falls, MN.
We will spend the night in International Falls and get up early the next morning, get some groceries, pass through customs and enter Canada. Once in Canada we will drive approximately 3 hours to Dryden. In Dryden we will get the rest of our provisions for our weeks stay. From Dryden we will drive approximately 30-40 minutes to Stanley's Resort on beautiful Eagle Lake.
One fun filled week spent in nature, fishing and quality time with Veronica. Who could ask for anything more. And this trip is kind of like a warm up vacation for our "real" vacation.....
Our big vacation for the year starts in 83 days with the first 3 days in Venice, Italy and then boarding the NCL Jade for a 14 day cruise which will first take us to several Greek Islands such as Corfu, Santorini, Mykonos and then to the mainland to Olympia. From there we go back to Venice where we will have the day to discover the small venetian lagoon islands of Burano...where the famous lace is made and Murano...where the famous glass is made. After spending the day in Venice, we return to the ship and once again board for our next 7 day departure. The next 7 days of this journey will be spent visiting Slovenia, 2 locations in Croatia, Messina, Naples and then we dock in Rome where we will be shuttled to the airport for our return flight home.
While we are in Naples, Veronica and I decided to take an excursion that will take us up the Amalfi Coast to Solerno and Sorrento...this excursion actually includes a boat ride off of the Amalfi Coast too.
Unfortunately we won't have any time to spend discovering the splendors of Rome on this trip because of the time our flight leaves. This will give us an excuse to have to return to Italy sometime in the future...like we really will need any excuse.



 

Choosing Our Excursions For Our Upcoming Cruise

With only 147 days to go until our NCL cruise on the Jade begins, Veronica and I have looked over  all of the port excursions that are currently being offered.
Most ports we will do on our own but there are 2 that we decided to take.
Our cruise begins in Venice and we have planned to arrive a couple of days early in order to see some of the sights that Venice has to offer. We will be doing this on our own without any tour groups or excursions. We will have Thursday and Friday to take in as much as possible during that time period. I plan on setting up a private gondola ride serenade for Veronica and I.
We will have to check out of our Venice hotel in time to get to the pier and go through the embarkation process.
After being on our cruise ship for 7 days, the ship arrives back in Venice and allows passengers whose cruise will end at that point to get off the ship.
Since Veronica and I booked a back to back cruise, we will be at the half way point of our cruise, with another week yet to come.
We will be able to leave the ship but we will leave our luggage in our cabin while we go on the first of 2 shore excursions.
We have decided to take an cruise line offered excursion to Murano and Burano.
Murano is the place where Murano glass objects and beads come from. Burano is know for their time consuming hand made lace items.
We will need to meet our excursion representative at 8:15 AM at which time we will board a small boat and head out to these two small islands that are near Venice.
Our excursion will last 4 1/2 hours, which will give us plenty of time to explore more of Venice itself before having to board our ship for the second leg of our cruise.
Below is the NCL write up of this excursion in Venice:

Murano Glass & Burano Lace

Visit two of the Venetian lagoon's islands, Murano and Burano; the first world-famous center of glass-making and the second renowned for its lace. First you'll travel along a portion of the beautiful Giudecca Canal passing St. Mark's Basin and other landmarks, then cross the lagoon to Murano, where you'll visit a glass factory and have a unique opportunity to see how beautiful Murano glass is made, followed by some time for shopping. After visiting the glass factory, continue with a leisurely trip across the lagoon to lovely little Burano with its gaily painted houses and brightly painted fishing boats. Enjoy a walk through the streets of this charming and picturesque island where fishermen are always mending nets or repairing their boats. On Burano, one encounters a way of life that is rapidly disappearing. Women sometimes sit in their doorways working on a piece of lace. Burano lace is extremely delicate and time-consuming to create. A small piece may take several weeks to complete, making it highly prized. You'll have a chance to admire some of these works of art when you visit one of the stores that sell the famed Burano lace. Note: Although most walking is on level ground, passengers with physical limitations are advised that there are some steps on both islands. The order of sights may vary. THIS TOUR IS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR NORWEGIAN SPIRIT SAILINGS STARTING IN BARCELONA AND ENDING IN VENICE AND FOR NORWEGIAN JADE GUESTS COMBINING 2 CONSECUTIVE SAILINGS.

We will be taking our other excursion on the last day for a port of call, which is in Naples, Italy. Instead of staying in the Naples area, we decided to take a 9 1/2 hour excursion that allows us to travel and see the Amalfi coast, Sorento, Salerno, the town of Amalfi...all by bus along with  actually taking a boat ride just off of the Amalfi coast. We will get to stop and walk around the towns previously mentioned along with a lunch stop and time to shop or maybe just go to a outdoor cafe and people watch. Below is the NCL write up of this excursion leaving from Naples:

Sorrento & Amalfi By Land & Sea

Enjoy a very scenic and relaxing excursion, experiencing Italy's most famous coastline by motor launch, with minimal walking involved, and time within the beautiful village of Sorrento. After an approximate one-hour drive by coach, you will arrive to the town of Salerno, located at the very end of the Amalfi Coast. There you'll board a private motor launch and enjoy a 45-minute cruise, viewing the Dolomitic cliffs, which at many points, tower perpendicularly out of the sea and have been sculpted by nature into fantastic shapes. Amalfi is situated at the mouth of a deep gorge along the coast. Learn how this was a major shipping port during the Middle Ages and it was also an independent maritime state. Enjoy a narrated walk around the town center of Amalfi, with your guide, who will explain the history and architecture of the Cathedral of St. Andrew as you marvel at the exterior architecture, a mix of Moorish and early Gothic design. Its main treasures are the 11th-century bronze doors from Constantinople. Enjoy some free time on your own in Amalfi, for maybe shopping or relaxation, before cruising back to Salerno where your coach will be waiting to drive you to Sorrento. With its luxuriant vegetation and sun-drenched climate, Sorrento became a favorite resort of wealthy Romans. Experience this cliff-top setting, with an imposing Duomo, distinctive for its 13th-century cloister, and a charming, flower-filled town, all there for you to explore. Enjoy lunch with wine in a local restaurant in Sorrento before returning back to your ship. Note: Tour is not available for winter sailings. Guests must be able to walk approximately 500 yards over even surfaces with 5 - 10 steps. There are several steps to access the lunch venue. Comfortable walking shoes, hat, and sunscreen are highly recommended. Walking during the free time is at the guests' discretion. The drive between Naples and Salerno is approximately 45 minutes and from Sorrento to Naples is approximately 1 1/2 hours. Guests wishing to enter the Cathedral of St. Andrew on their own must ascend approximately 60 or more very steep steps. The order of the tour may be reversed. The motor launch has both inside and outside seating. In case of bad weather conditions and/or rough seas, the cruise to Amalfi will be cancelled and an orientation drive of the Amalfi Coast will be made instead. Due to traffic restrictions of the Sorrento center a short walk from the motorcoach drop off point to the main center and vice versa will be required. During summer months expect extreme heat, crowded venues and long lines. We recommend that you dress in layers and bring bottled water. 

I am sure that we will a great time on these 2 excursions plus there will be plenty of opportunities to take photos.

Finally Feeling Better

After almost 2 weeks of dealing with some type of flu bug, I am finally feeling better.
Yesterday I started to get back into my workouts.
We were gone for most of last week. We went to Herndon for Veronica's work. While up there, we stopped by the Ikea store and bought some new furniture for Veronica's new and improved studio. We spent one full day putting the furniture together. Veronica spent 2 days straightening out her studio with the new furniture pieces in place.
Next time we go up to the Herndon area, we will stop by Ikea and pick up several more pieces of furniture.
I figure that it will take 2-3 more Ikea visits until she has everything that she needs for new studio furniture.
A couple of days ago we went ahead and purchased our plane tickets for our upcoming October flight into Venice and returning home from Rome. These flights are in conjunction with our 2 week NCL cruise.
I have been tracking the prices for these flights and took a chance of getting the tickets now rather than waiting to see if the prices went down. Since purchasing the tickets, the prices have actually gone up a bit.
We will be flying on Delta Airlines for this trip. Delta had good departure and arrival times both in Venice and upon our return home via Norfolk Airport.
We used our Delta Skymiles credit card because Delta doubles the rewards miles for each ticket purchased with our American Express Gold Delta Skymiles card.
We actually used a portion of our previously saved up rewards miles for our upcoming flights into Minneapolis, for our fishing trip to Eagle Lake in Ontario Canada.
By using some of our rewards miles, we only had to pay $15 for both of our plane tickets. Right now we still have enough rewards points accrued for another inexpensive domestic flight.
With the purchase of our plane tickets, I was able to provide NCL with our return home flight information so that I could get our transfer vouchers from where the NCL Jade will be docking in Rome to the airport where Veronica and I will be returning home from.
We also decided to splurge a little bit for seat upgrades on both of the long international portions of our flights.
With those upgrades come larger seats with more leg room and seats that actually recline a lot more than the regular seats.
This seat upgrade should allow us to relax more and be more comfortable while sitting and sleeping on our international flights.
We should land being more relaxed and well rested due to this seat upgrade.
I also ordered our individual soda passes for the entirety of our cruise.
I still need to contact  our pre-cruise hotel in Venice and arrange a private gondola ride with a singing gondolier. I figured that we will splurge for this experience and keep it private rather than sharing the gondola with other couples or families. We will only be doing this once in our lifetimes and decided to splurge a bit.
The only thing left for this cruise is for Veronica and I to browse through the many excursions that are being offered in each port of call to see if there are any we want to take.
Everything for this vacation is coming together and it won't be long until all plans have been made and completed.
Then it will be only a matter of time waiting for our departure date to arrive. Only 222 days until we finally hear those exciting words....BON VOYAGE!

A Cruise Vacation Update

Our 2013 NCL cruise vacation is only about 281 days away. We have managed to just about pay the actual cruise off but still need to get our soda passes for the cruise and our transfers from the disembarkation port in Rome to the airport in Rome, which from what I have read and heard is approximately 1-1 1/2 hours away from where the ship will be docked.
The transfers are $75 per person but it is well worth the money to ride a large comfortable bus and have our luggage stored under the bus. I find this arrangement to be much better than trying to get a taxi for the long ride to the airport.
We will just have to make sure that we can get an early transfer shuttle so that we can arrive at the airport with plenty of time to get checked in and go through customs in Rome. I have a feeling that it will be hectic and busy at this airport.
We won't be able to arrange for these transfers until we have purchased our airline tickets.
We checked out various flights and we have kind of decided to stick with Delta for all of the flight segments on this trip.
We found several options for our "open jaw" flights for our arrival into Venice Italy and returning home from Rome, Italy.
We have our eye on one particular set of flights but we are waiting a bit to see if the prices go down some. The tickets have already dropped $50 a piece in the last 2 days, which was when we initially started our airline ticket search.
Another reason for flying Delta is that if we fly Delta and use our American Express Delta credit card, we get double rewards points.
We recently found out how nice it is to have these reward points. We recently purchased our upcoming August plane tickets for our flights to Minneapolis...on our way up to Canada for a week long relaxing fishing adventure. By using our Delta rewards points, we only had to pay $7.50 a piece for each of our plane tickets and this was for round trip tickets. That alone kind of endeared us to being loyal customers and reward points enthusiast.
Besides purchasing the flight tickets, we need to decide whether or not to do any shore excursions for the ports of call that we will be visiting.
We usually like to go off on our own without paying the price for these excursions but there have been times when it was better to be on a paid excursion through the cruise line. We will have to look carefully at each port and see what is available and what the cost is compared to having the freedom to go where we want and spend as much time at any give location as we choose and not having to pay a cent to do it.
There still is a lot of logistical research that I need to do especially for our time in Venice. Options of getting from the airport to a location near our hotel  in Venice are plentiful but each has its own price and benefit, getting from our hotel in Venice to the pier where our ship is docked, arranging a gondola ride with serenade (a must for any visit to Venice), arranging travel from our hotel to the islands of Murano and Burano...these are just a few things that must be researched still and fully arranged.
One major thing I got accomplished was to make our reservations at the Hotel Papadopoli in Venice for 2 nights prior to our cruise actually starting.
I will most likely go through the hotels concierge service as far as the arrangements for the gondola ride and the visits to Murano and Burano. Hopefully a long distance telephone call and a few emails will take care of those arrangements.
And of course there will be the final task and probably one of the most important, gather up enough Euros so that we can totally enjoy ourselves during this next cruise adventure.

 

Extending Our Stay In Venice

In October of this upcoming year, Veronica and I will be flying into Venice Italy where we will be boarding the NCL Jade for a 14 day cruise that will take in ports in Italy, Sicily, the Greek Isles, Slovenia and Croatia.
We decided that since we will already be paying a steep price for the airline tickets into Venice and then out of Rome for our return flight home, that we would like to extend our vacation for a couple of days. This way we would have a little more time to be spent in Venice itself.
I booked us a room at the Hotel Papadopli Venezia for 2 nights prior to our cruise starting.
I got us a Luxury King room that overlooks the Tolentini Canal.
We will hopefully be arriving into Venice early and drop our luggage off at the hotel and then go out and about in the city of Venice.
I am planning on making some type of arrangements for our 2nd day in Venice, to go visit the islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello.
Of course I will also need to set up a gondola ride for Veronica and I, which will include a serenade from the gondolier.
We will also have 1 other day in Venice, when our ship returns to Venice to drop of those passengers that did not book the back to back cruises that make up the 14 day itinerary. This return will be at the end of the first week of our 2 week cruise.
We should be able to get off of the ship early and head directly into Venice from the cruise ship terminal.
I still have a lot of prep work to get done for this next upcoming adventure but by getting the hotel reservations done, it feels like it is really going to happen for us.
I am also doing some preliminary work for our next adventure that will be happening in 2014.
That adventure will be one where we will be going and doing things more independently compared to a cruise.
We are looking at flying into Edinburgh...where Veronica and I had way too little time to really take in a lot of what that city has to offer during our last cruise and then from Edinburgh we would be going into London for a few days and then taking a train into Paris, where we would spend several days and then return home from there.
This itinerary will be a big and really exciting one for us.