|
Post by azvb on Apr 26, 2011 10:04:40 GMT -5
Leaving Friday for 24 days to the following:
Israel, Ukraine, Russia, Italy, England. 9 airports - trying very hard to get everything in one suitcase. Also worried my DVR will run out of space.
Hoping my husband and I are still speaking by the end of this - that's a lot of togetherness.
My daughter is due with my first grandbaby May 27th. We return May 23, or I will fly home sooner if the baby comes.
Lots to do this week, so thought I would say "bye" for a while.
|
|
|
Post by mikegarrison on Apr 26, 2011 12:35:17 GMT -5
That seems like kind of an unusual itinerary. But hey, enjoy yourself.
|
|
|
Post by azvb on Apr 26, 2011 13:32:33 GMT -5
That seems like kind of an unusual itinerary. But hey, enjoy yourself. Yeah, I know . Sort of like, "As long as we're in New York, let's go see the Grand Canyon". We had the trip to Israel planned, and then my boys, who served missions in Ukraine and Russia said, "Let's go there, also." And we figured we might as well go to Rome and London, since we were already across the Atlantic. Egypt was on the agenda, too, but that got cancelled a couple months ago with all the ruckus.
|
|
|
Post by mikegarrison on Apr 26, 2011 14:06:56 GMT -5
Well, like I said, have fun.
|
|
|
Post by Phaedrus on Apr 26, 2011 15:20:38 GMT -5
Sounds phenomenal. Have a great time. Out of all those cities, I have only been to London. One really cool thing is the Tower of London tour. You need to see about getting on the Beefeater tour. There are lots of tours going on but this one the Beefeater actually takes you around, you get to go to the Royal family's chapel and it takes quite a while. It doesn't run as often as the other tours. Definite go for that, they cover more history than the other tours.
|
|
|
Post by mikegarrison on Apr 26, 2011 15:28:39 GMT -5
Sounds phenomenal. Have a great time. Out of all those cities, I have only been to London. One really cool thing is the Tower of London tour. You need to see about getting on the Beefeater tour. There are lots of tours going on but this one the Beefeater actually takes you around, you get to go to the Royal family's chapel and it takes quite a while. It doesn't run as often as the other tours. Definite go for that, they cover more history than the other tours. I've been to Heathrow. As far as I know they don't offer tours, but the place is big enough that they could....
|
|
|
Post by TheSantaBarbarian on Apr 26, 2011 17:49:23 GMT -5
"You need to see about getting on the Beefeater tour."
Cosign, that is he tour to take. The funny part is how proud they are of all the places in the tower where people got their heads chopped off. They show you every one.Also, don't miss King Henery 8th's armor. Have fun.
|
|
|
Post by Phaedrus on Apr 26, 2011 18:41:29 GMT -5
"You need to see about getting on the Beefeater tour." Cosign, that is he tour to take. The funny part is how proud they are of all the places in the tower where people got their heads chopped off. They show you every one.Also, don't miss King Henery 8th's armor. Have fun. Is Henry's armour and his "cup" protection still at the Tower? They'd moved a lot of it to Leeds to the Royal Armouries, a dedicated museum for armour. And yes, they are really proud of the head chopping bit.
|
|
|
Post by OptimusPrime on Apr 26, 2011 20:14:03 GMT -5
Leaving Friday for 24 days to the following: Israel, Ukraine, Russia, Italy, England. 9 airports - trying very hard to get everything in one suitcase. Also worried my DVR will run out of space. Hoping my husband and I are still speaking by the end of this - that's a lot of togetherness. My daughter is due with my first grandbaby May 27th. We return May 23, or I will fly home sooner if the baby comes. Lots to do this week, so thought I would say "bye" for a while. 1- Make sure you have an umbrella for England. 2- Make sure you are surrounded by husband and sons when walking in the streets of Italy. ;D Wife was so sick of getting pinched that she purchased the smallest girtle (whatever is called-looks like a compression garment) she could wear so when they tried pinching, there would be nothing to get ;D 3- It will be one of the best trips for you and your husband. Have faith! I promise... 4- In Israel check out the city of Haifa. One of my favorites! 5- Have not been to mother Russia so have no input there
|
|
|
Post by TheSantaBarbarian on Apr 26, 2011 20:43:33 GMT -5
"Is Henry's armour and his "cup" protection still at the Tower? They'd moved a lot of it to Leeds to the Royal Armouries, a dedicated museum for armour." I don't know. They should have kept it there though, it was the ultimate example of protecting the Crown's jewels. Another thing I found really interesting was how short they were. I don't think there was a single suit of armor in there that would have fit me at 6'3". Henery himself was quite short.
|
|
|
Post by bigfan on Apr 26, 2011 21:30:04 GMT -5
No Heineken brewery..............Amsterdam, Netherlands?
No Guinness brewery...................Dublin, Ireland?
|
|
|
Post by azvb on Apr 27, 2011 10:13:55 GMT -5
Phaedrus - We went to London 4 years ago. We were so fascinated with St. Paul's Catheral, that we got to Tower of London too late for the Beefeaters Tour. That is 1st on our list of things to do. Guess we should book it now? xuscvbfan - Haifa is on our itinerary. They pinch "mature" ladies in Rome? Oh well, I don't own a girdle - I'll take my chances ;D. We booked a private tour of the Vatican. Excited about that. And a nighttime Segway tour of Rome. Segways are a blast. bigfan - I may be ready for a brewery tour before this is over. Hopefully not .
|
|
|
Post by pedro el leon on Apr 30, 2011 0:21:08 GMT -5
Come visit me in Milan! But I have to ask... Ukraine? Maybe your boys know of more interesting spots than the normal person, but a tour of Ukraine that doesn't involve some sort of work related trip to Chernobyl has to be the first I've heard of lol.
And for the record about the pinching thing, for everything Rome and south of that, the correct term would be "pick-pocket." Keep the wallets in the front pocket and the purse zipped up. Those teenage Italian thiefs don't get physical at all, but they have sneaky little hands that get into everything.
Also watch out when you see everybody clearing a street corner, the fun thing that's all the rage for the kids these days is to release tear gas canisters (have no clue where they get this stuff) on street corners and where ever people gather (especially the tourist spots.) I've seen a clueless tourist walk right through the middle of the gas clouds and come out the other side hacking up a lung and rubbing their eyes.
And for the men in your party, they gotta use the sidewalk urinals spread throughout Rome... It's just one of those things that you have to do, just to say you did it.
|
|
|
Post by azvb on Apr 30, 2011 5:43:16 GMT -5
Come visit me in Milan! But I have to ask... Ukraine? Maybe your boys know of more interesting spots than the normal person, but a tour of Ukraine that doesn't involve some sort of work related trip to Chernobyl has to be the first I've heard of lol. And for the record about the pinching thing, for everything Rome and south of that, the correct term would be "pick-pocket." Keep the wallets in the front pocket and the purse zipped up. Those teenage Italian thiefs don't get physical at all, but they have sneaky little hands that get into everything. Also watch out when you see everybody clearing a street corner, the fun thing that's all the rage for the kids these days is to release tear gas canisters (have no clue where they get this stuff) on street corners and where ever people gather (especially the tourist spots.) I've seen a clueless tourist walk right through the middle of the gas clouds and come out the other side hacking up a lung and rubbing their eyes. And for the men in your party, they gotta use the sidewalk urinals spread throughout Rome... It's just one of those things that you have to do, just to say you did it. Lol - Ukraine is not on my "bucket list", but my son was there for 2 years and he really wants to go back. He's in charge of the 2 days we are there, so not sure what is on the agenda. We have ancestors with statues (photo op), he says there is a cool WWII museum, not sure what else he has in mind. Evidently Western Ukraine is beauitful, but we don't have time for a 10 hour train ride. Thanks for the pick pocket tip. I was sort of excited to be groped by an Italian, but not if he's after my gelato money. Okay, and good to know about the tear gas. I'll think about passing on the sidewalk urinal info to the men in the fam . Headed to the airport. Shalom, Das Vedana, Chao, and Cheery-o.
|
|
|
Post by azvb on May 6, 2011 8:50:36 GMT -5
Spent first part of the week in the Galilee Region, and now we are in Jerusalem. Amazing. Too much to write about now.
BUT - on the TV channel Eurosport, I have watched arm wrestling, women's handball, Italian league volleyball, and some guys doing tricks with soccer balls actually being judged.
Food, not too crazy about. Good ice cream, however.
|
|